Dining Room Interior Design by Rhonald Angelo

Photographed this private Maryland residence dining room by interior designer Rhonald Angelo Interiors of Washington, DC.  Rhonald does an amazing job at selecting just the right materials, textures, colors and items to make a room beautiful.

Please click on image to enlarge.

The pottery figure under the mirror is Tang Dynasty Dancing Lady, circa 618 to 907.

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

Louis Sullivan's Last Jewel Box Photographed by Todd A. Smi

Recently I was in Columbus, Wisconsin and took the opportunity once again to photograph the Farmers and Merchants Union Bank.  The original bank was designed by architect Louis H. Sullivan in 1919.  Over the decades, three additions have been added to the bank.  The first addition was in 1958 by Madison, WI architectural firm Law, Law, Potter & Nystrom (now Potter Lawson, Inc,).  The second addition was in 1980 by Madison, WI architect The Bunce Corporation.  The 1980 addition was later demolished to make way for the 2006 additions by John G. Waite Associates, PLLC of Albany, NY.

Front view of Farmer's and Merchants Union Bank in downtown Columbus, WI on West James Street showing the John G. Waite addition on the left with the buff colored Cream City brick next to the red brick original by Louis Sullivan on the right.  (Photos by Todd A. Smith)

Corner view of Farmer's and Merchant's Bank from West James Street & Dickason Blvd.

North facade of Farmer's and Merchants Bank on Dickason Blvd.  On the left is the red brick original Louis Sullivan design.  The John G. Waite addition in Cream City brick is on the right.

Corner view of the new Cream City brick addition by John G. Waite as seen from Dickason Blvd. and West Harrison Street, Columbus, WI.

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

Fountain Pen Photography

During the very cold and snowy days in Washington, DC this March, I kept myself nice and warm by staying inside photographing my fountain pens.  Photographing the fountain pens involved macro photography which is quite a change of scale from my normal architectural photography in Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia.

I really enjoyed the challenges of the small scale lighting and styling.  Here are some examples.  Please click on images to enlarge.

Green marbled Pelikan M200 with a Richard Binder "Binderized" extra fine point nib.

My very first fountain pen purchased in 1991 at a Marine Corps Exchange of all places!  Waterman Executive with my Citizen Eco-Drive watch.

 

 

 

Waterman Executive on carved stone bull.  Purchased the carved stone bull in Mexico many years ago and just noticed that it would make a neat pen stand.

 

 

 

 Waterman Kultur translucent blue demonstrator.

Another view:

 

Pelikan M200 demonstrator in ceramic Pelikan pen stand.

 As a finale, this is my new Monteverde One Touch Tool ballpoint pen.  It has four measuring scales, a level, a micro phillips/flathead screw driver and touch screen stylus!

Todd A. Smith is a No. VA, VA, DC, DE, MD, NJ, NY architectural photographer with based in Alexandria, VA.  Please visit www.tasphoto.com to see examples of his DC commercial, residential and scale model architectural photography.

Images From a Recent Trip to New York City

Images from a recent trip to New York City:

One World Trade Center from Houston Street.  I liked the juxtaposition of the old and new architecture.  One World Trade Center was designed by David M. Childs of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.

Lunch at Katz's Deli!

 

 

Street Artist.

 

Lou Reed.  He will be missed.

 

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.

Thomas Jefferson's Monticello

While visiting Thomas Jefferson's Monticello in Charlottesville, Virginia a week ago, I thought I'd try a new panorama technique called "Panosphere".

I've been thinking of this technique for quite a while and waited until I had an appropriate subject to test it on.  Monticello was perfect, as the layout of the mansion lent itself for the composition, plus Thomas Jefferson's world revolved around it.  I titled the image "Jefferson's World":

An added bonus to visiting Monticello was seeing my niece Katy again.  She is fresh from receiving her Masters Degree in Women's History at Sarah Lawrence College in New York City, and is a tour guide at Monticello.


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.

Green Energy in Wind and Corn Power

While on assignment in Wisconsin this August, I spent an off day travelling the back roads to find interesting rural Midwest images.  Just outside of Fall River, WI, I spotted towers and gently rotating blades of a wind farm, Glacier Hills Wind Energy Center, located between Randolph and Friesland, WI.

After scouting the location I found my favorite view.  The day was cloudy, so I resolved to return on a sunnier day.  A few days later the light and weather improved and I got my shot.  Please click on the image below to see a larger version.

Glacier Hills has 90 Vestas V90 turbines producing approximately 400,000,000 kWh of green, sustainable energy per year.  The wind farm is located in Wisconsin corn fields.  Corn is one of the crops used to produce ethanol as an alternative energy source.

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

Copper Wall

Recently, I had a great assignment photographing the SK&I Architectural and Design Group's new lobby at Flats 140 in Washington, DC.  The lobby features a stunning wall made of copper plates.

Here are two views of the lobby.  Please click on images to enlarge for more detail.

Flats 140 along with Flats 130 and Signature Flats are part of the Constitution Square mixed use development of high end luxury apartments and stores in the NoMA neighborhood of Washington, DC.  Constitution Square is professionally managed by The Bozzuto Group of Greenbelt, Maryland.

Todd A. Smith is a 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 architectural photography.

Osprey's Return to the Washington, DC Area

Spent an afternoon this week photographing Osprey's along the Potomac River just south of Washington, DC.  A beautiful sunny cool March day, perfect for photography.  Please click on images to enlarge.

 Osprey taking off in flight.

 

Catch of the day.
 

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

Antietam National Battlefield Memorial Illumination

On Saturday, December 1st, 2012, Antietam National Battlefield held it's annual Memorial Illumination.  23,000 candles were set up and lit by volunteers.  One for each soldier killed, wounded or missing during the 12 hour battle on September 17th, 1862.  This was the highest casualty rate in any one day in American history.  This battle ended the first attempt by General Lee to invade the North.  It also led to President Lincoln issuing the Emancipation Proclamation.



Please click on image to enlarge.

My panorama shows only a small portion of the total number of candles spread out over the battlefield.  The visual effect really brings home the shear number of casualties.

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

Happy Birthday Marines!

Would like to wish the United States Marine Corps a very happy 237th birthday!

Semper Fi!

Todd A. Smith, SSgt., USMC (Ret.)

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.