Angels and Knights over Nation's Capitol

Screaming in formation through the blue skies near the nation's capitol, the phenomenal U.S. Navy Blue Angels and the Army's premier parachute team, the Golden Knights join a host of other aerial acrobatic performances at the 2008 Joint Service Open House at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.
Civilian and military planes vied for the crowd's attention throughout the day with spectacular air demonstrations and ground exhibits from bi-planes to the Air Force’s newest fighter the F-22 Raptor. The world famous Geico Skytypers, the only World War II civilian squadron flying in existence made quite an impression by spelling out “FRIENDS ALWAYS” in recognition of the United States, Great Britain, French and German effort to keep West Berlin free at the beginning of the Cold War. The team flys six T-6 Texan aircraft that were introduced in 1937 as a basic combat trainer plane. Other planes flying or on display included the huge B-52 Stratofortress long range bomber, the U2 Spy plane.

One of the planes I was interested in seeing was the Memphis Belle, a B-17F Flying Fortress that was the first WWII bomber to complete 25 missions over Europe and return to the United States. The crew and plane were immortilized in two films with the same name as the bomber, Memphis Belle. In fact it turns out the B-17F on display was the plane from the 1990 movie starring Matthew Modine and Bill Zane.

From the Ragged Edge comes Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Jill Long performing high energy aerobatics in a Pitts S2B, two seat bi-plane. Jill has been flying since was 16 and according to her bio has over 3000 hours of flight time. As the crowd was watching Sean Tucker go through his award winning performance LTC Long was standing behind her plane walking through her upcoming flight in deep concentration. Her

experience and daring was evident with her rolls, speed and dives.

Today’s technology was not only evident in the new aircraft but as part of the Air Show. I was impressed with the Jumbotron screens that were near center field and the excellent sound that could be heard clearly everywhere on the flight line. While pilots like John Klatt in his Air National Guard Staudacher S-300D hand crafted plane was doing acrobatics the audience could see him on screen live in the cockpit, telling the crowd what he was doing. This added a new dimension to the Air Show. Now instead of just watching the stunt plane do hammerhead turns and fall toward the earth in a spin, you can glance at the screen and see a close up of the pilot in the cockpit with the world spinning around him.

One of the precision flights of the day was the world’s only supersonic, civilian jet demonstration team, the Starfighters. These three F-104 Starfighters flew in tight formation with not much space between them.

The famous Airlift that saved the people of West Germany from the Soviet Union and becoming part of the communist bloc was honored at the air show with a flyby of the C-47 “Second Chance.” This WWII plane represents the C-47 and C-54 airplanes that flew supplies to over 2.2 million Berliners at what would become the beginning of the Cold War. Beginning in 1948, the airlift continued for eleven months when the Soviets agreed to lift the blockade. The airlift continued another four months until September 1949. At its peak the United States and Britain were flying over 5000 tons of supplies each day to Wes Berlin. Part of the opening remarks were by Colonel (Ret) Gail Halvorsen who was one of the original pilots of the airlift know as the “Candy Bomber”. He received his nickname for tying Hershey chocolate bars to little parachutes and dropping them over Berlin.

Closing out the days events was the much-anticipated Navy Blue Angels. From their first flight in 1946 in Jacksonville, Florida, the Blue Angels have been thrilling crowds around the world. To date it is estimated that over 400 million people have watched their demonstrations. Their performance lasted over an hour with solo flights, dogfights and precision formation flying ending with their trademark Fleur di Lis where all six jets move in unison only to split off into various directions like a blooming flower.

Kinetic Race 2008 a Big Success in Baltimore

Wilma and the Wombats, Fifi and Platypus were crowd favorites at the 10th annual Baltimore Kinetic Sculpture Race, hosted by the American Visionary Art Museum (AVAM). The annual race started under overcast clouds and a great turnout of artists, tinkerers and onlookers. Twenty-nine Kenitic Sculptures registered for this eight hour race that wraps around Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, to Canton Waterfront, Patterson Park and downtown area before returning to the starting point at the AVAM.

