Your Bio

Hi! I'm F. John Barker III, known (since 1990) as Silver Blue. I have a passion for cooking and photography, and enjoy capturing the world around me, perhaps from a different, sometimes quirky perspective. The food you see here is food that I have cooked, and photographed with no tricks that the magazines use. You will find some recipes at http://thewannabegourmet.com . Other photographs (and some backstories behind them) may be found at my photo blog at http://eyesofsilverblue.com .

I've partnered with SmugMug (until June 2013) to bring you prints and merchandise.

I primarily shoot with a Canon dSLR and a Panasonic Lumix point and shoot.

"Like" me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SilverBluePhotography

Galleries

Barboursville Ruins 2012

Designed by Thomas Jefferson for Governor James Barbour. Built 1814, D ...

Updated: Oct 07, 2012 5:58pm EDT

Birds Part 1

This gallery's for the birds!

Updated: Jul 29, 2012 2:32pm EDT

Botanical Gardens Norfolk VA

Some of the highlights traveling through Norfolk's Botanical Gardens.

Updated: Jul 23, 2012 5:48pm EDT

Botanical Gardens 10-12

Autumn comes to the Botanical Gardens, with turtles, spiders, and gues ...

Updated: Oct 21, 2012 3:36pm EDT

The Bunny

A wee bunny (and his pal, a blackbird) pay a visit to my backyard.

Updated: Jul 21, 2012 10:42am EDT

Busch Gardens 4-14-12

Spring comes to Busch Gardens, voted America's Most Beautiful Amusemen ...

Updated: Sep 23, 2012 8:15am EDT

Busch Gardens Wmbg (Part 1)

Busch Gardens, Williamsburg (formerly known as "Busch Gardens: The Old ...

Updated: Aug 05, 2012 8:12pm EDT

Busch Gardens Wmbg Part 2

A journey through Busch Gardens, Williamsburg, voted "America's Most B ...

Updated: Aug 28, 2012 7:47pm EDT

Busch Gardens Pre-HowlOScream

Multiple Winner of Most Beautiful Amusement Park in America. Final wee ...

Updated: Sep 08, 2012 7:09pm EDT

Butterflies

Butterflies (Pipevine Swallowtail, Monarchs, Common Buckeye) photograp ...

Updated: Jul 21, 2012 12:23pm EDT

Celebrations

Celebrations from various times and places....

Updated: Aug 12, 2012 9:25am EDT

Christmas Snow 2004 (Hampton VA)

I was in Ohio for the Christmas Blizzard of 2004, but Sandra L. Philli ...

Updated: Oct 01, 2012 7:15pm EDT

Churches

Churches, mostly from the Hampton Roads area.

Updated: Jul 28, 2012 2:20pm EDT

Commodore Theater

Historic Art Deco Theater, The Commodore, in Old Town Portsmouth, VA.

Updated: Jul 27, 2012 7:38pm EDT

Eagles

Bald Eagles, under the conservatory of Busch Gardens, Williamsburg, VA ...

Updated: Jul 21, 2012 3:40pm EDT

Elizabeth City NC 2006

A trip to the "Harbor of Hospitality". I plan on visiting and photogra ...

Updated: Sep 13, 2012 7:28pm EDT

Filter Manipulation

Having a bit of fun with lens filters.

Updated: Oct 23, 2012 1:32pm EDT

Flowers (Part 1)

Mother Nature puts on her most colourful!

Updated: Jul 21, 2012 3:21pm EDT

Flowers (Part 2)

Updated: Jul 26, 2012 6:24pm EDT

Flowers (Part 3)

Remembering the spring and summer....

Updated: Oct 24, 2012 6:57pm EDT

Flowers, Spring 2008

A variety of roses, azaleas, and such, to brighten up the day!

Updated: Oct 05, 2012 7:02pm EDT

Food

Come taste life! Add some flavour to your walls through the addition o ...

Updated: Jul 21, 2012 4:36pm EDT

Food Part 2

Bring your appetite and come visit my kitchen!

Updated: Aug 19, 2012 4:43pm EDT

Fred Heutte Center Gardens

Located in Ghent, Norfolk, VA.

Updated: Sep 26, 2012 6:00pm EDT

Grove Cemetery Kenton Ohio

Time trip through the tombstones of those who have passed before us.

