CHARGED Exhibit at Commune NFK

CHARGED is a local art exhibition that is on display at the Work Release Gallery at Commune NFK. The exhibit displays the work of ten artists, all fashioned from neon lights. The exhibit is also considered the 3rd Annual NEON Exhibition. The exhibition is curated by Clay McGlamory and Assistant Curator Cate Currier. The exhibit will be on display from June 23rd to July 23rd.

Fourth of July at Yorktown Beach

This Fourth of July I decided to photograph the fireworks at Yorktown Beach in Yorktown, VA. I never attended a show at this location, but I heard good reviews about the location. Earlier in the day, the county presented visitors with several other events including military demonstrations and various reenactments. However, I decided that I only wanted to see the fireworks. I left from Hampton around 8:15pm, hoping that this would allow me enough time to get a decent spot on the beach. After battling traffic for a moment (I would recommend taking Mathews St as an alternative route to avoid traffic around the battlefield) I ended up on a small beach on the opposite side of the crowd and markets. I thought that this would be an ideal location for leaving the area quickly after the show.

Once the show started I was somewhat disappointed with the location. For the majority of the show, the bridge obstructed the view of the fireworks. I personally thought that the fireworks would be shot in the middle of the river, but a fellow observer told me that they usually shoot the fireworks from that location (further down the river). In hindsight this makes sense because one would not want the show to conflict with the ongoing traffic on the Coleman Bridge. Overall, I was content with the pictures and the fireworks. From a photographic standpoint I still would have preferred if the fireworks were shot more so in the middle of the river.

Here are the pictures:

Tips for Shooting Fireworks:

Survey the location and frame your photo prior to the show: There is absolutely nothing wrong with an isolated picture of the fireworks, but you can add more flare to your photographs with the surrounding scenery. Try to locate the setup prior the show and frame your shot around the fireworks. Focus on a fixed focal point and use a small aperture (between f/8 and f/16) to increase your depth of field.
Be careful of your surroundings: You do not want to shoot in a place where anything might obstruct your view, nor do you want to obstruct anyone else’s view. Shooting at a higher point can be a great advantage when photographing fireworks.
Use a tripod: It is almost impossible to properly shoot fireworks without a tripod due to the long shutter speeds needed.
Shoot in a low ISO: Shooting at a low ISO will allow you the necessary time to shoot fireworks and decrease any grain (noise) in your photo.
If possible, use a shutter release remote to decrease the chances of camera shake. If you do not have a shutter release remote, you can also use the timer on the camera to prevent/decrease the chances of camera shake.
Once you have framed your photo, turn off the auto focus (as well as the image stabilization or IS) on the lens. This will prevent the camera from searching for new focal points between shots and waist critical time between fireworks.
There are two ways to shoot the firework explosion:
- The first method is to use the bulb mode on your camera. The bulb mode allows you to keep the shutter open for as long as you hold down the shutter button (or button on the cable remote). Ideally you want to use a remote when using this method to decrease any chances of camera shake. Understand that timing is the key! You should anticipate the explosion of the firework and open the shutter (by pressing the button) right before the explosion, keeping the shutter open until the firework is finished exploding. Do not keep the shutter open for too long! Fireworks are a good source of lights and a long shutter speed can over expose the fireworks, washing out the colors of the explosions.
- The second method is to use the manual mode on your camera. From past experiences I have noticed that the best settings are somewhere between f/8-f/16 and between five to seven seconds. I usually start with f/8 and five seconds and make any necessary adjustments between explosions. You should not use the aperture or shutter priority modes. Shooting in aperture priority mode can mislead the camera to use a shutter speed that is too long. Shooting in shutter priority mode can mislead the camera and change your depth of field.

2016 Norfolk NEON Festival

Here are a few pictures from the 2016 Norfolk NEON Festival. The festival is a showcasing the publicly displayed artwork around the Norfolk Art District. Enjoy.

2016 Washington Redskins Training Camp

Here are a few pictures from this year’s Washington Redskins Training Camp in Richmond, VA.

Since 2013, the Redskins have used the Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center as their primary practice facility for the start of their annual training camp. The state-of-the-art facility includes two natural grass football fields, a world-class weight room, several meeting rooms, and other amenities for the visiting fans. This year’s camp will run from July 28 to August 14. From there, the Redskins will move their camp to their practice facility in Northern Virginia.

