Some thoughts on . . .

Photographing Arizona Part 1, Tips and Techniques

August 17, 2013
Photographing Arizona often makes it onto a photographer’s bucket list at some time or another. When one thinks of Arizona, however, the desert area around Phoenix or the Grand Canyon is often what comes to mind - but there is so much more if you know where to look and have the time. The diversity, vastness and natural beauty of Arizona has made t...
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Shark Alert: Blacktip Reef Sharks Found at Baltimore Maryland Inner Harbor

August 09, 2013
Just in time for Shark Week, the National Aquarium in Baltimore has unveiled its spectacular new 13,500 square foot, 260,000-Gallon Coral Reef Ecosystem featuring Blacktip Reef Sharks, 700 Marine Animals, 3,000 Pieces of Coral and a 518 Pound Sea Turtle. The National Aquarium, a popular tourist attraction for over 3 decades, draws 1.4 million visi...
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LensCoat LegCoat Tripod Leg Covers - A Quick Look

August 01, 2013
Are tripod Leg covers in your future? If they are not part of your tripod now, are they a necessary add-on expense to consider? Perhaps. An often misunderstood add-on to tripods is the leg cover which has several functions: act as a thermal barrier; protection from damage; serve as camouflage; and aid transportation. From the 'Do-It-Yoursel...
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Dolphin Count for 2013

July 14, 2013
Staff from the National Aquarium Animal Rescue program joined with volunteers for the annual Maryland Dolphin Count that was held in July of 2013. Despite rain and the threat of storms, volunteers of all ages came out between 8-11 a.m. to help record dolphin sightings at four locations along the Eastern Shore of Maryland – Assateague State Park Da...
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Expert Shield Screen Protectors for DSLRs - A Quick Look

July 07, 2013
When one thinks of LCD screen protectors, or shields, what comes to mind are those custom pieces of film designed to fit a smartphone or tablet. However, one of the companies that produces these protectors, Expert Shield from the UK, also has entered into the market to protect the LCD screen on many popular GPS systems, e-readers and, of most inter...
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Mass Grave Site at US Capitol - One Million Bones

June 10, 2013
As the sun rose over the Nation’s Capitol on the morning of June 9, 2013, the National Mall appeared to a massive grave site. Over one million bones had been scattered throughout the grass in the shadow of the National Capitol. This looked like something out of a horror movie - and it was supposed to. One Million Bones is actually a project of The...
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Preakness Celebration Hot Air Balloon Festival

May 18, 2013
The Preakness Celebration Hot Air Balloon Festival, tagged 'the sky's the limit with Turf Valley' was held in May in Ellicott City Maryland, just outside of Baltimore. The event is part of the pre-celebration of the Preakness horse race held at Pimlico Race Track in Baltimore each year and is part of the 'triple crown'. Some of the teams had...
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Kinetic Sculpture Race 2013 in Baltimore - wacky fun with a few surprises!

May 13, 2013
The Kinetic Sculpture Race (KSR) is a unique national competition where the results really do not matter. But kitsch, imagination, and absurdity do. It is not about the fastest - it is about flair and it is about wacky! And this year was no exception. Every May since 1999, the American Visionary Art Museum (AVAM) in Baltimore has been th...
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Photographing Northern Italy - Tips and Techniques

February 18, 2013
Traveling in Europe can be very exciting for the tourist but can also pose a challenge for the photographer – especially Northern Italy. There has been much written for those who travel throughout Europe, including things-to-do at the various ’tourist’ locations. The purpose of this brief article is to supplement this information and to provide gui...
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Quick Tips: Adding Drama To Your Photo Using Creative Lighting

January 09, 2013
This Quick Tip addressees how to use a touch of 'Creative Lighting' to add some drama to your photographs. Light has always played a key role in how an artist captures an image - whether be it a hand-created image or a photograph. It is often fun to look at images the way a painter would in terms of how to use light to best capture the moment. The...
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Quick Tip - The Circular Polarizing (CP) Filter

December 09, 2012
The Circular Polarizing (CP) filter is a simple tool that should be in every photographer’s bag. And, if you are a serious amateur photographer, or pro, you most likely have one in your bag already. This unique filter is attached to the front of the lens and can be used to remove unwanted reflections, enhance colors and create dramatic skies. This...
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The Maryland Blue Crab - A Treasure In Troubled Waters

November 10, 2012
As the lobster is to Maine, the Blue Crab is to Maryland. The reason the Blue Crab is such a treasure to Maryland is not just for the special flavor and the way they are prepared, but also for the fact that more than one-third of the United State's catch of Blue Crabs come from the Chesapeake Bay using an age-old technique of harvesting. Unique...
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The Art of Storytelling Comes to American Visionary Art Museum

October 13, 2012
The Art of Storytelling: Lies, Enchantment, Humor & Truth opened on October 6, 2012 at The American Visionary Art Museum (AVAM) in Baltimore Maryland. Featuring more than thirty artists, this nearly year-long exhibit is considered by many to be the best hosted by AVAM in five years. At the exhibit, artists have presented their works in film, embroi...
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How to photograph: Through an Airplane Window

August 15, 2012
Photo opportunities that are often overlooked by air travelers are those that can be taken through an airplane’s window. Often when travelers make an attempt at this special form of photography they become dissatisfied with their results. I have been asked on numerous occasions 'How did you get that shot?' I must admit that shooting through an airp...
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Washington DC burned by troops. Warships invade Baltimore harbor. Remembering the War of 1812.

July 12, 2012
The Battle of Baltimore - The Tipping Point The year was 1814 and the War of 1812 was now in its second year and the untrained militia that was left to guard Washington DC was no match for British troops as they burned most of the public buildings including the Capitol, Library of Congress and Treasury. George Washington had taken his troops to An...
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