Twilight

IMG_0155, originally uploaded by frank.mara.

Twilight. People backlit in a gallery at the Booth Western Art Museum in Cartersville, GA USA. Shot with an Apple iPhone 3GS

Christmas Snow in Georgia

DSC_2918, originally uploaded by frank.mara.

Christmas Snow in Georgia. This is the first snow fall on Christmas Day in Atlanta, Georgia since the presidency of Chester Arthur, 128 years ago. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night. Shot with a tripod-mounted Nikon D90 and a Tokina 16-50mm f2.8 AT-X Pro lens

Army Golden Knights

DSC_2438, originally uploaded by frank.mara.

The Army Golden Knights jump team fills the sky over Lincoln Field in Philadelphia, PA during the opening ceremonies for the 2010 Army Navy Game. Shot with a Nikon D90 and a Nikon 80-200mm f2.8D ED lens.

The real national symbol of Qatar

The real national symbol of Qatar, originally uploaded by frank.mara.

The national symbol of Qatar is the Oryx, a nearly extinct type of antelope. It's featured on the tails of Qatar Airways aircraft. The backhoe excavator is probably a more apt symbol, given the volume of construction underway across the country.

I shot this photo in 2007 and I'm continually surprised at the level of interest it receives on Flickr. It's been getting 6-10 page views per day over the last several weeks and is currently the most frequently viewed photo in my portfolio. Shot with a Nikon N80 on Kodak Gold 100 film and a Nikon 28-70mm f3.5D lens.

Flint

DSC_1495, originally uploaded by frank.mara.

Flint, a two-year old golden retriever from the Canine Assistants program in Alpharetta, GA USA. Shot with a Nikon D90 and a Tokina 16-50mm f2.8 AT-X DX Pro lens.

Pumpkin In A Tree

DSC_1223, originally uploaded by frank.mara.

Pumpkin a tree. A munchkin pumpkin tucked into a tree branch at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. Shot with a Nikon D90 and a Nikon 28-70mm f3.5D lens.

Lagoon at Sunset

DSC_1543, originally uploaded by frank.mara.

The Groton Long Point Lagoon at sunset on a late fall afternoon. I've photographed this scene dozens of times in every season. I never get tired of it. There is something magical about the light at sunset along Eastern Connecticut shore. Shot with a Nikon D90 and a Tokina 16-50mm f2.8 AT-X DX pro lens.

Water Lily

DSC_1327, originally uploaded by frank.mara.

A single water lily bloom in one of the many pools on the grounds of the Atlanta Botanical Garden. Shot with a Nikon D90 and a Nikon 28-70mm f3.5D lens.

An unusual find in Indianapolis

DSC_1023, originally uploaded by frank.mara.

The Locally Grown Market in Indianapolis. My friends and family know that I am a bit of a "foodee" in addition to my interest in photography. I travel extensively for my work and while many towns have terrific restaurants, I do get tired of them after awhile. I found this place in Indianapolis. I am so glad I did. This is not a traditional restaurant. You have to approach it with an open mind. It's not the place to go if you're looking for a mainstream restaurant experience. Think of it as a farmer's market that happens to serve food, very good food. The choices are very limited. The owner offers just two items, a pulled pork sandwich and roasted salmon. I ordered the salmon and picked out a couple of vegetables from the store to go with it. I also ordered a piece of apple pie. It was well worth the effort to seek out this place.

The market/restaurant is located in an old gas station. The former front office has been converted to a dining area and has an extensive collection of cook books. The furnishings are rough and it's not going to make the cover of a society mag. However, it's eclectic and pretty cool. If you're at all interested in food, it's worth finding it if you happen to be in Indianapolis.

Shot with a tripod-mounted Nikon D90 and a Tokina 16-50mm f2.8 AT-X Pro lens.

Fall Gourds

DSC_0991, originally uploaded by frank.mara.

Fall gourds at the Locally Grown Market in Indianapolis, IN. Shot with a Nikon D90 and a Tokina 16-50mm f2.8 AT-X Pro lens.

Mountain Pond Gazebo

DSC_0706, originally uploaded by frank.mara.

A gazebo is reflected in the water in the early evening at the Highlands Country Club in Highlands, NC. Shot with a Nikon D90 and a Nikon 80-200mm f2.8D ED lens.

