2010 PAW (Picture a Week)
My 2008 PAW is here
My 2009 PAW is here
And here on this page is the third year of this little exercise...
I woke up at 4am this Sunday morning. Glancing at the outside thermometer, it was 17 degrees (Fahrenheit). The wind was howling - it must have been 30mph. That's a windchill of just under zero. I stoked the fire in the woodstove and went on back to sleep. Fifty miles east, though, the honor guard at Arlington Cemetery continued their vigil at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, as they do 24 hours of everyday. Regardless of the weather.
This was taken a couple days earlier, as dusk descended. (Leica M9, Summicron 75/2.0 ASPH, iso 160, 1/710 at f2)
I attended a wedding this week (of which a gallery will be posted under 'Family & Friends' in a few days). There was a strong veil of blue light coming from the stained glass just to the left of this image which draped the hair and left shoulder of the woman sitting, and made the whole picture problematic in color. Converting to black and white fixed the color problem, but still left a bit of flare in her hair. Adding the strong vignette - which I tend to like as an artistic touch anyway - took care of that. (Leica M9, Summicron 75/2.0 ASPH, iso 640, 1/125 at f2)
I spent a couple hours walking around the Chinatown area of DC with my Leica, following the DC Motorcycle Show. This was one of a handful of images I took. I like the juxtaposition of the lettering on the building and the two people in the background.
More images from the afternoon can be seen at 2010 DC Motorcycle Show. (Leica M9, Summilux 35/1.4 ASPH, iso 160, 1/2800 at f1.4)
Finding good light is often just a bit of serendipity. Here, I stopped at a corner Starbucks for a hot cup of joe after spending an hour wandering the streets of Old Town Alexandria. I liked how the light was so low in this back room of the cafe, with most of what was there highlighting the woman and boy. (Leica M9, Summilux 35/1.4 ASPH, iso 160, 1/90 at f1.4)
My favorite landmark in old town Warrenton is easily the courthouse. I've photographed it often. This week, wandering down Main Street, I came upon an artist who clearly shares my fondness for that old building. Braving the chilly afternoon, he produced a very realistic likeness. "Very nice" I told him as I walked by, after having paused to grab a couple of shots. (Leica M9, Summilux 35/1.4 ASPH, iso 160, 1/125 at f1.4)
I posted a blog entry (http://jeffreyhughes.net/wordpress/2010/02/07/the-weekend-from-hell/) relating to this week's PAW entry. The long and the short is that we had a snowstorm I'd just as soon never see repeated again. This is a quick shot of the front of my house shortly before midnight, several hours after the storm had ended. (Leica M9, Summilux 35/1.4 ASPH, iso 160, 1/20 at f1.4)
After a crazy week of snow (see my blog entries), we're still not back to normal. Lots of roads still have sections of snow on them and lots of lanes are still entirely blocked. But after spending nearly a week stuck inside, I decided to venture down to Arlington Cemetery. The snow cover would give a very different look. Alas, it was still closed. I consoled myself with a couple frames of the Iwo Jima Memorial. (Leica M9, Summicron 75/2.0 ASPH, iso 160, 1/2800 at f5.6)
Old Town Warrenton has, among its historical landmarks, its old jail. Completed in 1808 and then used for nigh on 150 years, the stone building gives a bit of insight into the rather harsh conditions inmates were subjected to back in the day.