While the distance covered is about 15 miles there are a few stops for testing these human powered, amphibious works of art. The first stop, after making the steep climb up Federal Hill under human-power, thereby demonstrating the street worthiness of the movable art pieces, is the Canton Waterfront. Here they travel down the boat ramp into the water circling either the dock or the marker buoys in the harbor. At least one sculpture sank in the early attempts while others drifted a bit with the current. Those that got away required a gentle nudge from the volunteers in kayaks. One of the favorites was the Wilma and the Wombats (Wayward Outcast Musicians Battling Apocalyptic TribulationS) who entertained the crowd with a 12 piece jazz band.

The spectators were spectacular along the entire route of the race as they turned out in all manner of wacky and colorful outfits and kinetic things on their heads. There were also Kinetic Chickens, who are volunteers to help with answering questions and giving directions. They should have an award for the zaniest getup. The photographers were out in full force. It seemed as if everyone had a camera or cell phone, taking pictures and thoroughly enjoying the day.

The race continues on to Paterson Park where the kinetic sculptures are field tested in mud and sand before returning to the museum and award ceremony. We saw one entry with a flat tire on the way to the Park requiring the whole team to lift the vehicle.

This is a timed race, assuming you make through the water torture and obstacle course. There are Kinetic Cops who patrol the event handing out tickets to entrants when they break the rules resulting in a time penalty. According to the race officials, these cops are known to accept bribes to overlook all but the coveted ACE award and safety rules.

There are a number of awards for these adventurers, often called Kinetinauts because of their fearless artist engineer and piloting skills. There is the coveted Art award for artistic design, the ACE award for completing the race entirely under human pilot power with no pushing or pulling of the sculpture. This year we saw the creative, and large Bumpo the elephant sculpture get disqualified for this award because it could not exit the water under it’s own power. I think they should have given the elephant a break, he was great getting in and around the water, he was also probably the heaviest sculpture. Bumpo will still be eligible for the people’s choice award.
Awards will be presented at an awards ceremony at the AVAM. Come back for the updated version later, with all winners listed. The winners of this race will qualify for the big race later this year in California, in the 40th annual Kinetic Sculpture Race. The California course covers approximately 42 miles of sand, water, pavement, hills, more water, roads and freeways from Arcata to Ferndale and is over a three day period.

Springtime in Yellowstone

Majestic mountains, cascading waterfalls, bears, wolves and buffalo are some of the reasons people travel to Yellowstone National Park, my wife Debbie and I were no exception. The purpose of our springtime journey to the Wyoming Park was to photograph the iconic wolf, moose, elk and antelope. They were all there, but to our surprise, we discovered and focused on a wonderful world of birds, flowers and smaller, more common animals.

We found late April into early May to be a great time to visit, just as the park is bursting with new life and color. In the cool breeze of Spring, we found unexpected treasures at a small freshwater lake in the mountains of northern Yellowstone. We had the good fortune so witness the courtship of Yellow-headed Blackbirds.

In Yellowstone, tourists have a curious habit of stopping whenever they see wildlife anywhere near the road. They come to an abrupt stop in the middle of the road, make U-turns, and any number of other vehicle maneuvers to get a good view. Other tourists, in turn, stop behind, or pull into the other lane, scanning the surrounding woodland for any sign of life. It’s kind of like an animal version of the paparazzi hunting for a celebrity on Rodeo Drive. Often they yell out “whaddya lookin’ at?” if there isn’t an immediately recognizable large animal. If someone gets out of his or her car with a camera, it is the signal that there must be something great. Soon a small mob will form to approach whatever animal is nearby, shutters clicking as the strobes fill in the shadows.

On our second day we had just finished breakfast and were driving north, through the park toward Mammoth Hot Springs, when we sighted a car on the side of the road. Our excitement increased as we saw a man with a camera, and no other cars! A clear sign, in the Yellowstone tourist language, that something special must be visible. As we pulled over to the side of the road, we quickly scanned the horizon, a trick we learned while waiting in backups along the highway and watching other drivers. Other than a small lake with tall reeds we didn’t see any large animals. We checked to see if we could see which way the photographer was looking. Other cars were now starting to pull off both sides of the road around us at haphazard angles. The photographer began moving back to his car, camera down around his neck, when I rolled down my window I was about to join the Yellowstone paparazzi and yell “whaddaya lookin’ at?” he looked in my direction and shook his head side to side. He began walking back to his car.

