Pig X

Photo #121

This is one time when an image really fails to capture the deliciousness of a most a pig roasting all day on a smokey fire. This is the tenth such pig we've enjoyed at my brother's annual Pig Pickin'. If you are not from the South, you might need to look that up, but two important things you should know:

1. Barbecue is meat. It is not a grill on an event
2. It is sooooo good

Take You Down

Photo #120

Lets face it, as Chinatowns go, DC's Chinatown is pretty weak. It is a pale shadow of real Chinatown like San Francisco, New York or presumably any town in China. One cool thing DC's does have is this gate thing. I was lucky enough to have a good vantage point on this as the sun was setting, and thus this picture. As cool as this gate is, I would gladly trade it for even 1 restaurant that sold soup dumplings.

Bon Bini

Photo #119

This is on the wall of a taco stand near Dupont Circle in DC. I want to say it is called Surfside Taco, which would explain why they have license plates from surfy tropical places. Not appearing in this shot is a plate from Costa Rica. Had I been a bit more clever, I would have included that as a slight teaser for some pictures from that country that will be showing up here very soon.

I Am the Danger

Photo #118

Have I mentioned that I have succumbed to a new addiction that is taking my time and money away from photography? This is part of that. My supplier is not a former high school chemistry teacher (as far as I know) but a store called MoreBeer These blue rocks are part of their delicious Walter Wheat kit, which is so far the best beer I've ever made.

Orangina

Photo #117

The first time I encountered Orangina was in France at the exact same moment I discovered that the French aren't perfect when it comes to creating delicious beverages. My daughter has recently discovered this "orange" beverage, and she actually likes it. She also likes Sponge Bob, so there is that. Before I let her somehow enjoy drinking it, I enjoyed taking a picture of it.

Up in the Sky

Photo #116

The 60th anniversary of VE day was commemorated by flying dozens of WWII aircraft down the National Mall in Washington DC. That is all happening right behind me as I take this picture. That is what everyone in the picture is looking at. Yes, I also took pictures of the airplanes, but those pictures are rubbish because:

• I wasn't close enough
• I only had my iPhone
• It was midday so the light was terrible

But even so, take that, Hitler

Eat Them Up Yum

Photo #115

This happened to be taken at the Whole Foods near my house in suburban DC. What I think is cool that it really could have been taken at countless places around the world. It also could have been taken 10, 100 or even 1000 years ago (other than cameras not existing back then). People have been selling and buying fish all around the world for as long as there have people. It is something that unites races, cultures and centuries.

Can You Dig It

Photo #114

I need to figure out the trick for taking pictures through glass without picking up any reflections. These historic beer cans were in a display case at the local Growlers brewpub, I guess to keep people from touching and/or stealing them. When they decided to do this, I'm sure they gave no thought to how the glass might befuddle a winsome photographer on a 365 quest. I can forgive them though, because they make good beer.

Coneheads

Photo #113

Not much to say about this picture, other than I feel like I've taken some variation of it 100 times over the past 10 years. Even so, Fred City remains a great place for a photowalk. I'm sure I'll go back. When I do, I'll probably take yet another variation of this picture.

Is That All You Get For Your Money

Photo #112

This is one of those photos that lacks the context to tell you what it really is. Sure, you can tell it is a black Cadillac, but it is more than that. It is also a hearse. But it is more than that. It is a black Cadillac hearse that is used for delivering cakes. The bakery has the all too clever name of Cakes To Die For. Get it?

The lesson here is context is important

#TheMoreYouKnow

Fill My Night

Photo #111

What this blog needs, obviously, in MORE FIRE TRUCK. Well not really, but that is what you are getting. This particular firetruck is from the days when all vehicles didn't have LED lights. Even without them, the firetruck designers still managed to make this one of the most noticeable vehicles rolling down the highway.

