Alexandria Art League August 2011

My image of a housing development and an old barn near Leesburg, Virginia was juried into the August 2011 show, 'Scapes: All Media Membership Landscape Exhibit.  "Vanishing Landscape" also won an Honorable Mention from the guest juror Sarah Tanguy who is an independent curator and critic, as well as a curator for Art in Embassies (AIE), US Department of State, based in Washington, DC.

Please click on image to enlarge.

The title "Vanishing Landscape" comes from how the housing development has urbanized the rural landscape.

To capture this image, I used my 4x5 view camera with KodaK HEI Infrared film sheet film an a #29 red filter.  I metered the exposure using a hand-held incident light meter adjusted for the film's exposure index and filter factor.

I really enjoy photographing landscapes as I use many of the same techniques, equipment and attention to detail as in architectural photography.

Todd A. Smith is a No. VA, VA, DC, DE, MD, NJ, NY architectural photographer with offices in Alexandria, VA and Spring Lake, NJ. Please visit http://www.tasphoto.com/ to see examples of his architectural photography.

Scale Model Photography

One thing I enjoy about architectural photography is the range of assignments of that require problem solving to create successfully. Scale models are an example.  Photography of scale models requires careful studio lighting and finding the precise angle that enlivens the entire building to the viewer.   Please click on images to enlarge.

4025 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington, DC.  Architect: Cunningham + Quill, Washington, DC. 

4025 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington, DC.  Architect: Cunningham + Quill, Washington, DC. 

Quarry House, Gen Echo, MD.  Architect: Cunningham + Quill, Washington, DC. 

 Quarry House, Glen Echo, MD.  Architect: Cunningham + Quill, Washington, DC.

Quarry House, Glen Echo, MD.  Architect: Cunningham + Quill, Washington, DC.

Scale models help the client visualize the design of an unbuilt project.  I always enjoy photographing them.

Todd A. Smith is a No. VA, VA, DC, DE, MD, NJ, NY architectural photographer with offices in Alexandria, VA and Spring Lake, NJ. Please visit http://www.tasphoto.com/ to see examples of his architectural photography.

Honoring Our Fallen Veterans on July 4th

Fourth of July is a time to honor and reflect on the memory of our nation's men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.  In this spirit I photographed a still life of my wife Tracey's uncle, F1C Michael Bielko, USN.  Michael's life was lost in WWII when his ship was sunk by a German U-boat.  I included his official Navy portrait, his Purple Heart medal and the gold star service flag that hung in the front window of any home where an immediate family member died in honorable service of our country during WWII.

Please click on image to enlarge.

Michael was killed during Operation Torch on 12 November 1942 when his ship the USS Tasker H. Bliss was torpedoed by the German submarine U-130.  U-130 sneaked into the heavily guarded Fedhala Roads, Morocco and fired five torpedoes at three U.S. transport ships at anchor.  All three transport ships sunk.  Four months later on 12 March 1943, U-130 was sunk by the American destroyer USS Champlin near the Azores.

Michael Bielko is listed on the Tablets of the Missing at the North Africa American Cemetery in Carthage, Tunisia.  He is not forgotten and Fourth of July gave us inspiration to remember him in our prayers once again.

Todd A. Smith is a No. VA, VA, DC, DE, MD, NJ, NY architectural photographer with offices in Alexandria, VA and Spring Lake, NJ. Please visit http://www.tasphoto.com/ to see examples of his architectural photography.

Macro Flower Photography

For a complete change from my normal scale of architectural photography, I did some macro photography of flowers last week with my wife Tracey Attlee.  Tracey was photographing local rose gardens in preparation for her presentation on rose photography to the Arlington (Virginia) Rose Foundation July 10 at 2:00 p.m., Merrifield Garden Center located at 12101 Lee Highway, Fairfax VA.  So, off I went with her, armed with my macro lens and close up filter.  Please click on images to enlarge.

I liked the mature rose with the rose bud. A friend comments that it looks very Japanese.

Had to hand hold my bee shots as they move about very quickly. 

A Globe Thistle, reminds me of a 4th of July fireworks. 

The vivid magenta roses against this grey statue of the woman holding a garland caught my eye.

Todd A. Smith is a No. VA, VA, DC, DE, MD, NJ, NY architectural photographer with offices in Alexandria, VA and Spring Lake, NJ. Please visit http://www.tasphoto.com/ to see examples of his architectural photography.

Polo Photography

Watching a show on polo last week reminded me of photographing Arena Polo at Great Meadow Polo Club in Virginia for several seasons.  Arena Polo is played in an enclosed stadium about the size of a football field.  That makes it spectator friendly because its easy to see the action.  Its a fun way to spend a Saturday evening in Virginia horse country.  Please click on images to enlarge.

 Kelly Elliott.  She taught John Walsh of "America's Most Wanted" how to play polo.

