Conservativa

America gets ready for its birthday party. This photo was taken last week on the steps of the U. S. Capitol, looking down the Mall at the Washington monument. You can see tents going up in preparation for the huge concert and fireworks festivities celebrating Independence Day.

The concert will be televised on the 4th, 8-9:30 p.m. Eastern.

Photo details: Nikon D4o, ISO 800 (dope slap - should have put it back to 200), 55mm, 1/800 at f/14, which happens when you have the ISO set up way too high…

Ceiling detail from downstairs in the U.S. Capitol. Photo details: Nikon D40, 40mm, ISO 800, 1/20 at f/5.6.

Was in D.C. Wednesday. This is a photo of a light fixture in the basement of the Capitol. The image is heavily Photoshopped - it began life as a dark bronze color. Nikon D40, ISO 800, 1/20 at f/5.6, 55mm.

More Rep. Eric Cantor for Vice-President talk, this time from the New York Post. Count me in!

In this photo, Rep. Rob Wittman (at left) has a word with Cantor. Photo details: Canon EOS5D, 200mm, ISO 3200, 1/60 at f/2.8.

A reporter from Massachusetts, former Mass. Gov. and presidential candidate Mitt Romney, Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, and a Romney/Bolling supporter at a Bill Bolling fundraiser last night in Glen Allen, Virginia. Romney and Bolling stood gamely out in the 90+ degree heat and humidity and talked with the almost 400 supporters, many of whom had friends taking pictures with the former (and maybe future?) presidential candidate.

Photo notes - please skip if you aren’t a photo geek… this photo borrows two ideas from Strobist. One is “strobe on a stick,” i.e. flash affixed to a monopod and triggered remotely; the other is using a CTO gel on the flash, with the camera’s white balance turned as far tungsten as it will go (2800K). The result is a glowing blue sky and over-warm skin tones. It wasn’t far from sunset outside, but this CTO use exaggerates that look. Canon EOS5D, ISO 200, 1/60 at f/14 (to shut out much of the ambient), 24mm. Canon 580EX flash, on manual, at about 1/2 power. Didn’t record the zoom setting, sorry. Guessing 105.

Bill Bolling, Mitt Romney, and Bob McDonnell share a laugh at a fundraiser on a the hottest day of the year so far in central Virginia.

Photo below: Former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney has some kind words for Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling. Romney also mentioned the presidential race. Of John McCain, Romney said, “He wasn’t my first choice… I was my first choice…” which brought a laugh from the crowd. Now he fully supports McCain, while of course not agreeing on everything with him.

The Republican Party of Virginia chose former Gov. Jim Gilmore as its Senate nominee, and elected Del. Jeff Frederick as its new party chairman during its convention May 30-31, 2008. Here is a photo slideshow of the convention highlights.

In this photo, Bob Marshall is at the podium, but the Henrico delegation is waving signs supporting Jim Gilmore.

Here are some people looking at names etched in the glass at the Virginia War Memorial. I’m glad they have brought their children. We cannot all serve, but we should all remember at what price our freedom was bought.

Here are two articles worth reading: The Name in the Stone, by Gerard Van Der Leun, and Do Flowers Grow on Pork Chop Hill? from the Sippican Cottage blog.

Gov. Jim Gilmore had a conference call with 400 or more delegates yesterday. Read about the Gilmore conference call at Bearing Drift.

Also, a note about Warner possibly taking some voters for granted, from the Washington Post. Democrats usually do take “the black vote” for granted… as though it were one thing, that is owed them, because, you know, they’re Democrats and that’s the way things are. Gilmore, on the other hand, makes it clear that he wants to work for and win every vote of every individual voter. He has done that in the past and will be continuing that. In fact, he said in his conference call last night, “I have never tried to run against any group of people. I have always tried to bring people in.” (This was actually in a question involving immigration, but his attitude is admirable).

Photo details: Canon Nikon D40, ISO 800, SB-600 flash, 55mm, 1/100 at f/4.0.

Photo

Attorney General Bob McDonnell addresses a crowd at a Young Professionals for McDonnell event in Richmond, May 13. It was on the back porch and patio of Siné, and the patio area was crowded with young (nearly all under 50 years old) supporters of the AG. Speaker of the House Bill Howell was there. McDonnell seemed gratified by the turnout, thanked everyone several times, and made a point of reminding people how important it is to be working for John McCain now.

Photo of sunset today, taken with point-n-shoot. Blotches in sky are actually on car window.

Congressman Eric Cantor and AG (and candidate for Governor) Bob McDonnell shake hands at the 7th Congressional District Convention. One thing worth noting: Cantor’s name tag, which you can easily see in the original photo, shows that he is a delegate. He could have just breezed in, made a speech, and breezed out again, but he went to the trouble to apply, file, get elected as delegate, show up, and stay for the whole convention.

Photo details: Canon EOS5D, ISO 3200, 200mm, 1/100 at f/3.2.

Some photos from the Hager-Bush wedding, at the CNN website. This looks like it was a lovely family wedding. Note the last photo (by the lake) - some good, careful flash there - just enough to light the couple but allowing the sunset colors to look natural.

Attorney General Bob McDonnell and Lt. Governor Bill Bolling appear to have next year’s big race well in hand. Check out this post at Bearing Drift, complete with a podcast of AG McDonnell. Virginia’s Republican congressional delegation, Virginia’s party leadership, etc. have all strongly endorsed McDonnell for Governor and Bill Bolling for Lt. Governor.

Photo details: photo taken at the Shad Planking. Canon EOS5D, 45mm, ISO 400, 1/125 at f/22.