Waiting and watching

Waiting and watching, originally uploaded by big_pixel_pusher.

Washington D.C.'s Union Station is an amazing place with a long rich history. Although it opened to great fanfare in 1908, by the late 1970's it was deemed structurally unfit and was almost razed. Restored in the 1980's this grand train station is now considered a wonderful addition to the District of Columbia.

The tripod police are in full force here. We were told that no tripods were allowed to be setup on the floor of the station so we climbed a flight of stairs to an elevated restaurant and had a snack while taking HDR sequences.

I will always remember this day

I will always remember this day, originally uploaded by big_pixel_pusher.

Can you tell we got caught in the rain? It really felt good to be able to take My 12 year old nephew Manny to Washington D.C. It was his first time there, first time leaving the state of California, first time flying in an airplane and the first time he has ever been so far away from his immediate family. He's a great kid and so easy to travel with. He really got into HDR photography. In fact, some of his photography sold while we were in Washington. He has a great personality and is really funny. Also does some killer Austin Powers / Doctor Evil impersonations

a new birth of freedom

a new birth of freedom, originally uploaded by big_pixel_pusher.

Above this solitary statue of Abraham Lincoln these words appear: In this temple as in the hearts of the people for whom he saved the union, the memory of Abraham Lincoln is enshrined forever.

Human Sized Hamster Ball

Human Size Hamster Ball, originally uploaded by big_pixel_pusher.

The California Academy of Sciences features a 90 foot diameter glass dome in which a four story rain forest exihibit has been placed. It was nice and hot in there probably due to simulated global warming or something. All I know is my lens fogged over right away!

Keep-on-a-rockin' me baby

Keep-on-a-rockin' me baby, originally uploaded by big_pixel_pusher.

Seeburg Wall-O-Matic counter mounted jukebox looking pretty gritty.

Hotter than Georgia Asphalt

Hotter than Georgia Asphalt, originally uploaded by big_pixel_pusher.

Ok I wasn't in Georgia. This was taken in Santa Ana, California but just the same I think summer is here. When taking photos of cars, I usually just collapse my tripod completely and spread out the legs as wide as they will go so the camera is only 6 inches above the pavement. This of course means in order to frame the shot, I need to be laying on the ground. This is generally not a problem in the cooler months but today the asphalt parking lot was so hot, I almost got roasted. Gotta borrow the wife's yoga mat or something.

O beautiful for heroes proved in liberating strife

O beautiful for heroes proved in liberating strife, originally uploaded by big_pixel_pusher.

Manny and I were on the National Mall in Washington D.C. near the U.S. Capital Building when we realized that the sunset that evening was going to be absolutely stunning. We started walking as fast as we could (pulling our rolling camera backpacks behind us), towards the Washington Monument. I spotted a cab driving down the National Mall and flagged him. He drove us over to the grassy knoll just across the street from the Monument. I paid the driver and he helped us get our bags out of the taxi's trunk. We scrambled up the hill, setup our tripods and started shooting before this spectacular sunset had vanished. You will never realize how quickly the sun sets unless you take the time to watch one.

Red and White Delight

Red and White Delight, originally uploaded by big_pixel_pusher.

Kathy and I decided to drive over to Bob's for the Wednesday night car show. We had dinner and talked while watching the classic cars roll in. Afterward, we had started walking around when this '55 Ford Fairlane Sunliner stopped me in my tracks. It was so clean and perfectly restored, I was just in awe. I think I took 5 or 6 HDR sequences of this car alone. I met the owner, nice guy. He was kicking around the idea of selling this car. I gave him the address for this website. Hopefully he will see his baby here.

Bring on the Night

Bring on the Night, originally uploaded by big_pixel_pusher.

Darkness falls over the former Johnnies Broiler and drive-in. The combination of the building's classic architecture with the vintage cars occupying every available parking space sets quite a interesting mood. I could almost hear Wolfman Jack on the radio.

Sakura American Style

Sakura American Style, originally uploaded by big_pixel_pusher.

My Nephew Manny and I had the good fortune to be in Washington D.C. during the National Cherry Blossom Festival. One of the things we learned is that the Cherry Blossoms are not just located at the tidal basin that surrounds the Jefferson Memorial. They were nearly everywhere we visited, even Capitol Hill.