Charging into the New Year

It's been a while since I've posted on the blog. But, I couldn't allow the year to end without another post.

When I started this photo-a-day blog, I believed it was a commitment I could meet. I thought I could easily take at least 20 minutes every day to post a photograph and share a few thoughts with all of you. In the beginning, finding those blogging minutes was simple. Lately, finding this time has been challenging. As a result, I haven't updated the blog since the end of November. Yikes.

Time is such a precious commodity. This year, I've become even more aware of that fact. Tomorrow is the first day of a new year and while we may make new year resolutions that we fail to keep after a few weeks, here's my 2012 commitment to you (and to me) -- a new post every day next year. No exceptions. No excuses. And not one day missed, because I will be making the time to creatively express my thoughts and perspectives with all of you. If it is the only resolution that I keep next year, it will be worth it.

For my last image of the year, I've selected this close-up of one of the Civil War memorials at Gettysburg National Park. The figure is pointing in the direction of Pickett's famous charge during the battle of Gettysburg, but I like to think that he is pointing at me. He's a friendly reminder to keep my renewed commitment to pursuing photography and updating Via My Viewfinder and charge into 2012.

So, Happy New Year to you and yours, and I look forward to seeing you every day in the new year. Charge!!

Modern Glass Castle

In the midst of Pittsburgh's skyscrapers stands this interesting building. Made of locally produced mirror glass panels, the PPG Place buildings resemble a modern glass castle with spires (more than 230) and towers. Its unusual presence in the Pittsburgh skyline draws the eye and reflects on its surface the neighboring structures, sky, hills and river that surrounds it.

Pittsburgh Skyline

After days and days of flower photos, I decided to give you a break and share some photos taken during my recent visit to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A wedding of a dear couple finally got me to Pittsburgh for the first time. We stayed in the Station Square area alongside the Monongahela River and got this glorious view of the downtown Pittsburgh skyline from our hotel after several hours of thunderstorms. While it was a quick weekend trip where travel and wedding festivities kept me from doing much exploring, it was the perfect introduction to a city I look forward to visiting again soon. After being surrounded by so many Pittsburgh people who now live in the DC Metro area, I'm shocked that it took me more than five years to get to Pittsburgh.

Also, this photo is also evidence that windows aren't obstacles to photographing the outdoors from indoors. Depending on how you focus your camera on the outdoor subject, there are always ways to take pictures through glass windows without capturing reflections in your image. If I hadn't mentioned that I took this photograph from inside the hotel, you probably might have guessed that I was standing on the river walk outside when this photograph was taken.

A Silent Monument

Here's another look at the North Carolina Monument at Gettysburg National Military Park. What spectacular faces! These North Carolina regiment soldiers' faces express so much real emotion and  action. As a photographer, I much prefer sculpture of the human figure to be realistic instead of abstract. Realistic depictions of the human form express so much more when photographed than more modern art approaches to sculpture of human figures. What's your preference -- realistic or abstract?

North Carolina Monument at Gettysburg

Gettysburg National Military Park features hundreds of monuments and tributes to those who fought and perished during this critical Civil War battle. North Carolina's sacrifice at the Battle of Gettysburg was humbling. It is estimated that one in every four Confederate soldiers who fell at Gettysburg was from North Carolina. This monument is dedicated to the forty-two regiments and batteries from North Carolina which served at Gettysburg.

Sculpted by Gutzon Borglum, who also designed the four presidents' faces on Mount Rushmore, the monument represents a group of North Carolina soldiers in "Pickett's Charge." Of all of the sites visited during our tour of the park, the faces of the North Carolina Monument have stayed with me, illustrating Borglum's moving artistry with faces.

Pennsylvania Sunset

Driving home from a Gettysburg National Park visit, I had to pull out my camera one more time to take some  photographs of this Pennsylvanian sunset. Once you spend several hours taking photographs, it's hard to stop. Every where you look, you find another photo opportunity. And don't be concerned; I stopped on the side of the highway to take this photo. Photography while driving definitely doesn't mix.

Looking Over the Battlefield

Last year, I traveled to Gettysburg for the first time. As I drove through the national park, I was moved and struck by the hundreds of monuments placed throughout the storied Civil War battlefield. This photo is one of the many beautiful reminders of all that was lost and won on this Pennsylvania fields. Who knows how many lost soldiers covered the field as this general considered his battalion's next move.