Striving to take a better photo than I did last week.
June 7, 2013
Architecture, England, Museum 1 Comment
At the heart of Windsor Castle in England is the Middle Ward, a bailey formed around the motte or artificial hill in the center of the ward. The motte is 50 ft high and is made from chalk originally excavated from the surrounding ditch. The keep, called the Round Tower, rests on top and is today used to provide additional space for the Royal Archives.
June 6, 2013
Architecture, Church, Houston Leave a comment
The Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart may not be the newest church (but it’s only five years old) but it is one of the more unique churches in Houston. I remember the news reports when it opened, since it was such a large and beautiful structure. It certainly stands out when you drive past it as you enter downtown Houston.
Large buildings like these are hard to shoot though, since street lights, telephone lines and other obstructions make it difficult to get a clear shot. In this case, trees across the street and a long parking lot wall also added to the challenge. A nice wide-angle lens is a necessity for these types of photos. For a closer look of the dome in the top left, see this photo.
June 3, 2013
Architecture, Houston, iPhone Leave a comment
Like many people, my family loves going to the movies. We save the trip to the theater for what I call “big screen movies”. You know, the really big action flicks that just don’t translate well to the small screen. Action heros, space ships, and fast cars are just some of the types that qualify for our movie budget.
Trying out a new theater close to us, I thought I would play with the panoramic feature on the iPhone before the start of the movie. We were there on a weekday for an afternoon show, so the crowd was lite. As it stitched the images together, the movie screen kept changing scenes. I tried several times, but I couldn’t get a single image on that frame. It did catch Christy, my oldest, as she was encouraging me to shoot the pano. The rest of the family had not entered the theater yet.
Panos are best done on a tripod to keep images even and straight, but the built-in iPhone feature makes it fun to experiment.
May 31, 2013
Architecture, Houston 1 Comment
Very few things in life can catch your attention as fast as neon lights at night. There you are driving down the street when you see it. You can hardly keep from looking away from all those bright, glowing lights. For those of us that don’t live close to Las Vegas, you appreciate a nice display (any display) of the neon rainbow.
This Pappa’s Bar-B-Q is in downtown Houston and is best experienced at night. Of course, the food is best experienced any time they’re open.
May 1, 2013
Architecture, France Leave a comment
As beautiful as the large cathedrals in Europe are, many are showing their age and the results of erosion from the elements and pollution. Many of the churches were made out of limestone, since it was available and relatively easy cut and carve. But because it is a softer stone, it is more likely to wear down faster.
The Rouen Cathedral was in the midst of repairing some of the pinnacles when we visited last July. Inside they had placed some of statues of saints from the exterior facade that were too weathered or in danger of collapse. Occasionally, when repairing these types of structures, a replacement piece will be created to take the place of the original. Notice how they are all looking down, since they were up high on the side of the church.
April 26, 2013
Architecture, Texas, Travel Misc. Leave a comment
When you have kids, you think they are going to stay small forever. You blink and all of a sudden they’re grown and you realize you only have a little time left before they leave the nest. Our family has been visiting a few colleges to help our girls decide where they might decide to go after high school. Each school has been great for different reasons, but like most choices, you have to narrow them down to one or two.
Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas is not the biggest in the state, nor the smallest. But it does have a charm all it’s own. The surrounding trees, beautiful azaleas and small town feel add to its attraction. This is the Baker Pattillo Student Center with ballrooms, food courts, movie theater and more. Will either of my kids go there? Decisions, decisions.
April 3, 2013
Architecture, Dallas Leave a comment
Anyone that has been to one of the large, multi-level shopping malls across the country can attest that it’s a remarkable experience. Stores, stores and more stores. Recently, we took a trip to Dallas where my wife and daughter wanted to visit the Dallas Galleria. Not nearly as large as the Houston Galleria, it’s still pretty large. Since we were there long enough that I thought they would charge us rent, I had ample opportunity to window shop. The girls were spending the real money.
If you’re female, you would love this shopping metroplex. The guys were hitting the food court, looking at their iPhones or hanging around the overlooks and looking at, well, other people. All in all, it was a fun experience. My only complaint is that there isn’t a Home Depot or Lowe’s. There wasn’t even a Radio Shack!
April 2, 2013
Architecture, Church, France Leave a comment
Though many of the cathedrals of Europe are large, they are not the cold, stoney buildings you might imagine. You discover that each one has a unique character and feel. With their side chapels, crypts and other rooms, they each tell a story of their own.
This is the center cross section of Notre Dame in Paris. The large windows on each side offer ample illumination, yet in the side hallways, there is a more intimate feeling.
March 18, 2013
Architecture, England Leave a comment
The best travel tip for taking photos with few people at the more popular tourist spots is to go just before closing time. Wait until you are the last one to walk out and take you last, wide-angle,interior photo, just before the guard throws you out. I never had that luxury in Europe, traveling with a tour group. We seemed to hit everything at peak tour times, so the crowds were ever present. You will always have the people that will linger out front, but that can be a good thing, as it sometimes can give buildings scale.
This is St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, on a typical, dreary evening in London. It was late in the day, but a service was finishing up, so photos inside were not possible.
March 14, 2013
Architecture, England Leave a comment
I have never studied architecture, but I enjoy looking at the older buildings and can appreciate the skill and craftsmanship it took to create them, both in design and construction. The Divinity School at the Bodleian Library is one such building, both inside and out. Located at the University of Oxford, it fits right in with wonderful designs that compliment that campus.
