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Good Day From Iraq

I am Sgt John Beckman, an American Combat Soldier group of 50,000, 00 combatant, left behind in Iraq for advisory and assistance to Iraq Forces after the Handing over to Iraq Peace Keeping Force, During my services, I was би_n able to secure Twenty Million Dollar($20 million U.S Dollars) which already Deposited with a Diplomatic Company for security and Safety Purpose,

I want to hand over this funds to a Trust Worth Person that we help me keep it till I am back from the Camp in Baghdad Iraq in Dec 2011, Since Our Final Troops is leaving Iraq 2011.

You will find the story of this money on the web address below. After we have sum-mated the remaining part http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2967029.stm
Please kindly keep this transaction Confidential because I am still serving in the Military camp in Baghdad Iraq.

Sgt.John Beckman.
Email:johnbkm02@hotmail.com

Please visit my new blog and read the previous post, thank you.

Please visit my new blog.        http://snapsnapzoom.blogspot.com

CHANGE IS GOOD - Hello Friends, Fans, and Family - Snap, Snap, Zoom is Born

They say change is good.  Well, I have found myself having to make a major Blogging change.  I have had this blog for three years and suddenly I find I have reached a quota for picture uploading that I did not know existed.  It likely comes from loading to large pictures. They allow you 1 gig and I had to delete that to upload my last photo post.

I find now I need to create a new blog and start over so that I can continue the challenge and my own personal blog.  I am not very happy about it. 


Here is the new address:  http://snapsnapzoom.blogspot.com/
Please update your links, I will keep an eye on this blog and provide link backs on occasion to it as well. I am still working on the details and plan on  making it closely resemble this one.  I apologize as we go along ahead of time as I may occasionally vent my frustrations with this process.

I am adding a NEW Learn About Photography page to my blog to share with you what I have learned.  I want to help others learn and spread the knowledge about how I do things, why and likely some of my many thoughts and opinions there too.

Don't forget I am also on Facebook too. 


If you also use Blogger you need to be aware of these restrictions on size.  I had in my mind it was unlimited.  I didn't read very well.  What happens is that every image you have on blogger resides in Picasa.  When you reach your Picasa limit, well you arrive in this situation.  Delete or move on. Now I will resize my images much smaller so it doesn't happen so fast.  I realize I could have purchased space, but I choose not to incur costs.  I could go in and delete all the older archived materials, but I don't want to do that.  I do have my own domain names, which I could also use, which will require some amount of work I cannot commit to right now.  So here I am.

 Here is the link on restrictions in blogger so you can be wary if you are getting close.
 Size restrictions in Blogger

Join me here for continued blogging and pictures as well as my artwork.  I will also have to make all my connections to everyone's blog, you will notice the additions.  I have 55 followers that I hope each and everyone will come with me along with lots of new friends too.

Thank you and please follow me into my new home for blogging...... http://snapsnapzoom.blogspot.com/ 

I have disabled comments here so that you can come to Snap Snap Zoom and tell me what you think.

Change is good, I swear........grrrrrrrr.

P is for Pink, Petals, Pretty, Picture, Precious, Pristine.........

Three -Unusual Orchid

Many of the Orchids are a bit unusual.  This one had three petals at the top and the little pocket part at the bottom.  The colors are nice as well.  Sort of Hokie colors, if any one out there is a Hokie fan (Virginia Tech Hokies).

Bloom - Amaryllis

I couldn't wait any more for some blooms, I went to the botannical garden and got some shots of the forced blooms that were on display. This is an amaryllis not quite in full bloom.  Love the colors.

Orange - More of South of the Border

I assume this might have been a grizzly, but someone thought grizzlys would look good in a coat of orange.

Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny - Sign of Spring

My first spring flower, awwww its a sign of spring.  It only measured about 1/2 inch of so, and I didn't immediately see it without my glasses on, LOL.

CIty or Town - Terri Goes South of the Border

I have been traveling up and down I95 for a long time and never once stopped at South of the Border.  Its your ultimate world of tackiness for travelers.  It is the border between North and South Carolina, in disguise as Mexico, LOL.

I love roosters and could not resist these.  And then who could forget your guide for this tacky tour, Pedro.

Architecture - GW Masonic Temple Memorial - Low Light Photography Meetup Group

For the Low Light Photography Meetup this week, we traveled to Alexandria, VA.  We visited the George Washington Masonic Memorial.  Here are some pictures of the streets, the building and the lower columns.

Spiral

Spiral definition:  winding around a center or pole and gradually receding from or approaching it.

Reflections - How many are there?

I love reflections in the glass storefronts.  Of course this one had red in it so its even better. How many reflections are here?  The brick building in the storefront, the tree in the mirror, the sky in the brick building windows and ?

Furniture - Extra Large Size

When I was younger in Washington, DC, there was a furniture store that had a big chair out front.  I used to look for it and got so excited when I saw it.  I used to dream of sitting in it.  The chair is gone, moved to another location now.  But when I was training in Martinsville, yesterday, I saw this. I slammed the brakes and pulled up to it. Almost like the one I remember, Its to commemorate the town's years of furniture manufacturing.  I still didn't get to sit on it but it sure brought back a lot of memories.

