Last year, the Apollo 50 Festival was held on the National Mall in Washington, DC. At this time, the National Air and Space Museum produced this event. It was to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing. Since I can remember, my dad fostered an interest in the space program. With this in mind, I thoroughly studied the vehicles used to send people into space. However, I have never seen a rocket launch live.
Last summer, we made it out to the Mall to see the ‘Go For the Moon’ show. A projection was sent onto a side of the Washington Monument. Being that I was a STEM student throughout my academic career, I was inspired by the crowd that gathered out there that summer night. NASA and the space program was the impetus for so many to get into the sciences. For those that have not seen an American rocket launch, this was a great demonstration. Pairing it with inspiring words from JFK, a soaring musical soundtrack, and the projection of the Saturn V rocket would probably inspire another generation to continue space exploration now!
Julie and Ashwood gathered on July 4 weekend for a beautiful summer wedding in mountains of Virginia. Situated on a hill above the town of Paris, these two found this rustic home to be their venue. Since they had never seen the place in person, we met the day before to scout out the best places for the ceremony. The house had beautiful grounds, and was easy to navigate, so we had some extra time together. Being that this was the first time I met the bride; it was a perfect chance to get acquainted.
As we made some photos together, I enjoyed getting some insight into their relationship. Although they do not have a ‘typical’ route to marriage, Ashwood and Julie have an amazing connection. Undoubtedly this lock down time has clarified their bond and brought them to the realization that they should take this step together.
Anytime a couple requests that you photograph their wedding, I am extremely honored. It is a privilege to be in the middle of this important event especially one that is happening in the 2020 pandemic. On this occasion, a limited number of people could attend. In fact, none of the bride’s family could attend in person! As a result, multiple virtual conference rooms were setup so they could view the ceremony from Europe.
Photography Friendship
As I said previously, it is always a privilege to photograph a wedding. However, Ashwood is such a good friend. Years ago, he took a chance on my photography to cover the first TEDxTysons events. Everything was new for us as he and his partners were just starting this endeavor. Whereas he could have the choice of using other photographers, he continues to support what I do by having me back. As I have come to realize, I should always take his call. He has given me access to panoramic views, mind-changing talks, influential thinkers. These two days top them all.
Last fall, I photographed the corporate clean up event in College Park, Maryland for Colonial Pipeline. On this occasion, a group from the company met with Trey from Anacostia Riverkeeper, a non-profit organization. Their aim is to preserve and restore the Anacostia River, an important waterway throughout Washington, DC, and Maryland.
River Cleanup
This afternoon, the group received an education on the efforts of Anacostia Riverkeeper to improve the river. Outreach efforts with the goal of cleaner waters include lectures, and hands on workshops. Overall the goal is to have a clean river that the community can enjoy.
I was surprised at the amount of trash that was pulled from the river while they walked the river banks. Surrounded by fallen leaves, most of this trash was hidden from view. So, at first look, I did not think there was much to do. After finding some trash, volunteers separated the items by type. It became apparent how big this job would be. However, starting with this many volunteer on this small section is a start.
Trash Collection
From old food wrappers, bottles, and balls that had strayed from the nearby recreation area, they were removed and sorted. Additionally, there were some larger items that they removed. These included an old car seat, entire bags full of other garage, and a hose from a fire truck! As you can see from the photos, this required many people to bring out from riverbed! When a bag was full, it was weighed.
Overall, I was impressed with the volunteers from Colonial Pipeline. They donned the water-safe gear, gloves, and grabbing implements. Then they put in a lot of work to find trash. Although it was cold outside, they moved quickly. Afterwards they brought all the trash together! After weighing the debris, they pulled out 500 pounds! Being a beautiful park, you would not have expected that much. Afterwards, they were properly disposed at nearby bins.
