Gone the Distance

While this was took Monday, I haven't been able to post until today because I was way too cheap, tired and busy to find internet while in Washington D.C. James and I drove there Monday morning and arrived around 6ish. Since then was pure walking and touring with 4 hours of sleep between days. I haven't toured that hard since Europe two years ago.

The Philistine

I claim no ownership of any of the items depicted above...

Yo-yo Tricks

I noticed today while walking the dog the cool stretched out shadows that we made on the pavement. So I snapped a few while we were out. Once I got it in Photoshop, I drove the shadow blacks darker and tried to highlight the pavement a little. While the dark shadows makes it looks more animated, I like the look.

Independence Day Carousel

I'm right there. Over to the right.

I figured the bonfire on the beach would be a good opportunity to do some strange night photography, so I held off the portrait taking until then. I got some neat fireworks shots and fireside portraits as well, which I intend to showcase on my other blog.

So other than working, it was a decent Independence Day. Plenty of food and beer, the hallmarks of a good party. It's interesting how the celebration of our Independence from Great Britain has manifested in our time. It seems less like a recognition of independence and more like a Great Patriotic Holiday. You have to figure, the independence of the United States has long since been established. There's no real doubt about it. The holiday is more of a festival of achievement; men on the moon, technology, prosperity, victory in war, ect.

I wonder if the Founding Fathers ever thought it would end up like this. To them, the 4th of July was surely about Independence as the memory of colonial times was still fresh in their minds. I wonder what it will be in another 200 years.

Also of interest, my cousin James has been staying with us from the U.K. He pointed out his desire to be in our country during the Independence Day holiday as it seemed quite unique to our culture. Over there, they do not have a national holiday of major significance. It's not exclusively European, whom for the most part never declared independence from any other nation, as for example: France has Bastille Day which involves plenty of celebration.

But anyway, this is yesterday's photo. Now I'm going to have to come up with something else for today.

Deeper into the Shell

Salvo

Reminds me a bit of Frank Miller's art, however, the rain on the window is to thank for the splatter effects.

Desolate Highway