Great Crowd at WordCamp Mid-Atlantic
A great crowd for Photoblogging with Wordpress presentation! Cheap though, no one left me a tip!
Do deer poo in the woods?
If you’re reading this post based on the title you might have thought it was a witty reference to some social media practice a’ la Chris Brogan. I’m sorry to say its not. You see potty humor is never beneath me, I’m still age 13 in some ways.
This weekend I was walking the trails on Roosevelt Island and noticed a deer off in the woods. She was standing very still and her tail was sticking straight out horizontally, something I’ve never seen before. No matter how much I moved about she didn’t move an inch, normally they’re very skittish.
Unfortunately I couldn’t get a clear shot of her, too much brush was in the way. The camera was set to auto bracket so I have number of shots in sucession. It wasn’t until I got home and was looking at them with my wife that we saw what we confirmed our suspicions.
Yes Virginia, deer do poo in the wood…and here’s the proof…
Embassy Row Photowalk ‘09 Wrap-up
Around 2:00 yesterday my wife and I gave each other a hug and a high five. We had survived our first organized photowalk. I wish we could take the credit but it goes to all the attendees, the warm and welcoming embassies, and of course the great weather. Big thanks to Katie, George, Victoria, Dawn, Heather and our latest addition to the group Preston for being such a joy to spend a day with.
We ended up visiting Portugal, Netherlands, Slovenia, Italy and Denmark. Not bad in one day without a passport. My favorite of the day had to be Portugal. We were led through the embassy by the Political Counselor and the tour ended with about 5 minutes of conversation with Ambassador Joao de Vallera (who is an avid photographer himself). He even posed with me for a photo though it looks like I put him to sleep.
I could drone on in words forever about our day but think it would be best to show you some of the great photos that were taken. Be sure and check them all out in the Embassy Row Photowalk Flickr Group or search Flickr for the tag EPWDC09.
Reminder and Preview – Embassy Row Photowalk Tomorrow
Tomorrow’s photowalk is still a go! The weather looks like it might clear up at least in the morning though we may see a few small sprinkles. AccuWeather is not calling for thunderstorms until around 7pm. I would suggest adding an umbrella to your gear list just in case.
Last weekend Sherri and I went down a little late and caught the tail end of Passport DC which many of the embassies participate through open houses. We were able to tour the Uzbekistan embassy and caught a steel drum band outside the Trinidad and Tobago embassy. Here’s a quick preview of the types of images we’ll see tomorrow:
Uzbekistan
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Trinidad and Tobago
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See you tomorrow!
US National Arboretum – Post 2
Yesterday’s article gave you the what’s and where’s of the US National Arboretum. Today I’ll give a little more personal view of the arboretum and what to expect during your visit.
This was our second visit to the arboretum, the first this year. We picked a wonderful sunny day to visit. I brought my Canon XS with my 28-135 f/3.5-5.6 lens and gave it quite a workout. At the arboretum you can expect to find all types of environments from bright sun to shade to even some exhibits inside with poor lighting. The subjects available to you span the spectrum as well, including landscapes, macros and portraits. The 28-135 excelled that day and proved itself as my choice for a walkaround lens.
One of the most photographed subjects at the arboretum are the National Capital Columns (see image above). Standing around 30 feet tall (that’s my estimate), they stand out as single subject up close or as a background from far away. The column display includes a reflecting pool that is fed by a small rivulet originates from the center of the display. A popular attraction for children as they run barefoot through the stream.
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At the visitor center there is a large lily pond surrounding the building. You can always find throngs of children here feeding the colorful carp that live there. We even found a curious dog that looked like he wanted to join the carp in the water.
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Also near the visitor center is a Japanese Cultural Center that boasts a very large collection of bonsai trees. There is one that was first planted in 1625. I’m amazed everytime I think about that tree. Someone has taken care of it for almost 400 years.
Across the street sits a garden with a fountain, vined trellis, and a large collection of flowers. Tulips were in bloom for our visit and provided very colorful images. The flowers here provide a good opportunity to get your macro on. This garden is located near center of the arboretum so you can always find people there enjoying the shade while taking a break from the walking. Speaking of walking, you can expect that in abundance. I’d recommend you wear comfortable shoes and bring water.
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If you’re looking for a place to challenge your photography skills and provide a variety of subjects, the US National Arboretum is for you. I’d love to hear if you’ve experienced this attraction or if you plan to.
Tags: Canon 28-135 f/3.5-5.6, Canon XS, Digital Photography, National Capital Columns, US National Arboretum, washington dc