♥ Missionaries of Mercy ♥

Here is a different post from my normal portrait photos. Remember we have a video studio section here at John Thomas Photography.

This past weekend I was very blessed to spend sometime with my youth group on a retreat that focused on how to be a better missionary of mercy in this Jubilee Year of Mercy. This is the video of the closing Mass and talk (in the homily) by Father Brandon Macadaeg our retreat master.

 

© Copyright 2016 Adventure Studios

 

(The YouTube Channel is the official channel of John Thomas Photography/Adventure Studios.)

Till next time...


~John Thomas

AMDG

❄ Frosty returns ❄

 

 

I shot this photo when I was in Yosemite this past weekend.  More Yosemite photos to come soon!

 

 

Click on the photo to enlarge and view in HD.

 

 

 

Till next time...


~John Thomas

AMDG

 

Railtown 1897 SHP

I have not been able to update the blog since November due to a large number of activities and work related things I have been doing.

In December I was blessed to be a part of the amazing Polar Express event at Railtown 1897 SHP in California. Each year the event (a reenactment of the famous movie) is put on at several locations around the country. Part of the benefits of being on the staff was unrestricted access to the roundhouse, shops, yard, station and repair facilities. Of course this was a photographers dream...

Click on a photo to enlarge and view in HD.

 




Sierra Railway #3 is taking on water and is preparing to back into the station (I took photo 3 on the platform to the right)




Ground views are always interesting... especially the rust spots on the railhead.

No filters here... just the vibrant fall colors and whooshing steam.
This was taken from the rear platform of the 2901 First Class Parlor-car (part of my all access to restricted areas).

Sierra Railway #3 backs into position at Jamestown Station.

Till next time...


~John Thomas

AMDG



Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

 

We give thee thanks almighty God for all thy benefits, and for all thy blessings. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Photo from Railtown 1897 California SHP November 2015.

Click on the photo to enlarge and view in HD.
 

Sierra Railway number 3 waits inside the Roundhouse at Railtown 1897 SHP. The state park crew is preparing it for the Polar Express event in December.

 

 

Till next time...


~John Thomas

AMDG
 

Across The Pond

When I traveled to the British Isles this past summer I new that I wanted to take photos of both the things and places that are iconic and the places that no one knows about. I hope that you find these photographs as interesting as I do.


Click on a photo to enlarge and view in HD.

Big Ben and the House of Parliament as viewed from the River Thames.

The "London Eye" on the South Bank of the River Thames in London. It is also called the Millennium Wheel.

A stuffed Golden Eagle look at the camera in a rather authoritative manor at the Scottish National Museum in Glasgow. 

Overlooking Belfast, Ireland. (this cow has an amazing view)



Seagull over the Lake District in Northern England. 

Till next time...


~John Thomas

AMDG

The Power of a Flower

 

 

Sometimes all we need is a flower to brighten our day... when your husband or boyfriend brings you flowers on your anniversary or when you are sick in bed and a friend drops by with a vase that has some cheery colors in it, you feel wonderful inside. Flowers are an expression of feelings and there are many types to go along with those many different feelings.  

These photos are of flowers in England, Scotland and Ireland.

 

 

Click on a photo to enlarge and view in HD.

 

Here the black and white reflects the simplicity of the flowers and yet the intricate detail. (Scotland)

These flowers welcomed me on a beautiful morning in downtown Glasgow, Scotland. (Scotland)

The color green is representative of new life... (England)

Small asparagus ferns sprout from a rock wall in almost pure defiance. (Ireland)

The beautiful violet daisies show forth one their of many vibrant shades. (Ireland)

I hope that these photos of God's beautiful nature have brightened your week!

Till next time...


~John Thomas

AMDG

 

 

Fast and Furious: The Blue Angels

 

 

This past weekend the Blue Angels performed in San Francisco at the annual "Fleet Week". The Blue Angels is the US Navy's elite flight demonstration squadron, with aviators from both the Navy and Marines. The Blue Angels team was formed in 1946, making it the second oldest formal flying aerobatic team in the world.

 

Currently the squadron uses F/A 18 Hornets for demonstrations and a C-130T Hercules for their logistics, carrying spare parts, equipment, and to carry support personnel between shows.

 

 

Click on a photo to enlarge and view in HD.

 

 United States Marine Corps C-130T Hercules, nicknamed "Fat Albert"

The Blue Angels F/A-18 Hornets fly in their trademark tight diamond formation, maintaining 18-inch wing tip to canopy separation.

Most of the show alternates between various maneuvers performed using the Diamond Formation as a base point. When in the Diamond, the jets are in tight formation and usually at lower speeds (400 mph). 

