Chase the Sky

I plan far too meticulously and too far ahead.  Right now, I've got a lot of the rest of the year already in the calendar.

For those of us who are always thinking ahead, spontaneous friends are of incredible value.  And so it was a few weeks ago that I packed up one afternoon and headed to Skyline Drive with another photographer friend, DL.  We left in the late afternoon on Sunday with the intent to photograph sunset and sunrise along the famous Blue Ridge.

Beyond that?  Whatever came our way would be fine.

Off we go, rainy DC beltways giving way to cloudy country vistas.  We grab dinner at a Subway seemingly desperate for patrons.  A restaurant bearing Apple Donuts! and BBQ! signs cements itself as the next day's breakfast location.

Welcome to Shenandoah National Park.

Dinner at one of many overlooks.  Clouds shifting, settling in the valleys.  Rays of sun giving way to deep blue hues.  We then come around a corner to see a car facing us in a pull-off.  A sudden flash of light illuminates the interior "Was that...?" I start to ask.  A second flash.

We laugh ourselves to tears.  Friends, turn off your automatic flash when trying to photograph mountains.  Please.

Onwards to Skyland.  This place is awesome.  One may possibly expect squeaky floors and bedbugs and flickering lights from a hotel in the mountains.  Such a person would be pleasantly surprised by Skyland's rustic comfort.  They've got live music at their restaurant-slash-tavern, which I hope to actually be there to enjoy some day.

In the morning, the clouds are below us.  We journey on, back down the mountain.  Brilliant sunrise gives way to overcast skies.  Black bears and, later, a turkey, pay us little mind as we pass by.

A breakfast of apple donuts and basically anything else one may wish to eat at 8 AM gives way to more conversations about faith, photography, travel plans, the MooMoe, and cultural tides as we orbit the nation's Capital and then find ourselves home again.

This often-rigid soul finds himself grateful for spontaneous adventure.

And as it happens, I'm already planning the return trip.

AwesomeCon

I went to the last 5 minutes of AwesomeCon this past Friday.  A few regular civilians passed me going the other way, as did Captain America and Peggy, Fred and George Weasley, and other characters you probably love.

Joining my friends, the Doctor, Steampunk Ariel, and Rick Grimes; we began our wandering through DC.  Our first stop brought us to a hotel where the concierge was delighted to see us, making sure to get photographs of everyone on his new Nikon DSLR.  Other patrons exiting the elevators were somewhat bemused by our presence.

Onward through the muggy streets we went, finally stopping in front of the Washington Monument.  Because when you're a larger-than-life character, you better go big.

It was a great time taking portraits and experimenting with off-camera lighting, both my external flash units and whatever interesting tube lighting happened to be behind the windows.

Geronimo!

Memorial Day

Thankful for those who have served.

Today, I remember.

I remember SPC Ross McGinnis, who sacrificed his life during Operation Iraqi Freedom so that the other four men in his vehicle could live.

I remember the fact that countless men and women have sacrificed their lives in ways I will never know, yet somehow in the ripples of time, their choices have affected my life and yours as well.

I remember that today, as we celebrate specifically our American servicemen and women for their sacrifices during war, that so many others have given their lives for others' freedom in countless other ways.

I am thankful for those people who chose to give up the greatest gift they have been given so that others might have a fighting chance to live theirs.

We cannot do enough to honor what they have done.

Seniors: Sarah in Historic Ellicott City

I had the pleasure of taking Sarah's outdoor portraits recently, strolling through the historic district of our town before the usual Saturday crowds descended.

Sarah's on her way to study environmental policy, interested in how we can develop a culture of more sustainable housing and community spaces.  She's also quite the photographer herself, currently in the highest level of photography class at school.   Looking forward to seeing her being part of making this world a better place!