Circle Takes the Square

Photo #110

The parade through town on Kentland's Day is exactly like the best parades at Mardi Gras, except not at all. One thing they have in common is me trying to take pictures of them. This is a firetruck wheel. Like those on a bus, it goes round and round. Not at this point - it was just sitting there waiting for the parade to start, with several firefighters hanging out wondering about the strange man taking pictures of the wheel.

Pick It

Photo #109

Now you can see what color the background of that flower from yesterday actually looks like. It is white. As in white picket fence. Lets consider the fact that two pictures in a row are of the exact same thing as an exercise in comparison. Lets don't consider it going back to the same well.

Tippy Toe

Tippy Toe by Andy Roth on 500px

Photo #108

I cheated several ways on this picture. First, the flower was dry, well, at least until I sprayed it with a water bottle. Next, the background was not really purpley like that - it was white (as you'll see in Photo #109). It got purple thanks to some goofing around in Lightroom. I'm generally of the "match reality" school of photo processing, but sometimes the final product makes more processing worth it.

Downside Down

Downside Down by Andy Roth on 500px

Photo #107

Geese. I still don't like them. Damn dirty birds. Even so, sometimes, when there is nothing better at which to point the camera, I will take a picture of them. Once that is done, I let Kenzie chase them away.

Cage of Souls

Cage of Souls by Andy Roth on 500px

Photo #106

I wasn't going to include this one in Roth365 because I didn't think it was all that special. But then it got more love on 500px than most of my pictures, so maybe I just have no taste in what makes a good picture, even when it is my own. I will say it got lots better after I cropped out the bottom third. In a digital world, what is the reason to always stick to the aspect ratio of film?

Dalek Street Pizza

Dalek Street Pizza by Andy Roth on 500px

Photo #105

The coolest thing about this picture is the title. I was having a hard time coming up with a name for it, maybe because I don't know what these things are. It was then that I recalled the delicious &pizza I had recently enjoyed which is about this same shape. The Dalek part is obvious, I hope. As for "street", well they are on the street, or close enough to it. So there you go.

Graphic Photo

Graphic by Andy Roth on 500px

Photo #104

I meant to post this before the previous one (the one with all the National Geographic magazine covers) because it was taken first. Since I am ignoring the other time based rules like taking a photo every day or at least 7 every week, I might as well ignore chronological order too. Anyway, this is the National Geographic building. Fun Fact: Their headquarters used to be right next to my neighborhood in Gaithersburg, MD. I'm not sure if that building has also shown up here, but if not, I suspect it will someday.

Graphic Wall

Graphic Wall by Andy Roth on 500px

Photo #103

In case you've not figured it out, I was at the National Geographic building. The reason I was there was for a seminar on Adventure Travel Photography. It wasn't much of an adventure, and I only had to travel to exact same Metro stop I use to get to work. Even so, I brought my camera because that is what photographers do. The last few pictures are a result of this.

The seminar itself was very good at reinforcing things I know or once did, plus I learned some new tips too. More than anything it was inspiring to see the great shots taken by Michael Clark and Nevada Weir, and to hear the stories about how they got them. #jealous

Cherry or More

Cherry or More by Andy Roth on 500px

Photo #102

The Cherry Blossoms are a big deal in DC. They are especially attractive to photographers. Even so, I've not seen them since 1997, at which time I was more interested in my new girlfriend than some bloomy things on trees.

Skip ahead about 18 years. Said girlfriend is now my wife, I am still very interested in her, and I've still not seen The Cherry Blossoms. I did however see some cherry blossoms in DC, just not The Cherry Blossoms. These are those.

Washing Ones

Washing Ones by Andy Roth on 500px

Photo #101

You may or may not recognize this as the building in which I work: 1111 19th Street in Washington DC. Before I worked regularly in the city, I did not realize how often window washers wash windows. It is a regular thing. Whenever I see them out there, I always think it would be a fun and exciting job. I wonder what they think when they look in and see me sitting at my desk.