B. Payden Photography's Photo Blog: January 2009

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Downtown Norfolk, Virginia Skyline

Image recorded December 2008, of the Downtown Norfolk Skyline, from the Portsmouth, Virginia waterfront.

(Canon EOS 5d w/ EF17-40mm F/4L @ 33mm, ISO 200, F/14, 1/400sec)

Sunset on the Blue Ridge Mountains

This image was recorded in 2006 on Skyline Drive right at twilight. I shot this with a Canon EOS A2 camera on Fuji Chrome Velvia 100. The twilight sky was this exact shade of blue and purple and I choose the Fuji slide film to better record the latitude of the shadow detail and the vibrant colors. I scanned this image from the original slide. It is easy to see how the Blue Ridge Mountains got their name when you see beautiful colors like this along the drive.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Sandy Bottom Nature Park - Hampton, Va.

Sandy Bottom Nature Park

Sandy Bottom Nature Park is the jewel in the crown of Hampton’s extensive parks and recreation system. The park comprises 456 acres of reclaimed land from borrow pits and a former garbage dump that has been returned to its natural state. The park features a 10,000 square foot nature center that features exhibits on environmental education and wildlife management. The park also features two lakes, wetland areas, many hiking and biking trails, tent cabins, primitive campsites, picnic areas, and a children’s playground. Numerous nature programs and guided hikes are offered by the nature center and are an ideal way to explore the nearly six miles of hiking trails and view the abundant wildlife of this premier park facility.

Due in large part to the reclamation efforts of the City of Hampton, to return this area to its natural state, wildlife is now abundant. Visitors can often see many species of breeding and migratory birds as well as reptiles, amphibians and mammals.

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Fall in the Blue Ridge Mountains

As an avid hiker and explorer of Shenandoah National Park-Skyline Drive, I recently availed myself of a hike in Whiteoak Canyon to the lower Whiteoak Falls. During a family get-together at Graves Mountain Lodge in Syria Virginia, I was pleasantly surprised to find several nearby trails leading into the park. This year my Family and I hiked the 4 ½ mile Lower Falls part of the Whiteoak Canyon, from the Park Boundary in Madison County off Weakley Hollow Rd. to the lower falls and back. It was a somewhat strenuous and steep hike, but well worth it for the fall colors in their splendor. The spectacular view of the falls was made even more beautiful as the sun dipped behind the ridge line of the Canyon. Skyline Drive is particularly congested in the fall as many people enjoy viewing the beautiful fall colors along this stretch of the Blue Ridge. Myself I prefer to find more off the beaten path parts of the park. Below are several images from this hike, I hope you all enjoy and take the time to explore this most beautiful National Park for yourself.

Friday, January 16, 2009

St. John's Episcopal Church - Hampton, VA.

Founded in 1610, St. John's Episcopal Church is the oldest Anglican parish in continuous use in America. The current church is the fourth building to house the St. John's congregation and was built in 1728 in the shape of a Latin cross. The building features Flemish bond brickwork and is a superb example of colonial brickwork and the only surviving colonial structure in downtown Hampton. The Church also features many beautiful stained glass windows including one depicting the baptism of Pocahontas given in 1887, in part, by Native American students from the Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute, now Hampton University. The churchyard features many interesting headstones and memorials and is well worth a contemplative walk around the beautiful grounds.

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Sunday, January 11, 2009

Norfolk Botanical Gardens, Norfolk, Va.

Todays Norfolk Botanical Garden began in the mid 1930's with an idea by Frederic Heutte, a young horticulturist and Thomas P. Thompson, Norfolk City Manager from 1935-1938. Heutte had a fondness for Azaleas and believed Hampton Roads to have an ideal climate for growing this southern signature plant. Heutte and Thompson envisioned an azalea garden to rival those of Charleston, South Carolina. Their vision began to be realized when the city of Norfolk set aside 75 acres of wooded land and 75 acres of reservoir for a city garden.
Beginning in 1938, through a Works Progress Administration (WPA) grant more than 200 African-American women and 20 men began working to clear the site and their contribution to the garden is today wonderfully honored. In 1958 the Old Dominion Horticultural Society took over maintenance of the gardens and changed the name to the Norfolk Botanical Garden. Today the gardens include an arboretum and are 155 acres with over 20 themed gardens that can be viewed by boat, tram, or on foot. The gardens are on the National Register of Historic Places and are a Virginia Historic Landmark.

