Saturday, May 31, 2008


153/366 Mudbugs, originally uploaded by AquaAmber.

I couldn't get the styrofoam looking right here. It may be my fault, may be GIMP's fault but at this point I'm too lazy to look at it with Photoshop. In any case, here is one of the tasty, tasty "mudbugs" I sampled (sampled is far too sparse a word - I had four boxes' worth). It was a very lovely day with plenty of beer and then it started pouring and didn't let up for two hours. About a thousand people were huddled under the pavilion just waiting for things to clear up. Eventually we all just went home because we were too wasted to do anything else.

Friday, May 30, 2008


152/366 Initiative, originally uploaded by AquaAmber.

Maria actually volunteered to be a model for this Mission24 theme "initiative." We had some trouble actually coming up with a good concept for this, so she stood on a chair and looked badass. I think it works.

Thursday, May 29, 2008


151/366 Tomatoes to Be, originally uploaded by AquaAmber.

These tomatoes are mine, as opposed to the two other plants in the ground already which are George's. I expect them to be extremely delicious when they finally grow and ripen. My beau is taking excellent care of them.

Wednesday, May 28, 2008


149/366 Crane, originally uploaded by AquaAmber.

Since Photojojo insisted, I tried out Unsharp Mask on this guy. I have to say it improved the picture quite a bit - provided a lot of distinction between sky and the lattices of the crane.
This construction site has been slowly plugging along for some time now - I have no idea what they're building but it will be right by my house when it's done. I hope it's something convenient and useful.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008


148/366 Me Before Bed, originally uploaded by AquaAmber.

The truth is, I'm running out of ideas.

Monday, May 26, 2008


147/366 The Old Barn, originally uploaded by AquaAmber.

This shot really needs some mist but there was none. Instead, there was a bit of back lighting coming just up over the treeline and so there isn't enough contrast. Nevertheless, it's a fantastic subject. I can't get enough of old rotted-out barns.

Sunday, May 25, 2008


146/366 Dogs, originally uploaded by AquaAmber.

George and I went out to Leesburg to join the NOVAC (Northern Virginia Astronomy Club) kids for a rousing night of observing. He was super-pumped and I was mildly supportive. Plus, we got to go to Leesburg and various other small towns and take pictures. Plus, there was an incredibly awesome barn right next to the site that I took photographic advantage of in the morning (in awful light, as you will see).

Saturday, May 24, 2008


145/366 Going and Coming, originally uploaded by AquaAmber.

I dragged George to Artomatic and promptly left him wandering around on his own while I attended a 2-hour Strobist workshop. It was interesting and I learned lots of stuff I haven't picked up in months of reading the blog - like the fact that shutter speed is largely irrelevant unless there's a lot of ambient light.

This repair shop was about a block and a half away from the building.

Friday, May 23, 2008


144/366 My Commute, originally uploaded by AquaAmber.

Yay - Friday on a long weekend! Even though I look kinda smug about it, you can tell I'm really happy to be going home right now.

Thursday, May 22, 2008


143/366 Gross, originally uploaded by AquaAmber.

I don't even want to blog this - it's really gross.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008


142/366 Can't Touch This, originally uploaded by AquaAmber.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008


141/366 Twins, originally uploaded by AquaAmber.

This is my first attempt at a double-take shot. It was remarkably easy to mash the two images together, though my exposure leaves quite a bit to be desired and I look hideous in both pictures and you can clearly see the trigger in my palm. Despite all these factors, I think it's kind of cool and at least a little creepy.

Monday, May 19, 2008


140/366 Tip, originally uploaded by AquaAmber.

This picture was taken as part of Mission 24, a flickr photo game where you have 24 hours to photograph the assignment theme - this time it was "tip." George here is tipping his hat to y'all. I am amazed by the commentary supplied by the Mission24ers.

And I can't help but note that I am exceedingly pleased with the other construction and associated pictures I took at Artomatic on Sunday. I have a big print waiting for me at Costco, if I ever make it over to pick it up.

Sunday, May 18, 2008


139/366 Construction, originally uploaded by AquaAmber.

This contrast-bumped image was taken outside of Art-o-Matic, the blowout art extravaganza that has been eloquently blogged about by many others. These posts did nothing to prepare me for the eight stories and thousand artists exhibiting in the hollowed-out office building. Everyone has their own tiny bit of installation and some chose to make entire living rooms for their sets and others hung a handful of paintings or prints and let the art speak for itself. For my part, I am insanely jealous and want one of my own right now! I'll be dreaming of my own little piece of gallery space until next year, I suppose.

Saturday, May 17, 2008


138/366 Increasing Luminosity, originally uploaded by AquaAmber.

Today's picture should have been of some international culture - perhaps dancers or food. Instead, I looked up at this church right as the sun was breaking through the clouds onto the dome. This image is desaturated based on brightness, whatever that means (thank you GIMP) and I pushed the contrast a lot.
Passport DC was incredibly awesome - we visited Iraq, Micronesia, Trinidad & Tobago, and Argentina where we took some very crowded tango lessons. I don't think it would have been possible to see everything but it would have been fun to try.

Friday, May 16, 2008


137/366 Business, originally uploaded by AquaAmber.

I left work a bit early to get some reading in before George picked me up. Instead, I spent the whole time trying to get these fallen blooms right. Everything was a "background waiting for a subject". This newspaper was the only real object around, besides my feet, which I failed to photograph amusingly against the flowers.
Yay, Friday!

