One-A-Day

365 Photo Challenge

Discover

“You don’t stop playing because you get old.  You get old because you stop playing”

– Posted on a sign at the entrance to Winchester City’s Jim Barnett Park

There’s been quite a lot of change in the downtown area of Winchester (aka Old Town).  One of the biggest changes, in my humble opinion, is the recent move of the Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum.  Not only did it move off the Loudoun Mall (really only 1 block away), but it moved into a huge new building.  The former space offered a fun learning space for kids, but the new space is enormous and it ads a roof-top component!  It’s really cool that this downtown staple was able to find a space to expand its offering.  Can’t wait to check it out.

The new Shenandoah Discovery Museum in Old Town Winchester.

The new Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum in Old Town Winchester.

“Delight”-ful

The entire time that I worked at TV3 Winchester, one of the more common misconceptions from visitors to Winchester was that the building where I worked was the welcome center.  It was, after all, situated in such a way that if you’re coming off the interstate at the “main” Winchester exit you’d see the TV3 Winchester building straight in front of you, well, welcoming you to the city.  The actual welcome center is just a few more blocks down the road and around the corner (within walking distance of what was TV3 Winchester).  It’s right across the parking lot from the oldest house in Winchester Abram’s Delight.

I'm kinda getting to be a tourist in my own town as I make my rounds to create new images. | Order a print of this image.

I’m kinda getting to be a tourist in my own town as I make my rounds to create new images. | Order a print of this image of Abram’s Delight.

Steeple

I had a friend suggest a new project to me today which always makes the gears turn even faster.  He suggested that it might be pretty cool to do a “Steeples of Winchester” motif.  So, of course, now I’m noticing all the steeples.  You know, kinda like the deal when you buy a new car and you all-of-a-sudden start noticing all those same cars out on the road.  Yeah, that’s gonna be me with steeples now for a while.  Just you watch.

They changed the locks at my church and no I enter through a different door. Sometimes a slight change of routine will make you notice things that have been there all along.

They changed the locks at my church and now I enter through a different door on Sunday. Sometimes a slight change of routine will make you notice things that have been there all along.

Mall

It’s was an awesome day for a Kidz Fest on the Old Town Walking Mall in Winchester.  After shooting an event at my church, I headed out and walked right into this.  After all the rain and flooding over the past week, it was good to see blue sky again.  As I walked up the alley to leave the mall, the smell coming from the new Cajun restaurant in the Taylor Hotel made me want to go in.  I will be back to dine.  Yum!

The Old Town Mall in Winchester, VA featuring the newly renovated Taylor Hotel.

The Old Town Mall in Winchester, VA featuring the newly-renovated Taylor Hotel.

Alpendorf

Found another image from our trip to Austria.  On our last day, we took a hike up into Alpendorf and we were glad we did.  Just look at that view!  There are no words to describe it.

What a site for an awesome pool party. That ski lift goes to the Alpendorf Ski area in Austria.

What a site for an awesome pool party. That ski lift goes to the Alpendorf Ski area in Austria.

The Sound of Music

I’m setting up, and adding to, my Flickr account.  I’ve had it for several years and have done nothing with it.  Shame on me.  Anyway, it’s there now and is being populated and organized as we speak.  I randomly started with images from Austria (maybe because I was talking with a friend about the trip the other day).  As I’m skimming through – and skipping most (I really wish I knew how to take better pictures back then) – I stop at this one and immediately begin processing it.  There was just something about it that stood out from all the rest.  When I finished and uploaded it to my galleries I realized that I had processed it before.  The difference illustrates how, on different days, you can see and image completely differently.

This is the building used for the Von Trapp residence exteriors in the movie. | Order a print of this image.

This is the building used for the Von Trapp residence exteriors in the movie. | Order a print of this image.

Long Branch

So this place is really tucked away in Clarke County, VA.  I ride by this place just before riding by the Millwood Mill on Tuesday nights.  I’ve been here once before when I was shooting weddings and haven’t been back since.  Now I want to go inside because apparently there’s an amazing staircase just inside the front entrance (it’s now a goal of mine to shoot it).

Order a print of this image.

Order a print of this image.

1861

I’ll have to admit, I’ve never really been into history.  But I sure do find it fascinating there are still so many reenactments of various battles all throughout this area.  I’m actually determined to attend some of the larger ones later this year – mainly for the awesome photographic opportunities (but perhaps I’ll learn something new along the way).  The oldest one in the nation is actually this weekend at New Market Battlefield in Virginia.

Anyway, since I was in Leesburg today I figured I’d take a little side trip to Ball’s Bluff to get the Civil War “juices’ flowing.

The Battle of Ball's Bluff - 10/21/1861

The Battle of Ball’s Bluff – 10/21/1861. | Order a print of this image.

Millwood Mill

Another edition of “In My Town.”  This one’s not technically in my town, but it’s close enough.  I go on a group ride on Tuesdays that rides right past this Mill.  Wonderful scenery in Clarke County, VA.

Some wonderful scenery in Clarke County, VA including the Burwell Morgan Mill.

Some wonderful scenery in Clarke County, VA including the Burwell Morgan Mill.