A Lone Canoe

DSC_0796, originally uploaded by frank.mara.

A lone canoe on Lake Sequoyah in the early morning, near Highlands, NC. Shot with a Nikon D90 and a Nikon 80-200mm f2.8D ED lens.

Sunset at the top of Stone Mountain

DSC_0528, originally uploaded by frank.mara.

Scrub pines and people are sillouetted by the setting sun at the top of Stone Mountain, near Atlanta, GA. Shot with a Nikon D90 and a Tokina 16-50mm f2.8 AT-X DX Pro lens.

Wedding In The Park

DSC_0376, originally uploaded by frank.mara.

Wedding In The Park. A photographer directs the bridal party for a shot during their celebration in Stone Mountian Park, outside of Atlanta, GA. Shot with a Nikon D90 and a Tokina 16-50mm f2.8 AT-X DX Pro Lens.

California Grasslands

_DSC6210, originally uploaded by frank.mara.

Grasslands within the Los Padres National Forest near Las Olivas, California. This was just one of those moments. I was driving towards Las Olivas and the road was largely empty. I passed through miles of open spaces without giving it much thought. Something about this cluster of trees caught my eye. I turned around and spent over a half an hour shooting this scene from different perspectives. It's one of my all-time favorites. Shot just after dawn with a Nikon D90 and a Tokina 16-50mm f2.8 DX AT-X Pro lens.

Sunflower on our kitchen table

DSC_0292, originally uploaded by frank.mara.

A single sunflower bloom is illuminated by the afternoon sun streaming in through our kitchen window. Shot with a Nikon D90 and a Nikon 80-200mm f2.8D ED lens. I used the pop-up flash on the D90 to provide some "fill". The flower bloom would have appeared as a silhouette without the fill flash.

Brooding Man

DSC_2123 - Version 2, originally uploaded by frank.mara.

Brooding Man. This is Ron Mueck's "Untitled (Big Man)", a sculpture in the Strange Bodies Collection of the Hirshorn Museum, part of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC. Shot with a Nikon D90 and a Nikon 18-55mm f3.5G lens.

Ruby's Cafe

_DSC6100, originally uploaded by frank.mara.

A quiet afternoon in Ruby's Cafe on the Malibu Pier. Shot with a Nikon D90 and a Tokina 16-50mm f2.8 DX AT-X Pro lens

Hilton Head Shrimper

_DSC0063, originally uploaded by frank.mara.

Yellow Jacket, one of many commercial shrimp boats at the dock outside of Hudson's Seafood on Hilton Head Island. I used a a camera-mounted flash set to rear sync to illuminate the boat without washing out the sunset colors. Shot with a Nikon D90, a Nikon SB600 flash and a Tokina 16-50mm f2.8 DX AT-X Pro lens.

Dukes Creek

_DSC0052, originally uploaded by frank.mara.

Dukes Creek, just below Dukes Creek Falls, Chattahoochee National Forest, near Helen, GA. Shot with a Nikon D90 and a Tokina 16-50mm f2.8 DX AT-X Pro lens.

Snail on a Flower

_DSC0019, originally uploaded by frank.mara.

A snail explores in a bed of black-eyed susans at Smithgall Woods near Helen, Georgia. Shot with a Nikon D90 and a Tokina 16-50mm f2.8 DX AT-X Pro lens.

Tubing on the Hooch

_DSC0098, originally uploaded by frank.mara.

Hundreds of people tube down the Chattahoochee River near Helen, Georgia. Shot with a Nikon D90 and a Nikon 80-200mm f2.8D ED lens.

The Prince William Church

_DSC9993, originally uploaded by frank.mara.

The ruins of The Prince William Church in Sheldon SC. The church was burned during the Revolutionary War, rebuilt and then burned again during Sherman's March to the Sea at the conclusion of the US Civil War. Shot with a Nikon D90 and a Tokina 16-50mm f2.8 DX AT-X Pro lens.

Sea Shells

_DSC9545, originally uploaded by frank.mara.

A collection of sea shells from Morris Island. Shot with a Nikon D90 and a Nikon 80-200mm f2.8D ED lens.

