End of Year and a New Beginning

22 Tuesday Dec 2020

Posted by Ed Zirkle in Christmas, Columbus OH, Events, family, Ohio, personal, photography

≈ 2 Comments

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Columbus, Corona, decorations, holiday, Holidays, Jesus, light, lighting, lights, Merry Christmas, Ohio, Santa, virus

HI All, with no explanation needed, it’s been a long year.

It began great with a trip to Cuba in January via Global Volunteers.

That was the tip of the iceberg that is still working it’s way around the world.

While visiting Hemmingway’s house I became enveloped in a group of tourist from… China. A day or so later the virus announcement happened and we wondered about getting back to the States. Last day in Cuba and we had a new housemate from… Italy. Cuban airport packed, Miami International packed. First of February and still very clueless, and… lucky!

March came the great flood. 1500 sqft under 2 ft of water in the lower basement turned production area. And it was ‘black’ water. The new house is the first on the sewer line :-] Turns out the replacement powerline pole ended up in the sewer chamber in the corner of the yard. Sewer chamber filled with dirt washed from around the pole. The basement was convenient so it filled. Lost 3/4 of a decade of BW images from the 70’s and about 10k color images. Yep, up off the floor on racks out of the way. Water was so high and forceful that it took the containers – heavy containers – off the racks and turned them over. :-[ By the time I got the water pumped out and had a chance to start looking around it was too late to save. Everything had be so violently pushed around it was hard to what was where, plus everything was covered in crap water, literally.

Now back to that virus thing. A crew showed up to help cleanup, which was great. Could not have done it myself. Had 10ish people at anyone moment in the basement with and without masks for a couple of days. Then 2 weeks of repair and replace people in and out. Might have dodged a virus bullet there.

Spent the rest of the year seeing a few friends and keeping to the house, plus reworking that flood thing. Had to start from scratch, again. Very depressing every time I looked at the containers with the lost images.

It’s been a long year for everyone, much longer for some. To those that have lost a loved one a heartfelt hug.

So we come to the end… of this endless year. Time to brighten up, think positive, make new plans, get shot and hopefully move on. To that end a little something to cheery to look at. Within minutes of the house a little light at the end of the tunnel.

Enjoy the Holiday’s and look forward to a new New Year.

Farewell and Unification

01 Saturday Sep 2018

Posted by Ed Zirkle in family, Famous, learning, Notable, Political, WashDC

≈ 1 Comment

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memorial, National Cathedral, peace, Sen. John McCain, service to country, unity, Washington DC

As I watch the Sen. McCain memorial service at the National Cathedral I remember the many trips to that revered site in within Washington DC. Such a fitting site for remembrance and hopefully renewed unification for the nation. A place of gathering for ALL people from anywhere to take a moment to reflect upon who we are and what kind of Nation we want to be.

The many nuances of the past week and today, hopefully, will not go unnoticed and provide a solid groundwork, nay groundswell of unity as we go forth into the future.

Godspeed Sen. McCain, Godspeed

2018 Ohio State Fair

Sen. John Sidney McCain III

26 Sunday Aug 2018

Posted by Ed Zirkle in family, Famous, Notable, Political, WashDC

≈ 1 Comment

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courage, family, Navy, politicians, Sen. John McCain, veteran

A lone voice in the wild west of politics has passed. The hope is his voice will always be heard and his courage passed on for the future of the Nation.

I never had a chance to meet Sen. McCain, rather, I viewed the circus of campaigning and the crowds he commanded and the timbre of his voice.

From our family of veterans and my Brother currently serving in the Navy to the Navy veteran and his family – Thank you for your Service.

All images © 2008 – 2018 Ed Zirkle

This 4th 2018

04 Wednesday Jul 2018

Posted by Ed Zirkle in 4th of July, NYC, Photojournalism, WashDC

≈ 1 Comment

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4th, celebrations, children, Declaration, Ed Zirkle, fireworks, hope, independance, Independence Hall, Liberty Bell, patriots, photography, photojournalism, US

statue-liberty-sunset-widelux-ebay

The 4th has always been a great time for me. I remember sitting on the banks of the Detroit River (late 50’s OMG) watching the fireworks on the river celebrating both Canada Day and our Independence Day. And, over the years I’ve had the experience to have photographed 4th events from all over the US. It’s a time that brings us all together. And when I say all, I mean all from all over the world.

wtc5 - Copy (300x206)

The country we were, and I hope we will be again contained people that opened their doors to you and came from around the globe. I’ve photographed projects that have taken me around the US pre and post 9-11 and wondered what people would be like post. They were the same. Open and honest, giving and forthright. It seems to be the same bell curve with a couple of extremes left and right, but most of us are right in the middle.

So, take a moment to reflect as to where we came from in the past, why we came here and where do we want to be in the future.

I’m hoping that the next time I get to roam around the US I find us to be the same open heartfelt American that I’ve seen in the past.