Blue Angels number 1, 2, 3, and 7 roar past during the Fleet Week 2015 air show over the San Francisco Bay

It is incredible that all four aircraft are only 3 ft. from each other... and only 120ft. off the ground... at 650mph.

According to the US Navy the highest speed flown during any airshow that the Blue Angels perform is 700 mph (just under Mach 1) and the lowest speed is 120 mph.

The jets have just come out of an inverted loop more that half a mile in the sky.

Blue Angels in the double farvel formation over the SF bay near pier 39 heading to the Golden Gate.

Lone jet number 5 roars only 50 ft. overhead at about 650mph.

The Solos showcase the high performance capabilities of their individual aircraft through the execution of high-speed passes, slow passes, fast rolls, slow rolls, and very tight turns.

The only shot that I was able to capture all six jets in the Delta Formation. 

More photos from fleet week will be posted in the near future.

The current members of the 2015^[update] U.S. Navy Blue Angels are:

• Flying Blue Angel No.1, Captain Thomas Frosch, USN (Commanding Officer/Flight Leader)
• Flying Blue Angel No.2, Lieutenant Matt Suyderhoud, USN (Right Wing)
• Flying Blue Angel No.3, Lieutenant Andrew Talbott, USN (Left Wing)
• Flying Blue Angel No.4, Lieutenant Commander Nate Barton, USN (Slot)
• Flying Blue Angel No.5, Lieutenant Mark Tedrow, USN (Lead Solo)
• Flying Blue Angel No.6, Lieutenant Ryan Chamberlain, USN (Opposing Solo)
• Flying Blue Angel No.7, Captain Jeff Kuss, USMC (Advance Pilot/Narrator)
• Events Coordinator, Blue Angel No.8, Captain Corrie Mays, USMC
• Flying Fat Albert, M1, Captain Dusty Cook, USMC
• Flying Fat Albert, Major Mark Hamilton, USMC
• Flying Fat Albert, Captain Katie Higgins, USMC
• Executive Officer, Commander Bob Flynn, USN
• Maintenance Officer, Lieutenant Commander Declan Hartney, USN
• Flight Surgeon, Lieutenant Joe Schwartz, MC USN
• Administrative Officer, Lieutenant junior grade Phillip Harper, USN
• Supply Officer, Lieutenant Gregory Bollinger, USN
• Public Affairs Officer, Lieutenant junior grade Amber Daniel, USN

Till next time...


~John Thomas

AMDG

Half Moon Bay

This past weekend I went to Half Moon Bay for a little R & R and brought along my camera (actually two cameras and my GoPro). This is the first time that I have been to Half Moon Bay even though I have lived in the Bay Area all my life. I have been to several local beaches but never the actual place or the Mavericks area.


If you wish to make a photograph larger and more detailed (HD), simply click on it.

Pillar Point Harbor at sunrise.

Abandoned Pier at Pillar Point.

 

The sand at Half Moon Bay is full of amazing sea life everywhere you go.

 

 

These beautiful shells were just lying in the sparkling golden sand.

Below is my absolute favorite photo of the entire trip.

It took my about 20 minuets to outflank this little guy and slowly approach him so he didn't get scared off. But it was definitely worth every moment. In the end I got to about 5 feet from him and I was able to capture this photograph.

 

 

This was one cooperative subject... staying in the same position for over 20 minuets.

Till next time...


~John Thomas

AMDG

9/11... we will never forget.

 

 

 

 

Today we commemorate the anniversary of 9-11,  when 2,977 people gave their lives for our country.

Let us take a moment and pray for all our service men and women and emergency service personal as they continue to protect us post 9-11.

 

 

Memorial on the side on the World Trade Center fire station.



The new One World Trade Center as it looks in June 2015.



Private ambulance heading to a medical call a few blocks from St. Patrick's Cathedral. 



Engine 21 on a medical call in downtown Manhattan near Grand Central Station. 

 

LAFD Squad 46 in June 2014 near the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles

 

 

 

 

AMDG

~John Thomas

 

 

 

 

Groveland

I spent this Labor Day weekend in the quaint little town of Groveland which borders western Yosemite National Park.

Pine Mountain Golf Course looking west.



Groveland is a small tourist town of about 3,000 people that was one of the major mining towns in the 1880's and later hosted train and work crews building the Hetch Hetchy Dam in the 1920's-40's. Next to Groveland is the community of Pine Mountain which was established in the 1970's as a  resort by Boise Cascade. One of the main features of this community is the 18 hole Championship Golf Course pictured here.




One of the many golf carts that are available for rent.

 

People of all ages enjoy playing this relaxing sport.

Black and white photography shows the beauty of the great outdoors.

This charming community will definitely be the subject of future posts.

Till next time... Adios


AMDG

~John Thomas