As far as taking photos, the facility allows you to get pretty close to the action. You can stand roughly ten feet from the practice field. I would recommend using a telephoto lens and shooting in the shutter-priority mode or in manual mode. You will need to shoot with a shutter speed of 1/500 or higher to truly freeze the action (I suggest 1/800 or higher). You may want to use your high-speed continuous mode as well.

Enjoy the pictures.

The Fifth Annual Rolling of the Bulls

Here are a few pictures from the fifth annual Rolling of the Bulls in Hampton, VA.

The event, which also is a fundraiser for the Dominion Derby Girls, is a parody of the annual The Running of the Bulls that takes place in Spain, Portugal, and Mexico. Similar to the Running of the Bulls, the Rolling of the Bulls has the participants run around a city block as the Dominion Derby Girls chase them with whiffle ball bats.

Afterwards, there is matador show followed by the La Ballontina. The La Bollontina is a twist on the La Tomatina, but the participants throw water balloons oppose to actual tomatoes. Enjoy the pics!

Independence Day Celebration from Norfolk, VA

Here are a few pictures from the 34th Annual 4th of July Great American Picnic & Fireworks show in Norfolk, VA. I took the following pictures and video on the Portsmouth side of the Elizabeth River. My goal was to capture both the boats and the marina in the shot, but the location where I planned on setting up shop was overcrowded. I moved a few feet down from the anticipated spot and the pictures turned out great. The video is from the finale of the show. Enjoy!

Norfolk State Spartans vs Norfolk Tides

Here are a few pictures from an exhibition game between the Norfolk State Spartans and the Norfolk Tides. The Spartans are members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and the Tides are the Minor League affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. However, both teams have participated in this annual event for quite some time. The contest allows the Tides to prepare for their upcoming season and the Spartans to experience life in the Minors. Proceeds from the game go to the NSU Athletic program.

Norfolk Tides Turn Back the Clock Night

Here are a few pictures from Tuesday's Norfolk Tides "Turn Back the Clock" game. The Tides lost to the Lehigh Valley Ironpigs 2-3. However, fans were treated to hot dogs, popcorn, and soda at a special price of $.50 each. The Tides also wore replica jerseys dating back to the era of the Norfolk Tars.

I hope you enjoy the few pictures that I took. I normally capture more photographs at a Tides game, but I was too busy indulging in hot dog and popcorn heaven.

Tips For Photographing the National Cherry Blossom Festival

Planning to photograph the cherry blossoms this spring? Ha, good luck! No, I’m just kidding. But understand that the National Cherry Blossom Festival attracts visitors from all over the world, so planning a trip to the nation’s capital for this event is not going to be your typical trip to Washington D.C. The District already attracts several visitors with all of the monuments, museums, and other festivals that take place on an average basis. So, multiply that by a thousand. However, with the proper planning and guidance (example, this blog), even the most novice photographer could conclude a successful trip snapping at least one of our nation’s most pleasuring opportunities. So pack your camera bag and a lunch and allow me to help you scheme a successful trip.

First Thing’s First: Plan Your Visit Ahead of Time!

There are many websites that forecast the blooming of the cherry blossoms. The National Park Service, The National Cherry Blossom Festival, CherryBlossomWatch.com, and even the Washington Post are great ways to keep track of the actual bloom. But understand that these are solely best effort forecasts and the actual blooming depends on the overall weather pattern. I highly recommend that you keep an eye on both the blooming forecast and the local weather. The trees will not bloom until the cold weather breaks. Start looking up information about cherry blossoms around mid-February.

How to Get to the Tidal Basin

Although there are several ways to get to the Tidal Basin, you are going to have to arrange your approach strategically. Parking is limited in D.C., especially around the Tidal Basin due to the monuments and other attractions in that area. Many tourists will be in D.C. throughout the week, but the weekends are still busier than the weekdays.

If you are going to drive, try to find parking around Ohio Dr SW. Last year, I was able to park near the U.S. Park Police building, but that was on a Saturday. It was an easy walk from there to the Tidal Basin and it allowed me easy access to leave that afternoon. I would expect for that location to be slightly more difficult to access during the week, especially if you do not get there early.

If you plan on taking the metro, I would recommend the Smithsonian (Orange, Silver, and Blue lines) or L’Enfant Plaza (Yellow and Green lines) stops. Both stops will not put you right at the Tidal Basin, but they are still very convenient when traveling via the metro.

Buses, taxis, and Uber are also good ways to get there, but be mindful that there will be a lot of traffic in that area, especially on the weekend.

When Is the Best Time to Arrive?

