Cold Drink in a Blue Room

One of my best friends used to work in Williamsburg, Virginia as a bartender and invited me out one night to shoot photos of the scene. He made me a couple of different cocktails and I shot fun shots of the interior, the drinks (some of which I drank), and the patrons. To keep the ambiance, I tried most of the shots with available lighting and a slow shutter speed. In some shots I did funky effects with my slave flash. I love the detail in this shot with the cold wet glass and the bright blue contrasting with the dark burgundy liquid.

Glowing Richmond

It was sunset in Richmond, Virginia as a good friend and I went for a stroll on the canal walk downtown. Every bend revealed another picturesque scene, however there was a slight problem. I had no camera on hand. The clouds were slowing rolling in and it was a wonderful hue of oranges, pinks and purples. I kept saying how ironic it was that I, a photographer, did not have a camera to take these awesome shots. A slight drizzle started to fall and the buildings in the distance was still reflecting the sunset. My friend Cliff suggested I borrow his new cell phone to snap a shot and that he'd email it to me. Gladly I went to work snapping the right frame of the clouds, canal, and the sky. Since the cell quality was not the most clear, I decided to add my own artistic touches of my interpretation on how that early evening looked and felt to me.

Hidden Sands

Once in awhile you venture away from the path and discover a new world. This was a shot I took under a bridge on the Colonial Parkway in Virginia, somewhere between Yorktown and Williamsburg. The sand had been undisturbed for the most part except for little crab footprints that have scratched the surface. The wind and moisture created mini dunes for the whole stretch of the low cover. I ran my fingers on it and it felt like a skin of some unknown creature. I took this shot with a macro zoom lens using available light only.

A Swan Lift

This is my latest painting from a photo I took in Newport News Park in Virginia of a swan taking off for a flight around the lake. The original photo is at the end of this post but I thought it would be nice enough to render into a painting. The original painting is 16x24 on mounted canvas with a combination of acrylic and other synthetic mediums. I also have mounted and poster reproductions for sale, if you are interested.

{Click on the photos to enlarge the details.}

This piece was hand picked by Kenny who thought it was a bit comical how the swan was having trouble lifting its back end. To me, it was like one of those planes that can land and take off from the water... it does take some effort to get its big body to fly from that location. Swans tend to be bigger than a duck or a seagull of course, who seem to just shoot out of the water. I personally like the outstretched neck and how long it is. Swans are on of my favorite animals, aside from the Platypus that is.

Here's the original shot:

The Retreating Fog

I love mornings that are foggy and crisp at the same time. I was driving to work one morning when I noticed the fog skimming the water at Harwood Mills Park in York County, VA that I had to turn the car around to take a photograph. The water was very still and the sun was starting to push away the thick fog which was retreating away from the shore I was standing at. The exposure was pretty quick but the sun in the sky was too bright to really capture compare to its reflection in the water. I like seeing the sun below the horizon. It looks like a fantasy or even another world.

Relic on the Cliff

What Kenny and I thought were at first some kind of Mayan Ruin site, we were tickled to discover it was a place that used to house a large recreational Bathhouse in the early 1900's. The site was spectacular with the remains still accessible. I'm sure it was THE place to go back then if you wanted to swim and not risk getting pulled away into the vast sea. This was on the coast in San Francisco, California beside the more current Cliff House. Inside the newly renovated building is some really posh restaurants where you can enjoy a dish while taking in the beautiful view. We went in to use the bathroom and warm up Kenny's coffee ;-) We were on our way to the museum, so we could not stay but so long. I'm happy we stopped in though. It solved the mystery of the ruins. Haha

Below is a shot of the hallway where a mural of the old Sutro Bathhouse hangs. {You can click on either photo to enlarge.}

Aerial Dolphins

Suspended dolphins complete the Virginia Beach Convention Center's new age nautical theme and at first I did not even notice them. That space is enormous both inside and out and makes you feel like you are entering a futuristic space station. I like how the dolphin faces are smiling and their bodies are in perfect motion as if undulating through the invisible current. This photo is so monochromatic that it almost seems black and white. There is a touch of color on the glass balcony located on the bottom right so you know that I did not render it black and white, which I was very tempted to do. But I think that's what makes parts of the center so stark and unique. The dolphins are white, which is surreal, and instead of being depicted in water, they float above the entrants many feet in the air. The architect was definitely brilliant to propose so many details. If you haven't stepped foot in the Convention Center, I highly suggest you find some reason to... just to appreciate the vision.

Fireworks Dazzle

I heart fireworks... I should have this bumper sticker because I certainly do. Here's a small set of ka-boomz from last year's Hollydazzle Display at Newport News, Virginia's City Center Fountain. They shot the light show over the fountain in the middle of the little faux metropolis and we stood amidsts crowds of people oooh-ing and aahh-ing at the brilliant show. It was nice and with music to boot. I love the different colors they had and it was very near to see these so close. Next year, if we go, I'd like to get on top of the parking deck beside the fountain and see what types of shots I can get from up there. That would be spectacular!

