Show-Off

Show Off - B&W, originally uploaded by soleil1016.

This great egret at the Assateague Island refuge off the Virginia/Maryland eastern shore was putting on a big show trying to chase another bird out of his space. The other bird took off shortly after this little dance!

EXIF:

Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi
Exposure: 0.001 sec (1/1250)
Aperture: f/6.3
Focal Length: 250 mm
ISO Speed: 200

Early Signs of Winter

First Freeze of Winter, originally uploaded by soleil1016.

Winter has blown into D.C. this week in a big way. Just a few snow flurries so far, but the temperatures are quite chilly and the wintery breeze cuts to the bone. I snapped this photo of frozen dew drops on my way to work earlier this week. Brrr!

EXIF:

Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi
Exposure: 0.006 sec (1/160)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 200

Rainy Day

Rainy Day, originally uploaded by soleil1016.

Wet leaves make for slick sidewalks and messy streets, but the tail end of autumn is still a beautiful time.

Blogged on DCist Morning Roundup: Play with Fire, Get Burned Edition on November 21, 2008.

EXIF:

Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi
Exposure: 0.01 sec (1/100)
Aperture: f/4
Focal Length: 42 mm
ISO Speed: 200

Yummy-looking Boots

Yummy-looking Boots, originally uploaded by soleil1016.

This young horse was debating whether my boots looked tasty enough to take a nibble (verdict was yes!).

EXIF:

Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi
Exposure: 0.001 sec (1/800)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 200

Cake!

CAKE!, originally uploaded by soleil1016.

I stumbled across this beautiful cake sitting outside the Convention Center following the Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show. It was made by The Sweet Life in Annandale, VA. Yum!

EXIF:

Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi
Exposure: 0.01 sec (1/100)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 39 mm
ISO Speed: 1600

Passing through McPherson Square

McPherson Square, originally uploaded by soleil1016.

I've been playing around with a new toy, the Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II. Very fun little lens! Great and affordable alternative to the Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS.

EXIF:

Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi
Exposure: 0.025 sec (1/40)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 17 mm
ISO Speed: 1600

Election Day 2008 in D.C.

Polling station in Foggy Bottom, originally uploaded by soleil1016.

I wish I had some photos to share of the city-wide celebrations that took place after Barack Obama was announced the new President-Elect of the United States. This town (which voted 93% for Obama) went nuts! A huge crowd congregated outside the White House and partied long into the night, despite the rain. I do have a few shots from my local polling station in Foggy Bottom, but for some photos of the dancing in the streets of D.C., check out these two great posts from DCist.

The above shot was blogged in the Morning Roundup: Moving Forward Edition on DCist, November 6, 2008.

Campaigners, originally uploaded by soleil1016.

Huh., originally uploaded by soleil1016.

Middleburg Hunt

IMG_4040-20, originally uploaded by soleil1016.

I was able to be there for the Middleburg Hunt's Opening Meet of the season this past weekend. (We're talking foxhunting here, just in case you needed some clarification!) It was fun to see all the horses and riders in their best turnout, along with meeting the Middleburg hounds for the first time. The whole morning took me right back to my days as a kid learning to ride next door to the Woodbrook Hunt Club in Lakewood, Washington. Different place, different crowd, but the traditions are the same.

More pictures from the Opening Meet can be found here!

EXIF:

Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi
Exposure: 0.002 sec (1/500)
Aperture: f/6.3
Focal Length: 44 mm
ISO Speed: 200