Get to the Tidal Basin early! And when I say early, I mean sunrise at the latest. In 2015, I came to the Tidal Basin around 6am thinking that I was one of the first people there. However, once I reached the bridge on Ohio Dr, I was greeted by at least twenty photographers (this by the way is also a great place for a photo). I could only imagine how difficult it would be to get to the Tidal Basin anytime later. I highly recommend that you plan to leave your home/hotel/wherever prior to sunrise, especially if you are driving.

What Equipment Should I Bring?

EVERYTHING! Bring it all! You are going to need your “everyday lens” as you walk around the Tidal Basin. This lens will come in handy as you change your focal length as you photograph various objects (trees, monuments, people, etc.) Throughout the day I used my Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L the most. Wide-angle lenses are good if you want to get a panorama of the basin or any other wide shots. Taking pictures of the pedals of the cherry blossom is a great time to use a macro lens. Surprisingly, I saw a lot of photographers who were solely equipped with just a macro lens. One might think that this could limit your landscape opportunities, but I found this to be quite contrary to my personal conviction. Still, I used only my macro when I took close-ups of the pedals. I rarely used my telephoto lens; only once or twice to take pictures of the Jefferson Memorial from across the basin. Primes would be great to use for creating that dreamy depth-of-field, if that’s your thing.

Other useful gear would be a tripod for those early morning shots, filters, and some snacks for when you get hungry.

Other Personal Recommendations?

Enjoy the experience. Photographing the cherry blossoms can be a great experience. I would argue that it should be placed on that magical list of things every photographer should film in America. But the experience can also be a taxing one as well. Personally, I was out at the Tidal Basin from 6am to 12pm. After that, the sky became washed out from the sun and I was physically and mentally exhausted. I recommend that you map out your journey and plan on what shots you really want before you go out to the basin. Once you get there, you will be amazed and possibly overwhelmed with all of the eye candy. Also, if you could, I would recommend visiting the basin more than once during your trip. I personally wanted to go out there the next day, but I never made it.

You also want to dress comfortably. Plan on walking for an extensive amount of time. Remember that it is highly likely for the temperature to change when you are out there so prepare accordingly.

Be mindful of both the photographers and the non-photographers out there. People from all walks of life come to view the cherry blossoms. Surprisingly, I never felt that it was too crowded around the basin. There was a steady flow of tourists, but it was never to the point where I felt it would be difficult moving from one place to another. You may have to be patient when photographing that perfect shot.

Hopefully, this helps you in your journey out into the wild world of cherry blossoms. I know that there are a lot of parks that offer cherry blossoms, but none of them can compare to the scene out and around the Tidal Basin, Washington, DC. Good luck and don’t forget to post your pictures for the rest of the world to see and enjoy!

The Ghosts of President's Park

In March 2004, President's Park opened in Williamsburg, VA. The ten-acre park displayed large bust sculptures of all forty-three presidents in chronological order. The park also included a replica of the Oval Office and a souvenir shop. Prior to the opening, I can remember when the statues were stored behind some trees on Route 199. I remember seeing the huge heads and asking myself, “What in the world are those and where are they going?”

Eventually the statues were moved to the nearby site and President’s Park opened as one of the many historical institutions in Williamsburg. The museum was composed of both an indoor and an outdoor facility. Inside there was a small theater, a replica of the Oval Office, and a gift shop. Outside, there was a winding path that guided you through the presidential sculptures as well as other displays of historical information.

I believe that I visited the museum four or five times. I enjoyed the historical standpoint of the park, but I always felt that there was something missing from the site. Maybe the museum needed more presidential artifacts or more presidential inspired movies. Or even a replica of Marine One or a presidential limo. All in all, it was a pretty cool concept at first, but the park lost its luster as the years went by. There became fewer visitors, but neither the artifacts nor the sculptures changed. I remember that when there was talk of adding the Barack Obama sculpture, the museum was already in a financial crisis due to the lack of visitors.

On September 30, 2010, the park closed due to financial issues. The site remained dormant for some time. Eventually the land was auctioned off in 2012, and the statues were moved to a farm in Croaker, VA.

As of now there is talk of reopening a similar venue, but with more attractions that would detail the daily duties of the President of the United States as well as other similar points of interest. Unfortunately, several of the current sculptures cannot be used due to the damage that was sustained when the busts were moved from the park to the farm.

The deterioration of those monumental busts is unfortunate, but even on a cold winter’s day, one can still observe the majesty of the sculptures with pure delight.