Front Doors - Photography Meet-Up Group

I belong to several different Photo Meetup Groups.  Its great fun meeting with other photographers and sharing experience and techniques.  If you don't belong to one of the Meetup Groups in your area, check out and find one that you like.  There are meetups for nearly any topic, not just photography. Meetup Groups in your area.

Today our group met in Fredericksburg, VA at the Hyperion Espresso.  It was cold and misting rain, but more than 10 of us ventured out to find Doors, Door Knobs, and Door Knockers. Here are some of the "front doors" I captured.

On a Farm - Wakefield's Little Herd of Sheep

The Letter T - T is for Toast

At Wakefield, George Washington's childhood home, toast was done a little differently.  Without electricity the kitchen hearth was the original toaster.  Hmmm I think I will keep  my 4-slice extra wide bagel toaster with settings for light to dark to frozen and everything in between.

W - Facing West (not to steal your thunder Steven)

Yesterday we learned the Cormorants had to dry their wings after a swim, before they flew.  Here is some more of what they do.  They all "Face West" with the sun on their backs, even the sea gulls join in this session.  Its so funny looking at all of them facing in the same direction.

Primary Colors and the Rest of the Story

I conducted a training for teachers in Colonial Beach, VA/MD.  The / is due to the state line is drawn just over the water from the shoreline.  Its located at the Potomac River, not far from Pope's Creek where I was a week or so ago.

The bird is the Double-crested Cormorant is found near rivers, lakes and along the coastline. It mainly eats fish and hunts by swimming and diving. Its feathers, like those of all cormorants, are not waterproof and it must spend time drying them out after spending time in the water.

The red and white boat is a Range Control boat.  Well, up to 2 seconds ago I had no idea what this boat was or did, but I just made the connection.  That day there were large booms in the background and I figured them to be a local fort carrying on war games of some sort.  Then when I found the info on the boat, I put the two together.  Take a read and see what I mean. http://www.navsea.navy.mil/nswc/dahlgren/RANGE/boating.aspx Now I feel paranoid about taking pictures of the boat.  Hope they aren't watching me even now.

Wow and this was about a theme of primary colors, the red boat, the yellow on the pilon, and the blue of the land in the background and sky. They seem so belittled by the rest of the story.........

Goniochromism aka Iridescense.......Who new?

Iridescence (also known as goniochromism) is generally known as the property of certain surfaces which appear to change colour as the angle of view or the angle of illuminaton changes.  From Wikipedia.

The Case of Losing Focus .......No Theme, No Focus

This is what happens when you see something, it changes, you attempt to refocus, it changes again, refocus, repeat.  There were so many good things about this picture when I picked up the camera.  The white gull against the black birds, birds flying, bird on the top of the post, others flying, the pier.  What ended up in focus?  I am still looking but I think its the pier, ugh......can I just rewind and try it again.

Oh yea and one more thing, why is the river pouring out the right side of the picture?  Yea I  may be my worst critic, but maybe someone else can figure out what the heck I was doing here, LOL.  Its good for a laugh anyway.

Tools of the Trade - The Blacksmith's Shop

Here are some of the tools in the blacksmith's shop at Wakefield.

Childhood - GWs Childhood Home - Wakefield

This was George's place until the age of 3 and is now a national monument and national park in Westmoreland County.  The house actually a replica built after the original burned a long time ago.  It was a tobacco plantation of over 550 acres too. Much of the furniture is age relevant and it is built to my understanding on or right at the original foundation.  The grounds boast a kitchen, blacksmith's shop, stables, slave residences, and gardens of flowers and vegetation true to the time period as well.   All looking out onto Pope's Creek.

The sheep I took pics of previously also live here along with pigs, chickens, horses, cows, ducks, geese and others.  I found a document of all the birds that have been seen in the area, as its right on the creek and river. http://www.nps.gov/gewa/naturescience/index.htm.

The 2nd is of some leftover tobacco in the barn.  The caretaker says its of little use now except decoration as its been out too long.  It is apparently unlawful to grow tobacco for personal use, I didn't know that, its considered a controlled substance.

Red - My Favorite Color

Most of you know how I feel about the color red.....it just is me and that's all.  The only thing that comes close to how much I like red is how much I like my 105mm lens.  Ahhhhhhhh macros, and red macros at that.  Shhhh....don't tell anyone I used the secret weapon.  Everyone should have it in their camera bag.  Do you know what it is?

Translucent - Snow and Long Exposure

I was trying to get a long exposure of the snow.  Well not exactly what I expected but with an interesting effect either way.  Seems some flakes landed on the lens and they are pretty "translucent".  Back to the "learn your settings" drawing board, ha ha.

Black - Baa Baa Black Sheep, Have You Any Wool?

This lamb was so cute.  I followed the little herd of them all around the farm.  Every time I got close the lambs they ran to the ewes.  They were curious about the "crazy lady with the camera".  If you look close you can even see his little horns on the top of his head.