Resurrecting an old but popular Ocean City website.

A travel/business directory style site is being repurposed for local art and entertainment.

I am in the process of resurrecting an old travel/destination website, Visit Ocean City at www.OCtheBeach.com, that had a major server crash last year. I am also repurposing it to be an art and entertainment resource for the Ocean City area. We live two miles from Ocean City and do like the music/entertainment at many venues in the area. I will focus on our favorite entertainers and venues within the Beach Resort Area from OCMD to Bethany Beach and Rehoboth Beach because those are the ones with which we are most familiar.

The focus on Ocean City art will, of course, feature photography by me – and be billed/promoted as Bill Swartwout Photography and USPictures. For “Visit Ocean City” I have chosen to feature Pictorem as our POD (Print On Demand) fulfillment partner because they offer free ground shipping within the United States and Canada, where most of our site viewers reside. The produce high quality work and have a satisfaction guarantee. See the intro article here: Ocean City Art Gallery.

Bill Swartwout Photography Ocean City MD Header Image

For many years, OCtheBeach.com was a premier travel directory for the Ocean City area and provided information about local businesses and, of course, a way to book a hotel room. The original site was launched in Late May of 1999 and served for nearly two decades as one of the more popular Ocean City Websites. We were even a member of the Ocean City Chamber of Commerce for 11 years – until they started to directly compete in the hotel reservations market, which was our main source of revenue.

OCtheBeach.com is being “reborn” to coincide with its 23rd “birthday” and is, once again, providing value to Ocean City visitors. There are myriad other websites and (of course) Facebook sites and groups that extol the virtues of every place to dine, stay and play. Visit Ocean City will offer a slightly different “view” of the Beach Resort. We hope you, too, will find it useful.

Charcoal Rendition Makes these Fighter Planes Pop

Done in post-processing some creative filters can really enhance some photographs.

Of course, you have to start with a good image with proper exposure, clarity and composition. When those criteria are met it can be rewarding to explore some filter options and the effect they can have for the overall, artistic presentation.

I love airshows and airplanes of all kinds. I have been a Private Pilot for half a century and here is one of my personal favorite show pictures. I shot this over the beach in Ocean City, Maryland at the airshow in June, 2015 and shows a 60+ year evolution of military fighter aircraft. A World War II a P-51 Mustang World War II fighter airplane is flying in formation with an F-22 Raptor Fighter Jet.

Here is a simulated Charcoal Sketch presentation that gives a bit more “pop” to the two airplanes. That is likely because the “charcoal” sky is more textured and not the clear/plain blue in the original photograph. There is also more apparent detail in the fighters, themselves. What do you think? (Please respond in the comments section.)

Mustang and Raptor Military Aircraft in Charcoal
Simulated Charcoal Sketch of a P-51 Mustang and F-22 Raptor Flying in Formation

The charcoal rendition here of two different fighter planes are meant to be more tonal sketches and express the idea of a plane as a fast-moving machine. True to their nature, these images were “blasted” with a charcoal filter in Topaz Studio2 to minimize details and add a dramatic effect that suits the aggressive, potent look of war pilots in the skies.

Here is the original photograph of the two military fighters flying north over the beach in front of an estimated 100,000 viewers.

Mustang and Raptor Military Aircraft in Formation
P-51 Mustang and F-22 Raptor Flying in Formation

Going one step further is an Expressionism presentation where much of the detail is converted to fluid lines and colors. This provides a more abstract rendition of these two aircraft but also illustrates the fluidity of the design allowing the airfoils to slice through the air at incredible speeds.

Mustang and Raptor Military Aircraft Expressionism
Mustang and Raptor Military Aircraft – Expressionism Presentation

Links

Link: Raptor and Mustang in Formation Charcoal Sketch

Link: Raptor and Mustang in Formation

Link: Raptor and Mustang in Formation Expressionism

Link to: Bill’s Fine Art America/Pixels Gallery

Link to: Bill’s Pictorem Gallery

In the photographs above 75 years of aviation history are represented in the P-51 Mustang World War II fighter airplane and 2009-15 F-22 Raptor Fighter Jet flying in formation over the beach in Ocean City, Maryland.

The P-51 Mustang was built to serve in the skies over World War II battlefields. It was developed and produced by North American Aviation in 1940. It could attain speeds over 400 MPH and carried 6 50-caliber Browning Machine Guns.

The F-22 Raptor Fighter Jet was built by Lockheed Martin in 2009 and (obviously) still flies today to provide defenses for the United States Armed Forces and carries a variety of modern weaponry.

Note: The images for sale are proportionally “sized” for framing in 8×10 up to 16×20 inch sizes and would look great on a wall in your home or office.

I Never Met a Potato I Didn’t Like

My guilty pleasure is a bucket of fries on the boardwalk.

Yes, I’ll admit it. However, there are a lot worse foods to be in love with than a potato. French fries are not only American, but worldwide. Who does not like French fries? I have tried listening to stories of people who do not like French fries. I did not find anyone. Right?

A Bucket of Fries on the Boardwalk – just for you!

Very short story: Standing knee-deep in the Atlantic Ocean, our daughter, who loved to surf even as a three year old, demanded we get some French Fries. My son and I looked at her in disbelief. “Right now? There’s no way”, I told her. No one else was around; we were so far down the beach it was almost deserted, but still… they were French Fries .”Let’s go Daddy! Come on!” she pleaded. And then the smell hit us – freshly cooked French Fries only a few hundred yards away. Just imagine being there and having that olfactory awakening.

Here’s just another thought about lusting after some hot French Fries…

Remember, French Fries do not judge YOU – so you should not be one to judge them. Right?

Jigsaw Puzzle of French Fries Not Judging You
A Bucket of Boardwalk-style French Fries as a Jigsaw Puzzle.

Our French Fries photographs are food-grade (just kidding) and printed on archival photographic paper. You might consider framing – it’s durable, protects the image from scratches and moisture, and gives a rich, professional look to the prints. Mat and frame choices can be made to suit that perfect spot in your home or office.

Links to these two images for wall art (prints, framed or on canvas) and for home decor items. How’ about a throw pillow or a coffee mug? Or maybe even a beach towel?

Boardwalk French Fries Throw Pillow

Link: French Fries on the Boards Print

Link: Fries Do Not Judge You Print

Link to: Bill’s Gallery at Fine Art America

Link to: Bill’s Ocean City Gallery at Pictorem (w/ Free Shipping)

I remember a quote by Dolly Parton (if I’ve got it correct): PotatopotatopotatoI never met a spud I didn’t like.” I see nothing wrong with that. How about you? In moderation, of course. Yeah, right!

If you have a place at the beach.

Relax in your vacation unit and enjoy how you have chosen to decorate it. Our wall art prints and home decor items add a touch of color, style and life to dull walls (or cover up unsightly marks). Home decor items such as pillows, mugs or towels will help you surprise guests at your place or simply add a personal touch of glamour to your favorite place.

In Summary

I will admit, I am addicted to potatoes. I will eat them as French fries, as potato wedges, as potato chips , as mashed potatoes, baked potatoes or you name it – I love them. Especially French Fries on the Boardwalk. In Ocean City, MD that means either Thrasher’s French Fries or Boardwalk Fries. Yum.