Singer's Silhouette

21860021, originally uploaded by frank.mara.

Alan Rhody introduces a song during a recent concert at Chukkar Farms in Alpharetta, GA. My D90 has experienced a short, hard life. I sent it to Nikon for repair and had to break out my film gear for this concert. This photo is from the very first session I've shot this year with film. I think it's fair to say that I've officially transitioned to digital. Shot with a Nikon N80 and a Nikon 80-200mm f2.8D ED lens on Fuji Superia Xtra 400 film.

Zen Moment

_DSC9984, originally uploaded by frank.mara.

A little girl appears to metitate while others play in the fountain in Waterfront Park in Charleston SC. Shot with a Nikon D90 and a Tokina 16-50mm f2.8 DX AT-X Pro lens.

Doors within doors

_DSC9290, originally uploaded by frank.mara.

A view into the porch of a Charleston "Single House". An exterior door separates the house from the street. There is an additional entrance from the porch into the home. Shot with a Nikon D90 and a Tokina 16-50mm f2.8 DX AT-X lens.

The Morris Island Lighthouse

_DSC9613, originally uploaded by frank.mara.

Morris Island was the location of the assault by the Massechusetts 54th Infantry Regiment on Fort Wagner during the US Civil War. The event was dramatized by the movie Glory, released in 1989. The Massachusetts 54th is historicallly significant because it was one of the first official black units in the Union Army and was supported by abolitionists in the Boston area.

While this photo is visually simple, I found it difficult to get what I wanted to convey in the image. I shot numerous frames of the lighthouse from various perspectives and focal lengths. I wanted to show the lighthouse in the context of the curve of the beach. I got this shot by wading out into the water so I could include the wave action and the curve of the water line. (It probably wasn't the smartest move since I was wearing a backpack that contained my cell phone, wallet and camera gear.) I made modest changes to the white balance to make the colors a little warmer and increased the vibrance. I also added a vignette effect while editing to help focus the viewer on the lighthouse. Shot with a Nikon D90 and a Tokina 16-50mm f2.8 DX AT-X Pro lens.

Last Minute Instructions

_DSC8518, originally uploaded by frank.mara.

A pilot looks down to his ground crew while launching for the 2010 Helen To The Atlantic Balloon Race. Shot with a Nikon D90 and a Tokina 16-50mm f2.8 DX AT-X Pro lens.

Ready to go

_DSC8404, originally uploaded by frank.mara.

Two balloons are ready to go at the start of the 2010 Helen To The Atlantic Balloon Race. Shot with a Nikon D90 and a Tokina 16-50mm f2.8 DX AT-X Pro lens.

San Francisco Shop Door

_DSC7246, originally uploaded by frank.mara.

A man at the counter of a convenience store in Union Square, San Francisco CA. Shot with a Nikon D90 and a Tokina 16-50mm f2.8 DX AT-X Pro lens.

Airborne

_DSC8432, originally uploaded by frank.mara.

Airborne. A competitor sets off on the 2010 Helen To The Atlantic Balloon Race. Shot with a Nikon D90, a Nikon 80-200mm f2.8D ED lens and a Kenko Pro 1.4X teleconverter

Waiting at the starting line

_DSC6330, originally uploaded by frank.mara.

Riders wait for the start of the downhill event during the Santa Ynez Classic. Shot with a Nikon D90 and a Tokina 16-50mm f2.8 DX AT-X Pro lens.

Hindu Sanctuary

_DSC7210, originally uploaded by frank.mara.

A Hindu Sanctuary in Topanga Canyon, near Mulholland Drive in Malibu, California. Shot with a Nikon D90 and a Tokina 16-50mm f2.8 DX AT-X Pro lens.

The San Francisco Waterfront at Night

_DSC7330, originally uploaded by frank.mara.

Boats along Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco. Shot with a Nikon D90 and a Tokina 16-50mm DX AT-X Pro lens.

Graduation Fashion

_DSC7659, originally uploaded by frank.mara.

Graduation Fashion at the 2010 UGA School of Public and International Affairs commencement.

Surf Casting in Malibu

_DSC6165, originally uploaded by frank.mara.

Surf casting on the beach along the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, California. Shot with a Nikon D90 and a Nikon 80-200mm f2.8D ED lens.

