Shavings

From 2010 Blog

- I was emptying the pencil sharpener tonight and the bright green flecks of paint from my new goHRT.com pencils caught my eye. I guess it was my early training in drafting that made me a fan of the humble pencil. The author John Steinbeck was an obsessive pencil user and is said to have used as many as 60 a day. His novel East of Eden took more than 300 pencils to write. Canon 40D, 1/200 sec @ f/6.3, ISO 800, 50mm macro lens with the life size converter.

Deep Orange

From 2010 Blog

- This is the bloom from a Nonstop® Mocca Deep Orange Tuberous Begonia that I picked up a few weeks back at the Strawbridge Garden Center in Virginia Beach. The hanging basket is pretty spectacular and especially well suited to my shady backyard. The blooms are large and multi-layered and plentiful. Canon 1/80 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 400, 50mm macro lens.

Fortress Monroe

From 2010 Blog

- Completely surrounded by a moat, the six-sided stone fort in Hampton Virginia is the only one of its kind left in the United States that is still an active Army post. Unfortunately Fort Monroe is one of several posts selected to be closed by September 2011. Robert E. Lee, a young first lieutenant and engineer was stationed there from 1831 to 1834, and played a major role in the final construction of the fort. In 1828 a private going by the name of E. A. Perry, better known today as the famous author Edgar Allan Poe was stationed at the garrison rising to the rank of Sergeant Major for Artillery. The granite walls and moat looked much the same today as did when Robert E. Lee and Edgar Allen Poe served there. Canon G11, 1/250 sec @ f/7.1, ISO 400.

Trash Rock

From Rock n Roll HOF

- A self portrait taken last week at the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. That's me to left with the Hall's ceiling and gift shop reflected in the chrome dome trash can cover. Canon G11, 1/800 sec @ f/4.5, ISO 400. The Hall's no photography policy in the exhibits left me a little cold.

Details, Details, Details

From 2010 Blog

- Regular followers of my blog know that I am a fan of architectural details. While attending Allison and Tom's wedding reception at the Huber Court in the Chrysler Museum in Norfolk, Virginia, I noticed how the decorator's had placed dramatic up lighting at the base of each column of the side arches. This lighting really brings out the details and textures of stone work. Canon Powershot SD870 IS, 1/20 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 200 in macro mode.

Floating Bubbles

From 2010 Blog

- New bubble wand, beautiful sunlight and a nice breeze challenged my camera today. I got a couple of nice photos and ending up choosing this one for today's blog post. Take a look at the runner up and see which one you like best. I bet I looked pretty strange waving the bubble wand and then running with the camera trying to catch the bubbles before they popped. Canon 40D, 1/200 sec @ f/6.4, ISO 200, 50mm, a full frame image with no cropping.

Huber Court

From 2010 Blog

- Huber Court at the Chrysler Museum in Norfolk Virginia. Tonight we attended the beautiful wedding of my friend Allison and her husband Tom. The ceremony was outside in the Memorial Garden with wonderful late afternoon sunshine streaming in. The dinner and reception was held in Huber Court which was spectacular in dramatic lighting and flowers. The cake was framed by these stairs and entrance to galleries. Canon Powershot SD870 IS, 1/8 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 250, hand held - a testament to the little point 'n shoot's image stabilization.