This picture showcases the power of a good zoom lens. I used my 55-200mm lens to zoom in all the way on this bird out on the dock post. I love how clear the picture is (all the credit for clarity goes to the Nikon auto feature). I also really like how everything in the background is just a blur, but you still get the nice blue water in the background. I really like how this picture turned out. It was taken at Concord Point in case anyone was curious about the where. Enjoy!

Little Birdy

This picture was taken at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum of the Tyrannosaurus dino. I don't think there's much to say here other than, hey take a look! So the reason I posted this today was more so to comment on something else I read today.

Apparently, next summer (2009) another Night at the Museum movie is coming out. Once again staring Ben Stiller. I really liked the original movie, and I thought it was a very original idea for a movie. My problem is that yet again the movie studio sees the money come in and says, lets make a sequel that will play off the success of the first and probably not offer anything new and original. I'll say this now - Jenn will most likely want to see this movie because she LOVED the original. So once I've seen it next year, I'll be sure to let everyone know if I'm wrong and they are able to bring something new and original to the series. Enjoy!

T-Rex

When Jenn and I took the boys to D.C. there was tons of walking. And with lots of walking and little short legs I suppose one would get tired. So today I'll share two similar pictures. I think the title kinda says it all in regards to who's involved. But let it be known that piggy back rides were offered to BOTH nephews, its just that only Damien was actually interested in taking the offer. Enjoy!

Me and D

Jenn and D

Sunday Jenn and I went up to see her mother and family to celebrate her mothers birthday. Afterwards we went to the Havre de Grace lighthouse, Concord Point, to take some pictures. This is a panorama that I created out of 6 pictures that I took. Its not to wide, but I like the feeling that the picture conveys. I like that you can see the water, lighthouse and some of the walkway in the picture. I just like it. Enjoy!

Concord Point Panorama

Today's the day. Its my 300th post. I've been posting to this blog for almost 2 years now, and its taken me this long to get to 300. I certainly hope it doesn't take another 2 years to get to 600 posts.

The picture that I have included below is a bit of a tribute to the first image that I posted on here with my first post. In case you don't recognize the picture, this is the castle at Magic Kingdom, in Disney World. Not much else to say about the picture.

The part I'm really excited to share is my new site design. I spent a few days designing and creating this new layout. I really feel that the new design is a much better representation of what this site is about. Even though Polariods aren't really a common format for photography anymore, its still a very recognizable image. So today is a double treat. Picture plus a new design. If you're ever curious to view a specific post, click on the title of the post, which will now be below the image. Enjoy!

Magic Kingdom

So its that time of year. Spring training. Also known as the beginning of the lull between NFL seasons. Many of you know I'm a huge Orioles fan. But each year there seems to be some reason or another that it becomes harder and harder to root for the O's.

This year, the Orioles traded away their ace pitcher Erik Bedard. Bedard was the one bright spot in the rotation over the past few years. It seems as if we have one of the biggest joke rotations around. I mean, we have Cabrera who is exactly like Rick Vaughn, or Wild Thing, from Major League. I mean Cabrera even has the glasses so that he can see the batter, and not bean him with a 100+ mph fastball.

I just don't get the policies of the Orioles. We're in a division with the Yankees and Red Sox. I don't expect them to outspend those clubs, but you have to compete. Orioles management wonders why attendance is waning over the past years, yet they do nothing to field a competitive team. The Orioles can hit. They can score runs on many a night. However, they can't win those close 2-1 games. They always seem to fall on the short end of those games. And that is because of poor pitching.

The third highest paid Oriole, Danys Baez, is paid $5.66 million a year, and had an ERA over 6 last year. He was awful. I remember going to games and seeing him come and thinking "well, we're gonna loose this game", and that usually happened. It just sucks.

Don't get me wrong. I'm still an O's fan. Avid. I'll be going to my fare share of games, and feel free to join me for those Friday night games. But I'm headed into this season with low expectations. I'll be rooting for my favorites, Roberts, Markakis, and a dark horse shortstop Fahey. As for this picture, its Bedard, who is now a Seattle Mariner, and doing nothing to help the Orioles win. Enjoy!

Bedard and the O's

Not to often do I say this, but with this picture, I think you need to click it to get a better feeling of the picture. Its a big ol' panorama I took last weekend when we visited D.C. I really like how it turned out. This portion of the panorama, cropped and centered, is made up of about 8 pictures stitched together.