Rocks on a log, Malibu California

_DSC7143, originally uploaded by frank.mara.

A collection of rocks arranged on a driftwood log. I stopped along the Pacific Coast Highway to shoot some landscapes of the beach in Malibu and noticed some very young children playing with their parents. They collected a large pile of rocks that had been shaped by the waves and were arranging them on a driftwood log. I was particularly taken with the care that went into the selection of the rocks and the obvious thought they were giving to the arrangement. I asked their parents for permission to shoot some photos and here we are. Shot with a Nikon D90 and a Nikon 80-200mm f2.8D ED lens.

Starbucks in Costa Mesa

_DSC5995, originally uploaded by frank.mara.

A row of chairs in the afternoon sun at a Starbucks in Costa Mesa, California. This is a pretty pedestrian subject, but I like this photo. I like the colors and I also like the composition. Shot with a Nikon D90 and a Tokina 16-50mm f2.8 DX AT-X Pro lens.

Cacti Wall

_DSC6296, originally uploaded by frank.mara.

Cacti along a corregated steel wall in Las Olivas, California. Shot with a Nikon D90 and a Tokina 16-50mm f2.8 DX AT-X Pro lens.

The Hike Up the Hill

_DSC6328, originally uploaded by frank.mara.

Competitors in the Santa Ynez Classic downhill run head to starting gate at the top of the course. Shot with a Nikon D90 and a Tokina 16-50mm f2.8 DX AT-X Pro lens.

The Grace Ann

_DSC6876, originally uploaded by frank.mara.

The Grace Ann, a fishing boat in the Santa Barbara Harbor. I met the crew as they were cleaning up the boat after five days at sea. The crew was comprised of the owner, his son and two dogs.

Desert Cactus

07080015e, originally uploaded by frank.mara.

Desert Cactus. A cactus plant near Borrego Springs, California, on the western edge of the Sonora Desert Basin. This photo mimics a similar image that was used in print advertisements for Fuji's Velvia 50 slide film. This was shot with a Nikon N80, A Tamron 17-35mm f2.8 SP AF lens and Fuji Reala 100 instead.

Front Yard Flowers

_DSC5933, originally uploaded by frank.mara.

Daffodils in bloom. Spring arrives in Johns Creek, Georgia. Shot with a Nikon D90 and a Nikon 80-200mm f2.8D ED lens.

Desert Bloom

07080007, originally uploaded by frank.mara.

Desert Bloom. A cactus flower near Borrego Springs, California, on the western edge of the Sonora Desert Basin. Shot with a Nikon N80 and a Tamron 17-35mm f2.8 SP AF lens on Fuji Superia Reala 100 film.

Colorful Door

DSC_5700, originally uploaded by frank.mara.

A colorful door in Chamblee, Georgia. Shot with a Nikon D90 and a Tokina 16-50mm f2.8 AT-X Pro lens.

Stacked Glass

DSC_5657, originally uploaded by frank.mara.

Stacked Glass #2. Sheets of old glass stacked against the wall of an antiques shop in Old Chamblee, Georgia. Shot with a Nikon D90 and a Tokina SD 16-50mm f2.8 AT-X Pro lens.

Little River Canyon

_DSC4082 - Version 2, originally uploaded by frank.mara.

A view of the waterfall at the northern head of the Little River Canyon, in northern Alabama, near Huntsville. Winter seems to be the time for black and white photography. Shot with a tripod-mounted Nikon D90 and a Tokina 16-50mm f2.8 AT-X Pro lens.

A Moment of Success

_DSC5574, originally uploaded by frank.mara.

Emily Brna, a Canine Assistants dog teacher shares a moment of success with one of her dogs. Emily is one of several dog teachers (not trainers) with the Canine Assistants program in Alpharetta, GA. This amazing organization trains and provides service dogs for children and adults with physical disabilities or other special needs. Shot with a Nikon D90, a Nikon SB600 flash bounced off the ceiling and a Tokina 16-50mm f2.8 AT-X Pro lens.

Book Store Chair

_DSC5271 - Version 2, originally uploaded by frank.mara.

A chair in the stacks of Jackson Street Books, a used book store in Athens, GA near the University of Georgia