Thursday, May 15, 2008


136/366 Flying Dog Ale, originally uploaded by AquaAmber.

These empty bottles on George's desk were by far the most interesting thing to shoot and conveniently located near the desk lamp! Flying Dog ales are pretty good and local and come in variety packs sold at Giant. I once bought the beer on the right in order to "impress" George.

This is saturated using Epic Edits' LAB saturation technique. I like it quite a bit - really pumped the oranges here in a nice way.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008


135/366 I Suck, originally uploaded by AquaAmber.

I didn't take any other pictures and this is heavily cropped from a group shot at a bar. This dude is pretty awesome, though.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008


134/366 Dying Roses, originally uploaded by AquaAmber.

These roses are from George's crazy rosebush and many days on the kitchen table.
This is in relatively low light and I had to set it on a cigar box to get the shot (relatively) sharp and then desaturated the hell out of it.

Monday, May 12, 2008


133/366 Circles and Mirrors, originally uploaded by AquaAmber.

Luisa insisted I come with her and photograph our office building, of all things. It was raining a bit so it didn't make sense to go outside where all the supposedly "interesting" shots are. But I like what this one is doing, especially in black and white.

Sunday, May 11, 2008


132/366 Fences, originally uploaded by AquaAmber.

It's a lie. Again, I forgot to take a picture! I don't even have an excuse because it was a Sunday. In any case, this shot Monday morning is of the fence my neighbours are trashing. The colors were very close to that in all the dimness of horrible downpours we've been having. Very cool-looking fence.

Saturday, May 10, 2008


131/366, originally uploaded by AquaAmber.

I worked a beer truck for the first time today. There's a very nice point at which the people are just streaming into the line and the ticket-takers are shouting at you and the only thing you can do to increase production is catch the drop from the first cup as you put the second into position... It's a nice point.
Clearly, the only way I take any "street" photography is by catching people unawares. Hence, the open-mouth shot!

Friday, May 10, 2008


130/366 Cleaners, originally uploaded by AquaAmber.

This is GIMP's "photocopy" filter but nothing, really, could have made this picture very interesting. It was just a really blah Friday with lots of rain. George comes back tomorrow!

Thursday, May 8, 2008


129/366 The Dead of Night, originally uploaded by AquaAmber.

Tonight I went with Colin and "Rudner" to the Cinema 'n Drafthouse's Office Space night. I got totally bombed (as planned) and threw myself in bed. Right before I nodded off, I realized I hadn't taken a picture yet and tried to get something that wouldn't be too horrific, given that I had to use the flash and given that there is absolutely nothing in my room of interest to my camera. I really managed to look dead in this photo. Brilliant!

Wednesday, May 7, 2008


128/366 My OM-1, originally uploaded by AquaAmber.

This is my lovely Olympus OM-1 taken in my own DIY lightbox. I have been meaning to build this lightbox for many months now and finally got around to it while George is out of town (boo-hoo).

You are so jealous.

Tuesday, May 6, 2008


127/366 Mike's Auto Repair, originally uploaded by AquaAmber.

Del Ray is possibly the best neighborhood in Northern Virginia. We have an independent coffee house, a custard place, a mom & pop hardware store, a bunch of non-chain restaurants (some of them better than others), a wine store (not at all sketchy), and constant community events. It feels like a small town in the middle of the "semi-urban" area of Alexandria. I think I've even convinced George it's a good place to live.

I don't think Mike was too happy about me taking pictures of his business. He proceeded to yell at me but I couldn't really understand what he was saying so I just went on my way.

Cinco de Mayo, Monday, May 5, 2008


126/366 Taking It Down, originally uploaded by AquaAmber.

I went to the bank with Maria and finally managed to snap this building they are taking down at K & 18th. It takes a very long time to bring down a building, it seems, as this process has lasted at least a month. It seems fitting, really, as it takes such a long time to construct a building as well.

Sunday, May 4, 2008



125/366 Skylight, originally uploaded by AquaAmber.

My Sunday photos have consistently gotten less creative. It's probably time to start going on little journeys again.

This was taken in my bathroom but putting the camera on my toothpaste shelf. That way I could tell if I looked funny in the mirror. Of course, I looked sultry and sexy when I looked at myself but the camera seems to pick up "pissed."

Saturday, May 3, 2008



124/366 Tap, originally uploaded by AquaAmber.

I "shot" an entire roll of film today only to realize that I didn't load it right. The lady at the film store revealed this to me by bringing over a whole empty strip of film. Good job, Amber.
Tap's other name is Bodhi. He is Mark's dog and Mark is probably mad that I let him hang out in the front yard for a little bit. He might have gotten stomped on by someone from the enormous crowd at the Potomac Centennial Hat Parade, which was both awful and awesome in its own way.

Friday, May 2, 2008



123/366 Dos de Mayo, originally uploaded by AquaAmber.

Ugh. Last night we drank lots and lots of incredibly bad margaritas at a bar-hopping shindig called "Dos de Mayo." Even though we were just dicking around with the camera (I do this even when inebriated, maybe especially when inebriated), I like the way the light is falling on his face.

May Day, Thursday, May 1, 2008



122/366 Sunset Alley, originally uploaded by AquaAmber.

George is glad this isn't a picture of him.

Instead, it's an alley right by the river in Old Town, Alexandria, the quaintest of quaint little areas quite near where I live. I was irritating him by stopping every few minutes to shoot something but nearly got run over by traffic trying to get this guy. While my camera was loading the damn RAW file, the sun went behind the building and the picture was gone.