I stopped by there once, seven years or so ago. Right after I bought the 35 Summilux ASPH for my M6/M7. I took a handful of shots that day - all on Tri-X. Today was a reprise, albeit I carried my M9 and 50 Lux ASPH this time. (Leica M9, Summilux 50/1.4 ASPH, iso 2500, 1/30 at f1.4)
The historic snows of this month are taking their own sweet time in melting away. Here's a shot I liked, helped along by just a bit of post-processing assistance to bump up the contrast. (Leica M9, Summilux 50/1.4 ASPH, iso 160, 1/1400 at f4)
This week's selection is a couple days late being posted because I was in New York for several days. Wonderful trip. More of my images can be found here. This one was my favorite. I got up early to take advantage of the strong side lighting from the rising sun. That's the Empire State building in the middle, with the East River on the left and the Hudson River on the right. (Leica M9, Summilux 50/1.4 ASPH, iso 160, 1/710 at f5.6)
My visit to New York straddled two calendar weeks. This was taken on my next-to-last-day there. With only a handful of hours left to wander the city, I headed down to Union Square. What a place! It was full of people playing, reading, relaxing, and just generally having a good time. There were several young people working on a film vignette (the NY Film Academy is just across the street). And there were also a bunch of tables set up with people selling artwork of every kind. Very cool place! (Leica M9, Summilux 50/1.4 ASPH, iso 160, 1/2800 at f2)
I've ridden my motorcycles past the intersection with this old wagon a million times. This week, while out for a ride on my Harley, I finally decided to stop. I've always liked the contrast of the colorful paint against the backdrop of the rusted old wagon, and the signs pointing in opposite directions. (Leica M9, Summilux 50/1.4 ASPH, iso 160, 1/2000 at f5.6)
I've always wished I could draw. There's something amazing about being able to sketch a likeness with nothing more than a stub of charcoal. I came across this scene while wandering around Old Town Alexandria. (Leica M9, Summilux 50/1.4 ASPH, iso 160, 1/750 at f2)
It's funny how sometimes you'll go back into your negatives or slides or files from years ago and find images that you rejected when you first took them, but upon later reflection see something you like. Sometimes it doesn't take years. This was one of the shots I took during my "Cherry Blossom" visit to The Mall and The Tidal Basin (gallery here) this week. At first I didn't much care for the image, not even intending to include it in the gallery. But the more I looked at it the more I liked it. (Leica M9, Summilux 50/1.4 ASPH iso 800, 1/125 @ f5.6)
Two or three years ago a teenage girl was killed in a car crash along one of the remote mountain roads I ride. I remember riding past a day or so after the incident and seeing the multitude of flowers and signs that the girl's high school friends had placed there. The broken fence gave mute testimony to the tragedy.
The fence remains unrepaired to this day. Instead, a simple cross was fashioned out of the broken planks. I don't know if the girl was the daughter of the farmer whose field that fence belongs to, or if he just left it that way out of respect. Either way, it's been left as a permanent memorial. (Leica M9, Summilux 50/1.4 ASPH iso 160, 1/1000 @ f5.6)
This week was the 32nd annual running of the Fodderstack 10k roadrace. I ran it for years, until my DC commute put the kibosh on my running career. But I usually still head over there on race day to support Ginny and the rest of the runners. And I almost always try and get some pictures. This shot was taken at the beginning of the ascent of the murderous hill at the 4-mile mark. The young lady here was being pushed up that hill by her mom - who should get a medal! More images from this year can be seen in the gallery on my Fodderstack page, under 'Miscellany' - http://www.jeffreyhughes.net/miscellany/fodderstack/2010/web_gallery_2010_fodderstack_10k/index.html
(Nikon D3, Nikkor 200/f2 AFS, iso 200, 1/500 @ f4)
I got this image while wandering around one of my favorite places - a small cemetery off one of my favored motorcycle roads. (Leica M9, Summilux 50/1.4 ASPH, iso 160, 1/750 at f5.6)
At our local HOG ride this week these three ladies got together to talk about the one gals' ride partner. The little fellow seemed to do very well! (Leica M9, Summilux 50/1.4 ASPH, iso 160, 1/3000 at f4.5)
Sometimes on my lunch hour I'll walk the handful of blocks from my office down to Dupont Circle. I enjoy the walk. And I enjoy the sights. It has the tiniest little hint of New York to it.
This was just a little something I picked up in passing. One of those you're walking along and see something in a store front and you stop, wondering how you might make a picture of it. (Leica M9, Summilux 50/1.4 ASPH, iso 160, 1/2000 at f2.8)
With Sunday afternoon waning, and zero pictures for the week, I headed down to Old Town Warrenton, my old standby. An hour later I had both a slight reprieve from the issues du jour - some health issues in the family - and a few images I liked. This is a painting by Mort Kunstler (http://www.mortkunstler.com/), probably my favorite Civil War artist. Found in a storefront. (Leica M9, Summilux 50/1.4 ASPH, iso 160, 1/2000 at f2)
Prompted by the most-excellent, just-concluded, HBO miniseries "The Pacific," I'm currently reading Eugene Sledge's also most-excellent With the Old Breed, at Peleliu and Okinawa. And so an image of the Iwo Jima Marine Corps memorial seemed appropriate. (Leica M9, Summicron 75/2 ASPH, iso 160, 1/2000 at f4)
This is a portrait of my long-time riding buddy, John Holt. Taken during our Memorial Day Chicken Run (more images from that trip can be found here). (Leica M9, Summicron 75/2 ASPH, iso 160, 1/180 at f2.8)
An image found in a shop window, while strolling down Main Street in Warrenton. (Leica M9, Summilux 50/1.4 ASPH, iso 160, 1/125 at f2.8)
This weekend was the 13th annual Clarendon Cup (hosted by the Air Force this year - hence the addendum of "Air Force Cycling Classic"). They were running a criterium (basically, a mini road race over a short course) around several blocks they had blocked off around the Clarendon Metro station. I stopped by for a little while, Leica in hand. A few other shots can be found here.
