One-A-Day

365 Photo Challenge

Tracks

Every photographer has a huge pile of images that have either gone horribly wrong.  Or maybe said photographer thought, at the shoot, that the image was worth shooting, but got back to their desk and realized how horribly wrong they were.  I took this image back when I first started dabbling in HDR processing and haven’t gone back to that set of images…until now.  I’m posting the three images that made up the final just so I can remember how bad I thought the original images were.

IMG_4628 IMG_4627 IMG_4626

And here’s the final image after some typical post-processing – I could do without all the noise, though.

These are the train tracks that cross Millwood Ave, in Winchester. I took this image in 2012 and am just now processing it.

These are the train tracks that cross Millwood Ave, in Winchester. I took this image in 2012 and am just now processing it.

Milestone

I hit a pretty cool milestone this week – 100K miles on my car.  I realize in the whole grand scheme of things that it’s not THAT big of a deal, but it’s cool.  Yeah, I’ve had cars with over 100,000 miles on them, but I hadn’t put all of them on it.  See, this is my first new car.  I’ve been the only owner since I bought it in 2005.  I didn’t actually think it was going to last as long as it has because in the first year alone I racked up about 35,000 of these miles.  Anyway, here’s to another 100 grand!

Just hit 100K on my first new car!

Just hit 100K on my first new car!

Grace, The Iron Girl

I can honestly say that I did not know this series existed.  It was a very cool experience to see all the different things that this race could represent for so many different people.  It really honored all kinds of different aspects of women.  It was really cool to see that the organizers celebrated every last finisher (even spreading the finishing tape for the actual last finisher).

I also learned that the Iron Girl logo is named Grace and stands for the grace that woman demonstrate when they compete in this type of event.  Really neat day.

The finishing chute of the Iron Girl 1/2 marathon in Columbia, MD.

The finishing chute of the Iron Girl 1/2 marathon in Columbia, MD.

Birthday Surprise

I think back to my youth and remember the birthday parties at the movie theater.  I’d have a bunch of friends join me in the special birthday party room that overlooked the actual theater, we’d have cake and ice cream and then we’d have a private screening of a movie.  I don’t really remember the movies, I just thought it was cool that it was private.  My brother just threw his son a 3rd birthday party and had a local fire truck pull up to his house.  As you can imagine, the kids went nuts (so did most of the adults).  How cool was that?!  I wonder how he’ll remember it 40 years from now.

I have a Photomatix setting that I created called Extremely Awesome based off of Trey Ratcliff's Mega Extreme Do Not Click setting. I usually only use it to get a specific portion of an image to where I need it, but this time it worked "right out of the box." This image, for the most part, is pretty much straight out of Photomatix.

I have a Photomatix setting that I created called Extremely Awesome loosely based on Trey Ratcliff’s Mega Extreme Do Not Click setting. I usually only use it to get a specific portion of an image to where I need it, but this time it worked “right out of the box.” This image, for the most part, is pretty much straight out of Photomatix.  By the way, it’s the wheel of the fire truck that was the featured guest at the party today.

Stairway

Another take on the incredible architecture inside the Handley Regional Library in Winchester.  My next project is going to be shooting the inside of Handley High School.  That place has got some architectural awesomeness and I’ve wanted to shoot it forever.  Stay tuned…

The main staircase that leads to the second and third levels at the Handley Library. | Order a print of this image.

The main staircase that leads to the second and third levels at the Handley Library. | Order a print of this image.

Sure Sign

I know most people try to avoid having them in their yards.  I leave them so I know for sure that Spring is here.  Yeah, that’s my story…

Sure Sign

A sure sign that Spring has “sprung”

Library

I was near the Handley Library as the sun was setting and as luck (or design) would have it, I had my camera with me.  I just wish there was a more interesting cloud cover this evening.  Ah, well.  Not bad for an impromptu shoot.

