trying to find my way

Life's cycles sometimes get in the way of that which we love. My two passions, photography & climbing, have been usurped by the demands of my classroom this school year. The attack on photography really began last year, and I've struggled mightily to remedy it. This year's assault on my time spent climbing, either on plastic or outdoors, is really wearing on me. The graduate course I've been taking has eliminated a night that I always climbed and has negated any gains in ability or strength I made over the summer. I'm hoping the winter and spring are kinder to my passions.
(ISO 100, f/9.0, 1/50s)

three stars

On Tuesday, I was able to attend an award ceremony for my best friend in high school. Aside from family, I was one of very few civilians there as he was awarded the Navy Cross. This three star general wasn't even the highest ranking officer in attendance. Pretty awesome.

(ISO 100, f/5.0, 1/320s, 200mm)

crossbucks

This sign looks a bit different than the one in Vienna.
(ISO 100, f/7.1, 1/200s)

circular reflection

The red caboose really popped in the winter snowscape.
(ISO 100, f/7.1, 1/15s)

southern

I've often ridden by the caboose at Bluemont Junction on the Washington & Old Dominion Trail. This fall, I resolved to visit it in the winter. I remembered.
(ISO 100, f/7.1, 1/100s)

iwo jima

On the last day of school before winter break, I got home pretty early. I decided to head to Rosslyn with my camera, walk around, then surprise my wife by picking her up at work. In a bout of photographic karma, I was blessed with some spectacular clouds on a chilly afternoon.

(ISO  100, f/10.0, 1/80s)

food for the soul

Live music is one of the things I miss most about Gainesville. If nothing was going on, we went to a show. Hadn't heard of the band? Didn't matter. We were there. Few nights pan out that way around here.

Last night, we wound up at Iota Club in Clarendon. We were treated to some awesome roots country, courtesy of Ruthie & The Wranglers. I'll have to keep an eye out for their shows when they're nearby. I felt a bit out of place in my bowtie, but my Chucks tapped along just as well as my boots would've.
(ISO 3200, f/2.0, 1/25s)

grasping at straws

Take the mundane, and turn it into something spectacular. Sharp foreground, artistic blur background. Mission achieved.
(ISO 1600, f/1.8, 1/40s)

bright

Surprisingly, I didn't have to crop this entirely too much. These new filters are going to be a lot of fun when I figure out the quirks! For starters, methinks f/1.8 is too wide of an aperture to get good detail in the whole frame. Next round, I'm stopping it down a few and see what happens.
(ISO 100, f/1.8, 1/4000s, 4x macro filter)

creeping

(ISO 100, f/1.8, 1/1250s, 4x macro filter)

emerging from the depths of winter

Daffodils are everywhere. Tulips are beginning to send up stalks from recently-thawed soil. Even humble little buttercups and hated dandelions are peeking out.
(ISO 100, f/1.8, 1/1600s, 4x macro filter)

a deserted park

In the summertime, Upton Hill Park on Wilson Boulevard is filled with the screams of children at the pool, the ping of the hitters in the batting cages, and golf claps on the minigolf course. It is a decidedly quieter landscape after nearly three feet of snow fall.
(ISO 100, f/22.0, 1/30s)

distracted by neon

Sorry, hon. I got distracted by neon signs.
(ISO 400, f/5.0, 1/3s)

nothin' but the tail lights

ISO 100, f/29, 18.0s

that's a lot of paella!

Jaleo makes a lot of paella for Taste of Arlington. I do mean a lot.
ISO 200, f/5.6, 1/160s

cupid's garden

Chris Gardner's "Cupid's Garden" in Rosslyn. Better pictures await. Found this one on Flickr.

snow to sleet to rain

the francis scott key bridge, due to carry me back across the potomac into virginia.

streetside sculptures

public art abounds in arlington. the first in a series.

clog-wearing carilloneur

clouds rolling in

the united states air force memorial in arlington