Updated: Oct 25, 2012 7:33pm EDT

Hardin County Armory

Kenton, Ohio. Classic Decommissioned Armory, now restored. Time travel ...

Updated: Jul 31, 2012 9:59am EDT

HDR Part 1

Creating more of the reality that the camera cannot capture, due to li ...

Updated: Oct 15, 2012 8:11pm EDT

Holiday Joy

Gallery created 8/24 - four months to Christmas Eve! Wander back to De ...

Updated: Aug 24, 2012 5:05pm EDT

Holiday Joy Part 2

Further journeys in the Wythe neighbourhood in the very mild Holiday S ...

Updated: Aug 25, 2012 6:20pm EDT

Hurricane Isabel Sep 03

Pre and Post Hurricane...I was trying to learn how to capture the deva ...

Updated: Sep 24, 2012 8:19pm EDT

In a Black and White Mood 1

A variety of shots....stripped of their colour

Updated: Sep 30, 2012 2:24pm EDT

In The Time of Segregation

Montpelier Train Station; Restored to 1910 era, for historical segrega ...

Updated: Oct 08, 2012 2:03pm EDT

Kenton, Ohio 2002

2002 trip to Kenton, Ohio, and the Armory Restoration, in full force!

Updated: Oct 10, 2012 9:20pm EDT

Kenton, Ohio 2004

Hardin County, Kenton, Ohio. Summer of 2004.

Updated: Sep 28, 2012 7:18pm EDT

Kenton, Ohio 2006

Hardin County, Kenton, Ohio, 2006.

Updated: Aug 11, 2012 9:06am EDT

Kenton, Ohio 2008

Hardin County, Kenton, Ohio, my last summer visit, 2008.

Updated: Aug 16, 2012 2:05pm EDT

King Neptune

The 34 foot tall statue at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront.

Updated: Apr 17, 2013 8:09pm EDT

Life Thru A Lens (Part 1)

Various shots of life, as seen through my lens.

Updated: Aug 07, 2012 8:17pm EDT

Lights at Botanical Gardens 09

The Holiday Lights at Norfolk's Botanical Gardens, December 2009

Updated: Aug 08, 2012 8:46pm EDT

Luray Caverns 07 (Part 1)

2007 trip to the Luray Caverns, Virginia.

Updated: Sep 15, 2012 9:00am EDT

Luray Caverns 07 (Part 2)

Part 2 of the 2007 trip underground into the Luray Caverns, Virginia.

Updated: Sep 16, 2012 9:34am EDT

Luray Caverns 07 (Part 3)

Continuing Underground, this is Part 3 of the trip to Luray Caverns, V ...

Updated: Sep 17, 2012 8:32am EDT

Luray Caverns 07 (Part 4)

Nearing the end of our journey, we view the Stalagpipe Organ of Luray ...

Updated: Sep 18, 2012 1:08pm EDT

Luray Caverns 07 (Part 5)

We close our our journey by leaving Luray Caverns and stopping by the ...

Updated: Sep 19, 2012 4:35pm EDT

MacArthur Mall Norfolk

Interior and Exterior of Hampton Roads' most recent shopping mall. (Ph ...

Updated: Sep 21, 2012 4:13pm EDT

Million Bulb Walk 2012

The opening night of Pedestrian Walk-Through of the Garden of Lights a ...

Updated: Nov 24, 2012 6:14pm EDT

Misc

These are what I call "Feel Good" photos.

Updated: Jul 21, 2012 9:54pm EDT

Moment of Zen

Let the candles' glow take you away....

Updated: Sep 10, 2012 6:00pm EDT

The Moon

The moon, in all its glory. Includes the 2012 Super Moon.

Updated: Jul 20, 2012 10:29pm EDT

New Orleans (Pre-Katrina) 03

Laissez les bons temps rouler! Journey with me to Pre-Katrina ravaged ...

Updated: Sep 11, 2012 7:12pm EDT

Abandoned Newmarket Theaters

Newmarket South Theaters (Hampton/Newport News Line) - with theaters 3 ...

Updated: Aug 06, 2012 2:45pm EDT

Old Newport News Coke Plant

Downtown Newport News, VA abandoned Coca Cola plant.

Updated: Jul 21, 2012 11:20am EDT

Norfolk Botanical Rose Garden

The famous rose gardens at Norfolk's Botanical Gardens.

