Sylvain Michaud, Canada

Robert Vencl, USA

MilanBogner, Germnay

 Recently Northern Virginia hosted the World Police and Fire Games.  It was police and firemen from around the world competing in sporting events.  I was a volunteer for the event and got to attend a couple of other events.  Although not well publicized the events were free and open to the public.  The next games will be in Canada in two years.

Brian Wright, USA

Oliver Bulla, Germany, 240Kg

Christopher Cotillo, USA, 288Kg 

Rahal Alain Bruno, France

Well the other day I found myself at the Manasas National Battlefield Park. It was the wonderful late afternoon light.  There are only a couple of marked paths around the park, but the walk is nice.  Although I have lived in the area for six years,  I had not been to this park since I was touring with Chamber Theatre years ago.  As I indulged my nostalgia I was joined by several couples doing their engagement photos.  Apparently I wasn't the only one that likes that late afternoon glow.

Mason Neck State Park, VA

So the other day I went to Mason Neck State Park and the National Wildlife Refuge.  The Osprey were nesting and these beautiful blue birds were twittering around.  The pond was filled with all sizes cute box turtles.  And in the river was a person, showing me the next thing I want to try to do.  :-)

Here's hoping you are enjoying your Spring!

Meterie St. Patrick's Day Parade

I thought I had already shared this with you, so here goes a little late.  The Sunday before St. Patrick's Day I went to one of the three area parades in New Orleans.  This one  actually in Metairie, LA.  Not far from the Cemeteries stop on the trolly from New Orleans it was scheduled to start at noon.  The truth of it was it got to where I was a little after 3P.  I found out several things during my wait, other than not to be early next time.  That the parade is an almost whole community event, people brought tents, grills, and lots of beer.  Very few marching bands, each float represents a different organization, and unlike Midwest parades where they throw out handfuls of candy, for St. Patrick's Day  these floats throw out beads, cabbages, carrots, potatoes, ramen noodles, flowers, even cloves of garlic, and other small trinkets.  People do not sit on the sides and cheer, they stand within inches of the passing floats and grab for the goodies.   It was a unique experience and if you were planning on making corn beef and cabbage you could get most of your meal at the parade.

beads and flowers were not the only thing the gentlemen were giving out.

get a flower give a kiss...some people were more into this than others

and here comes another veggie wagon...but if you don't catch the carrots they will hurt

 Moonlight Thearte in Abingdon, VA.  I saw it from the highway and just had to take a closer look.  A drive in.  If only it was still in operational shape.  Unfortunately no.  I had brief hopes from the sign that although the screen was still there it had been repurposed, but that too did not seem to be the case.  I haven't had a chance to do any research into its status, but thought some of you might like at least a glimpse of nostalgia.  And if anyone want to buy a drive in-here it is  :-)

As some of you already know I had an up and down day.  But instead of thinking about the down part here is some up...
I think I want to do a book  "Don't look Up"  About all the things people miss by not looking up.

I am currently in New Orleans, for the SPE conference.  It is a chance to connect with other artists and recharge my creative drive.  This year I am working on a project for MediaNOLA so I am not able to post everything I shoot.  Some will be restricted for a while.  But, I have also been shooting the things that I find exciting about this city, and so with Cathy Sipe in mind here is a collection of stained glass.

These windows are in the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis in Jackson Square