:::VIEW THE SLIDESHOW:::

Back at the Homestead

The Homestead in Hot Springs, Virginia is a wonderful resort with many activities and of course a spa. I had the most fun working and taking photos at a convention up there a couple of years back. I took this shot after one of the golf tournaments as I made my way back in a golf cart. Just a quick snapshot to show how nestled the hotel was in the mountains. It's very fresh and peaceful there, even when it's at the hottest peak of summer. And if you're a dancing nut like I am, there is usually entertainment in the formal dining room, where you can dance a couple of steps on their dance floor. :-)

These Kids Rock!

I was passing by different booths at a trade show when I had to stop and giggle at the bobble head pens that one company was giving away. It was very cute with all those snickering faces and feathery hair. I took a quick shot and later looked at the pic to giggle again. I was reminded of the pre-teen punk rock parties I attended, where we would fake dye our hair and dance to Cindy Lauper. I cropped and created a reflection of just the heads to capture some quirky fun.

Capitol Stripes

Washington D.C. is full of history and architecture and in this shot STRIPES. I rendered this photo black and white to enhance the shapes and contrasts of the composition. There seemed to be stripes and lines everywhere when I glanced up to cross the street. I see many shots of the Capitol Building that are closer to the fountain, giving it grandeur and stateliness... but this one was a neat capture for me, depicting it with a more cartoon pop.

There's really nothing too soft in this shot, the sharpness and focus is pretty crisp. It seems to keep your eyes moving in many directions as you look at it. It's almost like one of those optical illusion drawings. So don't look here if you want a calming photo. *Smile*

Summer Sunflowers

I like how during the summer, cheery sunflowers pop up looking like their namesake. So bright and yellow... usually taller than me. This was taken at The Belmont Pumpkin Farm in Matthews County, VA during a trip I took there with my daughter's school. There were butterflies but they were just too fast for me to capture in a photograph.

Perhaps I'll venture out to the Rose Garden in Huntington Park in Newport News, VA. They should be in full bloom now.

"The Glow Inside a Green Balloon" Entered into Porter's/Tamron Photo Calendar Contest

The theme of the month is Green and I was thinking of submitting a photo of seaweed I snapped earlier this year. However, it did not have the same interesting details as this photo that I took in May of a yellow balloon. I decided that I could recolor the hue and turn the balloon green. Here is the result. I quite like it more than the yellow... it's fun submitting something green that's not a plant. I can't wait to see what everyone else put in.

Here's the gallery of this month's entries: JULY 2010 CALENDAR ENTRIES

If you're interested in the contest, click here to read more about it: PORTER'S/TAMRON PHOTO CALENDAR CONTEST

"The Welcoming" Entered into The Photography Masters Cup

This was an early morning capture at the Oceanfront in Virginia Beach, VA that really gave me an enlightened feeling just by being present to view it. I happened to have my camera handy and stepped unto the balcony of the Virginia Beach Hilton where I was doing photography for a convention. It was nice to see the water with no boats or people within sight, compared to the hundreds of people I had to shoot that week. Not to say that I was not enjoying myself at the event, but there was a nice quieting in my soul when I gazed at this wonderful opening in the clouds. I felt that I was placed there to experience that moment and the camera was the memory to my spirit.

I like this shot so much that I just had to enter it into this year's "The Photography Master's Cup". In case you're curious about what I may get, below is the notice they had on their website regarding the prizes. That would just thrill me to no end to get that much recognition. It's just exciting to have a photograph I'm so very proud of to enter into the competition.

PRIZES

The Photography Masters Cup is dedicated to the creativity and vision of the participating photographers and honors their passion with the highest achievements in color photography.

Professional

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1st Place Winners

PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
MASTERS CUP WINNER

- Recipient of the title "Photographer of the Year"

- $1,000 Prize money from Grants for Color Photography Fund

- Recipient of the Masters Cup

- Creative Excellence Prize

- Publication in World Photographic Arts Magazine

- Publication in leading photography magazines

- Showcased at the online Winners Gallery

CATEGORY AWARD WINNERS
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT

- Recipient of the title "Outstanding Achievement"

- $500 Prize money from Grants for Color Photography Fund

- Publication in World Photographic Arts Magazine

- Publication in leading photography magazines

- Showcased at the online Winners Gallery

San Francisco Skyline

While atop of the Coit Tower in San Francisco, California, I took this shot of the sights below with no tripod to compensate for the slower shutter speed. Yipe! I really tried hard not to shake the exposure because it was a really nice view. So here's the result of me not breathing long enough to hold the open shutter...