The Handley Library was constructed in 1913 with a major renovation in 2001. It's apparently also featured in a photography book about libraries that was just published, but I'm unsure of the title.

The Handley Library was constructed in 1913 with a major renovation in 2001. It’s apparently also featured in a photography book about libraries that was just published, but I’m unsure of the title.

Almost There…

Almost There...

It’s pretty awesome how quickly and timely (for the Apple Blossom Festival) all the flowers and trees just pop around here.

 

Stained

In worship an increased power steals its way into the heart sanctuary, an increased compassion grows in the soul. To worship is to change.

– Richard J Foster

I took this one on Easter morning, but never had the time to process it.

I took this one on Easter morning, but never had the time to process it.

Family Time

Nothing like getting together with cousins and playing until you just drop ‘cuz you’re dog-tired.

 

Waldo and Russell - 1st cousins.

Waldo and Russell – 1st cousins.

#springishere

I’ve been waiting a long time to put some color back into the photos around here.

 

Bucket List

So my wife told me that she wants to put a visit to Holland (when all the tulips bloom) on her bucket list.  I could do that.

I think this time it's gonna stick (referring to Spring, of course).

I think this time it’s gonna stick (referring to Spring, of course).

Last Supper

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.”  Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it.  “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them.

Mark 14:22-24

Attended my church’s Maundy Thursday service tonight where they performed a “Living Last Supper.”  Certainly an interesting way to present the story.

The Living Last Supper as presented by First Presbyterian Church in Winchester

The Living Last Supper as presented by First Presbyterian Church in Winchester

Spring

“In the Spring, I have counted 136 different kinds of weather inside of 24 hours.”

– Mark Twain

Spring

It’s A Small World

Just having some fun with my extreme wide-angle fisheye lens.  Actually a lot of my interior architecture images these days are shot with this lens.  The end results have some pretty severe angles of view, but I try to not create them with the extreme, stereotypical, fisheye bulge that most people associate with this type of lens.  The trick begins when shooting the images and making sure that the horizon looks real.  I’m always looking for scenes where there is a natural built-in curve to the image – the fisheye lens can then enhance the scene.  My favorite example is the image from the staircase in our local library – Handley Regional Library.

I usually try to avoid this look, but was just having fun here with this one.

I usually try to avoid this look, but was just having fun here with this one.

God Rays

One last look at the Florida beaches before I left.  My kids used to call this sunlight pattern “God Rays.”  Whatever you call it, there’s no denying the fact that it’s an incredible sight.

The wonderful thing about the sun rising or setting is that it's really never the same. Order a print of this image.

The wonderful thing about the sun rising or setting is that it’s really never the same.
Order a print of this image.

Palm Sunday

This one is in an effort to be more timely with my photos.  It is, after all, Palm Sunday.

How timely is this? Another great sunset captured. Order a print of this image.

How timely is this? Another great sunset captured. Order a print of this image.

Cruise-In

When you’re traveling you just can’t say no to a quick stop to check out a potential photo opportunity.  I actually stopped because a building caught my eye, but then I stumbled onto this old-timey car show.  The trick was to take a tack-sharp image and “dirty” it up in an effort to match the Cruise-In theme of yesteryear.  What do you think, too much?

This scene just felt retro when I saw it.

This scene just felt retro when I saw it.

Sunny Side Up

I think my circadian rhythms automatically sync to the sunrise whenever I travel.  It doesn’t matter when I go to bed the night before, I’m always up before the sunrise the next day.

A few short hours and I caught up with the sun on the other side of yesterday.

A few short hours and I caught up with the sun on the other side of yesterday.

Just Beachy

Proper sunsets are simply awesome.  I shot close to 300 photos before it was all said and done, but this one stood out from the rest.  All the “contrasty” things going on were screaming for some post-processing.  Hopefully gonna turn the other way in several hours and the catch up with the sun.

Retirement

Could you see yourself retiring here? Order a print of this image.