2nd Annual Photo Walk - Washington, D.C.

On July 18, 2009, I packed my camera bag and headed down to Washington, D.C. for Scott Kelby's Second Annual World Wide Photo Walk. About 40 photographers gathered to walk the street around the Verizon Center (Chinatown to the locals).

Along for the ride was my good friend, blogger, photographer Puna (check out her site for some good stuff). Special thanks to Woody Machalek for snapping the above photo for us.

As we walked the streets we took photographs of pretty much anything and everything.

I found lots of "textures" (i.e. peeling paint)

Some really cool old buildings with hand painted numbers.

Of course there were memorials and statues....

But my favorite part of the walk were the people we ran into along the way. I didn't run across anyone who didn't want to have there picture taken (all you had to do was ask!).

I met this guy at the car wash.

This guy was really interested in what we were doing.

Here is Puna shooting.

And my favorite photo was of this guy I met at Fuddruckers. I saw him in the line to fix his burger and on my way out I asked him if I could take his picture. I gotta tell you, he was the most gracious, well mannered person I met that day. He told me after that he was in a rock band. I'm just sorry I didn't ask for the name of the group. If any one knows, please pass it along.

I'm so looking forward to the 3rd Annual World Wide Photo Walk. I had a blast on this one. Thanks to Jeff Revell for being our group leader and organizing our walk. Thanks Jeff!

You can also see loads of photos (by me and the other photographers) at the Flickr group. Check them out.

The Miller Family

Meet the Miller Family (they are really pets to Sophie). 

Sometime back in late 2007, I was having a conversation with Puna. I learned that she was a yoga instructor. I then said something that changed my life, I said, "Maybe one day I'll take your class." (Note to all who read this, don't say these words to a fitness instructor). Puna replied, "You should, you would really like it." Fast forward to January 1, 2008 -- New Years resolution time -- a new gym opened up around the corner and I joined. Puna was teaching yoga classes there and I decided to "give it a try" and I have never looked back. 

Over the last 11 months, I have yoga-ed, run, push-uped, spun, and weight-lifted 40 pounds off of my old body and gotten myself into better shape (round is a shape you know!). Puna and my wife Leanne (who pushes me out of bed in the mornings) have been the "gentle" forces in my change in lifestyle. Puna is now documenting my successes (and failures) on her new fitness blog for the whole world to see. For her patients, encouragement, and friendship I say "thanks". And to Puna's husband TJ for allowing me to be tortured, er, I mean, worked out by your wife, thank you too. And lastly, thank you Sophie for letting me photograph your family. I hope they will put their photo in your dog house.        

Sophie

This is Sophie. She is one of the beloved pets of my friend Puna. Tonight I had the privilege of photography Sophie and her family. Sophie enjoyed all the attention, didn't 'cha. So, while I process the family images in Photoshop, please admire the beauty that is Sophie. Sit girl. Good dog.