JET BRIDGE 20

Yesterday I spent the day flying the Boston to Washington shuttle. I really enjoy flying into both of these cities and especially flying the “River Visual” to runway 19 into Washington National. Parking is at a premium at National, here we have a view of Jet Bridge 20.

Jet Bridge 20 Washington National

Wisdom

I first saw this video on Scott Kelby’s blog. Now that the walls of winter are starting to set in and I am feeling less inspired in my photography, I decided to revisit the video “Transform”, a bit- of- wisdom from Zack Arias. I hope it will relight my fire and get me out of the house and out into the elements.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

New beginnings are always welcome in my life.  2009 was both a happy and sad year. It was a happy year in that it marked the birth of my second son but also a sad year for the loss of a close family relative. Last night I celebrated  the New Year at home with my wife and two sons. We watched the ball drop in Time Square and  drank a toast  to the New Year. It’s only January and already I long for spring. It’s 15 degrees outside so to keep warm thoughts in my head I have been reviewing images from this past spring and thinking of what I can do to improve my photography in 2010.

GLORIOUS

As winter nears, this leaf, battered and torn, having fulfilled its role of the season now rest on a lower branch, holding tight to fly one more glorious day.

Full Glory

PURPLE HAZE

I like the impact of muted colors and tones.  Sometimes early and other times late in the day, I find myself in a position to shoot scenes with these particular characteristics. Early morning fog or late afternoon haze gives the light just enough of a filtering effect to give me the tones I am looking for. Always arriving early, sometimes I wait for hours for the fog to lift and then in seconds the light changes rapidly and what was once engulfed in a blanket of mist comes alive with muted colors and tones.  I love the process of waiting in anticipation for magic to happen. My morning coffee never tasted so good.

Purple Haze

Break Through

The Burning

Early morning as the sun is rising on the east this moon is slowly descending to the west and has the appearance of a sunrise.

Moon River

Another view of the clouds clearing and the ridges come into view.

Smoky Mountain Ridge

GREATFUL DEAD

Dia de Los Muertos

This is a small section of art that is being displayed on the outer walls on a building at the corner of 7th and Main Street in Louisville, Ky. I believe it was created in conjunction with the Dia de Los Muertos “Day of the Dead” Festival that was celebrated on November the 1st. Does anyone know who created the art?

AMERICANA

GOOD MORNING AMERICA

I love it when people display pride for their country.  This farmer in central Indiana is showing his pride in a big way.

Blue Dawn

Sunset on Clingmans Dome

 

Early morning on top of Clingmans Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

EMPIRE STATE

Standing Tall

I was in New York City  and had the opportunity to visit the Empire State Building.  From La Guardia airport I took the Q48 bus to the 111th street subway station  from there I took the #7 train to 42nd and Time Square. I enjoyed the views from the 86th floor but paid the extra $15 bucks to get to the 102 floor. My visit was late in the afternoon and the lines were long. If you ever visit, go early or plan on waiting at least an hour and a half in line.

BY DAWNS EARLY LIGHT

BY DAWNS EARLY LIGHT

Dawns early light over the South Carolina coast at 30 thousand feet.

HIGH FLIGHT

Godbeams over the Watts Bar Nuclear Generating Station

Oh I Have slipped the surly bonds of earth

and danced the skies

on laughter-silvered wings;

Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth

Of sun-split clouds – and done a hundred things

You  have not dreamed of – wheeled and soared and swung

High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there

I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung

My eager craft through footless halls of air.

Up up the long delirious,burning blue,

I’ve topped the windswept heights with easy grace

Where never lark or even eagle flew–

And while with silent lifting mind I’ve trod

The high untrespassed sanctity of space

Put out my hand and touched–

The face of God

By John Gillespie Magee Jr.

Tilted View

Tilted View

Just another tilted view of the “Gateway Arch” at high noon.

West at Flight Level ?

West Bound

High above the St Louis Arch, long contrails are moving west at an unknown flight level. View from beneath the “Gateway to the West”.

Low and Slow

LOW and SLOW

Sometimes the flying action is not always high in the sky, instead it’s down low. This graceful aviator is going low and slow along the coast of Amelia Island, Florida.

Above the Clouds

Morning Blanket

Flying into La Guardia the early morning warm light reflects off a blanket of low-lying clouds.  Just coming up on the Verrazano, the double-decked suspension bridge that connects the boroughs of Staten Island and Brooklyn in New York City