Rolling Plasma

From 2010 Blog

- I have posted twice before using pictures I took of a plasma globe. The other two were taken with my hand touching the globe thereby drawing the energy to a single point. In this photo the plasma is rolling randomly throughout the entire globe. Canon 40D, 1/15 sec @ f/3.5, ISO 400.

RPN

From 2010 Blog

- The ENTER key on a calculator is a clear sign that it employs the Reverse Polish notation or RPN method to evaluate mathematical expressions. My first RPN calculator was the 1978 model HP32E which I owned and used for over 20 years. My first serious programming was done on an HP41C, basically a handheld computer which was also used as the third level backup system computer for the first nine space shuttle missions. It's always fun to hand your RPN calculator to an unsuspecting victim and watch them search for the nonexistent "=" key - its a geek thing. Canon 40D, 1/500 sec @ f/2.0, 50mm macro lens.

Cycles

From 2010 Blog

- On February 9th I posted a picture of my orchid on this blog. This is the first one that re-bloomed for me. I was proud of the both the amazing flower and the photo. Tonight's photo is of the same bloom 97 days later as it begins to fade away. Although a little sad, it is still interesting and I had its full wonder to appreciate for over three months. I can now understand why Orchid lovers are so passionate about these plants. Canon 40D, 1/160 sec @ f/6.3, ISO 800, 50mm macro lens.

Who Could Ask For Anything More?

From 2010 Blog

- Festival food vendors offer a gamut choices especially for meat lovers. This vendor at the Stockley Gardens Art Festival is appealing to many varied tastes. There were more a few turkey leg diners strolling the booths. I saw most of the usual festival offerings but no fried Snickers bars, what's up with that. So I had to make due with a $4 lemonade. Canon 7D, 1/320 sec @ f/6.3, ISO 200.

Lonely in a Crowd

From 2010 Blog

- These four benches at the Stockley Gardens park in the Ghent section of Norfolk have been retro fitted with center arm rests to discourage sleeping on the park benches by the homeless. Someone had left a Gideon's New Testament Bible encased in a plastic sandwich bag on the first bench. I wonder what Jesus would have thought about the anti bum bars? Canon 7D, 1/500 sec @ f/6.3, ISO 200.

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.