George M. Steinbrenner Field, Spring Training site for the New York Yankees in Tampa, Florida, Thursday, March 8, 2012.

I was in Florida all of March, with the intent of shooting Spring Training. Unfortunately, I never got a Spring Training assignment. hurrumph. Maybe next year. But I kinda expected that to happen. That’s not to say I wasn’t busy with work. Don’t worry. I made some money while I was down there. But, rather than twiddle my thumbs waiting for a phone call, I just went to Steinbrenner Field. Nobody was playing, which was fine. I really just wanted to explore the field and see what I could come back with.

Rather than just show what this stadium and its facilities look like, I tried photographing it’s character.

Allen Born and his 10-year-old son Caleb Born, from Sacramento, California,  take pictures of the Yankees Spring Training Stadium in Tampa, Florida Thursday, March 8, 2012 for a school project. Rather than miss school, Caleb is conducting a school-sanctioned independent study. Caleb is a Giants fan saw them during Spring Training last year in the Cactus League in Arizona, but Allen is a “die hard” Detroit Tigers fan. Neither are big Yankees fans, but Caleb’s teacher is.

Over the holidays, I went on a road trip with Mom, her husband, Rick, and Grandmommy from Atlanta down to — get this — Treasure Island, Florida! Yup. Such a place exists. And no. it’s not an amusement park. ha! Can you imagine Grandmommy at an amusement park? hahaha! …we did get her on a Segway, though. But that’s for a later post.

The photos on this post are a bit quieter. Aside from Treasure Island, we went to DeSoto, Anna Maria Island, Bradenton, St. Petersburg, and a few other places.

After Geekfest was over, Todd Spoth, Monica Lopossay & I went to see the Colorado Rocky Mountains Monday, September 19, 2011. It was GORGEOUS!!!

Buck Jabaily, director of the Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance stands outside the Single Carrot Theater, which he helped co-found 10 years ago. The small performing arts theater is located in Baltimore’s first arts district, Station North, which was also set up ten years ago.

I worked on a story for the New York Times a few months ago about a proposed third Arts District in Baltimore. They put up a pretty nice little slideshow, too.

Below are a few more from the story, sprinkled with some out takes. I did, however, break a classic rule of shooting architecture… I used a lens way too wide for its own good — a 12-24 f/4. But, as always, it’s not the lens/gear that makes the images interesting, it’s the way their composed.

Enjoy!

The alley behind the Single Carrot Theater is probably the only sanctioned area in Baltimore where graffiti artistry is sanctioned.

But this is part of Station North — an already established Arts District. Below are images from the, otherwise half-nice/half-not-so-nice stretch of road.

The Bromo Seltzer Building, a famous adornment to the Baltimore skyline, houses artists lofts and looms close to the Historic Lexington Market area where the city’s proposed third arts district might exist. The area is anchored by two popular theaters, the Hippodrome and the Everyman theaters. In addition, there several parking garages, and easy access to public transit.

The Abell Building, located on Eutaw street, showcases some of the classic architecture Baltimore is known for.

Milk crates lie on the roof of the Lexington Market MTA train stop exit.

Jess ambushes me with a snowball on the Boardwalk. Awesome!

Jess really wants me to unlock the door. hehehe. Funny story… The snow was covering up the median, separating the parking 28th Street Plaza’s parking spaces from Coastal highway. In my attempt to park, I jumped the median.

his photo makes me laugh. I like how Elvis looks like he’s staring at me. Jess ordered steamed shrimp, which she loved. I had a subpar greek salad. I guess Ocean City is a place to get good seafood, not necessarily vegetarian cuisine — which Coins had none of. At this point we haven’t found a place to sleep. Winging it was part of our plan for the weekend. if the weather was better, I was planning to pit hotels against each other, seeing who was willing to give us the better deal for our business. But as it turned out, we really just needed a place to park and sleep.

Jess made this photo. She’s pretty good, huh? We got stuck in the snow a few times over the weekend. Parking lots were particularly aggravating to get in and out of. I was kicking snow away from my car’s tires. Gotta love snow boots.

Jess leads the charge to our hotel suite at the Princess Royale.

Once we opened the curtains, they stayed open. We also cranked the heat, a luxury we rarely let ourselves indulge in at home.