It was a very hot and humid day. A testament to the extraordinary fitness of these guys, performing in what I honestly believe is the hardest sport in the world. (Leica M9, Summilux 50/1.4 ASPH, iso 160, 1/4000 at f4)
Something of a reprise of week 20 - like my shot that week, this one is of a painting in a storefront. Unlike that one, though, which was taken during the afternoon, this was taken after dark. I like the lighting of the window display that painted the center of the painting. The painting itself was of Mosby's Rangers, in the dark and in the rain. I really like the print - I might end up having to buy a copy. (Leica M9, Summilux 50/1.4 ASPH, iso 800, 1/60 at f1.4)
This shot was most emblematic of the pictures I took this week - all part of a 2-day bike trip I took down the Blue Ridge Parkway. A photo essay describing that ride can be found here. (Leica M9, Summilux 50/1.4 ASPH, iso 320, 1/350 at f2.8)
This week included the July 4th weekend, so I originally figured my PAW image would be something that reflected that. And, indeed, I did wander around old town Warrenton on the evening of the 3rd and captured, among other things, images of flags, the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and a fireworks stand at dusk. Along with other simple images which reflect summer evenings in a small town. But it was this image, taken the evening before at the Manassas Borders, which I like the most, and so gets the call.
I have run my 50 Summilux ASPH almost exclusively since January. Wanting to mix it up a little, I mounted my 35 Summilux ASPH before Ginny and I headed out to eat. This shot turned out very much like I envisioned it - with the bottom portion falling rapidly out of focus. As for the magazine, I glanced at it briefly. Not really sure of the genre, just that it was some sort of alternative-focus fem rag. Dunno about the chicks rule part. But I do like chicks on bikes. And if it's a pretty blonde on a Harley, all the better! (Leica M9, Summilux 35/1.4 ASPH, iso 160, 1/90 at f1.4)
Here's a shot I snuck looking out our kitchen window. Ginny was enjoying the pleasant summer morning on our back deck - and Jasiri was right there to give her a hand! Just out of the frame on the bottom is Charlie (our cat), sitting on the table just outside the window and watching the show. (Leica M9, Summilux 35/1.4 ASPH, iso 320, 1/500 at f2)
A shot of my new fly rod and reel. That's a small popper - not a dry fly - in the background. I swung by a local warm-water lake (i.e. bass and bream, as opposed to trout) to see how it casts. (Leica M9, Summicron 75/2 ASPH, iso 160, 1/500 at f4)
This is a shot of my 10-month-old Rhodesian Ridgeback, Jasiri. Getting him in a pose like this is hard, given his propensity to keep moving whenever he's not sleeping. He and I were wandering around the yard on Sunday evening and I got lucky. (Leica M9, Summilux 50/1.4 ASPH, iso 640, 1/180 at f2)
Patriot HD had their annual vintage day show on Saturday. I stopped by and enjoyed that for a few hours. And I expected to get my PAW shot there. But on the way home - the "back way, " as is my usual wont - I passed this fellow in Clifton painting the store. So I pulled the Harley up next to store, walked back with my Leica to get a couple shots, then walked back to the store for a bottle of water and a ten-minute break. I wish the background just behind the painter was a little cleaner, but otherwise I really like the shot. It's similar to the image from week 5. (Leica M9, Summilux 50/1.4 ASPH, iso 160, 1/2000 at f5.6)
Ginny and I spent the afternoon at her aunt and uncle's, celebrating Ben's 90th birthday (more images from that can be seen here). Their back yard/garden is quite amazing, and one of the favorite features for little kids (and not so little), is this wooden bridge overlooking the small pond. When I saw the little girl feeding the fish, with her brother watching, I grabbed a couple of quick images. (Leica M9, Summilux 50/1.4 ASPH, iso 160, 1/750 at f2)
The day was overcast, with intermittent rain that came and went. All morning, whenever I'd head to the bathroom, I'd glance at the soft light that gently touched this pitcher. I liked the natural vignette caused by the curtains and the darkness beneath the table. Finally, I went and got my Leica and captured three quick shots. (Leica M9, Summilux 50/1.4 ASPH, iso 320, 1/1000 at f1.4)
In the town of Little Washington, across from the famous inn, there is a church with a small fountain. I've passed it a million times on my motorcycles, glancing over at it while throttling up from the stop sign. This afternoon I was returning home in my truck after scoping out a new fishing spot and decided to stop. (Leica M9, Summilux 50/1.4 ASPH, iso 160, 1/3000 at f2.8)
