One-A-Day

365 Photo Challenge

Composition

“How do they know what they want when they haven’t even seen it?”

– Steve Jobs

Frame your next photograph with this thought in mind – only show them what you want them to see.  It always amazes me to see what goes on behind the scenes of any video shoot.  Any that I’ve done.  Any that I’ve seen.  I can’t watch any video anymore without the production gears in my head spinning out of control.  It’s just fascinating.  The lights, the flags, the reflectors, the people, the gadgets and doodads – all just out of the frame.  But all there to make what is in the frame that much better.  Just fascinating.  And that’s just it – only show them what you want them to see.  So grab a camera and start shooting those extraordinary scenes that may just be smack dab in the middle of a bunch of chaos.  But once you frame all that junk out, you’re left with insanely great images!

This doorknob just stood out to me as unique, but I had to look past all the distractions to really see it.

This doorknob just stood out to me as unique, but I had to look past all the distractions to really see it.

Detour

It’s a good thing I take my camera everywhere nowadays.  After day 1 of 2 at a freelance job in Fishersville, the interstate was completely backed up so as any good photographer would do, I took an immediate detour into the nearby town –  Staunton.  It had been nasty, wet weather all day so I looked for interesting places to shoot inside (and I’m into churches right now apparently – namely the sanctuaries and stairwells).  I really wanted to get to the top of this one, but couldn’t quite figure it out…

Detours can take you to some great places. I really wanted to shoot from that landing up there. The rope was to the church bell.

Detours can take you to some great places. I really wanted to shoot from that landing up there (looks like remnants from what the church used to be). The rope was for the church bell.

Happy Accidents

There’s a lot of value in the various “accidents” that are made while editing.  Whether it’s photos or videos, it happens all the time.  The trick to editing, after all, is the feel or the rhythm that you get into while it’s happening.  And as you’re in the zone, you can easily make creative choices on the fly that you didn’t really intend to pursue, but then you sit back and think “Wow, that could really work.”  This happened to me as I was editing today’s image so I figured I’d post both the intended version and the “Happy Accident.”  So play around with your edits and make all those mistakes.  Some of the best products happened from crazy, unintended creative choices.

The main sanctuary at First Presbyterian Church, Winchester. Order a print of this image.

The main sanctuary at First Presbyterian Church, Winchester. Order a print of this image.

The "Happy Accident." Order a print of this image.

The “Happy Accident.” Order a print of this image.

The Eyes Have It

I revisited this one from a couple of years ago and processed it very differently because there was just something about it that was so intense.  As I got into it I realized that it was the eyes.  Doesn’t it feel like he’s staring into your soul?

Order a print of this image.

Order a print of this image.

“Smell The Roses”

It’s refreshing to have the opportunity to slow down and take notice of the very mundane stuff ‘cuz the mundane stuff can be cool.  This is the stuff you drive past going to work everyday.  It’s the stuff you miss while you’re frantically running your errands for the week.  You may even run right past it on your daily jog.  Slow down, or even stop, and just take it in.  There’s so much fascinating stuff out there.  How can I ever get “blocked” as a photographer when stuff like this exists around every corner.  It may not be interesting to anybody else, but it is to me.  So there.  You see me with my camera pointed at something, anything, and you wonder “what the heck?”  Well, now you know.

I've been walking by these trees for about 3 months now every morning while I walk my dog and have been fascinated with them every time.

I’ve been walking by these trees for about 3 months now every morning while I walk my dog and have been fascinated with them every time.

Looks like the desert camo that the military wears these days, doesn't it?

Looks like the desert camo that the military wears these days, doesn’t it?

Happy Place

Everybody’s got one, right?  Where’s yours?

Order a print of this image.

Order a print of this image.

The Long & Winding Road

“The long and winding road that leads to your door
Will never disappear
I’ve seen that road before it always leads me here
Leads me to your door”

– Lennon–McCartney

Order a print of this image.

Order a print of this image.

Passion

It’s what motivates us to sometimes subject ourselves to situations against our better judgement.  It motivates us to want to come back.  It makes us sometimes justify enduring the pain and mental anguish because we have an inexplicable connection with it – whatever “it” may be.  We just want more and we’ll do anything we can to remain connected in any way possible because we just love it.  I’ve been connected to cycling now for over 30 years and, although I don’t race as much anymore, I still love the sport and all things associated with it.

"The Hill" on the course of the ever-popular Virginia Spring classic - the Jefferson Cup Road Race in Charlottesville, VA.

“The Hill” on the course of the ever-popular Virginia Spring classic – the Jefferson Cup Road Race in Charlottesville, VA.

“The Bridges of Lancaster County”

We took an impromptu weekend trip to Lancaster County in PA a couple of years ago just to see the covered bridges.  Aside from jumping back in history, it’s fun to just do something spontaneous every once in a while.

One of the 29 covered bridges in Lancaster County, PA. Order a print of this image.

One of the 29 covered bridges in Lancaster County, PA.
Order a print of this image.

