Shots of the Day: Red Rock Canyon

I took the following photos at Red Rock Canyon in mid-December, 2011. Red Rock is just outside Las Vegas, Nevada.

Shots of the Night: Las Vegas

I took the following photos last week while visiting Las Vegas.

Shots of the Day: Zion National Park

I took the following photos last week while visiting Zion National Park in Utah.

Shots from the Past: Vail, Colorado

Since I haven’t been taking enough new photos lately, I pulled some photos I shot in 2003 in Vail, Colorado. Ah, Vail.

A Story with No Words

Sometimes a few photos can tell a story, without saying a word.

Shots of the Day: After the Storm

Shots of the Night: A Spider Braves Hurricane Irene

I’m really not trying to become a spider photographer. Spiders kind of creep me out, actually. I had noticed an elaborate web outside the living room window, and for the first time tonight — in the middle of hurricane Irene — I saw the spider responsible for the web, braving the whipping winds and pounding rain. This isn’t the same spider that I shot in my last blog post (that spider was out the dining room window), although I think it may be the same type. This one is larger than a quarter.

Shots of the Day: Peering Out the Window

I haven’t had a chance in awhile to go out and shoot photos, but luckily you don’t always need to leave home to find good subjects to shoot. Peering outside the window this morning, I saw a spider snagging a meal. I swapped the macro lens onto my camera and took a few shots.

Shots from the Past: Zion National Park

I’ve been too busy to take photos lately, which is sort of depressing. But I have been fortunate enough to take a lot of photos during the past year. I was talking to a friend earlier today about Zion National Park, which prompted me to take another pass through photos I shot there last November. It was a beautiful time to visit the Park: leaves in the valley were still changing, and Mother Nature served a multi-course dinner of every imaginable weather condition while I was there.

Shots of the Day: From the (New) House

Between work and the purchase of a new home, I have had little time to take photos. Which makes me sad. But, as I work to fix up the new house, I keep my camera nearby in case any photo opportunities present themselves. A few shots from the past couple days are shown below. My new house is set in the woods, which means my neighbors include all sorts of woodland critters. A turtle lives in my front yard, and just today, a rather ragged (but hopefully not rabid) looking fox decided to take a nap right in my driveway. Seriously, that fox looks like it’s seen better days.

Shots of the Gardens

On Friday, March 18, 2011, I visited Longwood Gardens. I took the following photos.

Scan of the Day: Dusting Off some Old DCSki Code

DCSki.com, one of my many side projects, traces its roots to the early days of the web. Its technical underpinnings have been uprooted on multiple occasions since the late 90s. In the early days, every page on the site was static. Every link had to be maintained manually. Changing the look and feel of the site required editing hundreds of separate files. Not much fun.

That got old fast. So I soon jumped to a magic technology called “server side includes.” Portions of static pages could include portions of other static pages; this allowed some content to be centralized in one place.

Soon thereafter, I re-coded DCSki in the Perl language. When someone visited a page on the site, some Perl code was executed to dynamically generate content. I was cleaning some old files and came across this printout of some very early DCSki code, written in Perl. A list of news stories was stored in a flat text file, and this Perl parsed through that file to pull out relevant stories and then create HTML on the fly based on them.

From the comments, I can see that I had a cavalier attitude about the code not being Y2K compliant.

As an interpreted language, Perl wasn’t very fast, and I decided to re-code everything in compiled C code. This dramatically sped up the performance of each page. I think 1997 is the last time I programmed in Perl.

But the code didn’t stay in C for long. Open source databases such as MySQL became popular, and the PHP programming language, geared towards web development, took off. I embraced these technologies and continue to use them today. A continuous evolution has moved nearly all content on DCSki from static pages into a dynamic database. This makes everything much easier to maintain and provides additional flexibility.

But, nothing stays the same for long. This summer, I hope to once again remodel DCSki from top to bottom. Perl probably won’t be part of that transformation.

Shot of a Deer

This is one of my favorite photos from the 90s. I thought I had only made one print of this (which hangs on my desk at work), but just discovered another print stashed away, and thankfully perfectly preserved. I developed the film and processed the print myself. My notations on the back of the print show that I used a C-40, M-100, Y-150 filter on the enlarger and exposed the paper for 8.5 seconds at f/5.6. The print was developed on April 9, 1996.

Here’s the story behind the shot: I was camping in Big Meadows Campground at Shenandoah National Park. I was awakened by a strange sound — it sounded like someone blowing air on the tent. With bleary eyes, I unzipped the tent door and saw a deer a few feet away. The deer kept sneezing. (I guess deer can have spring allergies, too.) I grabbed my Minolta Maxxum 5xi and tried to catch the deer in mid-sneeze. I was only able to take one frame before the deer ran off and the moment was over.

