Swallowtail

This swallowtail butterfly was photographed at Virginia Tech's Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center off Diamond Springs Road in Virginia Beach. This garden is one of the area's best kept secrets. Home to acres of plantings the garden was a buzz with, butterfies, bees and dragonflies. It's well worth a trip. Canon 7D, 1/125 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 100, 100mm macro.

LLoyds Register

Dozens of old copies of the Lloyds Register Register of Ships line the shelves at the Norfolk Public Library's Service Center. The Register, published annually since 1764, lists information on all sea-going, self-propelled merchant ships of 100 gross tons or greater. Canon 7D, 1/125 sec @ f/4.0, ISO 1600, 85mm prime lens.

Oak Crossings

This crossing pattern in on one of the massive solid oak doors removed from the Seaboard Building in Norfolk Virginia. The building was originally built in 1899 as a U.S Post Office and Federal Courthouse. In 1938 it became Norfolk City Hall and is currently being renovated to become a key part of the new Samuel Slover Memorial Library. Canon 7D, 1/200 sec @ f/4.0, ISO 1600, 85mm prime lens, converted to black and white.

Genuine Microsoft

I had some other choice words to describe Microsoft over the past few days as I battled an uncooperative Windows 7 operating system on my main photo editing computer. I am finely giving in to a reinstall of the OS and all of the work that goes with getting the applications back. Luckily all of my photos and other data are backed up so the only loss was lots of my time. This is my original Windows 7 DVD with all of its Microsoft holographic logos. Canon 7D, 1/250 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 800, 100mm macro with one LED Litepanel.

Arachnid

This was one big arachnid. The body was about an inch and half long. Beautiful but scary at the same time. Canon 7D, 1/100 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 100, 400mm focal length with image stablization.

Dragon Fly Bokeh

This slightly backlit dragon fly's wings sparkle against the water drops on the lilly pads in the background. Canon 7D, 1/400 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 100, 100-400mm zoom at 400mm.

American Lotus

- The American Lotus blooming at Lotus Gardens in Virginia Beach on the way to Sandbridge Beach. Canon 7D, 1/500 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 100, 100-400mm zoom at 250mm.