Other cars caught the headshake and started to pull back onto the highway, hoping to be the lead car for the next sighting. As the last car was pulling out, my window was still down, I heard the beautiful sounds of a chorus whistling and tweeting down the embankment just ahead of me. As we listened to the variety of the bird’s calls, we saw flashes of yellow and black with streaks of white as a number of birds flew from reed to reed.

I glanced back to the road as the photographer who brought our attention to this area was pulling back onto the road. I checked the horizon again wondering what brought him out of the car when the sounds of the birds all around the small lake captivated me once again. I had never heard such wonderful sounds. I ventured out of the car mounting my camera on the tripod and moved quickly down the embankment. I was soon out of sight of the cars passing on the road, a good thing, since I had no idea what type of riot would ensue if people saw me with a camera and tripod outside of my car.

The male birds were so colorful and animated that they didn’t seem to notice my presence. At one point, a male Yellow-headed Blackbird landed on a reed directly in front of me. The bird was so close that my telephoto lens wouldn’t focus. While watching the male, I heard rustling noises in the undergrowth of the tall grasses near the edge of the water. After about 45 minutes, which seemed like only 10, I noticed a correlation between the arrival of the male on the reed and the rustling sounds from below. The male would hop from the reed to the ground and jump through the tall grasses in pursuit of a mate.

While I was enjoying the bird sounds and watching flashes of yellow bounce from reed to reed then out of sight, my wife was waiting patiently by the car, a clear signal for passersby to stop and ask the familiar question of what she was looking at. When she replied that, there were dozens of beautiful Yellow-headed Blackbirds they drove off. Some looked at her as if she was not all there as if to say, “Birds! You can see birds anywhere this is Yellowstone.”

I will always be grateful to the anonymous photographer who, for whatever reason, was near the lake and brought our attention to the wonderful birds and their Spring dance among the reeds.

For more photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/summerhill/

Florida Bird Photography and Alligators

Florida, the land of sunshine, fresh fruit and a cornucopia of colorful birds waiting to be enjoyed. Home to over 257 species of birds the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge is a birders dream or in some cases, nightmare. This Southern Florida refuge covers over 200 square miles of wetlands and serves a vital role to the environment. Keys to a successful visit include a birders guide, camera, sunscreen, bug repellent knowing what else lives there.

When I traveled to Florida for a photography course, I had my camera set for birds, not the American Alligator. I read about the park and decided this would be a perfect location for an early morning photo shoot before class. Normally when photographing in a new area I visit the location to check out the lighting, best places to set up my tripod, and talk with the park rangers about the wildlife. Since I was only in Florida for a few days, and in class most of each day, I was not able to make a reconnaissance trip before my morning shoot. My lack of planning would come back to haunt me later that morning.

I arrived before sunrise and was the only one around. I parked across the lot from the visitor center facing several large ponds with levees surrounding them. The refuge has ten numbered water impoundments that look like large ponds that are used to control water levels for the vegetation and soils that provide feeding and nesting habitat for the wildlife. One of the ponds is surrounded by an 1/8th mile levee that forms the Marsh Trail. At the far end of the pond is the observation tower, which was my destination for the morning.
The levees surrounding the large ponds were about fifteen to twenty feet wide. While waiting for the light to be just right, I saw a few ducks and geese floating nearby. I thought to myself how dangerous could this be if they have observation towers and interpretive signage along the trail.
When I entered the observation tower, I began to hear in the distance what sounded like someone trying to start a small engine. It was a deep sputtering growling type of sound. I could envision someone pulling a cord on a generator or kick starting the engine only to have it crank a few times and sputter out. Trying to put out of my mind what was becoming an annoying sound, I tried a few other locations along the bank of the levee to photograph snake birds drying their wings. After taking a few photos of the local Limpkin population, I still heard someone trying to start their engine. He must have an arm or leg of steel to keep trying.