Copyright Notice

All images appearing herein are the exclusive property of B. Payden Photography, LLC and are protected under the United States (USC Title 17) and International Copyright laws.

The images may not be reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without the written permission of Bryant L. Payden Jr.

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St. Maarten Sunset

This image was recorded January 2002 in Philipsburg, St. Maarten. Image was shot with a Mamiya 645AFd on Fuji Velia 120 film. The sun was sinking across Great Bay as I was taking a stroll along the beach.

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Chesapeake Bay Brown Pelican

The Chesapeake Bay Brown Pelican, once almost extinct in Hampton Roads, have rebounded and there are now thousands of nesting pairs in coastal Virginia and North Carolina. The resurgence of this species has led to the Federal Government wanting to remove them from the Endangered Species list. The population of Brown Pelicans grew so quickly in the Mid-Atlantic region, after the Government banned DDT in 1972, that the US Fish and wildlife service dropped its endangered status for Virginia and North Carolina populations in 1985. Both Brown Pelicans pictured below were shot in the community of Phoebus in Hampton, Virginia.

Copyright Notice

All images appearing herein are the exclusive property of B. Payden Photography, LLC and are protected under the United States (USC Title 17) and International Copyright laws.

The images may not be reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without the written permission of Bryant L. Payden Jr.

http://www.bpaydenphotography.com/ bpaydenphotography@cox.net

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Nauticus and the Hampton Roads Naval Museum

Nauticus

Nauticus is a maritime museum and science center located on the Elizabeth River waterfront in Norfolk, Virginia that opened in June of 1994. Also located within Nauticus, on the second floor, is the Hampton Roads Naval Museum, an official museum operated by the US Navy, which manages the USS Wisconsin museum ship. Both museums feature exhibits that include a vast collection of material and artifacts on the global maritime industry and the influence of the US Navy in Hampton Roads and around the world. Nauticus also features high definition nautically-themed films in its large screen theater as well as aquariums, hand on exhibits and many

educational programs.

Copyright Notice

All images appearing herein are the exclusive property of B. Payden Photography, LLC and are protected under the United States (USC Title 17) and International Copyright laws.

The images may not be reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without the written permission of Bryant L. Payden Jr.

http://www.bpaydenphotography.com/

Thursday, January 1, 2009

Marine Observation Tower - Norfolk, Va.

Marine Observation Tower - Pagoda and Oriental Garden

The Marine Observation Tower, also known as The Pagoda, was built in 1989 and was a gift to the Commonwealth of Virginia and the City of Norfolk from the Taiwan Provincial Government. The two story octagonal structure was built on and around the pillars that had previously supported a 500,000 gallon molasses storage tank. Materials for the tower were manufactured in Taiwan and shipped to Norfolk for assembly by Taiwanese craftsmen. In 1989 the Pagoda was refurbished and an oriental garden was planted around the Pagoda. The Pagoda is home to a restaurant serving American and Pacific Rim Cuisine and an art gallery featuring Oriental brush painting and Chinese artifacts. It is a popular destination for weddings, receptions, celebrations as well as cultural events.

Copyright Notice

All images appearing herein are the exclusive property of B. Payden Photography, LLC and are protected under the United States (USC Title 17) and International Copyright laws.

The images may not be reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without the written permission of Bryant L. Payden Jr.

http://www.bpaydenphotography.com/ http://www.paydenvirtualtours.com/

bpaydenphotography@cox.net