A Quiet Show

Bryce Amphitheater, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, USA

This amphitheater has no seats and the performances are unscripted and ever changing.  The stars are the hoodoos spotlit by the sun (or moon).  We could spend hours sitting and watching this show.

What's that on your head?

Wigs, Asheville, North Carolina, USA

This display of wigs in an Asheville storefront made us think of the B-52's and smile!

Appalachian Glow

Sunset, Highlands, North Carolina, USA

This time of year always draws us to the mountains.  For some reason, cold weather invites us to the quiet mountain wildernesses.  Mountains are beautiful all year, but fall brings the sound of crunchy leaves under our feet, the sight of cold mist in the air, and the smell of fireplaces to the leafless mountains.

Yes, We Had Roads Then

Daytona Beach, Florida, USA

Daytona Beach is famous for its tightly packed beach sand.  As a kid, Marc used to take school trips to Volusia County and they'd park the school bus on the beach.  Here Ned tries out the Daytona Beach sands with a much lighter vehicle.

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Turkey, Melbourne Beach, Florida, USA

This is what many US kitchens looked like in the late 1980's and early 1990's.  This may not be the best photo, but it captures the utilitarian look of the kitchens and tableware that was in vogue then.

Gnarly, Dude

Twisted Tree, Stone Mountain, Georgia, USA

This twisted tree was found at the top of Stone Mountain.  We don't think it was living anymore, but it was certainly interesting.

Tribune Tribute

Tribune Tower, Chicago, Illinois, USA

At one time, newspapers ruled supreme in American life.  The glorious Tribune Tower showcases the power and money the Chicago Tribune had in the 1920's.

West Into the Sunset

America West Jetliner, San Francisco, California, USA

America West Airlines was a US airline which has since merged with US Airways.  During its later years, it was derisively known by many as "America's Worst".  We flew America West once, on a short flight from Phoenix to Orange County.  It wasn't bad at all.

Stormy Weather

Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Mother nature can be ferocious and beautiful.  This stormy afternoon shows both aspects perfectly.

Step into the Light

Tiësto Concert, Norcross, Georgia, USA

Sometimes a picture tells a story which doesn't match reality. This concert looks like a lot of fun, but in truth it wasn't.  The promoters messed up everything and the venue was a sham. Tiësto didn't even appear until 1 am, many hours after the stated concert time.  This was not supposed to be a rave, but a legitimate concert.  Needless to say, many received ticket refunds, including us.  We left soon after this picture was taken.  The evening was a total fiasco and we doubt the famous DJ worked with these folks again.

Spiced Grill

Kabobs, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

We took this picture at a Taiwanese street festival the instant the chef was applying more spices to the kabobs.  The smell was terrific and we bet the taste was too.  This photo highlights the strength of a good zoom lens.  We shot this from about 20 feet away!

See Plane

Air Traffic Control Tower, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Sitting atop a skyscraper, the Vancouver Harbour Control Tower is the highest air traffic tower in the world.  Designed to handle seaplane traffic, the control tower's height makes it easier to see all of the aircraft and boats in and around the harbour.  From the lofty Vancouver Lookout, we were able to look over to the tower.

Afterglow

Barber Shop, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

While stopping at a strip mall ATM, we spotted this barber shop which had closed for the evening.  The neon sign gave the shop a red glow and made the mundane seem special.

In a Pretzel

Pretzel Stand, New York, New York, USA

The city of New York has had a hard time of it this week from Hurricane Sandy.  Here's to better days with dry streets lined with pretzels, pizza, shwarma, hot dogs, etc.

A Colorful Convention

Palais des congrès, Montréal, Quebec, Canada

The Palais des congrès de Montréal was our first entrance to the vast underground city beneath the streets of Montréal.  The building captivated us with its rainbow of colored windows.  It must be very festive to see a show or event in this space.

