Quid Pro Quo

The Scope Plaza in Norfolk Virginia leads up to the world's largest concrete dome, which was designed by Italian architect/engineer Pier Luigi Nervi in conjunction with the Norfolk firm of Williams and Tazewell. The venue holds a bit of a political past. According to Wikipedia - After watching the 1960 Rome Olympics on television, Brad Tazewell and Jim Williams, the Norfolk architects who were eventually to partner with Nervi, solicited U.S. Sen. A. Willis Robertson, father of Christian Broadcasting Network founder and former candidate for President Pat Robertson, to build a sports complex in Norfolk. Subsequently, President Lyndon B. Johnson asked Robertson to support federal funding for a multimillion-dollar cultural center in Colorado and Robertson said he would if Johnson would support one in Norfolk. Scope was completed in 1971 at a cost of $35 million dollars with the federal government providing $23 million, almost 66% of the total cost. Canon G11, 1/250sec @ f/8.0, ISO 100, converted to black and white using Silver Efex Pro 2 and Lightroom 4.

Empty Beach

We headed out to Sandbridge Beach late this afternoon. With stormy weather moving in we found an almost empty beach. It was really relaxing with the wind, surf and rapidly changing sky. We stayed for about 30 minutes before lifeguards closed the beach because of the threat of lightning. iPhone 4 with the Olloclip fisheye lens.

Yankee Clipper

Neil Armstrong the first man to step on the moon died today. We boomers grew up during the "space race" and his passing brings back many memories. I took this photo of the Apollo 12 space capsule, nicknamed the "Yankee Clipper" at the Virginia Air & Space Museum a while back. Armstrong's first assignment in the Apollo program came as the commander of the back-up crew of the Apollo 8 mission, though he had been originally scheduled to back-up the Apollo 9 mission. Had he remained as the Apollo 9 back-up commander he would have been slated to Command Apollo 12, not Apollo 11. Thanks for taking that one giant leap for mankind. Canon 40D, 1/40 sec @ f/3.5, ISO 400, 17mm focal length.

Decaf

An evening cup of decaf coffee. Canon 5D MarkII, 1/60 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 800, 50mm prime lens, converted to black and white in Google Picasa using the Holga-ish special effect.

Going Down

Heading down the escalator at MacArthur Mall in downtown Norfolk Virginia. iPhone 4, 1/24 sec @ f/2.8. ISO 100, Camera + App.

Light Painting

Normally light painting involves mounting the camera on a tripod, setting a long exposure and then moving a light in front of the camera to create shapes and patterns. For this picture I did just the opposite, the five green LED lights are stationary and I moved the camera during the exposure to create the looping effect. Canon G10, 2 seconds @ f/8.0, ISO 80.

HOH

The Harrison Opera House in Norfolk Virginia. Often just reffered to as the "HOH". Canon 40D, 1/100sec @ f/13.0, ISO 200 converted to black and white.