In early April, I ventured out among the tourists to capture one of DC's annual attractions… the cherry blossoms.  This year, the blossoms peaked a few days sooner than predicted.  I made my way into DC one evening to see what I could capture.  By the time I got to the tidal basin, there wasn't as much daylight left as I would have liked.  So, I decided to shoot a few images and go back the next morning for sunrise.  The next morning, there were at least 100 more photographers claiming their spot to get the best vantage point. Much like last year, the cherry blossoms were not disappointing. Big thanks to Bobby of Thigpen Photography for tagging along and capturing a few images of me.

This year's Virginia Professional Photographers Association (VPPA) convention took place February 20-24, 2010 at the Hilton Richmond Hotel & Spa.  As with previous conventions, this one was not without a theme… "Pirates of the Caribbean".   It was great to see many photographer friends again and get re-energized for 2010.  This year, my dad joined me for a few days, to see what other photographers in VA are creating and marketing in their studios.  Some of the seminar speakers were Claude Jodin (lighting), Lori Nordstrom (children), and Helen Yancy (Corel Painter).  Clay Blackmore closed out the convention with his inspiring program "How to Photograph Everyone".

photo by Eric Green

Last Fall, I had an amazing opportunity to travel overseas to Italy.  Most of the vacation trip was spent in Porto Rotondo, on the island of Sardinia.  The last day was spent touring the Vatican and surrounding area in Rome.  There were a few days of non-stop rain in Porto Rotondo, but fortunately the skies cleared in Rome.  Tip: If you enjoy taking pictures of landscapes, the best time to capture dramatic clouds is just before or after a big storm… see the infrared photo below.  Here are some images from my trip… Enjoy!

During the 4th of July weekend I took a road trip to Chicago IL, where the Taste of Chicago was in full swing.  Just about any kind of food you can imagine was there… Connie’s Pizza, Manny’s turkey legs, Harold’s Chicken, Garret’s popcorn, and much more.  There were an estimated 1.5 million people at “The Taste” on Friday alone, reminding me a lot of Inauguration Day.  The July 3rd fireworks display lit up the sky at dusk on the lakefront.

On Saturday morning, there was a parade just outside where I stayed in Oak Park.  Yes, I was quite the tourist for a moment… taking in the festivities.  After a full weekend with The Taste, fireworks, parade, and three cookouts, I can say I truly enjoyed my time in the windy city.  Thanks to everyone who made the trip possible and kept my stomach full. :o)  Below are some images captured during my visit.

The Chicago Skyline

Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park

The main concert stage.  Most concerts took place earlier in the week.

Security was very tight.

‘The Bean’ sculpture in downtown Chicago, reflecting the famous skyline.

Oak Park Parade with many organizations showing their patriotism

During the week of March 23rd, I had the opportunity to travel to Boston, Massachusetts for the annual Photoshop World Conference.  The event took place at the Hynes Convention Center and included a ton of seminars dedicated to Photoshop, Adobe’s premier image-editing software.  Seminars included a range of topics from how to best organize image libraries, to creating better image composites.  Here are some sights from the conference and the city of Boston.

Sunday, I took some time out to visit the cherry blossoms at the tidal basin in Washington DC.  This was my first time seeing them (that I can remember) in more than 10 years.  Even though all the trees were not yet in full bloom, I was able to find enough that were camera-ready.  There are just a few more days left to catch the pink blossoms at their peak.  The National Cherry Blossom Festival began on March 28th and will continue until April 12, 2009.  Here are some images I created of the cherry trees, in color and infrared (black & white).

During the week of February 23rd, The Virginia Professional Photographers Association (VPPA) held its annual convention in Portsmouth, VA.   Members from throughout the state came together to perfect their craft and share the latest tips and techniques in the industry.  A number of photographers conducted seminars, such as Louis & Joseph Simone, Janel Pahl, Shannon Turner, and John Woodward.  The annual print & album competition was a success, with more than 400 images entered from photographers state-wide.   All of the blue and red ribbon prints were proudly displayed for a couple of days at the Portsmouth Renaissance Hotel.  Although I did not enter this year, I’m looking forward to next year’s convention in Richmond VA.

This week, it felt like Christmas in March. As the UPS delivery driver brought a package to my door, I calmly closed the door, and proceeded to rip the box open. Inside was a Canon 20D digital camera I had converted to infrared. Now, instead of recording color photographs, it sees only infrared (IR) light. Bright green foliage appears white, with blues appearing darker. This is the newest welcome addition to my camera bag. :o) Here are some images I created yesterday around a golf course. Enjoy!