Great Balls of Fire

Last night while 99% of you were in deep sleep, I had the genius idea to drive to the Blue Ridge Parkway and photograph the Perseid Meteor Shower. The above blurry photo is the only visible fruit of that labor. But what you can't see are the dozens of fireballs that streaked all around the tiny frame of sky that I was capturing. Or the crisp mountain air that transported me straight into Fall.

It was a really great night. And even though I had to wake up four hours later for work, I'm thinking of doing it again tonight. Even though yesterday was the peak night, there will still be meteors for a few more days. I have experience now, I have a better plan. Then again, my pillow seems really attractive... maybe I'll try again during the Leonids in November.

Fields with Song

This image comes from a story that never made it into the paper. Uriah J. Fields, a local musician and civil rights leader, belts out a song while visiting central place on the downtown mall. Fields is a mall regular and known for his singing. According to Ace from the Cville- Fields served as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s secretary during the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955-56 (about which Fields later wrote a book, Inside the Montgomery Bus Boycott) and fought in the battlefields of the Korean War. He’s one of many interesting characters here in beautiful Charlottesville, VA.

Crosby, Stills and Nash

Local photographer Jack Looney getting up close and personal with the band on Thursday night at the Charlottesville Pavilion.

Ostrich or Emu

I can never tell the emu from ostrich. In any case, both are scary up close. This is a picture taken at the Safari Park in Lexington. It's so much fun to drive thru and feed the animals. My wife and I were laughing all the way. If you get the chance, you have to go. Watch out for the zebras.