Up With the Stars

Elevator Doors, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Every day, millions of people ride elevators (lifts) to go up and down multistory buildings.  These beautiful elevator doors were found in Vancouver's Marine Building.  Designed in the 1920s and completed in 1930, the building is an Art Deco landmark.

We're Flying

Somewhere over Tennessee, USA

Sometimes you look out of an airplane window and experience that magical feeling of "I'm flying".  This was one of those moments.

Red on Red

Sunset, Red Sea, Eilat, Israel

Whenever we travel to a place on or near the water, we try to do two things.  First, we want to dip our toes in the water.  Second, we want to see the sun rise or (more often) set on the water.  This was the sunset on the Red Sea from Eilat one fine November day many years back.  We not only went for a swim in the sea that day, but also saw this amazing sunset.

Not So Soft

Cactus, East Hampton, New York, USA

Up close, this little succulent looks like it has a soft pillow of ticklish grass to rest upon.  In fact, these soft little blades will stick in your fingers and be hard to take out!

Circle, Square, Triangle

Azrieli Center, Tel Aviv, Israel

These architectural gems revel in the simplicity of a circle, a square and an equilateral triangle and are reminiscent of those childhood learning toys which required us to match the shape with a corresponding hole.

Ungrounded Goodness

Salmon Burger, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

While Canada is just north of the USA and most of its cities are within a hundred miles of the US border, it never ceases to amaze us how different Canadian customs and phrases are from ours.  Sometimes the differences are minor (e.g. washroom vs. bathroom) and sometimes the variation is more substantial.

Take the salmon burger as an example.  In the USA, a salmon burger is generally a patty of ground up salmon with some seasonings.  In Canada, it is a fresh filet of salmon grilled to perfection and served up on a hamburger bun.  You cannot imagine our delight upon receiving this lovely meal in the middle of our trip.  We thought maybe this was a peculiarity of the restaurant, but even, at the end of our trip, a cafe in the Vancouver airport served up a salmon burger that was a delicious, made-to-order filet on a bun.

Desert Island?

Beach, Jekyll Island, Georgia, USA

Over a decade ago we took a trip to Jekyll Island to relax and enjoy nature.  Our motel was right on the oak tree lined beach.  It was the middle of winter, so only the jellyfish were swimming, but the beach was still a wonderful place to lose track of time, fly a kite, and stroll.  We look forward to returning to Jekyll again one day and hope it is no different than before.

Working for Peanuts

Squirrel, Zion National Park, Utah, USA

This squirrel was neither shy nor afraid as he stood posing for our photos on the banks of the Virgin River in Zion National Park.  We know he wanted to be paid in peanuts for his modeling work, but for his own good (and ours) he worked for free.

The Sun Is Shining When The Moon Is Out

Metal Sun Yard Sculpture, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

As children, we learned that if our parents said the sun was shining when it was dark and the moon was out, we were to go along with it and trust their judgement.  This sun is always shining and beaming, even when it is dark and the moon is out.  Guess our parents were right some of the time.

Late Night Snack

Pizzeria, Miami, Florida, USA

When we were kids, we didn't order big-chain pizza on the telephone and wait for it to come to the house.  Instead, we went with our parents to a family owned pizzeria, placed an order for takeout, hung out while our pizzas were prepared, and then sat with hot boxes on our laps during the car ride home.

Marc's grandmother was very fond of pizza and was known to spontaneously suggest getting a pie late on many evenings.  Frankie's, still open after 55 years, was one of her regular suppliers.

I Can See For Miles

Above Ransom, Kanaas, USA

Sometimes when we fly, we marvel at how we can look out the window and see only farmlands or wilderness.  In this case, looking northeast from high above Ransom, Kansas, we see plenty of farmlands, but no sign of big cities.  Even with cities like New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, and Atlanta, much of the USA is rural and wild.

A Flower Which Lasts All Year Long

Lily Sculpture, Washington, DC, USA

This aluminum lily sculpture sits in the Woodrow Wilson Plaza.  Together with a rose sculpture, it makes up the Federal Triangle Flowers.

