Love knows nothing of rank or river bank

Love knows nothing of rank or river bank, originally uploaded by big_pixel_pusher.

The miracle of technology! Kathy and I decided to stop at Muir Woods on our drive up to San Francisco. I programmed our GPS to take us to the National Park and it easily directed us there. The problem was finding parking. We had almost given up when Kathy decided to drive through the parking lot one more time and we found someone pulling out of a space just across from the park entrance. Score! Anyway it was fun walking around and taking photos of the big redwood trees and the streams that flow through the park.

San Francisco's Historic Streetcar Service

San Francisco's Historic Streetcar Service, originally uploaded by big_pixel_pusher.

San Francisco's F line street cars are amazing. All manner of Vintage street cars, discarded by other cities have been restored and now run from Fishermans Wharf to the Castro district, mainly along Market Street. The next time you are in the city, I highly recommend you ride one. Early mornings are best. They get very crowded in the afternoon.

Where troubles melt like lemon drops

Where troubles melt like lemon drops, originally uploaded by big_pixel_pusher.

Colored light beams find a resting place on one of the giant columns that support the roof of the National Cathedral in Washington DC.

Antipodes

Antipodes, originally uploaded by big_pixel_pusher.

American artist Jim Sanborn is into cryptography. There's a message hidden in this piece of artwork which is located just outside the Smithsonian Institution's Hirshorn museum. Although Manny and I stared at it for the better part of a minute, we didn't solve it.

Waiting and watching

Waiting and watching, originally uploaded by big_pixel_pusher.

Washington D.C.'s Union Station is an amazing place with a long rich history. Although it opened to great fanfare in 1908, by the late 1970's it was deemed structurally unfit and was almost razed. Restored in the 1980's this grand train station is now considered a wonderful addition to the District of Columbia.

The tripod police are in full force here. We were told that no tripods were allowed to be setup on the floor of the station so we climbed a flight of stairs to an elevated restaurant and had a snack while taking HDR sequences.

I will always remember this day

I will always remember this day, originally uploaded by big_pixel_pusher.

Can you tell we got caught in the rain? It really felt good to be able to take My 12 year old nephew Manny to Washington D.C. It was his first time there, first time leaving the state of California, first time flying in an airplane and the first time he has ever been so far away from his immediate family. He's a great kid and so easy to travel with. He really got into HDR photography. In fact, some of his photography sold while we were in Washington. He has a great personality and is really funny. Also does some killer Austin Powers / Doctor Evil impersonations

a new birth of freedom

a new birth of freedom, originally uploaded by big_pixel_pusher.

Above this solitary statue of Abraham Lincoln these words appear: In this temple as in the hearts of the people for whom he saved the union, the memory of Abraham Lincoln is enshrined forever.

Human Sized Hamster Ball

Human Size Hamster Ball, originally uploaded by big_pixel_pusher.

The California Academy of Sciences features a 90 foot diameter glass dome in which a four story rain forest exihibit has been placed. It was nice and hot in there probably due to simulated global warming or something. All I know is my lens fogged over right away!

Keep-on-a-rockin' me baby

Keep-on-a-rockin' me baby, originally uploaded by big_pixel_pusher.

Seeburg Wall-O-Matic counter mounted jukebox looking pretty gritty.

Hotter than Georgia Asphalt

Hotter than Georgia Asphalt, originally uploaded by big_pixel_pusher.

Ok I wasn't in Georgia. This was taken in Santa Ana, California but just the same I think summer is here. When taking photos of cars, I usually just collapse my tripod completely and spread out the legs as wide as they will go so the camera is only 6 inches above the pavement. This of course means in order to frame the shot, I need to be laying on the ground. This is generally not a problem in the cooler months but today the asphalt parking lot was so hot, I almost got roasted. Gotta borrow the wife's yoga mat or something.