Winchester HD had their open house this weekend. I was happy to see a ton of people there. Hopefully that bodes well - a tinge of hope - for Harley in these difficult economic times. I'm also happy to see more and more women becoming active riders. There's no reason we men should have all the fun! Anyway, I didn't see the owner of this bike, but I feel pretty confident in saying it surely belongs to one of those lady riders. (Leica M9, Summilux 50/1.4 ASPH, iso 160, 1/4000 at f2.8)
This was a serendipitous image of a lovely young barista captured during our annual Labor Day Chicken Run in West Virginia (more images from that trip here). I had forgotten the coffee the night before and so the next morning Wes, Dale, Clyde, and I rode up to Starbucks for our caffeine fix. I had my Leica with me, as usual, and so was ready when this good-natured and charming young lady gave me my image for the week. (Leica M9, Summilux 50/1.4 ASPH, iso 640, 1/90 at f2)
Okay, this is a shot of a shot. I stopped by the local Orvis shop and while walking around that emporium I saw this very large print, high up on the wall, of two gentlemen carrying their fly rods, presumably on their way to a fishing trip. I loved the image - both photographically and because of its content. So I walked back out to my truck and retrieved my ever present Leica. Done. (Leica M9, Summilux 50/1.4 ASPH, iso 640, 1/90 at f2)
This is a shot of one of the lovely young women where I work. Our company was holding a talent show as a capstone to "International Day." I stepped in with my Leica and captured a few images, including a couple shots of folks enjoying the show, like the one here. (Leica M9, Summilux 50/1.4 ASPH, iso 1250, 1/45 at f2)
Sunday dawned with a gray sky. The kind of overcast day that is great for portraits. I didn't have any subjects willing to model for me, though. So mid-afternoon I headed out in the truck. Just driving. Just looking around. I ended up at Little Georgetown Cemetery. I like it there.
Walking around, I always wonder about the lives of the people at rest there. You read the headstones and try and divine something of the person. The young people bring their own questions. There's always a special tragedy that seems attached to their abbreviated time. It makes you wonder. Like this one here. Godspeed Chassity... (Leica M9, Summilux 50/1.4 ASPH, iso 160, 1/350 at f2)
This is a bit of a reprise of week 21, except that the light was very different and I used a 35mm lens versus the 75mm glass I used back in May. I like both images. (Leica M9, Summilux 35/1.4 ASPH, iso 160, 1/2000 at f4)
This was an early-morning shot of John Holt, one of my long-time motorcycling buddies, enjoying his morning coffee on our Fall Foliage Tour. (Leica M9, Summilux 50/1.4 ASPH, iso 640, 1/125 at f1.4)
I took this shot while walking around The Plains, a tiny little village a dozen miles from where I live. (Leica M9, Summilux 50/1.4 ASPH, iso 160, 1/250 at f4)
Yes, this is a shot of another image. A week ago I stopped by Winchester HD and came upon this painting I liked. I had my Leica out at my bike but decided to just wait until the next time I came by to get a shot of it. And so it was that this week I swung by. The painting is by Scott Jacobs and is available for purchase on his website (http://www.scottjacobsstudio.com). It's a limited edition, so if you're interested, I wouldn't tarry. (Leica M9, Summilux 50/1.4 ASPH, iso 640, 1/125 at f2)
Saturday night found me down in Old Town Warrenton. When this gentleman stepped out into the street, intent upon his call, I turned and framed him against the restaurant. It was a difficult shot because of the low light levels. I had my M9 set at iso 640 and my fast 35/1.4 opened up all the way, but even so all I could eke out was 1/25 second. In that situation you can't just grab the shot. You have to settle in like you do with a difficult rifle shot. You ease into that calm place inside where your heart and lungs go still, and then you squeeze off the shot. (Leica M9, Summilux 35/1.4 ASPH, iso 640 1/25 at f1.4)
This is a shot I've taken a couple times over the years, of a portion of Grace Episcopal Church in The Plains. I've always liked the natural symmetry represented by the double archway and the door a few feet further on. And the tinge of red in the distant door, the walkway, and the stonework in the arch complements it all. It's a good example of the natural aesthetic you often see in old buildings (this church was built circa 1855) - and which is sadly lacking in much of modern architecture. (Leica M9, Summilux 35/1.4 ASPH, iso 640, 1/90 at f8).
