Photo-of-the-Week #260 - Sunrise On The Atlantic, New Beginnings, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, January 2009

This is IT! For all of you who have tuned in each week for this simple feature I've called my Photo-of-the-Week, this is the 260^th photo article. I said this is it, because after 260 consecutive weeks or five years, I'm ending this series. And, NO, it's not because I've run out of photos. Believe me, I have several thousand photos to continue choosing from. I'm simply tired and bored with producing this particular weekly article . . . READ MORE

Photo-of-the-Week #258 – A Different Perspective, Duck, North Carolina, March 2008

Another water theme photo. I've always like this photo because it represents a different perspective and a kind of juxtaposition.

This photo was taken from the beach under the Duck Research Pier, US Army Corps of Engineers, Field Research Facility in early March (we call that winter) 2008. A good friend has a timeshare beach house not far from this pier that I have had the good fortune to utilize occasionally with a group of friends. . . READ MORE

Photo-of-the Week #257 – I Need This Place – Any Beach Will Do, Boca Grande, Florida, January 2014

It's April 3, 2016 as I write this. It was snowing when I got up this morning. Give me a break. I looked outside and thought, “Oh no! This is a nightmare, I'm back in Syracuse, New York again and it's 1968 or 1969.”

Okay! It's spring. It is, at least, according to the calendar. I was supposed to be in the southwest by now, where it might be a bit chilly in the evenings, but warmer and sunny during the days. I spent another winter – unplanned – in the east in what may be considered the Mid-Atlantic region, but more properly, Appalachia.

The wind blew hard, probably gusting to 50 or more miles per hour. The rain came down in torrents for a good part of the night. This morning, the wind was still blowing, the Arctic blast came during the night and it was snowing when I woke up. Now, it's later in the day, the snow has stopped, the wind has died down to a light breeze, the sun is out and the sky is blue. . . READ MORE

Photo-of-the-Week #256 – Far From The Maddening Crowd. Sonoran Desert, Quartzsite, Arizona March 2015

Ah! Sweet memories. Just a little over a year ago, this was my location. I was staying on U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land in one tiny segment of the Sonoran Desert. In the distance, at night, you could see the lights from the small town of Quartzsite. Otherwise, this was a peaceful place in the middle of a lot of desert territory away from the congestion of larger towns and cities.

I wasn't actually alone. There were folks camping throughout this and other BLM territories all over this region of the country. In this area, there were five other folks in residency. There were four women and one other man. We each chose a small parcel of land and left enough space between each party to provide the privacy we each cherished. Yet, we were close enough that we could easily gather around a campfire at night and even share an occasional communal meal. . . READ MORE 

Photo-of-the-Week #255 There Is Something About Water, Lake Murray, Chapin, South Carolina, May 2010

There is something about water that draws me to it. I'm not a fisherman, though I've done a little fishing. I'm not a huge water sports person, though I've swam, surfed, body surfed, snorkeled, scuba dived, water skied and done some boating. I enjoy oceans, gulfs, lakes - great and small, ponds, rivers - large and small, brooks and creeks and even swimming pools and hot tubs.

I'm not sure, but I believe all humans are drawn to water. Perhaps, it' s because our beginnings go back to the primordial soup (waters) where all life began. And, of course, water is absolutely essential to our existence considering water makes up about 60% of the adult human body with some variations based on the time of the month and the gender. . . READ MORE

Photos-of-the-Week #254 Wake Up! Wake Up! It's Another Glorious Day In Paradise, Ocean Pond, Osceola National Forest, Florida, February 2014 (With Sound)

This week I'm sharing three photos with you. They were all taken at the start of the day as the sun was rising over Ocean Pond in Osceola National Forest in northern Florida.

Mornings, even in February were fantastic at Ocean Pond. The temperatures were brisk, but nothing could dull the beauty of nature. . . READ, SEE & HEAR MORE

Photo-of-the-Week #248 If I Had My Druthers, Ft. Pierce, Florida, January 2014

Yep! This photo says it all. If I had my druthers right about now, I'd be sitting on this beach at Pepper State Park in Ft. Pierce, Florida or on Manhattan Beach outside Los Angeles or on the beach on Padre Island. I'd be anywhere I've been or not yet been, as long as it was warm with balmy breezes and preferably with the sound of seagulls and the ocean surf to lull me to sleep. . . READ MORE

Photos-of-the-Week #247 Blizzard 2016 – North Central West Virginia, January 2016

This week I'm going to let the photos do the speaking. Here's what I'll tell you. I'm still located in north central West Virginia on the West Virginia-Maryland border (the Potomac River) about 23 miles south of Cumberland, Maryland. This is all a very rural region. It's known as the Potomac Highlands although the small town I'm located in is actually in a small valley at about 800 feet above sea level, surrounded by mountains that probably range from 400 to 800 feet higher.

I had planned to be in warmer climates by this time, but “Stuff Happens” and, while the stuff was not of my own making, I agreed to stay around the area to provide assistance for my friend and my sister. I had no intention of experiencing another blizzard in my lifetime. I've weathered many of them in New Jersey, central New York, Annapolis, Maryland and Winchester, Virginia. My snow preference is to watch it on TV, in movies, see it in photos or, on occasion, visit the snow with the intent of immediately leaving it behind. . . READ MORE & SEE MORE PHOTOS

Photo-of-the-Week #245 Winter Sunrise On The Atlantic, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, January 2009

There isn't much to say that this photo doesn't say for itself. As you know I love sunrises and sunsets. This is another one that takes my breath away. Of course, it was even more awesome in person, standing on the beach as I experienced the event.