After a few more photographs, I decided it was time to head back to class. When walking back on the dirt path to my car, I noticed some strange lines crossing over the levee from one pond to the next, as if someone had dragged a stick across the dirt leaving a serpentine line leading down into the water. I hadn’t noticed these before but now saw several. Just then, I heard a loud roar from the bushes just ahead, it was the man trying to start the engine! How did he get from behind me in the distance to right here in the bushes? I looked down at the line crossing the path, looked at the bushes where I heard the cranking low growling sound, then the light came on in my head – alligators! I replayed a scene from one of the popular nature shows about how fast an alligator could run on land, about 30 miles an hour in short bursts in a straight line. I stopped in my tracks and contemplated making a run for my car, which I could see in the distance. I decided I couldn’t make it past the bushes with my tripod, backpack and camera fast enough. The next roar from the bushes convinced me I should make my own tracks in the opposite direction around the pond. I would be late for class but that was the least of my worries.

With the warm rays of the morning sun the marsh was coming alive all at once. I could see dozens of alligators floating on the surface making their bellowing chorus. Their heads and tails were out of the water, with their bodies submerged, mouths open, making the deep rumbling growling sound that vibrated the air. It was mating season and I was on their turf.

Before I made a dash for safety, my journalistic instinct kicked in and I took a few pictures, of these prehistoric looking creatures, in case the worst happened and I became breakfast. This wasn’t exactly the early morning with the birds I envisioned when I started out. Ever since this experience I have made it a point to be more prepared when entering a wilderness area by doing my research beforehand.

Through this experience, I have learned that there is a lot more to do then watch birds and dodge alligators if you visit the refuge. In addition to the wildlife around the freshwater storage areas are walking trails through a cypress swamp, biking trails, fishing, butterfly gardens and a 5.5 mile canoe trail.
I have also located a recording of the guttural call that the alligators make that I mistook for an engine trying to start. Whenever I get too confident on where I’m traveling I log on to the Crocodilians Natural History and Conservation website to listen to the sound. It stills gives me chills when I hear it today.

For more photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/summerhill/

Photography in National Parks - Be Aware, Not Afraid

Our National Parks are wild, beautiful and all too often dangerous, especially for tourists with cameras. I have often seen people so caught up with recording their experience that they put themselves and others in danger. They are so focused on their equipment, or taking that memorable photo, that they lose track of what is happening around them. Animals in their natural habitat can be protective, annoyed and territorial. Between the years 1991 to 2001, an average of 177 fatalities occurred per year in the United States as a result of animal and human contact, according to a study published by the Wilderness Medical Society (not just national parks). With over 275 million visitors to U.S. national parks last year the number of deaths and injuries may not seem high, unless it happens to you or someone you know

While visiting Yellowstone National Park, which has the largest concentration of wildlife in the continental United States, I witnessed one father encouraging his two children, who were standing with their backs to a large bison, to step back a few steps so he could get a picture of them with the huge animal. I wasn’t close enough to say anything and didn’t want to yell or run toward them for fear of startling the bison. I watched and held my breath. After what seemed like a very long time, the picture was taken without incident and the kids ran to the car for the next photo op. As I watched this foolhardy suburbanite drive away, I turned my attention to the grazing bison. To my amazement, I saw another man, who had been watching the family in front of the bison, step forward and try to put his daughter on top of the grazing animal as if it were a donkey ride at the local bazaar. Fortunately, a ranger driving nearby stopped them. While these bison look like grazing cattle, they can be unpredictable. Even an accidental bump from a 2000-pound bison can cause considerable damage.

National Parks may seem safe because of their similarity to zoos. Both have paid admission at the entrance, a visitor center with concessions, uniformed personnel, descriptive signage and even areas marked where to stand for great photos. While these parks may appear safe, you need to be alert. The animals and reptiles in National Parks are not part of a petting zoo. You should be at least 25 yards from large animals like moose, bison, and elk, and 100 yards (the distance of a football field) if you are near a bear. Most parks, like Yellowstone, have free literature and videos on park safety. Be sure to read all you can about the area you are visiting. You should never feed wild animals. Be respectful of every animal and bird, let them have their space.

In addition to being aware of the dangers from wildlife there is also the natural environment about which you need to be knowledgeable. Hot springs, posionous plants, avalanches, falling rocks, and exposure to the elements can all kill or severely disable adventurers of various sill and experience. So, to ensure that you get the best pictures from your ventures into our beautiful outback safely, take notice of your surroundings before you say “cheese”.