Have a great 4th and God Bless…

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These images represent immigrants sworn in to be American citizens, small town parades, back country and big town celebrations. And, people from around the world visiting Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. And the image of the youths around the Liberty Bell: On every Fourth of July, at 2pm Eastern time, children who are descendants of Declaration signers symbolically tap the Liberty Bell 13 times while bells across the nation also ring 13 times in honor of the patriots from the original 13 states. All images © 2018 Ed Zirkle

4th of July Southport, NC

Naturalization Ceremony 2008 Gines Ramon Pedraza, E6, New River, Cuba Dion Leo Pierre, E6, Ft Bragg, Tinidad & Tabago

Naturalization Ceremony 2008

Fireworks over on the East River, images taken from Jersey side, Weehawken Township, JF Kennedy Blvd overlooking the Hudson

Lewis Center Business Association 2014 4th beach bash and fireworks

$Washington, DC fireworks 2007 from the Netherlands Carillon see http:\www.nps.govarchivegwmpcarillon.htm From this vantage point you can see the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument and the Capital.$

Washington, DC fireworks 2007 from the Netherlands Carillon see http:\www.nps.govarchivegwmpcarillon.htm From this vantage point you can see the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument and the Capital.

“I have a dream”

02 Monday Apr 2018

Posted by Ed Zirkle in MarchForOurLives, Notable, photography, Photojournalism, WashDC

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I have a Dream, march, March for Our Lives, Martin Luther King, MLK, speech, Washington DC

28 Aug 1963 Martin Luther King, Jr give his “I have a Dream” speech at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C.

To this day his words ring true and hopefully a Nation united at some point. I think he would not like what he sees today around America.

After having experienced the March for Our Lives event in Washington, D.C. I find these words so poignant to what the students of our nation are trying to do. Maybe it will be the students that bring MLK’s words to fruition.

We cannot walk alone.

And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead.

We cannot turn back.

To David Hogg – Emma González and all the other students having their voice heard, continue to march forward, don’t turn back.

-30-

Iwo Jima Memorial
Marine Corps War Memorial

Stitched UP

29 Thursday Mar 2018

Posted by Ed Zirkle in MarchForOurLives, photography, WashDC

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DC, Image Composite Editor, march, March for Our Lives, Microsoft, Nikon, Pano, panoramic, photography, protest, stitch, stitching, Washington DC

One of the great things about digital photography is the ability to make a panoramic image on the spot if, if, you can see in your head how it will stitch together and will tell a better story than just one image.

Last weekend, March 24, I had the chance to photograph history when in Washington, DC the March for Our Lives event was held. The crowds were epic and at one point it was impossible to move! I was trying to get to the corner of 7th NW and Pennsylvania Ave NW and the closest I could get to Pennsylvania Ave NW was about 100 ft out. It was, however, an great opportunity for a panoramic to show the crush of people attending the event.

On the technical side… Nikon D800, Nikon 24mm f1.4 and Microsoft Research Image Composite Editor, you can get it here.

EdZirkle_3-24-2018__EZ33542_stitch

Looking East on Constitution Ave NW – Federal Trade Commission left and National Gallery of Art right. 3 image stitch.

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On 7th St NW looking North toward Pennsylvania Ave NW. 4 image stitch.

EdZirkle_3-24-2018__EZ33583_stitch

The wall at the Federal Trade Commission near 6th St NW. 3 image stitch.

EdZirkle_3-24-2018__EZ33601_stitch

On 6th St NW looking at the Federal Trade Commission with Constitution Ave NW left and Pennsylvania Ave NW on the right. 3 image stitch.

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Student Power

25 Sunday Mar 2018

Posted by Ed Zirkle in MarchForOurLives, news, Photojournalism, WashDC

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Events, guns, kids, learning, march, news, peace, safe, shooting, students, Washington DC

I had a chance to experience a moment in US history today. I journeyed into Washington DC to the ‘March for Live’ event. There were people from all age groups from baby’s to plus 80, all nice, cordial and helpful. And I mean everyone. I wanted up on one of the barricades that was a no-no, but the person in charge stated ‘just wait till I turn my back’. As I started to climb up one of the other officers tried to stop me and the lady supervisor came over and stopped him. Absolutely great people everywhere. Besides the great speakers another draw was the mounted police. There were 3 of them and they drew a crowd whenever they stopped. Took the time to talk to people, shake kids hands and presented a wonderful image. It was funny watching people trying to take a selfie with a horse. At one point I made a 360 video of the crowd on Pennsylvania Ave. As I rotated the cell phone around I kept hearing a voice urging the crowd on with thought getting them – the crowd – to repeat the phrase, urging them to up their voice. Later on I found out it was MLK’s granddaughter Yolanda Renee King… this 9 yr old powerful message resonated through out the assembled people. In the end I clocked about 6.5 miles of interesting and wonderful people. A terrific experience. I hope the students keep this going…

– 30 –

Lounge vs Cafe

28 Saturday Oct 2017

Posted by Ed Zirkle in Bars, Columbus OH, HighBall17, Uncategorized

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bar, cocktails, dancing, drinking, food, friendly, fun, gay, High St, hip, music, restaurant, straight

Last week was fun running from Roscoe Village Apple Butter festival to Circleville Pumpkin Show and in the evenings attending my first HighBall. At the end of each evening after running up and down High street finished and home bound I passed 2 completely different worlds from what was running the streets. A reverse zoo sort of thing with people in restaurants watching the crazies passing by and then inside the bars a whole other party cranked up from a Frat/sorority mixer at Granero Lounge to the HighBall moving inside at the Union Cafe.

So depending on who you think is upscale or not and where to go for the ‘most’ fun, well that’s something fun for you to find out. But for me… well let the pictures speak… first Friday then Saturday.