A travel buddy and I decided we needed to travel a little to get away from the drabness of the winter in the Washington, DC area where he lives and I was staying at the time. This was just what the doctor ordered for us. I hope you enjoy these sunset and sunrise pictures as much as I enjoy taking them. 

Photo-of-the-Week #238 Freedom in Florida, Haulover Beach, Miami, Florida, February 2004

What can exemplify personal freedom anymore than being on a beach sans any clothing? So, you might be asking what might I have been wearing and how far away was I with my telephoto lens? I am not a practicing nudist or naturist, the two labels that seem to be used interchangeably for this lifestyle. However . . . when in Rome, do as the Romans do. Yes! I was a full participant and the photo was not taken with a telephoto lens. . . READ MORE

Photo-of-the-Week #228 Sunset over Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, January 2015

What can I say? I just love sunrises and sunsets and here's another example of a majestic sunset. I took this photo from one of the highest points in Los Angeles' Griffith Park, just below the Griffith Observatory. This was early evening, probably around 6:05 PM on January 8, 2015 to be precise. . . READ MORE

Photo-of-the-Week #217 Another Sad Story, Silver Springs, Ocala, Florida, February 2014

Silver Springs, home of the famous glass bottom boats and a major tourist attraction opening its gates in 1852. The glass bottom boat tours began around 1870. Silver Springs was one of Florida's first tourist attractions. In 1971 it was designated a National Natural Landmark. . . READ MORE

Photo-of-the-Week #216 An Angry Ocean, Outer Banks, Duck, North Carolina, January 2002

With all the storms hitting the Atlantic Coast and the Gulf Coast over the past few weeks, this very old photo seemed apropos for this week's photo. I dug this one up from files that go back about 13 1/2 years ago when I first began experimenting with a very simple digital camera. Obviously, the resolution of the inexpensive little box was very low compared to the high resolution sensors that have evolved since that time. The reality is this camera didn't even have an LCD screen on the back. Yes! I was still a 35mm film photographer at the time. . . READ MORE

Photo-of-the-Week #213 The Queen and the Heir Apparent, Badlands National Park, South Dakota, May 2015

Here she is, the Queen Big Horn Sheep and her Heir Apparent perched high on her rocky throne in Badlands National Park in my "home" state of South Dakota.

Of course, I don't know if she is the "official" queen, but she certainly looked like royalty on this rocky precipice with her young one resting right below its mother. . . READ MORE

Photo-of-the-Week #212 Starry, Starry Night! Issaquah, Washington, May 2015

This week's photo features an amazing starry sky and . . . well . . . me. Yes! I usually don't include me in the photos of the week, but this photo is amazing, at least in my humble opinion.

The back story; the photo was taken by my youngest (youngest being relative, it would take me a whole page or more to list his life, travel and photo experiences) former brother-in-law. I've known Don Stephanian since he was 10 years old. He's now - well, under 50. That means a lot of years have passed. . . THE REST OF THE STORY

Photo-of-the-Week #211 The Awesomeness of Nature, Crater Lake, Crater Lake National Park, Oregon, May 2015

No matter what mankind does, in my opinion, we can never outdo nature!

Here I am, finally, at Crater Lake in Oregon. Crater Lake is a national park. There is just not much to say about Crater Lake except - AWESOME! I have wanted to visit Crater Lake at least a couple times in the past, but the weather/environment prevented it. . . READ MORE

Photo-of-the-Week #210 To Be Specific, This Is The Pacific, The Oregon Coast, May 2015

What an awesome week of trekking and exploring it has been. I captured this lighthouse photo along the rugged Oregon Pacific coast. I was traveling north from Coos Bay, Oregon to the small town of Otis, Oregon where I turned northeast toward Portland and my destination just outside the small and pretty city of Newberg, Oregon for a few days to visit another friend from my Air Force days. . . READ MORE

Photo-of-the-Week #209 Desert at Dusk, Desert East of Yucca Valley, California, April 2015

Serendipity!

This is one of those shots that just . . . happened. I was cruising along at Dusk on my way to Yucca Valley, California, my stopover destination between Lake Havasu City, Arizona and Hawthorne (L.A.) California. . . READ MORE

Photo-of-the-Week #206 The Desert in the Mazatzal Mountains, Arizona, April 2015

What's to say? There is nothing more majestic than Nature's work. The desert and mountains of Arizona are a perfect example. I took this photo while traveling between Payson and Phoenix, Arizona. It was a beautiful drive. . . READ MORE

Photo-of-the-Week #205 Blood Moon Over Arizona, Tonto National Forest (near) Payson, Arizona, April 2015

Did you see it? Did you see the Blood Moon on the morning of April 4, 2015? I did and I have the photos to prove it.

A Blood Moon is caused by a total lunar eclipse. This particular Blood Moon was the third in a series of four within 18 months. This series of four eclipses, six months apart, is called a tetrad. There will be a total of eight tetrads between 2000 and 2100. This is the second tetrad of the century. The moon will typically look orange or red and is caused by the rays of sunlight bending around the Earth, which is between the sun and the moon. The color is caused as the sunlight bends through the Earth's atmosphere. . . READ MORE SEE ANOTHER PHOTO