The northeastern coast was hit with not one but two brutal storms this past week. The first snow storm started about mid day on Friday the 5th. It was so extreme that we weren't back at work when the second storm hit on this past Wednesday. They are calling this the worst storm here in 100 years. All I know is that it was a lot of freaking snow... I thought when I left NY, I was done with this kind of snow. Today, Friday, is my first day back at work since leaving at lunch time last Friday. I was so desperately bored, I wanted to pull my hair out. I did get out when it wasn't snowing. I live close to the Capitol and National Monument grounds so I was able to wander over there and get some good shots. This picture was taken in my neighborhood.

This storm debuts work from my very new Nikon Digital SLR. Yes I've gone over to the dark side. NuMyke, the photography purist who couldn't see shooting digitally. Pictures from this storm are the first pictures taken with this camera. I think my Canon and Nikon Film SLRs are feeling a little slighted, but I'm sure I'll be one of those photography geeks someplace with two cameras around my neck now. I'm sure I'll always shoot my black and whites with film. Color film may eventually face it's death, but since people can process their own black and whites, I think black and white film is here to stay.

Inauguration Day - Washington, DC
January 2009

After the swearing in ceremony that morning, security was so tight that everyone in the area I was in (in the shadow of the National Monument) was herded off the mall via one corner. We had to walk for blocks after the event just to get off the grounds. This made getting back over to Pennsylvania Avenue and along an entry point for the parade before the parade began next to impossible. This is one of my favorite shots of the day. It was a human gridlock at this point. It was so bitterly cold that morning that all the layers of clothing people wore became a major aspect of the day. The hats, blankets and layers of winter gear became characters in the story. I think this picture captures that.