While traveling for work, I took an extra day and took the MARC and the Metro to visit with my brother in Arlington, VA.
Getting from Baltimore to DC is easy and inexpensive using MARC trains - $6 one way. The MARC uses Union Station in DC as it’s final stop. I then took the DC Metro (after a pit stop for re-fueling) to the Ballston Commons stop in Arlington, VA for a bit over $2. 2 blocks from where my brother works above a nice Thai restaurant, where we had a delightful meal together.
Union Station is a busy place, with wonderful architecture, which I tried to highlight here.
I grabbed my camera - always at the ready, and took a couple of captures off the deck at the back of my home.
Light at sunrise and sunset has a way of changing with every second.
This isn’t what I saw, out my bathroom window just 2 minutes before.
Close, but I liked the earlier view better - in my memory.
I had the manual focus and apature Vivitar 135mm M42 mount on my Pentax.
Even with it’s limited field of vision, area of light it can capture, it gives me what I was looking for.
The clouds on fire with pink and orange
This is me playing around in my hotel room, learning my new lens instead of watching TV.
Note: The only time TV went on, was to see if I could check out via it instead of going to the front desk. I’ve become a non-tv person. Internet yes, TV no.
I love the tiny bubbles in this bottle of water.
While reviewing my photos taken on the trip in Lightroom (newest version, 1.1 rocks!), I re-discovered this one.
I had my new manual focus, manual apature, 135mm lens on and was playing with settings and focus depth.
This bottle of water caught my eye with the light textures.
Something which is almost nothing can certainly become an object of interest, when you look at it in a new way.
Tip: Take pictures of everything.
I extended my business trip by one day, taking Thurday off to visit with my
brother Nick & his lovely partner and wife Mary Ann.
The light, coming in through the window at the table, was very lovely.
Diffused, with overhead lighting adding a contrasting light to the top of
Nick’ head.
I just had to take this photo, capture the moment.
Nick is one of my 5 brothers. All my elder, one deceased.
Family are very important to me and those of my family.
Worth spending time with, keeping in touch.
Tina may look 17, but is a youthful-looking executive and a new mom.
I’ve worked with TIna for several years on a large project for my State of Illinois agency in partnership with a large US Federal agency. Tina is one who learns by doing it all and working seemingly 24 hours a day. Endless energy and enthusiasm to do a quality job. with a smile. Admirable, for sure.
Tina took time out of her career to become a mother to Alexander. She, and her husband are proud parents to a very alert and happy Alex. Alex impressed me today with his attention - his eyes were seemingly focused on everything in his new world!
Tina came by the work group, the focus of my trip this week to Baltimore, Maryland. She was showing off Alex as a happy mom to her co-workers.
I had taken my camera to the meetings today, hoping for some photo opportunities. I started off in the shuttle bus this morning. By the end of the meeting today, I had taken several, by my own prompting as well as many at the request of others.
I liked this one the best.
Happy and healthy mom and son.
I’m looking forward to a better resolution on my next PDA phone, whatever that is and whenever I can afford it. My current replacement pick would be the Palm Treo 755p. I’ve got a bunch of Palm software, so that’s what tips me in that direction.
I’m on travel status for work this week.
I brought my main camera, the beloved and superb (but not perfect) Pentax K10D, and two lenses with a 2X teleconverter - which gives me 4 lenses to pick from.
I should have brought it to the restaurant tonight. Like my Flickr friend, Raffee , I could have taken some nice portraits in a subdued light using my fast 50mm f1.4 prime lens.
Alas, I weakened and gave in to a fear of offending folks with my lens. Next time I shall remain firm and give it a go.
I love the range of blue here, from dark above to a pale light shade with the puffs of clouds like icing on a cake.
You never can have too many cameras, and no matter how low the resolution, a good photograph is lurking every where you look.
I was 2nd shooter for a wonderful photographer, Daniel J. Watkins, in Forest park in St. Louis, MO.
It was a super hot day with humidity way up there.
Forest Park is full of scenic backdrops for wedding photographers, and they were out in force. It seemed almost like we had to take a number, there were so many wedding groups!
This bridge was one of the less crowded scenes.
As my role was to get photos which the main photographer could not, I had this nice view, while Dan took some long shots from the side of the bridge with the lagoon and greenery in the foreground.
No matter what the weather is on “The” wedding day, the photographer must capture the romance, the unique and special celebration.
This day, the photographers were wringing wet! =)