The Other Air and Space Museum

The largest collection of historic air and spacecraft in the world traces the history of human flight in grand fashion at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum. The Smithsonian has two Air and Space facilities. The original Air and Space Museum located on the Mall in Washington D.C., is home to about 10% of the Smithsonian’s collection. The larger collection of full size planes and space vehicles that could never fit inside the Washington location have been on display at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Chantilly, Virginia since 2003.

This is the hall of fame of aviation and space travel. What I found most fascinating was the history that surrounds each of the items on display. Like the first space shuttle, USS Enterprise, which never flew in outer space and the fastest plane ever built, the Lockheed SR-71. Often referred to as the Blackbird, this spy plane was operational until 1999. On July 27, 1976, the SR-71 set a speed record of 2,092 mph. Another record was set with the fastest time between New York and London with a breathtaking 1 hour and 54 minute flight. Compare the SR-71 speed with the commercial Concorde, also on display at the Center that could reach 1,350 mph.

One of the more controversial exhibits, the B-29, Enola Gay, that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, drew record crowds when only part of it was on display at the Smithsonian Mall location. At the Udvar-Hazy annex, the entire plane has been restored and is on display. There are another 150 aircraft and about the same number of space artifacts, to include uniforms, space suits, and even examples of experiments sent into outer space. There are pre-1920 aircraft, commercial aircraft, rockets and planes used in World War I & II, Korea, and Vietnam. Space modules from the Mercury, Apollo and Gemini flights are on display with many of the satellites that have circled the globe.

This center is more than a hanger full of relics that have ventured and returned from space. This is a place for anyone who has looked to the sky and wondered what it would be like to soar above the clouds. Such flights of fancy captivated a young Steven F. Udvar-Hazy, whom the Center is named. As a boy, his father took him to an air show in Budapest, before they immigrated to the United States, where his passion for aviation was set for life. As a Hungarian immigrant, he came to America with his family nearly 60 years ago with next to nothing. His financial endowment, the largest single donor to the museum, has brought the Center more than displays and memorabilia. He has provided a place where the future of flight can be cultivated in others.

In addition to the space exhibits in the James S. McDonnell Space Hanger and three levels of aircraft in the Boeing Aviation Hanger, there is the IMAX movie theater, simulators and the Donald D. Engen Observation Tower that overlooks the Dulles runways. There are also exhibits that cover the impressive and heroic role women have pioneered in aviation and space as well as the historic role of America’s first black military aviators.

The price for the exhibit is free but there is a $12 dollar parking charge unless you take the shuttle bus from Dulles International Airport for 50 cents.

For me a visit to the Udvar-Hazy Center captures not only the technology but also the spirit of flight. Before Orville and Wilbur made their first flight, Leonardo da Vinci said it best centuries ago, “When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.”

Oak Grove Living Christmas Tree

Oak Grove Singing Tree Choir
Originally uploaded by Jennings David L

This is the time of year for many churches across America to erect elaborate scaffolding in the shape of a Christmas tree for their annual Christmas presentations. One of the largest singing Christmas trees is at the Oak Grove Baptist Church in Bel Air, Maryland. The church has performed the Living Christmas Tree 23 years in a row! This unique outreach started in 1985 by music director Ken Tipton with the purpose of reaching the community with the message of Christmas. "This is not just a job, for us it’s a ministry. We do this so we can carry the true message of Christmas, that Jesus Christ came into this world as a baby child to live that through him we to could live," Tipton said in a 1994 interview. That purpose holds true today with the new choir director Steve Poole.

The tree was designed by Bob Wilson, an electrical engineer and member of Oak Grove. It is 37 feet tall and is topped with an eleven foot lighted star illuminated by thousands of lights. The tree has held over 100 singers during the varying themes presented each year. During the 23 years an estimated 200,000 people have attended the event that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. This year the decorations and lighting are by Louise Gentry and Lois Stagnoli. The hundreds of thousands of lights on the tree are controlled in a manner that changes the lighting according to the music. In addition to the choir, that begins practice in July, there are hundreds of behind the scenes people who make the presentation happen. This years presentation was "The Gift" arranged by Lari Goss with drama by Steve Poole. A live praise band accompanies many of the songs. There is no charge for admission; however, tickets are required in order to make certain seating is available. Each approximately 10,000 tickets are distributed to the church and community.