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Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Space Shuttle Discovery over DC: The End Of An Era.........


The Space Shuttle Discovery first flew on August 30, 1984, and took it's last space flight on March 9, 2011.

Prior to its retirement, Discovery flew 39 successful missions and if not for the Challenger tragedy, it would have launched from SLC-6 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in 1986.  This is a Space Launch Complex I know well and have been up to the top of during my time stationed at VAFB. 



Today, I witnessed Discovery's final flight to it's new home, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, (Part of Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum) at Dulles Airport. 

The Shuttle, atop it's specially modified 747, the same one it flew on it's first flight, made several passes over the National Mall, where I waited, camera in hand!!  I took over 400 pictures and it's killing me not to put them all up, but I just picked the top 15!  I hope you enjoy these as much as I did taking them......


 People lined the rooftops waiting.

 First view!  We didn't know which way it was coming from and it snuck up on us!


The ever-present fighter jet.

They flew over several times which allowed several opportunities to catch the perfect shots!

It was like the whole city just stopped......



 The sky couldn't have been better for this!!!


This was a common sight on all of the rooftops.


It was an incredible sight to see!!!!
  
Then it was over.  Much too soon........


Saturday, April 14, 2012

Colonial Beach, VA.

Colonial Beach, Virginia, is a small, Chesapeake Bay town of several thousand that saw its heyday come and go several years ago.  Now it seems more of a home to dilapidated piers, bedroom communities for Dahlgren Naval Base staff and ospreys.  It's not to far from our house and is just the type of place I love to photograph!  Additionally, it’s breeding season and we saw several large nests with juvenile ospreys and nervous parents watching the weird guy with the camera taking pictures!

As we made our was to Colonial Beach, Anais spotted our first Osprey of the day with material for a nest.

 I think old barns make great photographs. 

 Potomac Beach which is right next to Colonial Beach on the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia.

Juvenile Osprey near the nest.


Pilings from an old pier that likely once held a casino.  The low tide line is the Maryland State line and years ago, this area was lined with casinos as gambling was legal in Maryland but not Virginia.  Several hurricanes took care of the casinos though!


 Juvenile Osprey near the nest.

More old boardwalk pilings.





 I'm always looking for old signs like this.  I like the way they take you back to a time gone by...


Saturday, April 7, 2012

Nations Capitol #02 - USAF Memorial / Arlington Cemetery / Pentagon Memorial


This morning I stopped by the Air Force Memorial in Arlington, Virginia.   Between the two of us, Anais and I have 10 years in the AF.  I’ve wanted to photograph the memorial with the new camera for some time. 

The memorial’s website notes it was dedicated by President George W. Bush on October 14, 2006, and is a place of reverence, remembrance and celebration to honor America’s Airmen.

It’s located on an hill next to Arlington National Cemetery and the Pentagon.






Marine One flew over as I was at the Memorial.






This is a view of the Washington monument I had never seen before.  
Grave stones at Arlington national Cemetery are in the foreground.
Never had all of these in a photo together before either: Washington Monument, Jefferson Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, The Pentagon and the US Capitol.  Might be a Smithsonian or two in there too.  (Click the photo to enlarge.) 

 Looking out over the flowers at the USAF Memorial toward Arlington National Cemetery.

   
Arlington National Cemetery.

Arlington National Cemetery.

Arlington National Cemetery.

Pentagon 9/11 Memorial.

Repaired section of the Pentagon.  Lighter bricks are new.

  These benches signify the people killed in the attack on the Pentagon. 
The Air Force Memorial is in the background.

 Small pool of flowing water under each bench.

 
This stone, labeled September 11, 2001, is blackened from the attack on the Pentagon.  
The stone was re-used in the rebuilt section.