London 2012 Chase/Visa Lounge - Carl Lewis

My children are getting into the swing of the lounge. Here are all of them and my son-in-law with Carl Lewis. My son-in-law, wearing the Team Great Britain shirt, was only non-US American in the lounge.

We are a tolerant people.


©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

London 2012 Olympic American Snapshots

Snapshots of interesting London 2012 Olympic paraphernalia captured by American tourists under 30 yrs old.

This is a filmstar Wenlock. A Wenlock is the mascot of London 2012 Olympics. Before the 2012 Olympics, Wenlock was a place in Shropshire, England or a geological term for rock. 

This type of Wenlock is silver and carries balls in its hands.

This snapshot and the one below are walk upon billboards with Olympic trivia 

If only President Reagan weren't so jingoistically stubborn we would measure metrically.

This floating barge looks better at night when it is lighted and the water doesn't seem as dirty

Structure that mounts Olympic rings to London Bridge. Each time the draw bridge opens the rings are tucked up flush with the mounts.

Traffic jams blocked some of the main routes into the city as the wildly unpopular "Games Lanes" took effect. The 30 miles (48 kilometers) of lanes are to operate from 6 a.m. to midnight throughout the games, and cars or taxi cabs that stray into them face a 130-pound ($200) fine.

The private firm responsible for Olympic security fell short of hired personnel. The military stepped in to help.

Courtesy of Leabank Square Neighbors' Assoc

This is just across the river from my daughter's apartment. The bike path was closed to the public and is being patrolled constantly by the military.

Urinals on the way to Hackney Wick Overground station. I understand they are a European thing.

Opening ceremony fireworks as seen from by daughter's apartment complex. It was also my son's-in-law birthday.

©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

London 2012 Chase/Visa Lounge - Athletes

As mentioned in my last post, my children are in London during the Olympics. While there, they have access to the Chase/Visa lounge set up at 116 Pall Mall. The visited the lounge today and came away with photographs of themselves and some Olympic athletes. Not being a sports minded person, I have no idea who are these athletes next to my children.

Luckily, there are photographs provided for signatures. That is good, because I think they forgot the Wheaties boxes.

Update - 

Top photo - Bryan Clay - - Decathlon Gold Medalist Beijing 2008

Middle photo - Alicia Sacromone - - Gymnast Beijing 2008

Bottom photo - Garret Weber-Gale - - Gold Medalist Swimming Relay Beijing 2008

©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

My Children Are In London During the Olympics

I drove my youngest two children to Newark Airport Monday, 23 July. They are going to visit their elder sister in London while the Olympic games are in town. I am not what you might call vaguely interested in sports. But, I wouldn't mind being on my way to London.

They will stay with their sister and her husband in Hackney Wick. Their apartment is just across the river Lea from the Olympic Village. The olympic park can't be more than 100 yards from their apartment window.

The closest Overland station is a very short walk from their apartment complex. Hackney Wick station is the last station before Stratford station, the prime olympic gateway.


The four of them, my children and my son-in-law have tickets to only one olympic event, ladies soccer. I don't even know which teams will be on the field. I am not very interested in sports.


They do have six dinner reservations at the Chase/Visa lounge, however. Chase opened a lounge at 116 Pall Mall in London's West End. At the lounge, Iron Chef Morimotto and his crew will be preparing dinner for Chase/Visa card holders. Each card holder may make two reservations for six people at each sitting. Each of my three children has a Chase/Visa card. That means each child has reservations for six people at two sittings. The kicker is that everything, food and drink, is free in the lounge.


Chase is also inviting olympic athletes to the lounge. I hope my children took their collection of Wheaties boxes to be signed by the likes of swimmers Jenny Thompson, Gary Hall, Jr, and Summer Sanders, and gymnasts Nadia Comaneci, Bart Conner and Kerri Strug. 


If I were a sports fan I know I would be thrilled with a chance to be in the same room as these athletes. Since I am not, I'd be there everyday for the free free and drink. Of course, I would have my camera.


©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

Grape Tomatoes 23 July 2012

I haven't spent much time in the garden because of the heat. Fifteen of the twenty-three days in July have been over 90ºF/32ºC. I worked outdoors for 34 years and I really don't want to go into the hot sun anymore than need be.

weather underground

I watered when needed but I haven't done much more than that.


I have been harvesting. Lettuce is all gone, several varieties of tomatoes, one cayenne pepper and two potatoes.


All the tomatoes are delicious. The cayenne wasn't as hot I it might be, but it was green. It had fallen off the plant when I took up the soaking hose and put down a new piece. The old hose sprung several holes which gushed water and the plot was not evenly watered because of it. The lettuce was great and the potatoes super.