Mother’s Day

I know it’s late, but it’s still Mother’s Day.  I think we’ll make it a tradition now to create a very memorable image each year for this holiday.  First, a little throw-back Sunday…

Mother's Day 2013

Mother’s Day 2013. From L-R: me, my sister, my older brother and my younger brother.

…and this year’s image…

From left to right: my mother-in-law, my wife and my mother. | I think I need a little help filling in the Balloons.

From left to right: my mother-in-law, my wife and my mother. | I think I need a little help filling in the Balloons.

Booth

Well, that was just fun.

Lots more images to come, but picked one of my favorites of the evening. Not too often that I'm on this side of the lens.

Lots more images to come, but picked one of my favorites of the evening. Not too often that I’m on this side of the lens.

JMU 2.0

You know how when you get older, you start telling your kids, your nieces and nephews, your students – just anyone younger than you are – about how “none of this was here when I was your age?”  That was me at James Madison University today while talking with my daughter.  The new part of JMU (east side of 81) is pretty cool and the architecture is dramatic.  I might just be exploring more this weekend.

I went to school with the Carrier Library. Pretty cool that another president has a separate library on the new part of campus.

I went to school when the Carrier Library was the only on-campus library (and it had one less floor than it currently has). This is the second on-campus library across I-81.

Nostalgia

I stumbled across a box today that was just stuffed in a closet.  It had been there for quite some time and I’d acknowledged it for several years and questioned what was in it, but never actually looked inside.  Curiosity got the better of me today and I’m glad it did.  What I found represents about a decade’s worth of memories in my racing “career.”  These awards include Commonwealth State Games of Virginia, Duathlon and Triathlon series in Maryland, Virginia Criterium Championships and countless memories.  Everybody should be so lucky to find a similar box of memories.  Good times…

Lots of fond memories just waiting to be found in my closet today!

Lots of fond memories just waiting to be found in my closet today!

Man’s (and Woman’s) Best Friend

A person who has never owned a dog has missed a wonderful part of life.

– Bob Barker

I had to take their picture because they have the same taste in colors.

I had to take their picture because they have the same taste in colors.

Light Session

Alright, gearing up for the senior portraits in the next year.  Took some test shots this afternoon and am pretty happy with them.  I certainly have some improving to do, but this was a good start – I really need a hair light to make this image really pop.  I got a new light diffuser kit just before Apple Blossom – I knew I’d be using it everywhere.  I’ve tried plenty of light diffusers in the past, but none have had very pleasing results.  I’ve made them work for me, but have always known I could do better.  Along comes Gary Fong.  Granted, he’s been around for a while, but I’m just now trying his stuff.  And I’m loving it.  It’s not just the products themselves, but the techniques that I’m learning along with them.  I’m kinda digging portraits and am looking forward to doing more.

Any takers…?

I'm learning so much about light and how to control every bit of it. This was shot in the heat of the day at about 4 o'clock outside with an ugly-looking background. You'd never guess from the final result.

I’m learning so much about light and how to control every bit of it. This was shot in the heat of the day at about 4 o’clock outside with an ugly-looking background. The cover photo is how bright it was outside. You’d never guess from the final result.

Horse

A horse is the projection of peoples’ dreams about themselves – strong, powerful, beautiful – and it has the capability of giving us escape from our mundane existence.

– Pam Brown

Ran across this guy on my shoot out in Clarke County this morning. What a great morning to be out shooting.

Ran across this guy on my shoot out in Clarke County this morning. What a great morning to be out shooting.

“Antique” or “Old Timey”

Either way, it’s a cool car – the Excalibur.  I usually go to the Apple Blossom Weekend in the Park, but this weekend kicked my butt.  I’ll settle for snapping a few shots in my church’s parking lot of all the cars that the celebrities ride for the parade.  This one was just sitting there oozing style.  Those menacing clouds off in the distance never really produced anything the entire day (at least not on our parade).

Another successful Grand Feature Parade.

Another successful Grand Feature Parade.

Tubas!

Love me some tuba shots.  Yeah, it’s a weird obsession of mine.  It could make for a really cool band poster…

…hmmmm.

Tuba I

Tuba II

Tuba III

Vendors

I’ve never liked the vendors concept at Apple Blossom – especially the street vendors who roam the parade route with the grocery cart full of goodies that just drive all parents bonkers.  My kids are grown and have almost OUTgrown the stage where they want stuff from those carts.  I’ve never liked the vendors…until now.  You see, the “in” items now all have lights.  Sure there are still plenty of noise makers, but the lighted toys seem to be more popular than ever.  And not just with the kids – I like them, too.  It’s kind of like a pre-fireworks show for me.

The light show for me started about 30 minutes before the first firework!

The light show for me started about 30 minutes before the first firework!

Disco Fever

I’ve been in Winchester now for 14 years and have “attended” Apple Blossom each year.  I say “attended” because I’ve really only gone to the parades and the carnival/midway when the kids were younger.  I’ve really never been one for the crowds and all that goes with them, but after tonight I can see why some people go overboard and nuts for all the events.  This doesn’t necessarily mean I’m going to start attending more, but I can appreciate why some people do.  I’ve got so many more photos to rummage through before it’s all said and done, but this one summed up my evening.

Miss Apple Blossom & Miss Virginia on stage with the "Right On Band."

Miss Apple Blossom & Miss Virginia on stage with the “Right On Band.”