Natural Piers

Fishermen, Rosh Hanikra, Israel

Everyday millions of folks fish for their meals and recreation.  This beautiful fishing spot is near the famous grottoes of Rosh Hanikra.  We don't know if these folks are fishing for fun or food, but there is no doubt that this is a very scenic and unusual place to fish.

All Black and Blue

Fresh Berries, East Hampton, New York, USA

This bowl of fresh blueberries and blackberries was a delicious breakfast treat during a cool summer morning on Long Island.

Towering into the Clouds

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California, USA

In clear weather, the Golden Gate Bridge is instantly recognizable from afar.  Here is an up close, side view of one of the towers.  The famous San Francisco fog makes it impossible for us to see the top of the tower and we think this effect makes this photo more interesting.

Something Eerie on Erie

Nuclear Power Plant, Frenchtown Charter Township, Michigan, USA

Located on Lake Erie, the Enrico Fermi Nuclear Power Plant experienced a partial meltdown in 1966.  Reportedly, only one reactor is now operating, although both stacks appear to be sending up steam.

Get off the Interstate

Downtown Shops, Cartersville, Georgia, USA

Sometimes traveling is about going to big, famous places with lots of glitz.  Sometimes it's about getting off the highway and visiting a small town.  Cartersville is located a few miles off I-75 in northwest Georgia.

It turns out that this little town not only boasts a quaint downtown, but some very good museums, including two Smithsonian affiliates.

Times Have Changed

Pickled Cucumbers and Tomatoes, New York, New York, USA

We used to go to Wolfie's and the Rascal House on Miami Beach and always find their famous cucumber pickles and pickled tomatoes (as well as sweet cole slaw) in big metal bowls on our tables.  We simply grabbed what we wanted with fingers, forks, or tongs.  The picture above was from a recent trip to Katz's in New York City.

This shows how different things are now versus even 25 years ago.  We're not complaining about the portions above, as we think our plate was refilled.  What we do realize now is that bringing out troughs of food to a table was both wasteful and definitely not hygienic.

Quick, It's the Trouble Alert

Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

For those of us from a certain generation, Saturday mornings were spent watching the Super Friends (Superman, Batman and Robin, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and their sidekicks) save the world.  Based at the Hall of Justice, the Super Friends used their superhero powers for the good of all.  In the Hall of Justice, the Trouble Alert notified the Super Friends of the latest threats to mankind.

The fictional Hall of Justice was based on Cincinnati's Union Terminal (now the Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal) and it was thrill to see a fond memory of childhood fiction come to life.

Lake Placid

Floating Leaf, Moccasin Creek State Park, Clarkesville, Georgia, USA

This autumn leaf was gently floating atop Lake Burton.  Everything was quite still and we enjoyed the serenity of it all.

Shaken, Not Stirred

Fruity Martini, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

This refreshing libation chilled and relaxed us on several hot and humid summer nights.

A Still Life in Motion

San Francisco, California, USA

We snapped this photo several years ago while climbing out of San Francisco.  With a quick click, we captured the city, its famous bridges, the nearby mountains, fog, and bay traffic.  At this moment, the busy city and bay look still.

Pretty In Pink

Flower Bud, East Hampton, New York, USA

This mysterious pink bud is about to bloom.  We have no idea what kind of flower this is, but we know it will open into a big and beautiful pink flower.

It's all a Blur

Spence Bridge Over Ohio River, Kentucky and Ohio,USA

We snapped this shot while crossing the Spence Bridge into Cincinnati.  Everything but the US 50 badge is blurry in this picture.  We have no idea how or why the 50 is clear, but it makes for a fascinating picture.

