Arrow Of Light

I have been the Cubmaster for Pack 976 in Vienna Va for the last 5 years. Last night was our annual Blue and Gold Dinner where we celebrate another year in scouting and our oldest Scouts receive Cub Scouting's highest award, the Arrow Of Light. There is nothing more rewarding for me than having the opportunity to watch young Tigers (1st grade) grow into big 5th grade boys who exhibit all the qualities of strong character and leadership the scouting program emphasizes.

This is my tribute to them, which includes my son. Congratulations gentlemen.

Go Den 1!

Happy Birthday Big Bro

Happy Birthday to my oldest brother. Never looked or felt so good. Best of luck to you in your new venture.

Insider's Circle

This slide show wraps up the kick off meeting for the Glazer-Kennedy Insider's Circle Northern Virginia Chapter spearheaded by Ben Glass and Tom Foster.

Miss Ellie

I was in the middle of a shoot with a client's daughter when my niece decided to take a seat. My nephews and nieces are used to me snapping pics. Miss Ellie wasn't on the schedule, but the moment could not be passed up.

February Madness

A couple of shots from our school's 4th and 5th Grade House Basketball Tournament this past weekend. Lots of excitement. My son's team was knocked out in the quarter finals. Championship game is tonight. Gotta love youth basketball!

My son taking it downtown!

The Moment of Truth.

These shots were taken with a 15mm wide angle prime lens at f2.8, 1000 iso, 1/1000 sec.

OLGC Wildcat Women

These young ladies play in the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) Basketball League for Our Lady of Good Counsel (OLGC) Catholic School in Vienna, VA. I had the opportunity to watch and shoot their latest game. They remain undefeated. It was quite a treat.

Glazer-Kennedy Insider's Circle Northern Virginia Chapter

Ben Glass and Tom Foster kicked off the Northern Virginia Chapter of the GKIC yesterday in Fairfax, VA to help local entrepreneurs streamline and improve their approach to marketing their businesses. You can read all about here: Virginia-Small-Business-Marketing.com.

Its always a multi-media event.

Getting a jump on the competition.


Chapter Director: Ben Glass

Zack Arias Video on Scott kelby.Com

A very inspirational video by photographer Zack Arias on his passion for photography. It could really be applied to anyone pursuing their own dream. See this link.

Billy Goat Trail

My boys and I celebrated President's Day by hitting the Billy Goat Trail at Great Falls Park in Maryland. It was a gorgeous day for a hike. On our last attempt to complete this rigorous trail we ran into high water at this creek crossing in the bottom photo. The water was up to the blue trail marker on the tree and the creek was a raging river. We had to turn back.

OLGC Wildcat Basketball

The Boys in Blue; OLGC 4th and 5th Grade Basketball Team, 2009.

The Big Five-O

"....Just think of it as a little more mileage on your birthday suit." So said the whimsical card I whipped together for my brother in law. It was my wife's idea. He is an avid cyclist. Happy Birthday Dennis.

The Jefferson Hotel

A few weeks back my wife treated me to a night at The Jefferson Hotel in Richmond. Breathtaking place for a wedding photo shoot. My father asked if they still had the alligators. Apparently, in the old days, people traveling north to home on their way back from Florida would store their pet alligators in the pond of the atrium in this huge hotel. He remembers well walking with his mother to go visit them on a Sunday trip into Richmond.

The alligators are long gone, however, the ladies of the Red Hat club were meeting as we passed through the main hall.

I was out in Fairfax early this morning grabbing a few shots of the exterior of the law firm I worked last week. I could not help but turn and take a few photos of the Fairfax Courthouse. The architecture is beautiful. I love old buildings. About six months earlier I was doing the very same thing when I was approached by two sheriff bailiffs. The next 20 minutes were very uncomfortable and I felt I could be locked up at any minute. I was questioned about my motives and was asked to produce ID. I was asked to show them my pictures. I was also asked if I had outstanding warrants. I was cooperative. The bailiffs were not very nice. I was released. I studied up on my rights as a photographer. I filed a complaint. I received a full apology from the bailiffs supervisor within the week.

