Tag: Flickr a Week

Photo by Joe WilcoxNov 26, 202012:20 am

Flickr a Week 48a: ‘President Trump Pardons the National Thanksgiving Turkey’

We celebrate America’s day of family, friends, and gratitude with self-titled “President Trump Pardons the National Thanksgiving Turkey“, which Shealah Craighead captured on Nov. 24, 2020. Camera and photo vitals are not available. Shooting location, for the fowl named Corn, is the White House Rose Garden.

I had wanted to feature something about the Pilgrims, whose pilgrimage to this continent would be a 400-year-anniversary celebration in Plymouth, Mass., if not for the SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2)—also known as COVID-19—pandemic. Failing to find an appropriate Creative Commons-licensed image and seeing that the President likely gives amnesty to his last bird—following the General Services Administration declaring Joe Biden “apparent President-elect“—plans changed.

Photo by Joe WilcoxNov 25, 20207:36 am

Flickr a Week 48: ‘I Gabbiani di Sirmione’

For our last Wednesday of the month, we turn to Massimo Della Valle, who on Nov. 26, 2017 used Ricoh GR II to shoot self-titled “I Gabbiani di Sirmione“, which translates from the Italian as […]

Photo by Joe WilcoxNov 22, 202012:01 am

Flickr a Week 47a: ‘Verbose, Sentimental Foolery’

Ten years ago, following in Amazon’s Kindle footsteps, Apple released the original iPad. Between dedicated e-readers and tablets—aghast, also smartphones—how people read has dramatically changed since Sarah Ross shot self-titled “Verbose, Sentimental Foolery” on Oct. […]

Photo by Joe WilcoxNov 18, 202012:09 am

Flickr a Week 47: ‘Golden Autumn Hour of Washington DC’

Serene shots like self-titled “Golden Autumn Hour of Washington DC“, by Nicolas Raymond, may be memories until Election 2020 turmoil eases into historical oblivion. “Early morning autumn scene featuring the Washington Monument as seen from […]

Photo by Joe WilcoxNov 15, 202012:25 am

Flickr a Week 46b: ‘Break’

The Sunday spot goes to self-titled “Break“—for classic, compelling composition that makes open space an enthralling visual canvas. Hernán Piñera captured the moment on Feb. 20, 2015. Camera and vitals are missing from the metadata, suggesting […]

Photo by Joe WilcoxNov 13, 202012:30 am

Flickr a Week 46a: ‘Rainbow’

Here’s some Leprechaun lore to celebrate the second Friday the 13th of the year: Should you ever get to the end of the rainbow, the pot of gold will be at the other end. So much for the luck of the Irish—or anyone else. We commemorate the day with self-titled “Rainbow“, which Alexander Kozik captured on Feb. 21, 2017, using handy compact Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7. Vitals: f/2.8, ISO 80, 1/640 sec, 4.7mm. Composition and perspective make the moment a keeper.

He says about the shot: “Rainbow break at the lab meeting. We were lucky to be at the 5th floor, probably, with the best available viewing point. My excitement was doubled when I discovered that the rainbow ends fitted into the camera frame. Windows were washed and cleaned by recent rains and showers. Right place and the right time. It would be different from the ground level”.

Photo by Joe WilcoxNov 11, 202012:04 am

Flickr a Week 46: ‘Coming to America: Pursuing the American Dream’

I looked through several thousand Creative Commons-licensed photos to find one to use for Veteran’s Day. Nothing moved me more than self-titled “Coming to America: Pursuing the American Dream“—active serviceman Personnel Specialist 1st Class Patrick Mbayoh. Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Greg Hall made the moment aboard aircraft carrier USS Nimitz on July 3, 2020, using Nikon D800 and 50mm f/1.4 lens. Vitals: f/8, ISO 100, 1/200 sec, 50mm.

According to U.S. Pacific Fleet, which joined Flickr in October 2009 and whose Photostream is source of the image, Mbayoh is “assigned to the ‘Kestrels’ of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 137”. A refugee from the Sierra Leone Civil War, Mbayoh arrived in “Brooklyn, New York, in 1998”, Hall explains. “Moving to the U.S. gave Mbayoh the opportunity to pursue a life-long dream”. Joining the Navy in September 2000 opened a path to earning a college education and to repaying the nation that harbored him. The sailor gained “his American citizenship in 2003”, Hall adds. “He and his wife have a child and live in Lemoore, California. Mbayoh hopes to one day retire from the Navy and go back to school to gain his PhD”.

Photo by Joe WilcoxNov 8, 202012:00 am

Flickr a Week 45a: ‘Welcome to Paradise’

Two years ago today, the Northern California town of Paradise largely burned to the ground during the raging Camp Fire, which destroyed in excess of 18,000 structures and displaced more than 26,000 people. Ninety-percent of the community’s residents have fled, and the majority won’t return anytime soon; if ever.

There are several documentaries about the disaster. Tonight, National Geographic will air my pick for best: Ron Howard film “Rebuilding Paradise“, which my wife and I rented and watched about four months ago. The doc tells the story of those who stayed.

Photo by Joe WilcoxNov 4, 202012:00 am

Flickr a Week 45: ‘Foggy Morning’

Our Wednesday selection, self-titled “Foggy Morning“, is a metaphor for the United States, following yesterday’s Presidential election. Many things are unclear, which makes the title appropriate. More importantly: The photo, which Sarah Horrigan captured on July […]

Photo by Joe WilcoxNov 1, 202012:02 am

Flickr a Week 44b: ‘Storm Coming’

I agonized choosing today’s entry like no other in the series. The United States is two days away from a potentially transformative Presidential election. I reviewed hundreds of photos, finding none available with Creative Commons license that truly captured the right sentiment. At one point, to commemorate Day of the Dead and to punctuate how we all might be living the Zombie Apocalypse as the votes are tallied, and thereafter, I considered choosing something like “It’s Almost Time for Day of the Dead” by Richard Cawood.

Instead, the Sunday spot goes to the more foreboding, and location appropriate, self-titled “Storm Coming“, which Mike Maguire captured on July 1, 2017, using Sony α7S II. Vitals: aperture unknown, ISO 100, 1/2000 sec. Mike says about the moment: “About 30 minutes before heavy rain hit Washington, DC.” I picked the photo for metaphorical topicality, film-like graininess that adds character, and punchy black-and-white contrast that amplifies the atmosphere.

Photo by Joe WilcoxOct 31, 202012:06 am

Flickr a Week 44a: ‘Devil’s Eye’

What could be more appropriate for Halloween than a black cat—and a frightening closeup? Dino Quinzani used Canon EOS 400D and Sigma 150mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM APO Macro lens to capture self-titled “Devil’s Eye” […]

Photo by Joe WilcoxOct 28, 202012:05 am

Flickr a Week 44: ‘Looking Out’

When choosing from the Photostream of Spiros Vathis, I considered four contenders—all captured using the (now) iconic Nikon Df: Self-titled “Dome” and “Obeliscus Aegyptiacus” for composition; “Piazza della Rotonda” for shooting style (getting down low); and the winner, “Looking Out“. Bokeh and composition are intriguing. My eye immediately goes to the larger blurred building, before refocusing on the other and then finding the gent gazing from a window. I like the visual foolery.

Spiros captured the moment on June 17, 2016, using an 85mm f/1.8 lens. Vitals: f/2.8, ISO 100, 1/320 sec, 85mm. Nikon Df has only appeared one other time in the series (so far)—”Superwoman Lost in London” for Week 4. Released in 2013, the full-frame dSLR features fully manual controls. Heck, I want one. The camera is a classic.