I didn’t know whether I had captured the shot until I developed the film. I have to say I like everything about this shot — the gesture, the framing, the depth of field, the grain, the chaotic interplay between flora and fauna.. And wow, I forgot how much I loved pure black and white photography. Desaturating color photos is missing a certain je ne sais quoi, isn’t it? I’m glad I had a chance to work directly with black and white film.

Shots from the Past

I just purchased a scanner, which can scan both prints and film. This provides the ability to bring many of my older photos into the digital age.

It will take me awhile to go through my old photos and negatives, but here’s an assignment from a college photography class I found tucked away. The assignment: to compare three stocks of slide film (apparently — I barely remember it). I clearly aced the assignment, as you can tell from the “check” placed on it by the professor.

The scanner did a pretty good job scanning the slides. That’s Brian, my college roommate, lending a hand in the middle shot. (Belated thanks, Brian!)

But, alas, there’s a sad footnote to all of this. Kodak discontinued Kodachrome and Ektachrome film, and the last place Kodachrome processor in the country developed its last roll on December 30, 2010.

Shots of the Snow

It’s not quite the storm that we had last year, but the snow is piling up. It’s wet, gloppy, heavy snow. I ventured out into the snow and took a few shots before the camera was soaked.

Year in Review: Shots from 2010

As 2010 turns the page to 2011, it’s time to reflect on the past 12 months. The past year has been a busy year for me. Most of my time was spent in the office, where I overcame a string of challenges to produce work that has had a significant impact. This has been rewarding, but exhausting; thankfully, I managed to sneak away on occasion, camera in hand, to travel across the country shooting photos. Photography is a lifetime sport and a lifetime education, and I experienced significant growth as a photographer during the past year.

In this post, I trace back through a year of photos, showing many photographs that I have not previously published.

2010 began with one of my favorite activities: skiing.

Early in the year, I was lucky enough to snag one of the first Nikon D3s cameras off the assembly line. The D3s represents an incredible advance in photographic technology; with low noise and unparalleled light sensitivity, it can practically see in the dark. Since unpacking the D3s, I have taken thousands of photos, and haven’t used a flash in a single one.

In some winters, Maryland doesn’t see any snow. That wasn’t going to be a problem in early 2010. The snow began falling.

And kept falling.

And really didn’t stop. I was snowbound for many days during the Snowpocalypse of 2010.

I braved the cold and chest-high snow to snap some photos.

Thankfully, many great photos came right to my house, allowing me to shoot from inside my warm kitchen.

Eventually the snow melted, and I had more serious things to photograph, such as a major pillow fight taking place in the shadow of the Washington Monument.

During the spring, I took a trip to Las Vegas with my family — the first of three trips to the desert oasis I would make in 2010.

I also made a significant investment in LED lighting technology, replacing nearly all of the incandescent and flourescent lighting in my house with cool, energy-efficient LED lighting.

A year isn’t complete without at least one visit to Shenandoah National Park, which included a night hike through a thunderstorm.

With summer in full swing, I once again found myself in Las Vegas. The 110+ degree temperatures didn’t mix well with a bad summer cold, but it’s really impossible not to have a good time in Las Vegas.

I’m fortunate enough to live next to the edge of woods and wetlands. A 2-minute hike out my house leads to blossoming day lilies in the late summer.

Towards the end of the summer, I visited our nation’s great Capital and captured some late-day shots.

In mid-October, it was time for a character-building experience, courtesy of this man.

That’s Jay Maisel, a living legend in photographic circles. Jay teaches a series of intensive week-long photography workshops in New York City. They are quite demanding, beginning each day well before sunrise and ending late at night. I was terrified of taking this workshop, and with good reason. Jay challenged me to go outside of my comfort zone and take photos of things that could look back — i.e., people.

It was a week of baby steps for me. I approached street photography timidly, or perhaps, cowardly.

I camped out for over an hour on a street corner trying to get some double-take shots like this one.

A sunset on the last night of the workshop. I left the workshop with new friends and a renewed appreciation for great photography.

That’s Sally, the Wonder Dog. Several trips to Pennsylvania to visit family throughout the year provided the chance to hang out with Sally.

Sally takes her job of protecting the house from squirrels very seriously.

On Veterans day, I hopped on a plane and headed west for a two-week trip throughout the southwest. My first stop was on top of the world: Pikes Peak, Colorado.

I made a new friend.

The next couple weeks consisted of a lot of winter driving, taking me through Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah.

Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado is a magical place. Climbing the dunes in the winter, as opposed to 100-degree temperatures, is a nice treat.

Lots of harrowing winter drives.

I was one of only a few people who braved a snowstorm one day to visit the high plateau of Mesa Verde National Park.

