SOOC - Small town student sounds

SOOC - Straight out of the Camera - returns as I turn the spotlight toward the Ansonia High School band marching in our small city (19.000) Memorial Day parade. A bit of hometown pride exists as there may be way bigger schools and bands that exist. However, they remain a favorite draw of the locals. A band that is talented, sincere and showcases our hamlet very nicely...

Shadow Shot Sunday - Stately, sunny and shadowy

Shadow Shot Sunday 2 is back, and I revert to a favorite of mine, the  grandeur that is the Connecticut State Capitol in Hartford. Taken a week ago, the photo captures were easy to get in an empty car park/lot as the legislative session was complete for the year. Opened for the legislative session in 1879, the marble exterior and gothic revival architectural details, such as the arches and ornaments leave room for many a shadow. I had viewed the Capitol in Winter, but not yet in Spring. With the sun so strong (and with thunderstorms a mere three hours later), shadow hunting this day was very easy...

Whimsical Windows - State Capitol redux

Toby's architectural photo meme, Whimsical Windows/Delirious Doors, is back - and I am returning to a favorite pictorial theme, that of the Connecticut state capitol in Hartford. These views were taken last Wednesday after a meeting. Since the legislative session was finished, I had an entire and nearly empty parking lot/car park to take a few pictures from wheelchair height. 

The Gothic architecture and details from this 1878 masterpiece are always stunning in view when under the sun. The government in this state is dysfunctional (alas,), but the seat of government is a work of art...

SOOC - Memorial Day memorials

SOOC - Straight Out of the Camera - takes me back a mere three hours today. Just after parking my minivan and prior to Ansonia's Memorial Day Parade, Patti and I went to the park located next to City Hall and viewed the memorials that reside there. These were constructed to honor Ansonia residents killed in service from WWI to the present. As this is not merely a three-day weekend to relax, it is centered around Memorial Day - and remembering those who have been lost...

Shadow Shot Sunday - A big land barge with even bigger shadows

Shadow Shot Sunday 2 returns as Spring heads toward Summer, the days much nicer than in the preceding snowy and cold Winter. Thus, the warmth and sun leaves us stronger shadows under the more direct sun. So, stout shadows are the goal, and I found a fine subject (if one likes chrome laden 1950s Detroit land barges, as much as I :)

This is a 1956 Mercury Montclair convertible, a large and overstyled land yacht in its black and white hue with a matching interior, it leaves huge shadows underneath its visage and flanks. And it has shiny chrome bumpers leaving reflections of the photographer. It works well as a stylish iron SSS2 subject and who wouldn't want to fold the top down and take it for a spin?