Fire!

You know you live in the South and or a rural area when an integral component of a field trip involves the students learning how to handle civil was era guns.

That said, it was an educational field trip. Max's class went to Pamplin Park and we learned a great deal about life during the civil war. They have a huge collection of artifacts and a great audio tour of the museum. The guides were knowledgeable about the subject and were great at keeping us moving along while engaging the kids. This was not the first time for Max, but it was for me and I'm so glad I elected to chaperone. I learned quite a bit on this trip and would recommend Pamplin Park to any one visiting the area.

Project MCP: Veteran's Day

VA War Memorial, a photo by Teckelcar on Flickr.

Last week's photo challenge was Veteran's Day, with an idea of documenting those who served and I truly planned on doing that last Sunday and/or Monday. But life intervened and I didn't get out as I intended. I did however find a wonderful tribute for my movie Mondays, so I wasn't a complete slacker.

This weekend I had at least one trip up in the Richmond area and I thought a trip to the Virginia War Memorial was in order. It wouldn't be as nice as it would have been on last Sunday, but I had the time blocked out and it was a half way decent day. I like cloudy days and there was a good breeze blowing to get the flags moving.

I tromped around taking pictures for a good 20 minutes. A bit more sunlight would have been nice, however the somber sky was the right note. The wind, on the other hand, was perfect. The memorial overlooks the James river and a good stiff breeze had the flags snapping. It was not a problem to get a shot with all eight flags in the picture unfurled. For those wondering, the flags are Army, Marines, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force, Merchant Marines, Virginia War Memorial, and the POW MIA in the middle of the arc created by the other seven flags (the US flag and the Commonwealth of Virginia's are located far off the frame to the left). To the left of the flags is the shine engraved with the names of fallen Virginians that also houses the statue Memory and the Torch of Liberty.

It is a lovely sight and I'm seriously contemplating coming back on Pearl Harbor Remembrance day, aka my birthday.

Unintentional Absurdity

Arthur Ashe front, a photo by Teckelcar on Flickr.

Richmond, like a lot of cities, has quite a bit of statuary. In fact one of the main roads is called Monument Avenue and is divided by a wide swath of green that is home to numerous statues. For the most part the statues are of various Confederate notables with one very prominent exception in the form of the Richmond native Arthur Ashe.

The Arthur Ashe statue is my favorite piece of absurdist Richmond.

Don't get me wrong, I think Arthur Ashe was a wonderful human being and is totally worthy of a statue in his native city. But...

Did anyone truly LOOK at the statue while it was being made?

Arthur Ashe side, a photo by Teckelcar on Flickr.

I know they idea is that the piece celebrates his achievements in tennis and his dedication towards education, hence the racket and the book. With the children clustered at his feet it looks like he is about to bludgeon them with both the book and the racket. The upraised arms of the  children seemed to be a combination of beseeching him to stop and to ward off his blows. These are truly unfortunate choices of poses for all of the figures.

Seriously, if you ask any Richmonder where the statue is of the guy threatening children with a book and a racket is they'll direct you to this one.

I spent a good bit of time shooting pictures from all sorts of angles and none of them made the statue look good. Why on earth did the artist choose to depict Mr. Ashe with both arms raised in such a threatening manner.

Arthur Ashe rear, a photo by Teckelcar on Flickr.

Heck I could have designed a better composition.

In my version none of the figures would have raised arms. I would have the tennis racket tucked between Mr. Ashe's arm and his body while he held the book open with both hands. Certainly it wouldn't be as dynamic, but it would do a better job of celebrating the man and would be a much more peaceful.

Sheesh.

Then again it also would no longer be my favorite statue in Richmond.

Old City Hall

Old City Hall, a photo by Teckelcar on Flickr.

While trying to come up with a post I was combing through my picture files when this one of Richmond's Old City Hall popped up.

I snapped it from the observation deck of the new, or rather current city hall. It's a different perspective and lets you see the building's Gothic glory. I like how it looks like a something straight out of Hogwarts.

All it needs is a few owls wheeling in and out of the building yo complete the picture..

MCP Project 52: Architecture

Old City Hall, Interior, a photo by Teckelcar on Flickr.

Between upcoming an upcoming Bar Mitzvah and the dynamic duo's birthday I completely forgot to post about last week's MCP Project 52. I hadn't forgotten to take the picture and add it to the group, I just never took the next step to share it here.

