Today is the last day of the academic year here in the overly-large school district. This has been a challenging semester – for teachers, students, parents – to say the least.
Now comes the inevitable analysis of how much students have missed in the chaos of an abrupt switch to online schooling. Research cited in a New York Times article says some students have fallen “months behind”. NPR comes to similar conclusions based on a large survey of parents.
It’s been a while since I posted any of my photographs around here. Since I recently bought a new camera1 and the weather has warmed up, I’ve been out doing more shooting.
Here are a few samples. If you’re interested in more, take a look at my Flickr feed.
My first time visiting Great Falls park, overlooking the rapids of the Potomac River northwest of DC. This view is from the Virginia side. |
A “city” car from Toyota at the annual auto show. One of the few interesting things to see among all the huge truck-like vehicles that occupied most of the floor space. |
I spent some time playing with shutter speed using the fountain at the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian. |
Some bocce balls in a park near the DC wharf area. |
1. More about the camera purchase, and the research behind it, in a later post.
With spring trying hard to establish itself in the DC area, it’s a good time to be out photographing nature. So, here are a few shots from two visits1 to our Northern Virginia gem, Meadowlark Botanical Gardens2.
More from my gallery is here and Kathy’s much better photos are here.
Just loved the vibrant purple in these flowers.
Turtles taking advantage of the bright sunshine.
The park features daffodils (and daffodil-like flowers) in a variety of beautiful colors.
Thanks to a well placed marker, I finally learned that these growths are called cypress knees and are part of the tree’s root system.
1. Trip one, at the start of April, was cut short by a thunderstorm.
2. Right around the corner from Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, another great location for a photowalk.