Fireworks in Washington, D.C.

July 6, 2009

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama watch the fireworks over the National Mall from the White House on July 4, 2009. (Official White House photo by Pete Souza)

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama watch the fireworks over the National Mall from the White House on July 4, 2009. (Official White House photo by Pete Souza) (White House caption)

July 4 in Washington was always a lot of fun, and I always found myself without the right film or the right lens, or knowledge about how to make the exposure work.  Several times I tried to get good shots of the fireworks from the Capitol lawn — no success.  Once we walked the Mall and sat under the fireworks going off, near the Lincoln Memorial (Kathryn won’t let me forget that one).  Bad angle for photos, and for viewing.  Once I tried from the Virginia side of the Potomac.  Not a single good shot.

One of the great joys of electronic photography is getting more of these kinds of shots.

Still, this photograph shows great skill on Souza’s part — lens selection, exposure, and composition come together just right.

Some restrictions apply to use of this photograph.  See notes here.

10 Comments | 4th of July, President Obama, Travel, White House | Tagged: , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Ed Darrell

Imitation is the sincerest form . . . hey, wait a minute!

July 6, 2009

You need to go to the site to see the comparison.

A blog on design issues (among other things), the View from 32, has a neat interactive image that shows the campaign website for Les Otten, a Republican already campaigning for the governorship in Maine (election next year), compared to the website for Barack Obama.  You’ll notice more than a few similarities, including the “O” logo.

You don’t think . . . no Republican would copy . . . their politics must be completely different . . .

What the heck?  Obama won, right?  Who can argue with success?

You gotta see it to believe it.

From Fred2Blut

From Fred2Blue

Tip of the old scrub brush to Design Observer.

5 Comments | Barack Obama, Campaigns, Humor, Plagiarism, Politics, President Obama | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Ed Darrell

Birds plant their favorite flowers

July 6, 2009

In our yard, after Mrs. Bathtub (Trophy Wife™) works her wonders in the garden, the soil will grow almost anything.

Birds, even, take advantage of that fact, seeding their favorite plants all over.  They are especially fond of sunflowers and pequin peppers.

If we didn’t use cooked peanuts, the blue jays would make this neighborhood one of the largest peanut fields in the world.

A bird-planted sunflower in Kathryn's garden - copyright 2009, Ed Darrell

A bird-planted sunflower in Kathryn's garden - copyright 2009, Ed Darrell

2 Comments | Gardening, Natural history, Natural resources, Ornithology, Personal | Tagged: , , , | Permalink
Posted by Ed Darrell