Debbie Nash of the team "Los Tigres". 

 One can see the finesse when the fast action is frozen in time with a camera.

Just out of reach. 

The Attack. 

Goal!  This image was featured in Polo Player Magazine.

Todd A. Smith is a No. VA, VA, DC, DE, MD, NJ, NY architectural photographer with offices in Alexandria, VA and Spring Lake, NJ.  Please visit http://www.tasphoto.com/ to see examples of his architectural photography.

Memorial Day

First, Thank You to our veterans on this Memorial Day weekend.  Here are some images from various Rolling Thunder motorcycle rallies in Washington, DC, over the years.  Please click on images to enlarge.

The gentleman in the foreground is photographing the riders going past him.  The patch on his vest is what caught my eye.  I slowed the shutter and held the camera steady to add motion blur to the motorcycle.

Marine Vietnam veteran.  The patches, military decorations and pins tell each rider's story.

 They'll never forget.

 President George W. Bush aboard Marine One in 2008 as Rolling Thunder passes the US Capitol.  The rider in the foreground with the huge Marine Corps flag attached to his motorcycle typifies most Marines: they display their branch of service proudly whenever and wherever possible.  Someone once said that if you counted the number of Marine Corps bumper stickers on vehicles you'd think we were the largest branch of service.

 Here I slowed the shutter and panned the camera with the motorcycle to blur the background.

Little girl reaching out to the riders to show her support.  I loved how she held her American flag so proudly.

Former WWII Marine Phil Davidson holding a picture of himself taken in 1937 on his first Harley-Davidson motorcycle.  As soon as I saw the 4th Marine Division pin on his vest, I knew he fought on Iwo Jima.

Todd A. Smith is a retired US Marine and a professional No. VA, VA, DC, DE, MD, NJ, NY architectural photographer with offices in Alexandria, VA and Spring Lake, NJ.  Please visit http://www.tasphoto.com/ to see examples of his architectural photography.

Quality in the Details: Tradition Homes

Had the pleasure of shooting for a new client this week, Tradition Homes of McLean, Virginia.  Tradition Homes builds custom homes in the time honored tradition of excellent design, quality material and impressive craftsmanship.  The two homes I photographed felt solidly built the minute we walked in. My assignment was to illustrate Traditon Homes' range of woodworking options on such details as door trim, crown molding, coffered ceilings, wainscoting and newel posts.  Please click on images to enlarge.

 Crown molding in coffered ceiling.

 Stairway newel post.

 Baseboard with plinth on door frames.

 Beadboard ceiling and crown molding.

 Crown molding.

 Interior passage door frame.

Wainscoting in stairway.

It was a pleasure to see the quality of the materials and workmanship in Tradition Homes properties.  And its great to see homebuyers recognize such quality and invest in a home that will last for generations.

Todd A. Smith is a No. VA, VA, DC, DE, MD, NJ, NY architectural photographer with offices in Alexandria, VA and Spring Lake, NJ. Please visit http://www.tasphoto.com/ to see examples of his residential, commercial, hotel, historic and scale model architectural photography.

Pentagon Attack Remembrance

As the world contemplates the demise of Osama Bin-Laden, I want to share an image I took on September 11th, 2006.  These are beams of light that went up from the Pentagon on the night of the fifth anniversary of September 11th, 2001. There is one beam of light for each of the 189 victims and here is how it looked.

Please click on image to enlarge.

Todd A. Smith is a No. VA, VA, DC, DE, MD, NJ, NY architectural photographer with offices in Alexandria, VA and Spring Lake, NJ.  Please visit http://www.tasphoto.com/ to see recent examples of his architectural photography.

View From London Hotel Room

With all the attention of the Royal wedding this past week, I am reminded of an image I created in London.  A few years ago, I had the pleasure of working in London for the Washington, DC law firm of Covington & Burling.  The firm put us up at the Savoy Hotel right on the Strand, just a few blocks from their London office.  When I saw this view from the window in my room, I just had to photograph it.

Please click on image to enlarge.

From left to right, one can see: the London Eye, Hungerford Bridge, Westminster Bridge, Westminster Palace (Houses of Parliament), Victoria Tower, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey.

Would love to return to London some day soon with my cameras as I did not have time to explore the city while on assignment.

Todd A. Smith is a Washington, DC, VA, MD, NJ, NY architectural photographer with offices in Alexandria, VA and Spring Lake, NJ. Please visit http://www.tasphoto.com/ to see examples of his architectural photography.

Why We Have Earth Day

Paper mill, Iwakuni, Japan.

Please click on to enlarge.

This paper mill runs 24/7 everyday of the year.  One can smell the output from the smoke stacks miles away.  Note how the homes are right next to it.

Todd A. Smith is a Washington, DC architectural photographer with offices in Alexandria, VA and Spring Lake, NJ. Please visit http://www.tasphoto.com/ to see examples of his architectural photography.