Selfie

I think my dog Waldo is learning to appreciate the fact that I almost always have a camera handy and that he’s an unwilling subject in of a lot of my images.

A new twist on the ever-popular selfie. I just always have to be slightly different.

A new twist on the ever-popular selfie. I just always have to be slightly different.

Worship

“Worship is one of the odder things the Christian community does…

But, with worship there is the very real potential and possibility that, by God’s Spirit, I will be enlivened, nourished, purified, opened, surrendered and so will you.”

– The Rev. Dr. Dan McCoig

The very elegant communion table in the Boyd Chapel of First Presbyterian Church, Winchester. Order a print of this image.

The very elegant communion table in the Boyd Chapel of First Presbyterian Church, Winchester.
Order a print of this image.

The Badlands

Even though we really just breezed through and didn’t really get a chance to go to any of the lookouts, it really was a unique experience.  It really did feel like we were out in the middle of nowhere.

The seriously whacky other-worldly landscape of the Badlands in South Dakota. Order a print of this image.

The seriously wacky other-worldly landscape of the Badlands in South Dakota.
Order a print of this image.

Wall Drug

Wall Drug Store in Wall, South Dakota.  If you’ve never been, put it on your list (at least if you’re anywhere near).  It’s one of those places that you have to visit multiple times because you WILL miss stuff.  It’s a treasure trove for kids, families, travelers and people who just like the unique.  There’s stuff tucked everywhere – it’s amazing they fit that much stuff in one place.  As we drove across South Dakota (and even when we were in Minnesota), we drove past all sorts of marketing billboards.  It’s very similar to all the hype about and marketing for South of The Border as your travel into South Carolina from the north.  But Wall Drug has that unique western flair to it.  We loved it.

There's something unique around every corner at Wall Drug Store. I poked my head into one of the doors and saw this. | Order a print of this image.

There’s something unique around every corner at Wall Drug Store. I poked my head into one of the doors and saw this. | Order a print of this image.

Higher Ed

Shot this one a while back, but I’m only just now getting around to processing it.  I’m heading to Charlottesville next week for a bike race so maybe this begins my next collection – Higher Ed.

Higher Ed

The main entrance to Cole Hall on Bridgewater College’s campus in Bridgewater, VA.

Discovery

It probably seems random to go back to posting images from Udvar Hazy Air & Space Center, but that’s just me right now – random.  Just whatever pops into my head as I look through my huge library of images.  This is, after all, a photography blog (I feel like I’ve said that before).

A perfect vantage point for photos of the Space Shuttle Discovery. | Order a print of this image.

A perfect vantage point for photos of the Space Shuttle Discovery. | Order a print of this image.

The Wee Hours

Aside from all the obvious benefits of cycling all these years, I’ve also become conditioned to being awake for the wee hours of the morning.  It also comes in handy as a photographer.

Like I said, spend the rest of the weekend shooting the good stuff. | Order a print of this image.

Like I said, spend the rest of the weekend shooting the good stuff. | Order a print of this image.

Postcard

The current Cape Henry Lighthouse from inside the stairwell of the original. | Order a print of this image.

The current Cape Henry Lighthouse from inside the stairwell of the original.
Order a print of this image.

I’ve had plenty of people tell me that my photos remind them of postcards.  To be honest (and absolutely no offense intended), that’s more of an insult than a compliment – and here’s why (at least from a photographer’s perspective).  One of the main goals of any professional photographer is to be different, to separate their work from all others.  A postcard is a tourist souvenir that simply showcases where you are.  You can share it with others or keep it for your scrapbook.  Point is, it’s usually a simple image of the surrounding area – nothing incredibly creative (keep in mind I’m strictly talking about the image postcards, not the creatively designed ones).  So even though I wouldn’t mind if my images landed on postcards some day, a significant part of me lashes out inside when I hear “your photo belongs on a postcard.”

Now here’s the disclaimer…

In my early days I actually used to go straight to the postcard racks to see if I could recreate the images I found there and I usually could.  Fast forward to today and you’ll still find me looking at the racks, but now I look to make sure I’m NOT shooting the same stuff.  Sure, everybody wants to take the pretty images of any locale.  So once you’re done shooting like everybody else, take the tourist hat off and BURN IT.  Then spend the next 15 minutes or day or weekend shooting unique images.

Travel

The traveler sees what he sees, the tourist sees what he has come to see.

– G.K. Chesterton

The symbolic passing of the torch.  The original Cape Henry Lighthouse (1792) stands in the foreground and the current (and fully automated) lighthouse (1881) stands behind it.

The two Cape Henry Lighthouses standing side by side in VA Beach.

The two Cape Henry Lighthouses standing side by side in VA Beach.

Patuxent

After leaving DC, I ventured into Maryland before heading down to VA Beach.  It’s always fun discovering new places.  I even drove through Hollywood and California on my way to the lighthouse featured a couple of days ago.

Drove over this bridge to the lighthouse, but had to photograph it before leaving. | Order a print of this image.

Drove over this bridge to the lighthouse, but had to photograph it before leaving. | Order a print of this image.