To get the potatoes I just reached into the tower where a potato stem was growing, dug around until I felt a spud and brought it out. The potatoes were small, one the size of a golf ball.

Super Sweet

There are three grape/cherry tomato varieties, Chocolate Cherry, Husky Cherry and Super Sweet. So far, of the three I like Super Sweet the best. The skin on the Husky is too thick as was the skin on the Chocolate Cherry. They were the first of the season and I will give you my overall favorite at the end of the season.

The Super Sweet vine has really taken off and I had to tie it to the remesh I attached to the square foot plot support for the cucumbers and watermelon. It has grown quite long.


I hope the heat goes down below 90ºF for the remainder of the season. I really can't take the heat.


©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

Photo Safari - Norristown State Hospital

Postcard image of the administration building

The dativer photo safari for September will be on the grounds of Norristown State Hospital. The first Pa. state hospital constructed in the "cottage" model, interconnected by a system of tunnels. NSH was designed in 1878-1880 by Wilson Brothers and Co.

Many of the buildings are in disrepair and hold a great deal of photographic opportunities - rusted iron, weeds growing out of everything and ivy covered walls. 

If you wish to become a better photographer, the relaxed atmosphere of this photo safari will be a great no-stress venue to learn.

Join the dativer safari on Sunday September 16 from 5:30pm - 7:30pm at Norristown State  Hospital. The timing will be just right for sunset.

What is a photo safari? It is a group of photographers on a walk in an interesting location accompanied by qualified photographer guides. Photographer guides supply tips on composition, lighting and exposure and customize the session to your level of photographic skills.


Learn to create better photographs while exploring the historic Norristown State Hospital grounds on Sunday, September 16, starting at 5:30pm.

For more information write to dativersafari@gmail.com or call 484-433-2282 today.

©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

Photo Safari - Chestnut Hill Business District

The dativer photo safari for August will be in the beautiful village of Chestnut Hill. Studded with wonderful architecture from the turn of the 20th century, Chestnut Hill offers enormous photographic opportunities. If you wish to become a better photographer, the relaxed atmosphere of this photo safari will be a great no-stress venue to learn.

Antique Post Card of Chestnut Hill Business District

Join the dativer safari on Saturday August 11 in Chestnut Hill in the northwest extreme of Philadelphia.

Antique Post Card of Mermaid Inn Lower Chestnut Hill 

What is a photo safari? It is a group of photographers on a walk in an interesting location accompanied by qualified photographer guides. Photographer guides supply tips on composition, lighting and exposure and customize the session to your level of photographic skills.

Chestnut Hill's Quaint SEPTA Station, Photograph by Smallbones (Courtesy of Smallbones)

Learn to create better photographs while exploring historic Chestnut Hill business district.
For more information write to dativersafari@gmail.com or call 484-433-2282 today.


©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

Photo Safari - Ninth St Italian Market, Philadelphia

The Italian Market in South Philadelphia has to be one of the most colorful areas in the city.  Colorful enough to film a few Rocky segments. 

Rocky Movie Locations

An open air market of stalls selling fruit, vegetables, live poultry, seafood and clothing, combined with indoor shops of cheese, meats, spices and of course restaurants defines the Italian Market. Although some of the Italian flavor now has Latino and Asian overtones, it remains just as colorful. When you add in the odors and genuine characters that work there, the sum is what makes the Italian Market a wondrous place to visit and photograph.

To give you a small tour and taste of the market, there is a two hour photo safari planned along the Italian Market in South Philadelphia on Sunday, July 22, starting at 9am.

The photographers will gather near Geno's Steaks at the corner of Passyunk Ave and Ninth Street. The safari will step off heading north towards Christian Street stopping along the way to capture photographic images. Guidance for creating better compositions, exposure and camera use will be customized to each attending photographer. At the other end of the market the group will have the opportunity to stop for a sandwich and a drink with Q and A continuing for an hour.

The images in this post (except for Rocky) were captured at the market last Monday. Monday is the only day of the week when most of the shops are closed. None the less, there were several opportunities for photographs.


Come on down and join us in South Philly for what will be a memorable photo safari. Contact:dativersafari@gmail.com

©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

Directional Lighting Defines Texture at the Flea Market

Sunrise was 05:37 this day in July. All of these photographs were exposed within an hour and fifteen period when the sun was still rather low in the morning sky. 


Notice how hard* directional lighting creates dramatic contrast and defines texture in the images below.

07:37

07:45

06:47

07:57

 

*The definition of hard light: Light from a relatively small source that creates sharp/hard shadows.

©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved