Monthly Archives: May 2013

Randomness 2

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Just some more random pictures I either recently came across while going through my multitude of folders, or recently took but don’t really have any other posts to stick them in. Random is rampant!

I love clouds, especially when the sun creates those cool streaks. I caught this while waiting at a traffic light near my house.

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 This is a view of downtown from the balcony at my office building. I think it was one of the very first panoramas I took with my new camera.

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This is the Main Street station clock tower. Looks quite spectacular at night. Need to work on my picture-taking-at-night technique.

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This is by far THE most colorful sunset I’ve seen in Richmond to date. I just happened to see it while taking the trash out one night. If I hadn’t had dinner going on the stove, I would have hopped in the car and driven to a better vantage point. But it would have been gone by the time I got myself together. So I had to settle for this shot.

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Ducks and geese in the lake behind The Boathouse in Brandermill. Decided to drive over there on a whim one weekend afternoon.

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There haven’t been a ton of squirrels around lately, but this one managed to find the bird feeder full of seeds.

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These fish were in a pond in front of a nursery.

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The fam took a jaunt to Middleburg, VA a few weeks ago. The white benches and flower boxes perfectly capture the essence of this quite, sleepy little town 45 minutes outside of DC.

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Middleburg irises

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Spring is still in bloom

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 I finally made it to Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens this year! Thanks to my company giving us half a day off on Friday, I made my way over to enjoy the late, cool, almost cold and overcast spring weather. Friday was also the first day of the Butterflies Live exhibit, which I missed last year. They will be there until October and I plan on going again and actually reading the informational posters as I was, as always, more interested in taking pictures ;-)

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While I was in the conservatory, I had to take a look at all of the orchids and other tropical plants.

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While I could have spent another hour in there, there were plenty of other things to look at, including the rose garden.

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I spotted a cute little family of geese quietly gliding across the pond before making my way over the bridge.

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So many things to see!

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Can’t wait to see what I’ll spot on the next trip!!

In plain sight

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 Carytown is an urban shopping mecca with chic boutiques and eclectic shops. These tough economic times have forced store openings and closings seemingly by the sunrise and sunset. The window displays and signs may be ever-changing, but the paintings and murals on sides of buildings have been there for as long as I can remember. I have seen them every time I walk down or drive through Carytown.

Having hit somewhat of a dry spell on subject material, I thought “why not see the beauty in the every day, the beauty in plain sight?”

Carytown

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No post of mine would be complete without a shot of a flower

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And as I drove on to work, I remembered a restaurant some friends and I ate at recently and took a detour. The facade of 525 is nothing but windows that look out on to the theater across the street. At night when the marquee is lit up, the lights shin through the windows and offer a sparkling and dazzling view. I didn’t have my camera with me that night (gasp!), plus it was raining, but I vow to go back one evening and get some night shots (and eat, they had amazing food!).

Downtown

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The reflection is that of the top of the Carpenter Theater

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The full name of the restaurant is 525 at the Berry Burke

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This is on the side of the theater

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As I made my way further downtown, I felt like taking another side journey to the top of Church Hill to check out the early morning view.

Main Street

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James River

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I decided to take a spin down Monument Ave after work. Those statues have been shot from every which way and angle. But here’s a couple more…one with the street sign.

Monument Ave

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Until next time ;-)