I love how delicate this image is. The still, almost frozen plastic chairs, practically submitting to the weather while the curtain gently sweeps on Jess’s leg.

Jess’s silhouette shot through the curtain.

I LOVE the infinity effect in mirrors. This was shot in our bathroom.

Jess, reflected in the room’s mirror, checks her e-mail during a Hallmark movie she watched on the room’s flat screen TV.

Jess was in and out of a sleep in the morning. I got a little creative with this shot, juxtaposing her reflection in the window with the snow covered beach dunes.

Dough Rollers was one of the only places open for breakfast. They also did a pretty good job clearing out their parking lot. So, they were awarded with business. I realize the local chain is one of the more beloved Ocean City establishments, but for goodness sake, their coffee is horrible! The last time I ate there I remember thinking the same thing.

I’d be willing to bet the bird population far outnumbers the human population in Ocean City in January.

Dinosaurs seemingly try to escape the Ice Age at the Old Pro Golf course on the 6800 block of Coastal Highway in Ocean City in the off season Sunday, January 31, 2010.

This is the second of three posts from Jess’s and my recent workcation trip to off-season Ocean City, Maryland . Here’s the first.

I also wrote a first person travelogue for The Howard County Time’s travel-ish section called Go! — as in, “go” here and/or “go” do this. Check it out if you have the time. It’s a pretty quick read.

The moon, still prominent in the sky, moments before the sunrise at Ocean City in the off season Sunday, January 31, 2010.

An ocean bird flies past the rising sun in Ocean City Sunday, January 31, 2010.

A dune fence pokes out from a snow drift Sunday, January 31, 2010.

The parking lot at the infamous Ocean City beach club Seacrets is snow covered and bare Sunday, January 31, 2010.

The boardwalk is sparse in Ocean City in the off season.

The amusement park in the inlet, formerly known as Ocean City Pier Rides, now known as Jolly Roger at the Pier, is locked up Sunday, January 31, 2010, and inactive until Easter weekend.

Snow falls in front of the Dunes Manor Hotel. Rates for the ocean front hotel are as low as $71.00/night in the off season.

Jess and I went to Ocean City for her 27th birthday at the end of January. For some reason, I decided to incorporate work and play into our weekend. Over the next three days, I’ll post three different series from our trip. I also wrote a first person travelogue for The Howard County Time’s travel-ish section called Go! — as in, “go” here and/or “go” do this. Enjoy.

One of the Jolly Roger Amusement Park’s golf course is dusted by the snow storm Saturday, January 30, 2010. The Ocean City park’s giant ferris wheel looms in the background.

The view from our Princess Royale ocean front suite at night was eerie and beautiful, Saturday, January 30, 2010.

Hotels and lodging on the 9000 block of Ocean City.

Cut palm tree trunks line the Princess Royale’s beach front area.

A pedestrian walks down the snow covered Coastal Highway, Saturday, January 30, 2010.

The Princess Royale’s upper parking deck holds two-to-three feet snow drifts instead of cars.

One room is lit in the 9400 Condominium building. The Coastal Highway similarly, is barren.

A night view of the hotels lining the beach in Ocean City in the off season Saturday, January 30, 2010.

Branches protrude form the frozen waters of Lake Kittamaqundi during the preliminary snowfall Friday, February 5, 2010.

Lake Kittylitter is what my old boss Tenney Mason would call Columbia, MD’s Lake Kittamaqundi. …because, lets be honest, it’s a tough word to pronounce. On my way home Friday, I made an quick photo essay for the Columbia Flier of the frozen man made lake (the deepest area is a little over 7 feet).

As beautiful as the snow is, it’s expensive! This season’s unusual amount of snow, including a storm that dumped 21 inches in less than 24 hours, has left the county’s snow removal budget $1.3 million in the hole…

Read the Columbia Flier article, here.

Two ducks take a stroll on the frozen water.

Duck tracks leave a trail in the freshly fallen snow-layered-ice.

Snow falls around ivy on a tree trunk, the only visibly green plant in the flora surrounding Lake Kittamaqundi.

A dusting of frost covers a fallen sweetgum tree fruit.

Deep Creek vacation, August ’09.

If you wanna check them out, there are more photos below the jump.

Federal Stimulus money will be used to remove the Simkins Dam, photographed Thursday, July 2, 2009, and the Union Dam from the Patapsco River.