I was driving along a local country road when I came across this roadside memorial. I was struck by the color and the obvious effort to honor what I can only assume was a young lady. Even not knowing the person or the details, you always hate these tragedies. (Leica M9, Summilux 35/1.4 ASPH, iso 160, 1/350 at f4).
Here it is mid-November, only a few days before Thanksgiving, a few weeks before Christmas. It's already cold out. And getting colder. We're on the cusp of winter. So on a late afternoon walk through old town Warrenton, I was struck by this image - one rather more evocative of the long, warm days of summer. And I liked the way the reflection of the buildings in the background added both a tinge of light and a little bit of mystery. (Leica M9, Summilux 35/1.4 ASPH, iso 160, 1/350 at f2).
I took a few pictures of my boys this year when they were home for Thanksgiving. Jason, my youngest, asked me to shoot a few music-oriented images - long one of his passions. So I made a handful (Josh & Jason - Thanksgiving 2010). This one was my favorite. (Leica M9, Summilux 50/1.4 ASPH, iso 160, 1/4000 at f2)
I spent some time this Sunday walking around the Bull Run battlefield. This is a shot of The Stone House, probably the best-known landmark of the time - and a structure that was clearly well-known to the participants (it was noted in quite a number of letters and diaries). Owned by the Matthews family during the Civil War, it sits adjacent to the Warrenton Turnpike (modern day rt. 29), just east of the intersection with the Sudley-Manassas Road (modern day rt. 234). It was used as a refuge for wounded during the battles. The weather was cold and windy during my walk and the rather unstable front created some dramatic clouds and light (Leica M9, Summilux 35/1.4 ASPH, iso 160, 1/4000 at f4)
I normally prefer either a 35mm or a 50mm lens when photographing Arlington Cemetery. But the honor guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is usually better-served by a slightly longer focal length. So with that as my primary target of the day, I mounted a 75mm on my Leica before I left the truck. I arrived in the midst of the changing of the guard, always a mesmerizing and solemn event. This image was at the end, after the honor guard had finished the change and this soldier was beginning his afternoon tour. (Leica M9, Summicron 75/2.0 ASPH, iso 320, 1/1500 at f2)
This is the fourth "picture of a picture" I've posted in this year's PAW. I suppose some might consider that cheating a little. But in each case it's not just the painting itself that I like - but also the light in which I find it. This one - a lovely painting by G. Harvey (http://www.gharvey.com/) is a beautiful image in its own right. But it was certainly displayed to good effect in the small gallery window in which I found it during one of my nighttime strolls around old-town Warrenton. (Leica M9, Summilux 35/1.4 ASPH, iso 1250, 1/45 at f1.4)
This image seemed apropro for the season. Taken while out on a cold, windy walk through old town Warrenton (Leica M9, Summilux 35/1.4 ASPH, iso 160, 1/500 at f1/4)
Well, this makes three years that I have done these PAW's. A hundred and fifty-six images. And although doing them has not prompted the changes in my photography that I originally envisioned - primarily to shoot more - I've nevertheless enjoyed them. I look forward to my 2011 PAW.
If some weeks have a dearth of images to select from, it's equally true that many weeks find me with at least a handful of decent shots - and debating amongst them. Below is a Quicktime movie (free reader download from Apple here if you don't already have it) with some of the outtakes from this year.
