Lunchtime at the Academy of Sciences

Lunchtime at the Academy of Sciences, originally uploaded by big_pixel_pusher.

Ok so maybe my imagination was running wild, but when I reviewed at this HDR sequence it looked like my favorite T-Rex was stalking this blissfully unaware kid. Maybe it was wishful thinking because I remember that he was being such a little brat and his parents, like many modern parents were ignoring his bad behavior being too busy with their cell phones to give a crap. Uggh don’t get me started on modern parents. Anyway in my mind this kid was the appetizer, his aloof dad was the main course and his compulsively texting mom was dessert.

If I had a set of wings man I know she could fly

If I had a set of wings man I know she could fly, originally uploaded by big_pixel_pusher.

This is a pretty nice 1932 Ford Coupe. No idea if it's real or a recreation. Doesn't matter much to me. I just thought it was cool.

Aspiring Chefs

Aspiring Chefs, originally uploaded by big_pixel_pusher.

I had been working really late night after night and found myself once again sitting in front of my computer at work, feeling really sleepy. I thought that maybe a walk around old town Pasadena might wake me up so I headed out camera in hand. I decided to have dinner at the Cheesecake Factory and upon walking out, I saw four students from the Cordon Bleu Culinary Arts College walking side-by-side. I couldn't resist taking this shot. I walked back to work in the fading light.

A Game of Cat and Mouse

A Game of Cat and Mouse, originally uploaded by big_pixel_pusher.

Friends and co-workers Tom and Geri (not to be confused with the cat and mouse characters that inspired the ultra-violent Itchy and Scratchy cartoons) and I decided to bring our cameras and tripods to work and walk over to Pasadena's California Mediterranean style City Hall during our lunch hour. As planned we took a few HDR sequences. The weather was partly sunny with a strong overcast building as the lunch hour progressed. By the time we were walking back to work we could feel rain drops beginning to fall. I never mind cloud cover when I shoot HDR images. Clouds act as a big soft box and look very interesting in tone mapped images. The building was completed in 1927 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

I got a rocket in my pocket

I got a rocket in my pocket, originally uploaded by big_pixel_pusher.

Light-weight, low slung and fast. What more could you want? OK maybe power brakes and steering, and air conditioning. Whatever. Still way cool.

Stepped into a Painting

Stepped into a Painting, originally uploaded by big_pixel_pusher.

When Manny and I got out of the taxi that dropped us off at the National Cathedral in Washington D.C., the sun was so bright and the sky was so blue it felt like we had stepped into a dream or a painting Mary Poppins style. After exploring the place and taking about a thousand photos, we decided to walk back outside and take a photo of both of us in front of the Cathedral. One day I hope he brings his kids here and remembers being here with me.

Back in Black on Acid

Back in Black on Acid, originally uploaded by big_pixel_pusher.

Ok I have no idea what make or model this car is. All I know is it was massive and low slung. I would guess in an accident it would tear up any Honda or Toyota and suffer very little damage. Just look at that bumper! I should mention that while I was busy taking this shot, Kathy was getting some awesome shots of a Thunderbird that had pulled in when I wasn't looking. You can actually see me taking this shot in her photo (look on the right) here

Under one roof

Under one roof, originally uploaded by big_pixel_pusher.

San Franciso's Crocker Galleria has an amazing glass atrium that stretches the full length of the building. I was thrown out of the shopping center by the tripod police (security) just after taking these shots. I'm glad I had already eaten lunch before breaking out my camera gear.

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.

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.