Ashtabula, Ohio - Flying Saucer Gas Station

I have this converted Super 8 film on my YouTube and Vimeo site as well as a page on this blog. I am adding it as a post since it is so popular. I happen to have had my Super 8 camera with me the day I drove by the flying saucer gas station. I don't know how many people took a film or video of the gas station, but most people have said this is the only video they have seen and the lights are working as well. I feel pretty fortunate to have captured a piece of highway history all those years ago. Who knew? The guy hanging out of the car is magician Ed Ellis. He was a musician at the time (drummer), but he is more widely know for his magic skills. He has performed throughout the US, Europe, Korea and a frequent performer at the world famous Magic Castle. Who knew that would happen as well!

Also you might note that I said I shot the film on a Super 8 camera. It was not sound film. So where did the sound come from? I added it from my library of over 40,00 sound effects. By adding multiple layers the sound appears to have been captured at the scene all those years ago. As I mentioned in other areas of my blog site, I always add a little something extra to all my films. In this case it was sound.

Today more people take pictures and video than ever before. That's great, but what happens after that? Are you saving or archiving it? Will people see it 30 years from now? Record history, keep a journal, you can tell the real stories of the past someday. A past that you lived that is real, not a past that has been doctored or distorted!

Keep on recording history through the lens of your cameras!

[mapsmarker marker="5"]

Late Evening View of Navsari

Part of my travel to India included a trip to Gujarat. I flew from Hyderabad to Mumbai and then took a 7 hour cab ride to Navsari, Gujarat, India. My wife had made the same cab ride a few days before me to meet her sister and other family members. After being introduced to "new" family members and having an enjoyable meal and conversation, I went for a walk taking a looking around the area. I eventually made my way to the roof of the flat we were staying in, and got this photo of the evening sky and cityscape. Navsari has a 2,000 year history and has been know by many names over the centuries. Cities with long histories are always the most enjoyable to visit.

Gujarati is the main language spoken in Navsari. The language my wife uses to speak with her sister and family from time to time. They jump inbetween English and Gujarati quite a bit. Sometimes I think I am understanding Gujarati until I realize they jumped to English! 

[mapsmarker marker="26"]

1967 Pontiac GTO at Riverfront Mall Cruise-In

 

What a beautiful car this 1967 GTO is. Still looking good in 2012! I took this picture with my Nikon D90 on August 22, 2011 at the Riverfront Mall Cruise-In, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. The ISO is 200 which is what looks great when using a Nikon. I shot the picture around 7pm which gave me some dramatic lighting.

I typically run and gun and very seldom use a tripod. I used to shoot a lot of cars with my 35mm Canon years ago, and would use a tripod if I was being paid for the pictures. In those days the picture of your car on drift wood was very cool! Always a winner!

Go to a car show and get some exercise walking around looking at the great cars!

[mapsmarker marker="27"]

São Paulo, Brazil Cityscape

São Paulo, Brazil is a city of almost 11 million people with over 20 million in the metro area. That makes it the world's 7th largest city. I took this picture from the Blue Tree Towers roof on Faria Lima on February 20, 2011 with a Kodak Easyshare Z1485 IS camera using the panorama feature. Of course it took a little work to bring out the details of the picture once I had it loaded to my computer.

[mapsmarker marker="28"]

Shiva Vishnu Temple, Parma Ohio

You will find the Shiva Vishnu Temple residing on 32 acres with scenic surroundings on Ridge Road in Parma, Ohio. I took the January picture above with my iPhone 4S on a snowy overcast day.

The March picture was taken with my Nikon D90. When visiting the temple I typically see deer in the winter time, and on one occasion I saw a red fox walk just in front of my car. A few geese have made the temple their home as well.

The Temple entrance is on the East side of the build which you gain access to by taking the covered walk from the parking lot to the back side of the Temple. Once you enter you must remove your shoes before entering the main Temple.

The Siva Vishnu Temple has a very peaceful surrounding and is a nice temple to visit if you find yourself traveling through Parma or live in the area.

 

View from the Char Minar - Hyderabad, India

Charminar was built in 1591 AD, and is a landmark monument located at the center of old Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India. It is considered as the legendary masterpiece of Qutub Shahi's. This picture was taken from the top of Charminar. The top is a much better place to be. Down at ground level the chaos, smell and aggressiveness of the people was quite a shock to the system. There were people grabbing at us wanting money and hundreds of people selling their wares. This was a very busy place long ago.

Today the market around the Charminar is crowded with shops and known as the place to go for bangles.

[mapsmarker marker="30"]