Having now retired twice from my distinguished career in the United States Air Force and later from my work at CapMetro in Austin, Texas, I have rediscovered the passion for photography that drives me. I find immense joy in capturing stunning seascapes, breathtaking landscapes, and vibrant cityscapes during our travels with my beloved wife Eileen. These moments not only allow me to express my creativity but also encourage me to share my work with others. Through this sharing, I hope to support my hobby by exploring potential sales and connecting with fellow photography enthusiasts.
View of Lady Bird Lake and part of the Austin skyline at the Rainey St area from the Ann RIchards Bridge (aka Congress Ave Bridge) as boaters and kayakers gather to watch the nightly departure of the freetail bat colony that resides under the bridge. The image was about 4 econds long so the skyline is nice and clear, but the movement of the boats in the water are blurred.
From Brave's Leo AI: Neil Armstrong’s Apollo 11 spacesuit is currently on display at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., where it is positioned near the 1903 Wright Flyer. The suit, an A7-L pressure garment manufactured by ILC Industries, was worn by Armstrong during the historic first moonwalk in July 1969 and transferred to the museum in 1971. After being removed from public view in 2006 for conservation, the suit was restored and unveiled to the public on July 16, 2019, exactly 50 years after the Apollo 11 launch. This restoration was funded by a successful Kickstarter campaign that raised over $500,000, allowing conservators to stabilize the fabric and create a climate-controlled display case that slows degradation while preserving embedded lunar dust.
The Great Hall of the Library of Congress. From Barve Leo AI: The Great Hall is the main entrance and most impressive interior space of the Thomas Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress, located at 10 First Street, S.E. in Washington, D.C. Opened to the public in 1897, this two-story room rises 75 feet from its marble floor to a stained glass ceiling, featuring Italian Renaissance style decoration with murals, mosaics, and vaulted ceilings. Key features of the Great Hall include: Architectural Design: The space was designed to represent American industriousness and intellectual promise, featuring marble columns, staircases, and works of art by nearly fifty American painters and sculptors. Symbolic Decor: The ceiling is adorned with aluminum leaf (discovered to be more precious than silver during construction) and skylights echoing the zodiac symbols on the floor. A central compass rose on the floor directs visitors toward the archway representing lifelong learning. Statuary and Mosaics: The hall houses a mosaic of Minerva, the Roman Goddess of wisdom, presiding over the library, along with bronze busts of Thomas Jefferson and George Washington by Jean-Antoine Houdon. The grand staircase features putti (young boys) carved by Philip Martiny, representing various occupations like printing, music, and science. Lighting: The hall was the first public building in Washington, D.C., designed with electricity, celebrating American inventions like the incandescent light bulb, which is represented by bare bulbs throughout the space.