On a different note/topic, this site is going to be getting a much needed face lift. One I'm very excited to roll out. It will be a design that I think represents the content of this site much better, as well as says that I put more than 10 seconds into the design. When is this coming? Soon, its complete, I'm just waiting to hit 300 posts and as a celebration, I'm going to push the new layout. If you're curious, today is post 298. So Enjoy the picture!

Capitol Reflecting Pool Panorama

So last night, in the freezing cold, I was outside watching a spectacular phenomenon. The Lunar Eclipse. They happen often, but it won't be until December of 2010 when we here in North America will get an easy view of another lunar eclipse.

For those that don't know, and honestly I don't really either, a lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth passes between the moon and the sun, and therefore Earth's shadow is cast upon the moon. The reason it looks red is because the light from the sun needs to pass through our atmosphere before reflecting off the moon, hence the reddish color. Thanks Wikipedia for that information!

As for the picture itself, I took this one around 10:30 which was when it was at full lunar eclipse. And let me say again, it was cold outside! Enjoy!

Lunar Eclipse

I'm not so sure that there's anything necessarily special about this picture. But I like it because of the background obviously. I like how the moon is prominent in the background, just above the capitol. But what really makes this picture cool is that our nephew Brandon took the picture. It was slightly crooked, but its not now because that was easily fixed in editing. More on our trip to come. Enjoy!

Jenn and I in D.C.

Ever wonder what life would be like for the people that live, nay work in the Mushroom Kingdom? I know I have. All the time. Apparently some people over at Commissioned Comic have been wondering the same thing and therefore have presented this humorous take on the job of filling the bricks Mario enjoys breaking. Enjoy

Mushroom Kingdom

I'm certainly one to take 'self' pictures of Jenn and I. Its often just the two of us, so I have to resort to the ol' camera in one hand in front of us trick to get a picture. And I must say I'm getting better at it. But this picture we took a different approach. Jenn took this picture, as she was sitting on the steps in front of me. Its definitely a different take and I think it looks kinda neat. Enjoy!

Us @ Blue Man

I'm not one to take pictures at a concert. Most of the time. I'm also not one to post horrible pictures taken at a concert. Most of the time. This time I've made an exception. I took a bunch of pictures at yesterday's concert because I wanted to share. The concert was amazing.

For those that don't know, this was now the third time Jenn and I have seen Blue Man Group. Twice on tour and once in Las Vegas (all three times were amazing). They are a very entertaining and engaging show. Tons of fun. This is a picture from their "and now we're done" bow. Enjoy!

Blue Man Group

I had no idea what to post today. I've been in a bit of a slump this week with pictures. I haven't been to sure what to post, and I haven't taken any really exciting pictures in the past few weeks. This picture is from when I took pictures down in Rivera Beach.

I have no idea what that little shack sized building is doing out in the water. But its out there, and it adds some character to my picture here. I like the colors of the sunset, and I also like how with this picture isolated from the others (not seeing the whole album) you can't really tell that this was taken down in Pasadena. A pretty neat feeling that such picturesque things are so close to home. Enjoy!

Water Shack

So its Valentines Day today. I hope that if you have a Valentine to share the day with you do so. Jenn and I will be staying in this evening to avoid the mad rush of people. We're going to see Blue Man Group again tomorrow which promises to be tons of fun. This picture I posted today happens to be about a year and half old from when we were at the beach two summers ago. I think it makes my point, at least I hope it does since I spent about 15 minutes searching for a good picture. Enjoy!

Valentines Kiss

With all the commotion about the Super Bowl it slipped my mind to mention that two famous Redskins will be entering the football hall of fame this summer. Art Monk (81) and Darrell Green (28) will both be entering the hall.

This is Green's first year of eligibility and he got in, however its been quite a few years of waiting for Monk. I'm sure the exact number but I think its 8 or 9 years he's been waiting. Monk was part of all three Super Bowl victories the Redskins lay claim to and Green a part of the second two.

I'm very glad to see them headed to the hall, after all you can't have to many Redskins in the Hall of Fame! Enjoy!

Congratulations Redskins

So with today being the Maryland primary (I hope you voted!) and me wanting to post a picture of some LEGO's, I figured why not post a shot of whats at stake today. Somewhat topical I suppose. Either way, in case you don't recognize this its the White House with Marine One sitting in front of it. The picture was taken at Legoland out near San Diego in California. Enjoy!

