Albermarle Sunset
Here’s another sunset shot I took a couple years ago when vacationing on the Albermarle Sound in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. This shot was right out of the camera with no post processing other than to add my copyright. August 2, 2010.
Specs: Nikon D50, 200 mm, F/6.3, 1/2500
Zachary
Here is a low resolution iPhone photo that my son took of his friend Zachary. It was not cropped. He just aimed and snapped. I adjusted the hue a bit in post processing, but that’s about it. While the photo is a bit pixilated, it still has a soft, soothing feel to it — a great depiction of the innocence of youth.
A Golden Moment
Sitting on the bridge of my old motor yacht, I have the perfect vantage point to observe life on Broad Creek, a bustling waterway of marinas, boatyards and river homes in Deltaville, Virginia. The creek, which spills into the mouth of the Rappahannock River at its confluence with the Chesapeake Bay, was especially active this past Memorial Day weekend as families flocked to the water. This shot captured a father and daughter kayaking with the family dog, the water-loving Golden Retriever. The sun’s sparkle on the kayaks and water droplets off the paddles added to this “Golden Moment”.
May 29, 2012. Camera: Nikon D7000, Focal Length: 270 mm, Aperture: F/11, Shutter: 1/8000, ISO: 6400
Friendly Pig
My son has always loved pigs. Don’t really know why. Maybe because they are extremely smart animals, and he’s pretty smart too! Anyway, I found this shot in a stack from 2007 that I thought captured the feeling I have today — excitement! It’s Friday and the start of a three-day holiday weekend. Heading to the rivah with Jenny and Nikon in tote. Farmer’s Market tomorrow, which usually provides some good subject material for photogging. Happy shooting!
Camera specs: Nikon D50, 35 mm, F/8, 1/250
Speedy
Perusing some vacation pics from a couple years ago, I came across this shot of Zachary examining a water bug he found and preserved in a two liter soda bottle. Because of the bug’s swift swimming movements, he affectionately named it “Speedy”. I like this shot because it reminds me of the simple pleasures and delights of youthful curiosity and how I use photography to keep that alive in me when life’s demands come calling. August 5, 2012.
Camera specs: Nikon D50, F/5.6, 1/20
Merrick Butte
Likely one of the most photographed landmarks of the American Southwest is Merrick Butte in Monument Valley, Arizona. As a follow-up to my previous post of the Mustang, I wanted to share another landscape of this beautiful country where such wild horses roam. This region of the U.S. is one of my favorite places, and I had no idea how incredibly colorful it was in my earlier years seeing it in black and white on John Ford films and TV westerns. I made this image in 2006 during a family vacation and have always liked the rich, saturated orange, browns and yellows in contrast with the baby blue Arizona sky. July 25, 2006.
Camera specs: Nikon D50, 55 mm, F/10, 1/320
Ghosts in the Dust
My first car was a 1968 Ford Mustang — a classic by the time I owned it when I was in college. I loved that car and hated to part with it. Years later, while vacationing in the Southwest with my family, I came face-to-face with the source of my first car’s model name. Yes, the wild Mustang. She came out of no where along with a few of her friends while we were driving at a sight-seeing pace near Monument Valley in Arizona. I stopped the car and jumped out with my Nikon D50 and began firing off the shutter.These beautiful, spirited animals circled us and our rental SUV for a few moments and then were gone as quickly as they came — ghosts in the dust. This shot, I thought, captured the grace and splendor of this fine horse and the magical moment it had for me and my family. July 25, 2006. Near Monument Valley, Arizona.
Nikon 55 mm, F/10, 1/250.
Red Sky at Night
Often times the best light comes “after” the sun dips below the horizon. The sun’s reflection off the clouds creates a soft, warm glow that is even more prominent over water. The silhouetted dock in the foreground gives perspective and helps lead the eye. Albermarle Sound, North Carolina. August 1, 2011.
Nikon 48 mm, F/4.8, 1/60, ISO 720
Sunset over Albermarle Sound
One of the advantages of vacationing on the “sound-side” in the Outer Banks of North Carolina is seeing spectacular sunsets like this one. This was the view from our vacation rental last summer. Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. August 1, 2011.
Nikon 20 mm, F/5.9, 1/200, ISO 80
Blue Angels Soar at Andrews AFB Air Show
Jenny and I took the boys and spent the day at the Joint Forces Open House and Air Show at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland on Saturday, May 19. It was a beautiful, clear day, and despite our sunburn, we had a great time. I took lots of photos and created a gallery page for some of the better ones. — Rob
To view the gallery, Click Here.
