National Gallery Timelapses and Painting Details

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Amy and I were at the National Gallery on Saturday to look at American works by Homer, Eakins, Bellows, as well as explore the little-known inner maze of Italian Renaissance galleries in the West Building. Along the way I tried out the time lapse feature on my Powershot and got a few quick videos:

I had hoped to catch the giant Calder mobile in motion but it was not a very windy day, so there was no movement.

I also paused in the Italian galleries to get a few detail shots of paintings that caught my eye — Saint Anthony’s meeting with a centaur (or is it a satyr?) in the wilderness, Saint Helena’s flower-nippled breastplate, Gian Federico Madruzzo’s dog’s weird shrunken head, and Aeneas and Achates’ classy travel attire:

Saint Anthony and the Centaur (Satyr?) Saint Helena Small-Headed Dog Classy Travel Attire

Butterfly Cube

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Butterfly Cube Sculpture on a front lawn in Foggy Bottom: oblique black cube ascends into white butterfly peeling away from upper vertice.

(Butterfly Cube uploaded by brownpau.)

Metro Tunnel

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Metro Tunnel Looking up the Red Line from the edge of Dupont Circle station. You can’t see them in the gloomy B/W noir effect, but there’s two track inspectors just beyond the lit area.

(Metro Tunnel uploaded by brownpau.)

Potomac High Tide

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Flood warnings on the Potomac River today due to swelling brought about by heavy rains. Here’s a quick clip from the Harbour, with a close up of the measuring stick on the dock, about a half hour before tide hits its highest mark. Lots of debris on the river, and the water is almost six feet deep. (I rarely see it go over five.)

Dark Metro

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The last two cars of this Blue Line train were dark. Train was running, air conditioning worked, there were people inside, but it was dark up till McPherson Square. Then the lights came on. Quite strange.

Later on, I got on a Red Line train and was buzzed by a threatening-looking bee. I killed it, much to the appreciation of others in the vicinity who were also being swooped upon.

Departing, Arriving: Two Train Clips

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Above left: view from the train as we leave Metropark, New Jersey. You can see my reflection in the window. Above right: Walking down the platform and recording from the hip after getting off the train at Union Station in Washington, DC.

NJ Weekend: Lots of Deer Edition

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Amy and I were up in NJ for the weekend, visiting her grandma and hanging around the deep McMansion-infested wilds of the New Jersey suburban landscape. We also went to church (same church we were married in), and I ate a massive Reuben at Galloping Hill Grill, and a “Bife a Portuguesa,” (grilled steak topped with ham and fried egg) at Valença Restaurant in Elizabeth. Both were huge. My stomach no feel so good now.

Here are a few photos, including a flock (herd? pride? pod?) of deer we spotted right outside Grandma’s home:

Deer

Deer Amy Cross Ship Church Cornerstone

You know what time our train pulled into DC after delays? Almost 4AM.