Presidential Primaries

When given the chance to try and embarrass someone I've got to take that opportunity. As you can see from the picture, Duerling doesn't particularly like having his picture taken. At the end of church yesterday I noticed that we was watching our pastor Ben's newest daughter. So of course, I had to get a picture. Enjoy!

My Buddy Duerling

Seeing that Jenn and I don't have kids ourselves, Jenn has always adored our nephews. This is a shot of the three of them sitting on the trampoline. You'll notice that Brandon decided to smile real special like for the camera. Enjoy!

Jenn and the Boys

Having posted a picture of Brandon earlier this week I suppose I feel slightly obligated to post a picture of his little brother. Before opening presents Jenn, the boys and I went outside and jumped on the trampoline. Prior to my getting on and jumping around I took some pictures of their fun. I really like this shot because a lot of the picture is out of focus, but Damien's face is perfectly in focus. To help with the idea of motion you can see blur in his hands and in Jenn. I think its kinda neat. And 100% lucky/accidental that it looks this good. Enjoy!

Jumpin Damien

Hopefully no on is - but for those of you who may be getting 'crabby' about seeing all these crab pictures (you see that, you like how i integrated the word crab, into crabby...). Moving on - this is the reverse of the crab from yesterdays picture. I like the colors used, it really feels like the opposite of yesterday's beach scene, with the dark colors for the Baltimore at night style shot. Enjoy!

City Crab

More crabs. This crab was placed just across the street from Camden Yards and was painted two different ways on each side. Today I'll show the first side. I think it looks pretty cool actually. I like how they (in my opinion) represent the Ocean City side of Maryland with the waves and the sunset. Enjoy!

Ocean Crab

So the other day (February 2nd to be exact) was our nephew Brandon's 6th birthday. Birthdays are always fun, but as you would expect a wound up 6 year old can be quite a handful. It was fun to celebrate his birthday with him, watch him open presents and share cake.

One thing I like about gift giving with kids, is how they will receive a bunch of gifts, but if they've asked for one thing in particular, then thats what they play with first and most. And if they didn't get what they wanted, there is a bit of pouting, but even then they will decide on 1 gift in particular that is the "best of the day" to celebrate with. Brandon's gift of choice was "Moon Sand" from his mom. Don't ask me what it is, cause i don't know. As for this picture - this is the birthday boy in the act of blowing out his candles. Enjoy!

Happy 6th Birthday

WOW! I think thats the best way to start my conversation about the Super Bowl last night. It was a terrific game with the best possible ending. The Patriots loosing. I'm really not sure what it is about the 18-0 Patriots I hated so much. There are so many things: a 52-7 drumming of my Redskins earlier this season, cocky players, a head coach worth millions of dollars that looks as if he borrowed his game time sideline sweatshirt from a local homeless Patriots fan, the list goes on.

I do know for sure that I am beyond elated that the Patriots lost the Super Bowl. I don't care so much that the Giants won, after all I am a Redskins fan, but the fact that the Patriots lost made my night.

The picture below I got from ESPN's ZOOM Gallery in case you'd like to see the original or others from last night. This catch was made with 1:15 left in the game after Eli Manning had scrambled away from the Pats defense escaping a sure sack. It was an amazing catch to cap what I would say is the most amazing Super Bowl I've ever watched live. Congratulations Giants and to your fans! Enjoy!

Amazing Catch

Today's the day. I believe that one way or the other history will be made. I'm in the camp that believes if the Giants pull out a victory it will be a giant upset. I mean come on, the Pats are 18-0, 1 win away from the first perfect season since 1972 and the first team do it with the 16 game regular season schedule. What an upset.

And if the Patriots are able to pull it out, they will have won their 4th Super Bowl in 7 years, and done it in spectacular fashion this time. 19-0. Its crazy to think about. To everyone - enjoy the game. I hope its as good as it was in week 16. To those of you that talk football with me, you all know that I've been hoping for this rematch since the playoffs started. And in case you were wondering how this Redskins fan would be rooting....Go Giants!

Super Bowl XLII

Another day another crabby picture. I didn't take to many so don't worry about weeks of seeing them. This is another crab that was downtown. I like how they painted it the crab to be a blue crab (notice the pincers) and how the crab is wearing a Hawaiian style shirt. Also notice the little flip flops all kids of beach attire going on there. Enjoy!

Beach Crab