Flag Day

"In the United States, Flag Day is celebrated on June 14. It commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States, which happened on June 14, 1777, by resolution of the Second Continental Congress. The United States Army also celebrates the U.S. Army Birthdays on this date; Congress adopted "the American continental army" after reaching a consensus position in the Committee of the Whole on June 14, 1775." From Wikipedia

So happy 241st birthday to the most successful color scheme in history and 243rd to the US Army. This photo is from Fort Bowie in Arizona where the US Army served the area for many years in harsh conditions. 

Thanks to Army personnel like Tom Light, Lt. Col, Ret., & my multi great grandfather who served under that flag with only thirteen stars in that first Army, Pvt. Peter Hileman.

Behind Lines

This monument at Petersburg National Battlefield is behind the remnant of the Confederate line that did not collapse when the Union miners exploded their mine under the Confederate lines creating what came to be known as The Crater. 

Idyllic

An idyllic place or experience is extremely pleasant, beautiful, or peaceful and so it was on Saturday afternoon walking at the Cold Harbor Battlefield. It was none of those things 154 years ago in June. The field just beyond the trees was the center of the fighting and the location of the futile attack by Grant across 200 yards of open ground against prepared Confederate troops. Grant lost 6000 men that afternoon, killed, wounded or captured. This field is just outside of the boundary of the park. I hope that one day it can be acquired by the National Park Service to add to the story of this critical battle. 

Favorites

As a kid I followed the Ferrari / Ford battle at LeMann with great intensity. The Gulf Oil livery cars were later parked at the Gulf Research Center not far from my house and I got to see them in person. So anytime I see one of these, more modern, replica or original, I am transported back to those times. Love the sound they make too. The red one is a newer variant the blue/orange below is more true to the first Ford GT-40's.

The Edge

This 64 Falcon took the turn in the Roller Coaster a bit too hot and went up on two wheels. I was shooting the car in front of him and missed the most dramatic moment, however, he is not quite settled back yet, I think the front wheel is still a touch off the ground and he takes another 300 feet before all is well. (He did win his class!) 

Panning

Trying to learn how to pan with the car and blur the background caught this beautiful 911 exiting turn 4.

Turn Three (2 photos)

At the Virginia International Raceway for the vintage races. Here a V-8 powered MGB-GT leads a Porsche 911 and 914 out of the turn. 

In the second photo the MG and 911 are gone and the 914 holds back a gaggle of cars, an Alfa, Lotus, Porsche 356, TR-3 and another 911 with a mystery car in the grass and a 240Z parked on the straight. 

Kale Sale?

I doubt it - but the crowds were out at the Lancaster, PA, Farmer's Market. In spite of no room to walk down an aisle, I still found a great donut and enough produce to make two trips to the car. One just with ham! Its said when that is my favorite place to shop.

Speed

@virginiainternationalraceway

Motorsports Photographer (2 photos)

My grandson, Kellen, at the Virginia International Raceway. He and I were able to attend a VIR vintage race and shoot lots of photographs. I will share a couple here. The best part was spending a day with a super young man. He also drove us home, learning well! We were standing on the bed of the truck to clear the fence along this very fast section of the track. 

A 1964 Falcon about to get passed by a much faster Mustang. But the Falcon - driven with great entertainment, won its class. 

Summer Night

Raleigh skyline. Just in case you need to know, Restaurant Week starts today!

Abundance

Grace and compassion are to be flooded into the world. But they are defined by God not our whims of the day.

"Away with your noisy hymns of praise!
I will not listen to the music of your harps.
Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice,
an endless river of righteous living." Amos 5:23, 24 NLT

So, I really am not certain...

...but I think this is a Fox Sparrow, western variant, of course. Note the longish notched tail. It could be a Song Sparrow but something seems "off" for that, or it could be a "Little Brown Bird." ™

You can vote _____ Fox Sparrow, _____ Song Sparrow, _____ LBB™

Contrast

Here is the same scene as yesterday but two days later on a clear afternoon, no drama in the sky. I did zoom in a bit to show the falls more fully (and, of course, there was nothing in the sky of interest!) The valley is still spectacular. You can still see lots of snow in the higher elevations. That is El Capitan looming to the left. 

Drama in the Sky

Our first ever view of the stunning Yosemite Valley. You can just see the towering Bridal Veil Falls in the bottom, right of center near the dark firs. What a feeling standing there. 

Eldorado

The passage to the fabled "city of gold" has been found!

Smoke

This shot at Gettysburg has Devil's Den in the center background with Little Round Top to the left. What is striking to me about the photo and a good follow-up to Memorial Day, is that the Park Service had just completed a scheduled burn of the underbrush so you can see lots of low hanging smoke and the sky is grey with it as well. When you read accounts of these battles the smoke, lack of vision and eye-stinging air are always mentioned. Welcome to the end of day July 2 1863. 

This Memorial Day...

...remember that the flag under which we live was not raised without cost. It matters not your political slant, your color, your gender, your age, or your status, if you live here - the privilege of America - it is because others of a different political persuasion, a different color, the opposite gender, a different age and either richer or poorer than you died that you might live with a measure of freedom rarely experienced in any age, in any country. 

Cemetery at York, Pennsylvania - a flag for each veteran. 

Order out of Chaos

"Oh, how the mighty heroes have fallen in battle!"  2 Samuel 1:25a NLT

Hidden Mickeys...

... are everywhere. Even at the National Park Service. This - slightly overweight one, is hiding in a mesquite tree in the Organ Pipe National Monument.