Jet Skis Flying in the Surf

After photographing a seaside wedding in Spring Lake, NJ with my wife, Tracey Attlee on Saturday, what better way for two photographers to unwind and relax the following day then by photographing for ourselves?  We wanted to photograph surfers on the Jersey shore, but for some reason there weren't any.  Just as we were about to give up, two guys on jet skis came by and spent about 15 minutes trying to go airborne in the surf just off Manasquan Inlet beach.  Here are my three favorites images.  Please click on images 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 www.tasphoto.com to see examples of his architectural photography.

Space Shuttle Discovery's DC Fly Over

On April 17th, 2012, NASA flew the Space Shuttle Discovery over Washington DC.  Below are some of my images taken from a high vantage point overlooking Washington, DC.  The location was carefully scouted the day before along with other promising locations.  I decided on this one for its expansive high view.  Please click on images 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 www.tasphoto.com to see examples of his architectural photography.

Presidential Salute Battery

Recently, my wife Tracey Attlee and I spent a morning walking through Arlington National Cemetery.  While we photograph Full Military Honors funerals at Arlington several times a month, we like to visit the cemetery on occasion to look for unique views to photograph.  This time we photographed the US Army's Presidential Salute Battery firing for a Army Brigadier General's funeral.  Please click on images to enlarge.

The battery. 

 Detail of the blanks.

FIRE!

 Soldier securing one of the 75mm cannons.

Soldiers securing one of the 75mm cannons.

Moving out.

History of the Presidential Salute Battery.

Todd A. Smith is a No. VA, VA, DC, DE, MD, NJ, NY architectural photographer based out of  Alexandria, VA. Please visit www.tasphoto.com to see examples of his architectural photography.

Todd A. Smith Image Published in British Journal

Woodrow Wilson's favorite fireside chair is the subject of a recent still life I photographed for the Woodrow Wilson House Museum in Washington, DC.  My image went on to be published internationally in the British journal "Textile History", Volume 42, Number 2, November 2011 in an article titled "Textile and Time: Reactions to Aged and Conserved Textiles in Historic Houses Open to the Public in England and the USA", by Dr. Margaret Ponsonby.

Please click on image to enlarge.

Todd A. Smith is an expert No. VA, VA, DC, DE, MD, NJ, NY architectural photographer with offices in Alexandria, VA.  Please visit www.tasphoto.com to see examples of his professional architectural photography.

McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom

Between architectural assignments, I've been going through my film archives seeing what I would like to have digitally scanned.  Below are images of the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom I'd taken during my former Marine Corps career.  Please click on images to enlarge.

F-4S Phantom from VMFA 115 landing aboard USS Forrestal at dusk in the Mediterranean Sea.

  F-4S Phantom from VMFA 321 flying over the Caribbean.  Taken from the boom operators station on an Air Force KC-10 tanker.  I've always loved the distinct lines of the Phantom.

 Two F-4S Phantoms from VMFA 321 flying over the Caribbean.  Taken from a window of an Air Force KC-10 tanker.

 F-4S Phantom from VMFA 321 close up view of pilot.  Taken at very close range from an Air Force KC-10 tanker's boom operator's station.

Two F-4S Phantoms from VMFA 321 flying over the Caribbean.  Taken from an Air Force KC-10 tanker in the boom operators station.  While watching the Phantoms, the trailing Phantom suddenly did a quick barrel roll.  I asked the boom operator to contact the pilot to do another so I could photograph him.  He did and I got a great shot.

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 www.tasphoto.com to see examples of his architectural photography.

Still Life Photography

Made a batch of "Pride of Deer Camp" BBQ sauce this weekend.  Thought it would make a nice subject for a still life using the selective focus technique.

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 www.tasphoto.com to see examples of his architectural photography.

Dusk Photography

One of my favorite types of photography is dusk photography.  The vibrant, saturated colors after sunset really make an image stand out.  Dusk shots take much advance thought and preparation. Decisions on the best angle of composition and lighting and solutions to possible technical challenges all must be made before the critical moment.  There is only a very short window of time to carry off a successful dusk shot.  Below are three recent dusk shots I photographed on a professional assignments.  Please click on images to enlarge.

Yale West Apartments, Washington, DC.  Front exterior.
Architect: BBG-BBGM, Washington, DC.

Yale West Apartments, Washington, DC.  Dusk view from roof top pool.
Architect: BBG-BBGM, Washington, DC.

The Residences on the Avenue Apartments, Washington, DC.  View of Washington Circle from penthouse apartment.
Executive Architect: Hickok Cole Architects, Washington, DC;  Design Architect: Pelli Clarke Pelli, New Haven, CT.

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 www.tasphoto.com to see examples of his architectural photography.

Washington Winter Antiques Show

The upcoming Washington Winter Antiques Show being held from 5-8 January 2012 will feature an exhibit titled, "Treasures of the First Families".  The Woodrow Wilson House Museum in Washington, DC has loaned the exhibit an 1817 Fauteuil Pierre-Antoine Bellange armchair.

My image of the chair taken for the Woodrow Wilson House will be featured in the shows catalogue.

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 www.tasphoto.com to see examples of his architectural photography.

Pentagon Attack Remembrance

On 11 September 2006, the Pentagon held a 5th anniversary memorial observance for people who died in the attack on 11 September 2001.  184 beams of light were projected skywards, one for each person.

My image of the event, titled "Remembrance" was judged into the Alexandria Art League September show this week.

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.

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.