Updated: Jul 22, 2012 7:37am EDT

Norfolk VA Grand Illumination 2006 Part 1

Updated: Oct 09, 2012 8:49pm EDT

Norfolk VA Grand Illumination 06 Part 2

2nd half of Norfolk's Grand Illumination parade, 2006.

Updated: Oct 13, 2012 2:39pm EDT

ODU Monarch Fountain

ODU's Monarch Statue above its fountain.

Updated: Aug 02, 2012 3:04pm EDT

ODU PKP Induction 5-1-13

Updated: May 02, 2013 8:12am EDT

Various ODU Shots

Travel around Monarch Village and Old Dominion University's Campus, No ...

Updated: Aug 21, 2012 7:50pm EDT

Old Towne Portsmouth VA

Revitalization, which just didn't work. The city attempted to bring th ...

Updated: Oct 03, 2012 5:58pm EDT

Painting Stylization

Some of my photos, processed to look like paintings.

Updated: Apr 13, 2013 11:46am EDT

Past Gas

A "restored and reconstructed" Gulf Gas station on Route 33 in Ohio. ( ...

Updated: Aug 09, 2012 8:17pm EDT

Ren Festival Bowie MD 03

The Renaissance Festival, Bowie, MD, September 2003

Updated: Jul 30, 2012 2:38pm EDT

The Road to Orange (VA) 2008

A journey to a small town of yesteryear. Complete with colour changing ...

Updated: Aug 15, 2012 3:57pm EDT

Roses, End of 2007

Roses in December? Oh yes, in Hampton Roads, we have for the past 8 ye ...

Updated: Oct 17, 2012 10:05am EDT

Roxette Bunny in Kenton Ohio 2003

Have a little fun with my blue friend, Roxette Bunny™ as she hops arou ...

Updated: Aug 13, 2012 2:57pm EDT

Sand Mandala (Hampton, August 12)

The Drepung Loseling Monks visit the American Theatre in Hampton and c ...

Updated: Aug 04, 2012 4:20pm EDT

Sand Mandala (Peace Week 2010)

The Drepung Loseling Monks visit ODU for Peace Week in April 2010 and ...

Updated: Jul 21, 2012 9:58am EDT

Sky Shots

Clouds, rainbows, and other things.

Updated: Jul 28, 2012 11:28am EDT

Snow Part 1

Cool off with some photos of small snowfall in Hampton Roads.

Updated: Jul 30, 2012 2:39pm EDT

St Patrick's Day Parade 3-16-13

St. Patrick's Day Parade in Ocean View, Norfolk, VA 3-16-13.

Updated: Mar 17, 2013 3:52pm EDT

Sunset Cruise aboard the American Rover

Sunset Cruise in Norfolk, VA aboard the 3 masted schooner, American Ro ...

Updated: Sep 27, 2012 7:29pm EDT

Sunset on the Chesapeake Bay

Enjoy a relaxing sunset at the Chesapeake Grill, on the first island o ...

Updated: Sep 20, 2012 5:39pm EDT

Trip to Tappahannock VA 2012

The final Photo Phriday of Summer 2012 found me in a historic small to ...

Updated: Aug 17, 2012 8:09pm EDT

Toronto and Niagara, Canada - 2001

Updated: Jul 22, 2012 7:20pm EDT

Touch of Colour

Just a hint of colour in the world.

Updated: Jul 29, 2012 2:39pm EDT

Victory Rover Cruise (Part 1)

A relaxing sea cruise to the Naval Base

Updated: Nov 07, 2012 8:10pm EDT

Victory Rover Cruise (Part 2)

The conclusion of a bright, cheerful day to cruise along the Naval Bas ...

Updated: Nov 14, 2012 9:34am EDT

Virginia Beach, VA 4-15-12

On the boardwalk, not under it. LOL. Before the tourist season started ...

Updated: Sep 25, 2012 5:48pm EDT

VA Beach on a Winter's Day

Virginia Beach, on a sunny Winter's Day (Jan 20, 2013).

Updated: Jan 25, 2013 9:15am EDT

A Web Within A Web

How often is it that you'll see a spider web WITHIN a spider web? I di ...

Updated: Oct 21, 2012 3:59pm EDT

Williamsburg

Photos taken in the Colonial Capital, Williamsburg, VA

Updated: Jul 20, 2012 8:56pm EDT

Abandoned Wythe Elementary School

Updated: Jul 25, 2012 11:29am EDT