Oops.

Anyhoo, Richmond Virginia has some of the most diverse architecture and is practically in my backyard. So it was a no brainer for me to drive into the city and spend an hour taking pictures. I got a boatload of great shots and it was hard to pick just one. In the end I selected this interior shot of the Old Richmond City Hall. It's a gorgeous stone building with Gothic architecture that would fit right in with Hogwarts.

But the interior, oh the interior! It is utterly fabulous. The first time I stepped inside my jaw dropped. This is hands down my favorite building in Richmond.

It had been a dreary wet week until Friday and I was glad that It was a sunny day. The skylight above filters the light in the most beautiful way and I was glad I could capture it.

MCP Project 52: Looking Up

looking up
Originally uploaded by Teckelcar

This week's MCP Project 52 theme is Words.

This week it only took a moment for me to decide what to do. All I needed was a clear day a Richmond and I would be all set.

Larry noticed shortly after we moved to the Richmond area that the Virginia Statue for Religious Freedom by Thomas Jefferson was writ large on a a building in the historic Shockoe Slip area of downtown Richmond.

The statute reads as follows:

We the General Assembly of Virginia do enact that no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever, nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested, or burdened in his body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer on account of his religious opinions or belief; but that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinion in matters of religion, and that the same shall in no wise diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil capacities. 1786
Thomas Jefferson

We have been meaning to photograph it for years and this was just the impetus I needed. And as a bonus just two blocks away is the Flood Wall upon which are banners celebrating Richmond's history. If I wasn't happy with the Statute I could use the Flood Wall instead.

So Wednesday dawned clear and bright and a bit cold, but it wasn't anything I couldn't handle. After sending off children to their respective schools I headed to Richmond. I was able to snag a parking spot 30 feet away from the Statute. I spent the following hour playing tourist, photographing the Statute, the Flood Wall and even the Canal Walk. It was a very productive hour.

I took a full on picture of the statute, but it's so boring compared to this one. I like how the paint colors fade into the sky and how the words stretch away. I did minimal processing, the photo works just the way I shot it.

Update:
Woohoo! My picture got featured this week!

Walkable

Canal walk
Originally uploaded by

Yesterday I drove into Richmond just to take pictures. It was a bright, but cold day. Perfect for what I wanted to do.

It is really no big deal to drive into the city and I can usually find parking not too far from where I want to be. I might have to walk a block or two, but I don't mind the exercise. I have found Richmond to be fascinating little city to view on foot.

My main interest was to photograph two spots in area called Shockoe Slip. It's the older part of downtown with cobblestone streets that run along the mighty James River. While cutting across from one street to another I ended up down on the canal walk.

From this point of the canal system you can ride a boat and get a narration on the canal's history. I haven't done it yet, but I hear it's a worthwhile experience. I have, however, walked most of the 1 1/4 mile length of the Canal Walk. It is not the most exciting of adventures, but you get to see some little pockets of Richmond you would miss not on foot. Plus there are plaques all along the walkway about the history of the canal and Richmond. One thing I learned was around the 1860s Richmond was largest flour milling center in he United States.

I can't wait to go back down once the weather is just a bit more inviting.

Richmond's Old City Hall

Richmond's old city hall
Originally uploaded by Teckelcar

Today was a wet and dismal kind of day. Not unlike one about a month ago I spent up in Richmond.

I was up there for some reason or other, most likely meeting up with Larry. He works not far from the Old City Hall and that would explain why I was walking by it. I didn't have any of my entourage so for once I was free to indulge my picture taking urges.

I love that old building and I have featured it here before, but this time it was all about the exterior. I think that foggy days are fabulous to take pictures, doubly so when your subject matter is a Gothic building. The fog softens the lines and the bare tree in the foreground adds a nice bit of contrast.

I took plenty more pictures that day, but this one is my favorite.

Happy 200th Mr. Poe

Today marks the two hundredth anniversary of Edgar Allan Poe's birth. If I had been a bit more aware of this during the day I would have schlepped the kids downtown Richmond to check out the festivities.

Ah well, we will visit the Poe museum this summer instead. For now I'll just have to get by with the Weekly Reader Poe Video Contest. I think it's very cute.