Tandem Flyers
The Yak-9 prop plane and the L-39 Navy jet soar above wide eyes down the flight line at the Andrews AFB Air Show. May 19, 2012.
Nikon 220 mm, F/11, 1/1600, ISO 800
Nose Dive
The Oracle Challenger III High Performance Bi-plane performs daring maneuvers at the Andrews AFB Air Show. May 19, 2012.
Nikon 300 mm, F/11, 1/1000, ISO 800
Reach, Shoot, Hope
This spectator used what he had to capture the excitement at the Andrews AFB Air Show. Ironically, he could not see the video image on his iPad screen that was hoisted above the crowd….but I could. May 19, 2012
Nikon 300 mm, F/8, 1/1600, ISO 640
Above the Crowd
This little boy found just the right perch on steady shoulders complete with visual guidance at the Andrews AFB Air Show. May 19, 2012.
Nikon 240 mm, F/5.3, 1/3200, ISO 640
Blue Angels
The U.S. Navy Blue Angels fly in tight formation as they circle low at Andrews AFB. May 19, 2012
Nikon 270 mm, F/6.3, 1/2500, ISO 640
Geico Skytypers
In formation, these planes are silhouetted against a deep blue sky as the sun illuminates their Air Show contrails. Andrews AFB, May 19, 2012.
Nikon 300 mm, F/8, 1/3200, ISO 800
Mattie Joan Home
Here’s an interesting and somewhat eerie perspective of the Mattie Joan work boat berthed at her home dock on Broad Creek. This was in my view directly across the creek from where my boat is docked. Early morning light reflecting off the boat and dock house, which were surrounded by woods, enabled me to exaggerate the shadows and isolate the subject. Deltaville, Virginia. May 28, 2011.
Nikon 98 mm, F/5.6, 1/50, ISO 800
Sailboats at Dusk
Sailboats at Deltaville Yachting Center rest on the glass-like water as the last vestige of sunlight fades into the blue night.
Deltaville, Virginia. June 25, 2011.
Nikon 18 mm, F/3.5, 1/6, ISO 500
Rivah Culture
These two fellows, who were fishing on Jackson Creek near the Deltaville Maritime Museum, capture the essence of what I call “Rivah Culture”. Casual garb, sunshades, hats, fishing, boat and a lazy afternoon. They had it all. I’m sure there were more than a few beers in the cooler.
Deltaville, Virginia. July 3, 2011
Nikon 190 mm, F/5.6, 1/500, ISO 200
Father & Son at Pippin Hill Vineyards
Using his wine glass as a pointer, this father enjoys a precious moment with his son, whose short attention span is focused on some unseen object of interest on the painted landscape.
Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards near Charlottesville, Virginia. October 30, 2011
Nikon 105 mm, F/5.6, 1/200, ISO 100
Wind Power
An umbrella comes in handy on a breezy day for this Broad Creek kayaker. Because I did not want to crop out the boats at the top, since they offer some perspective, I used a color focal zoom technique against a B&W waterscape to help the subject stand out.
Deltaville, Virginia. August 14, 2011
Nikon 200 mm, F/6.3, 1/640, ISO 200
Evening Paddle
A slow shutter speed and unusual white balance created this surreal shot of a loan kayaker on Broad Creek at dusk.
Deltaville, Virginia. June 20, 2011
Nikon 150 mm, F/5, 1/4, ISO 400
Delfosse Vineyards
Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the Hickory Creek Valley south of Charlottesville, Virginia, Delfosse Winery seems like an Italian villa winery with its terraced vineyards and serene lake setting. Their premium wines are as spectacular as their mountain views. I took this shot last autumn from the porch of their hilltop cabin, which is available for weekend getaways.
Faber, Virginia, October 30, 2011
Nikon 30 mm, F/11, 1/160, ISO 100
Unlucky Fish
I had ventured off the beaten path of the shoreline trail along Dublin Bay, to catch a closer look at a Grey Heron that was feeding in the shallows. I found a nice perch on a concrete jetty where I could sit and watch this graceful bird. As I was texting my girlfriend on my iPhone, I heard a loud splash in the water that nearly startled me. When I looked up, I saw a disturbance in the water about 30 meters from me and knew something large had surfaced and submerged before I could catch a glimpse. I immediately aimed my Nikon in that direction and waited. A moment later, I snapped this photo as a sea lion broke water again showing me his dinner. He surfaced several times, until alas he swallowed the fish whole and was gone. I waited for more activity, but the tide was receding and soon the inlet would be a mudflat. He and any others had moved out to deeper waters.
In My View 