Petrified National Forest in Arizona preserves 300 million year-old trees. Mind boggling, really.

The South Rim of the Grand Canyon. A couple days later, I would visit the North Rim of Grand Canyon on the last day it was open for the season.

There are lots of interesting ruins throughout the southwest.

I was the only person at Sunset Crater National Monument for most of a morning, until a bus suddenly pulled up. The door opened, and after a delay, a walker slowly appeared. A stream of over 50 senior citizens then filed out of the bus.

The North Rim of the Grand Canyon. It isn’t easy to get to.

Hiking solo in desolate areas in the middle of winter isn’t the smartest thing you can do, but a satellite transmitter allowed me to broadcast my location and status.

Rangers had controlled burns going at the North Rim to clear out some underbrush and reduce the possibility of future forest fires.

A highlight of my adventures was Zion National Park — a truly magical place. In one day, I experienced nearly every type of weather from sunshine to pouring rain to blizzard. I enjoyed Zion so much I extended my time there by several days.

A once-peaceful Virgin River quickly became muddy and turbulent during heavy rain.

These mountain goats have no respect for the rules of the road.

More icy-road driving at Colorado National Monument, as I rushed back to Denver, mere hours ahead of a major blizzard.

In December, I once again found myself in Las Vegas, where temperatures were perfect.

In late December, I stayed up all night to take pictures of a lunar eclipse in the freezing cold. I’m not sure why. Thousands of people snapped exactly the same photo I snapped.

2010 ended the way it began: with some skiing.

The year closed out with friends and family. My niece shows off her new camera, a Christmas gift from her doting uncle (that would be me). Early evidence suggests that she is in now in the early stages of a lifelong passion for photography. I’m happy to take credit for that.

Best wishes for a happy and healthy 2011.

Shots of the Night: Total Eclipse of the Moon

Sacrificing sleep and comfort, I braved the cold to take these photos of the lunar eclipse on December 21, 2010.

Shots of the Day: Las Vegas at Christmastime, Part Two

Another set of photos I took from Las Vegas during mid-December, 2010.

Parasol Up at the Wynn Resort.

An eruption at the Mirage.

Gelato at the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace.

Delicious bacon/cheddar and French bread at SW Steakhouse, Wynn Resort.

A perfectly cooked steak at SW Steakhouse.

As photographer legend Jay Maisel would say, “busted!” An almost-candid shot at the Lakeside Grill at Wynn Resort.

A small sampling of the irresistible pastries at the Jean Philippe Patisserie (located in the Bellagio and Aria Resorts). These pastries alone are enough reason to visit Las Vegas.

Near the main entrance to Aria Resort.

The Conservatory at the Bellagio.

Alternative view of the Treasure Island sign.

The high-rise lobby of the Mandarin Oriental.

That’s right — chocolate pizza. Only in Vegas.

My room at the Wynn Tower Suites. It had been completely remodeled just days earlier. Unfortunately, the room directly above mine was being remodeled at 4:30 a.m. each morning.

Even canines enjoy a stroll along the Las Vegas Strip.

Shots of the Day: Las Vegas at Christmastime

Some photos I took from Las Vegas during mid-December, 2010.

Shots of the Day: More Chilly Shots from Zion and the Southwest

Not done yet. Some more photos I took on my recent road trip across the southwest.

Shots of the Day: More Road Trippin’

Even more shots from my recent road trip across the southwest.

Shots of the Day: Road Trippin’

Additional shots from my recent road trip across the southwest.

From the high plateau of Mesa Verde.

Just a little slippery is all.

Bear proof recycling station at Mesa Verde. Because bears are terrible recyclers.

Desert View in the Southern Rim of Grand Canyon National Park.

A site the Sinagua Indians likely did not see when they looked up from their cave dwellings in the 12th and 13th centuries. Walnut Canyon National Monument, near Flagstaff, Arizona.

Top of Pikes Peak.

Craig Westover, an interpretive ranger at Mesa Verde National Park, leads a tour of the Spruce Tree House ruins. Craig was a fountain of knowledge, and had a hearty laugh that echoed throughout the chilly, snow-kissed canyon.

A crow stands duty at the Southern Rim of the Grand Canyon. Crows are one of my favorite birds, even though they aren’t the most photogenic winged creatures.

I became very good at navigating snow/ice-covered windy mountain roads. The harrowing drive up Ruins Road to Mesa Verde’s high plateau.

Downside of traveling in the winter: pit toilets in National Forests are locked. Which is like getting a busy signal when nature calls.

Shots of the Day: Zion National Park (Part Three)

Shots of the Day: Zion National Park (Part Two)

Shots of the Day: Zion National Park