Hot Stuff

Traditional Brick Pizza Oven, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

We ate delicious pizzas cooked in this 1,000°F wood-fired brick oven.  Our pizzas were even more unusual because of the non-traditional flavors we choose (e.g. brussel sprouts) for toppings.  Our pizzas were tasty, light, crisp, and cooked through-and-through.  We definitely appreciated the craftsmanship of the oven and pizzas!

Last Minute Loops

Good Neighbor Day Airshow, Dekalb-Peachtree Airport (PDK), Chamblee, Georgia, USA

Occasionally we spend all day taking pictures, can't get what we're looking for, and then score at the last minute.  In this case, we had spent 5 hours at PDK's Good Neighbor Day and had not been able to capture one good loop-the-loop photo.  We had taken plenty of other pictures to enjoy, but a loop-the-loop would have been fun to capture.  As we were walking to our car in the parking lot, we looked up, grabbed our camera, and captured the shot above!  Sometimes, the photo you want appears after you've stopped trying to capture it.

Summer Leaves

Leaves, Atlanta,. Georgia, USA

There's no jasmine in our minds, but these summer leaves make us feel fine.

Another Ivory Soap

Soap, East Hampton, New York, USA

Selling involves not only the quality of the product but the presentation and marketing as well.  In this case, an everyday item is elevated to luxury.  We didn't find out if washing with this soap was luxurious (it seemed to be), but it sure looked and smelled very good!

Running in Circles

Enterprise Ride, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

We really wanted to ride the Enterprise, but after a dizzying ride on the swing ride, we realized we're not so young anymore.  We left it to the younger set to go spinning and pivoting through space as if in a wayward shuttlecraft.

A Lamp in the Dark

Wingtip Light, Somewhere Over the United States

It was a rainy and stormy all the way from Chicago to Atlanta.  Sometime during the flight we captured this image of the wingtip light attempting to bring a little clarity to the soup.  The picture is as clear as the weather was, but it perfectly captured the moment.

Reach for the Sky

Tree, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

The sun is fading as this tree reaches for the last bits of sunlight until morning.  Twilight is a wonderful time to take silhouette shots like this.  By facing into brighter light and aiming towards the desired object, you can make your own photos like this.

A High Country High

Beer Truck, Morrison, Colorado, USA

Every day, trucks of all shapes and sizes deliver products to ensure that modern life continues.  While some would say that this Coors tractor trailer is not carrying essential goods, we bet the customers of this liquor store and the citizens of Colorado feel this truck is very important!

Rainbow Road

Pride Parade, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

The last full weekend in June is traditionally the time when many communities hold their gay pride festivals and parades.  This was the scene in Atlanta a decade ago as the giant pride flag made it's way up Piedmont Avenue just past 10th Street.

Fallen but not Forgotten

Fallen Tree, Zion National Park, Utah, USA

We were immediately mesmerized by this fallen tree's color, size, and texture.  Although this enormous tree's life is over, it will provide a home and nutrients to creatures large and small for many years to come.

A New Focus

Periodicals, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

This is a close up of an assorted collection of American Heritage magazines from the late 1960's and early 1970's.  In the old days, books, magazines, and newspapers were the main sources of reading material.  Now these compete with the Internet.  While we love the Internet, we also still love the feel of books and magazines and spend much time holding and reading these.

This picture marks a change in the Topograpix focus.  Heretofore, we've only used simple point and shoot cameras.  This photo was taken with a "bridge" camera, an intermediate camera positioned between simple point and shoot cameras and SLR cameras.  Our new camera is still very affordable, but it can do so much more than a point and shoot camera can.  In fact, the above photo was taken in a dim room from about 10 feet away.

Nothing can beat a small point and shoot camera for portability and spontaneity, so we want to share why we've upgraded.  Basically, it's the lack of a viewfinder.  Most of today's small cameras lack a viewfinder.  During our hunt for a new viewfinder-equipped camera, we fell in love with the Canon SX40 HS.  It's not small nor is it as rugged as our little pocket friends, but it sure takes some awesome photos for an affordable price.