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Friday, September 29, 2006

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Sunday, September 24, 2006

You Never Know What You Will See Between The Lines

This week was ripe for photography. Maybe I was inspired by my recent membership in the Northern Virginia Photographic Society (NVPS) and their upcoming year focusing on “Visual Design.”

Sometimes photography is about being in the right place at the right time. On Tuesday there were protesters outside my building. They brought a big inflatable rat with them. These pictures weren’t so great from a design standpoint but they were fun from a subject standpoint. After all, how often do you see a giant inflatable rat?


I finally found a “volunteer” to help me with my idea to take a reflective portrait in the boulders at the National Geographic building. On Thursday my friend and co-worker, Dale, came out and we took a few shots mid-day. I have a feeling that I will be playing with this much more in future.

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

On Sunday I had to be at the NVPS Self-Improvement field trip location, Green Spring Gardens, by 8 am. As I’ve mentioned (at least above), NVPS is spending the year focusing on “Visual Design.” The Self-Improvement field trips are following the Freeman Patterson book, “Photographing the World Around You (A Visual Design Workshop).” I already owned the book before starting this self-improvement project. Here are some of my lines pictures. I will be working on this focus until the next field trip in October. So be prepared to see more LINES.




I am finding it exceedingly difficult to include just a few images every week. Hope you don’t mind.

It’s fall. Time for pumpkins.



Links:

Northern Virginia Photographic Society: http://www.nvps.org

Sunday, September 17, 2006

No Sleeping In For Me

This weekend there was no sleeping in for me. Not sure WHAT I was thinking but I planned early morning photography activities for BOTH Saturday and Sunday.

On Saturday morning, I left the house at 5:30 am so that I could meet my fellow photographers from the Northern Virginia Photographic Society at Wakefield Park so that we could caravan down to Herrington Harbour marina for September’s photography field trip. The theme of the field trip was REFLECTIONS. Here are some of my shots from Saturday.









OK, this one is not a reflection. But this night heron was just sitting there posing for me. I HAD to take his/her picture.



On Sunday I didn’t get up quite as early. I left the house at 7:45 (I could have left later) to make it down to the National Museum of the American Indian by 9:30 for a Washington Photo Safari. The Safari theme was the Nikon D200, my newish camera. The idea of the safari was learning about the camera rather than creative photography but I got a few shots that I liked. Here is one.



Who knows what next week will bring!!!

Links:

Northern Virginia Photographic Society: http://www.nvps.org
Herrington Harbour: http://www.herringtonharbour.com/
Washington Photo Safari: http://www.washingtonphotosafari.com
National Museum of the American Indian: http://www.nmai.si.edu/

Sunday, September 10, 2006

Anticipation . . .

I had a very productive photography week. The week began with Labor Day. We still had house guests so we all went on a picnic to Burke Lake Park. This was a treat for Ivan even though he had to be on his leash while we were there. This summer I got him some dollar Frisbees in the dollar section at Target. Ivan loves to play Frisbee. Unfortunately the dollar disks only last about one session. We also brought a regular Frisbee for us to play with. While Charles and Jeff were playing, Ivan really wanted to go play. He managed to slip out of his collar for a bit – until Jeff tackled him.






Our picnic spot was right near the park train tracks. There was a little mock station with an American flag flying. I though that it was very quaint.




On Saturday we went to see Sandi Croan’s show over at the Broadway Gallery in Fair Lakes Promenade. As I’ve said before, I love her work. Now Charles knows what I have been going on about. Check out the link to Sandi's website below - and to Broadway Galleries' website as well.

On Sunday I got to do my first (of hopefully many more) maternity photo session. A friend of mine came over and we shot for about 2 hours. I’m pretty impressed with my efforts – if I do say so myself. Here are afew of the shots … there are more on my website viewing gallery … and even more will be coming as soon as I finish processing them.








While photos were downloading, I worked on some high key lighting skills and did some self-portraits. Always an interesting experience. I am getting much better at working the remote.



I’ve got lots of plans for artistic inspiration this week. On Tuesday I’ll be going to a Northern Virginia Photographic Society (NVPS) workshop on reflections and shadow. And on Wednesday I’ll be going to the monthly Northern Virginia Artists League (NOVAL) meeting.

Links:

Beyond Mere Words Photography Viewing Galleries: http://beyondmerewords.photosite.com
Burke Lake Park: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/burkelake/
Sandi Croan Photography: http://www.sandicroanphotography.com/
Broadway Galleries: http://www.broadwaygalleries.net/index.shtml
NVPS: http://nvps.org/main/
NOVAL: http://nvps.org/main/

Monday, September 04, 2006

Labor Day Weekend – Lots of Images This Week

Charles went to the first Virginia Tech football game of the season and I stayed home. While he was cheering the Hokies on to victory over Northeastern (38 to nothing), I took a drive around Northern Virginia with my camera. The weather was a little damp as the remnants of not-Hurricane Ernesto were passing through.

I stopped by the Colvin Run Mill Historic site – a photo worthy place. On my way down the hill to the mill, I came across another photographer. He was shooting with a Nikon D70. We had a short conversation about our Nikons and then we both continued with the task at hand, photography.

Here the other photographer setting up a shot of the some discarded mill grinding wheels.



Here is my own interpretation of the same scene. I did a little selective coloring in Photoshop on this one.



On Sunday we went to the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center (part of the National Air & Space Museum near Dulles airport). So many planes. The shapes were interesting. I shot with both my D70 and my D200.




No, this is not a B&W image. This was the color of the sky on Sunday afternoon.

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The museum has an SR71 Blackbird on display. It flew from California to Washington in a little over one hour. Amazing. Yes, I adjusted some settings in Photoshop on this one.



The museum also has a space shuttle on display. It is a BIG flying vehicle.



Charles has not made the PHOG yet. So here he is. I imagine he is saying. “My wife the photographer. I wish that she’d stop taking pictures of me.”



LINKS:

Virginia Tech Football: http://www.hokiesports.com/football/

Colvin Run Mill Historic Site: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/crm/

Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center: http://www.nasm.si.edu/udvarhazy/

Until Next Week!!!