Apparently this type of scenario goes on a lot. I was on a public street taking a picture of a public building. What law was I violating? None. If you would like to know what your rights are as a photographer see this link. It was an interesting experience but not one I care to repeat.

OLGC Wildcat Basketball

This slide show is a compilation of shots I've taken over the last few months of my son's 8th grade basketball team from Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic School in Vienna. Shooting action shots indoors is a challenge. But I think I am getting the hang of it. Most of the shots are taken with either my Canon 70-200mm, f2.8 zoom, or my Canon 50mm prime, f1.4 lenses, at an iso of 1600 or 3200. No flash. Enjoy.

Family Friend

Over Christmas I had a visit by my family friend Leslie. She is the youngest of 4 and daughter of my mother's best friend from childhood. I have known her since she was born. She reluctantly posed for me and I quickly snapped this shot before she got away. The next day I dug through an old box of photos to find one of her I had taken at Christmas time with my old Konica 35mm film camera about 30 years earlier. I threw this together for her mother.

Leiva and Marks, P.L.C. Attorneys at Law

Today I had the opportunity to meet and photograph the fine folks at Leiva and Marks. We took lots of great shots they hope to integrate into their website in the near future. The handsome young man in the back is Brian Glass, my nephew, who joined the firm after passing the bar this past fall.

The gentleman on the right is David Marks. About 34 years ago (I was 12, he was about 2) my mother provided day care for he and his older brother in her home in Annandale. My only memory of him was getting in trouble for teasing him until he cried and that he had lots of curly hair. Manuel Leiva is on the left.

Camera specs; Canon 40D, 1/60 sec, f4.5, with my 17mm-40mm zoom at 29mm, iso 100, two softboxes placed to my right and left

Happy Birthday Katherine...You've Been Blogged

Happy Sweet 14 to yet another niece of mine as well as my Godchild. You have a great modeling career ahead of you.

Great Legal Marketing Wrap Up

Soundtrack "Pity" by madbrenda

MadBrenda Rocks the GLM Conference

Who new my brother Ben still knew how to rock? Or knew in the first place for that matter. I'm sure his Billy Joel and Linda Ronstadt albums are still getting a workout. But last Friday night he rocked his Great Legal Marketing Conference with local chick/Dad band madbrenda. They have a great sound and you can give them a listen here: madbrenda Check 'em out.

Tribute to My Uncle

Last weekend my wife, Laura, and I traveled to Richmond to visit my dear Uncle Charles D. Curley Jr., Major-USAR R-Retired, and have lunch. Charles is my mother's oldest brother, father of 5, Grandfather, and Great Grandfather as well. He is also a World War II veteran and fought in Europe as a 2nd Lieutenant (Rifle Platoon Leader) with the 38th Infantry Regiment, Second Indianhead Division. He landed in Normandy on D-Day +1 and fought his way through to Czechoslovakia. He has many, many stories to share of that time. To listen to him is a fascinating trip through history. And for anyone fortunate enough to know Charles, plan on setting aside some time when you engage him in those stories :)

Charles is also the author of "How a Ninety-Day Wonder Survived the War;" a book of his memoirs. Don't bother looking for it on Amazon or Borders, it's out of print, a rare find, and worth every effort to find one and read it. He may have a few left.

These photographs are my tribute to this wonderful man and I cannot think of a photo I have taken that makes me more proud.

Click on the picture for a larger view.

If you are family and are interested in a print, you can find them on my webpage by clicking here, you will be prompted for a password.

Weiner, Rohrstaff & Spivey

During the Great Legal Marketing Jump Start Conference last week I bumped into my friend Sandra Rohrstaff for whom I did a shoot for last Spring. I was not aware her new website had gone live featuring some of my photography. Click here.

A Walk Through Vienna

Last fall I had the opportunity to accompany the OLGC 1st grade on a walking field trip through our wonderful town of Vienna. We visited the Mayor, Jane Seeman, the men in blue, the fire department, and that fine old establishment know as the Vienna Inn. Enjoy.