American Pastime

It has been said that baseball is the all-American pastime. While the sport has been adopted around the world, Americans still hold it close from sandlot to little league, from to high school to college and from the minors to the big leagues. The Red Robin baseball flag reminds us of the sport's American heritage. Canon G15, 1/100 @ f/2.8, ISO 800.

This Year's Memory

The mouse is everywhere even on our Christmas Tree. This was a souvenir from our first ever trip to Disney World back in October. Our Christmas Tree has unique ornaments from the places we've visited over the years. Putting up the tree brings back all of those great memories from past vacations. Canon 7D, 1/13 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 800, 100mm macro lens.

Fire Escape

The fire escape became a necessary addition to multi-story buildings particularly residential buildings in the first half of the twentieth century. An unintended consequence was that people began to use them as additional space. They became patios and even sleeping areas during hot urban summers. This example is on the York Center building, a 9 story office building in downtown Norfolk Virginia built around 1950. Canon G15, 1/400 sec @ f/7.1, ISO 200.

Holiday Arcade

The Monticello Arcade in Norfolk Virginia decked out and celebrating its 105th Christmas holiday season. That a pretty good run. iPhone 5, 1/15 sec @ f/2.4, ISO 800, Camera+ App.

The Delaware Dome

This is the Norfolk Southern Railroad's Delaware Dome car # NS 24 at the new station platform in Norfolk Virginia. I had the opportunity to ride in this car during a trip from Washington D.C.'s Union Station to Norfolk's Harbor Park Station. This stainless steel streamliner car was built in 1954, the year I was born, by the Budd Company for the Santa Fe Railroad's San Francisco Chief service. It has been restored by Norfolk Southern and now sports the Tuscan Red & Black paint scheme from the old N&W passenger lines, the Powhatan Arrow and Pocahontas. If you like trains, you've got to love this classic. Canon G15, 1/160 sec @ f/6.3, ISO 800.

Long Awaited Return

After 36 years passenger rail service returns to Norfolk Virginia. The Governor's "Whistle Stop" train arrived in Norfolk this afternoon. Regular daily rail service provided by Amtrak Virginia from Norfolk to Washington D.C., New York and Boston starts tomorrow morning. This locomotive #156 carries the Amtrak 40th Anniversary "Phase I" paint scheme known as the "Bloody Nose." This was the first paint scheme widely used by Amtrak when it began service in 1971. Canon G15, 1/400 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 800.

Morning Skyline

The Norfolk Virginia eastern skyline shortly after sunrise on a cloudy but unseasonably warm Monday morning. Freemason Street Baptist Church in the center foreground, the Basilica of Saint Mary just to the right, the eastern branch of the Elizabeth River with the railroad bridges raised to the far right, and Virginia Beach's Westin Town Center in the distant left background seen between the two NSU dormitory towers. Canon G15, 1 sec @ f/7.1, ISO 100.