I can still remember the cool, night air and the way everything felt like a dream. San Francisco was beautiful during the day and it was even more exciting at night. We tried so many different dishes at the local restaurants and was just pleased with everything we tried. I'm definitely hooked on that scene and am scheming on how to get back there as soon as possible.

A Glass Society

Here's a photo that's not from the great outdoors... as the earlier posts have been. I saw all these empty clear glasses from the corner of my eye and gravitated towards it. There in the middle sat one that was filled with water and covered in condensation. It seemed like a simple shot, but how could I create something new. There was nice statement happening there. It reminded me of bubbles at first and the beauty of them. Then my mind went to a more environmental temperament. This was in comparison to a shot that I did just days ago at the Mariner's Museum in Newport News, VA. [READ ARTICLE HERE] We waste so much plastic these days and the beauty of glass is that we have been using it for centuries. I saw an exhibit at the Chrysler Museum in Norfolk, VA about the "Art of Glass". It was a brilliant show and I'm glad I was able to check it out. There are so many things you can say about glass and how we can create such beauty from molecules of sand. It's reusable, it's functional, it catches the light and reflects our world. In a society where we have filled our land with empty water bottles, it's refreshing to think that we can go back to glass as a way to hold the water that will quench our thirst.

Pirate Ship Sunset

Sunsets are always beautiful to me and somewhat surreal. I was fortunate to catch this one in Ocean City, MD at one of the waterside restaurants at the beginning of the strip. In the shot is the silhouette of what seems to be a pirate ship and a bird flying over it. The focus is sharp enough to see the American flag in the distance, the slight ripples in the water and the slats of the pier. I credit my smaller Canon pocket camera with this clarity. It's smaller lens packs quite a bit of a wider shot than my regular DSLR. I was not even in normal photographer mode, just hanging out with some friends at a restaurant when I whipped out my little camera. I'm pretty happy that I did.

Sitting on the Edge of the World

Mendocino, California was such a great place to visit. My Kenny and I stayed at the cutest little inn called "The Blackberry Inn" and our little cabin was very nice and comfy and had all the creature comforts you could ask for on vacation. The facade of our portion was a bank building and it was so darn cute parking our rental Mini Cooper in front of it.

From our window you could see the beautiful ocean, but luckily we were not just satisfied to see it from inside. We ventured out to the cliff side just before sunset to catch the spectacular views. I took a bunch of panoramic shots which I am working on stitching together. I looked in the distance and noticed another couple doing the same thing we were. They too were sitting out on the edge of the cliff soaking in the sunset. I imagined that we looked about the same, huddled in our hooded jackets as the wind relentlessly pushed against the shoreline. The waves curled under us and kept showering the rocks with rays of water. Looking towards the west, you could see eternity. It was as if we were sitting on the edge of the world. I hope we get to go back again one day. Northern California is a very magical place.

:::Click Photo to Enlarge:::

Pink and Green Tops

Sometimes you have to get to the places where the flowers are in bloom and not hesitate. For this shot, I'm glad I decided to explore Colonial Williamsburg while the spring season was in full swing. I later returned a couple of days later and the same tree I had photographed was almost bare of all the petals.

This shot is a favorite of mine because of the contrast of the roof's color and texture in comparison to the tree's pink and feather like blooms. The pink and green color in this picture also takes me back to my alma mater of Sweet Briar College in Virginia where our colors were pink and green. Let's just say that this photo is partly a tribute to SBC... where I just saw on a Facebook post, that they have the neatest pink bikes available for student use all over campus. Now why didn't they have that when I was there? LOL (Don't worry, you know I'll be shooting those bikes left and right at my reunion next year. ;-)

Heron in Newport News Park

This photo was from an early morning hike I took along the water in Newport News Park in Virginia. The weather was just right and the fog had rolled in very thick that morning. Earlier shots proved that my lens was no match for the dense fog. As the morning progressed and my hike went further past the highly traveled areas, I began to notice a couple of larger birds on the shore. There were swans, ducks and geese... but more fascinating was the heron that seemed to keep one eye on me. He would fly off every time I got somewhat close enough to frame the shot nicely. The fog made it tricky to be too far away because of the elements blurring my focus. After the third approach, I was able to capture this shot. I like the textures and the heron's profile is great to see the markings on his face and the feather that sticks out on the back of his head. I began to wonder if this was a constant scene that the Native Americans would see in this area. There are plenty of history and natural wonders I would like to document while in the midst of this place.

Neptune's Night

This is a famous statue in Virginia Beach, VA and many people have photographed it... I'm sure. I wanted to find my own interpretation and story. I decided to take a negative shot and make the statue appear even more powerful and the people seem like little sea creatures. I really like the pop of the silhouette and the colors of the other forms in contrast.

The beach is busy this time of year and we camped out right behind the statue. I figured it would be easy to spot and find in case anyone in our party were to get lost. If you go on a nice day, who knows... you may just find me there!