Preakness Hot Air Ballon Festival

Valerie loves to see hot air balloons, she is going for a ride in one this summer.We attended the Hot Air Balloon Festival held at Turf Valley (Maryland) on May 10-12, 2012. It was a beautiful day and as the sun went down the balloons were filled and provided excellent chances for photography.I shot in the manual mode all day with a Nikon D-300/Tameron 18-270mm lens. The shots at dusk were done at a shutterspeed of 1/25 sec.

Usumbara Giant 3 Horned Chameleon

Here's my friend again Colonel Bleep hanging out on Easter Sunday. This chameleon only shows the black spots when he is upset or frightened. I shot this picture with a Nikon D-300 and Nikkor 50mm 1.8G lens. Iso 400 with the pop up flash +3/ Shutter speed 1/60 sec. at F-11 (manual mode). If you want to see the colonel eating go to U-tube and type colonel bleep eating

Baby Orchids

Druid Hill Park Conservatory, used a off camera Flash . Nikon D90 camera. Valerie

Wide view

One of my favorite places to shoot Loonwood Gardens,Pa.........Brian Gillis 

Bonzai Tree's at the National Arboretum, Washington D.C.

Here are two Pictures that I did last week at the National Arboretum in Washington D.C. google the address if you plan on a visit, it's very easy to get to and well worth the trip if you are visiting the area.

This is a Japanese White Pine and has been in training since 1625
Camera Nikon D-300/Lens Tamron 18-270mm/Shutter speed 1/6 sec./F-16/Iso 1Ev under 200/Built in Flash

This is a Group planting of Catlin Chinese Elms in Training since 1976
Camera Nikon D-300/Lens Tamron 18-270mm/Shutter speed 1/30 sec./F 5.6/Iso 1 Ev under 200

Skyline Drive, Virginia

It's always nice to walk in the woods, There are so many chances to take a good picture. I usually shoot aperture priority at F-16 and try to always use a tripod.Skyline drive in the Shenandoah Mountains is a great place to go and shoot anytime of the year.There are 75 scenic overlooks on a 105 mile roadway which follows the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains. We just stopped the car often and got out to capture some great pic's almost every quarter mile, I have yet to travel the entire roadway...Gary

Lotus

My favorite flower of them all, the lotus. The Aquatics garden in Washington,Dc grows them in ponds with hold hounders of them for you to view and take pictures of. They only bloom for a short time so look it up and plans for a trip......................Brian Gillis