Merry Christmas

Wishing all a great holiday... stay safe and be merry.

Negative space

Backyard visitor

This guy was hanging out right behind our porch. Red-shouldered Hawk I believe. Let me know if I got it wrong.

Architectural angles

Not quite black and white.

Snow Man

Squiggles

Another

One more in B&W with some transform to simulate tilt/shift lens.

Architecture in B&W

I often think architecture looks best in black and white. A little boost in contrast also helps as does dramatic shapes, angles and reflections, all against a noncompeting sky. But maybe it is just me.

Theater doors

Architecture viewed through sculpture

Mr. James

A little shop wedged between its larger neighbors. Almost looks like I photoshopped it in, but that is really what it looks like.

Seaside crane

I decided this looked more dramatic in high contrast black and white. 

Swedish window

The harbor pilot

My trip to scandinavia included a visit with my relatives in Northern Sweden. One of the highlights was going into the home of my great-great-grandfather, which was built on an island off the coast of Luleå. He was a harbor pilot, and because of that, he had some status. His home is now a craft art shop featuring local artworks. His picture still hangs on the wall. It was a great experience being there and thinking of life in those historical times.

Planetarium

Fjords

No trip to Norway is complete without a cruise on the Fjords. We were fortunate that the dense clouds broke to reveal a picturesque sky just as we boarded our battery powered cruise ship. Norway has an abundance of hydropower making electric vehicles (and even some ships) common. 

Windows and awnings

Shops

No entry

Art

Dome

Bergen Norway

Windows and skylights

Hotel Opus XVI

Back from a trip to Scandinavia and have a number of photos to share. Pictured is a hotel in Bergen Norway... a re-purpose of a fine old historic building.

Swimming tubes

Pepper trimmings

Arches

Say Gay

Here in Florida the governor has signed what's been dubbed the "Don't Say Gay" bill that prevents teachers from talking about non-traditional relationships and sexual orientation. This in my opinion is an overstep of government by legislating morality. Weather I agree or disagree is not the point. The Republican party places great priority on freedom, except when it disagrees with he norms they hold.

Don't mean to get political but it is nice to see some push back. The organization behind this has placed 800 of these billboards throughout Florida.

Red circles

Twisted perspective

I liked the strong perspective of this view but when I edited in Lightroom I saw it was not quite level. I went to fix it and moved the control the wrong way and decided that this intentional over-correction had more interest and amplified the perspective depth... so I titled it even more.

Colorful lanterns

There's one in every crowd

Stairway to nowhere

This famous stairway can be found in the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach. It is so called because it was added to the lobby for the purpose of allowing ladies to make an "entrance" to show off their evening wear. Stylish women would enter the hotel and take the elevator to the second floor to check their wrap in the cloakroom, then be noticed as they descend the stair.

The stairway can be seen in one episode of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. 

Sunny hallway

Simple

Sometimes simple things catch my eye.

Manatees

When the ocean cools the manatees in Florida seek the warmth of the natural springs that stay at a constant 72 degrees F. Blue Spring State park sees them congregate by the hundreds this time of year... in fact the park officials estimated there were 600 in the spring the day we visited.

Nassau Harbour Lighthouse

Saturated color

I don't know of any other business that has such a saturated color scheme. Ikea stores seem to have turned up the color to 11, to the point it seems almost unnatural or even possible. Of course blue and yellow are the national colors of Sweden and Ikea likes to tie their nationality into their identity.

All the way down

The reflection in the still water mirrors the trees, making them look like they go down forever.

Morning on the water

Miami on the water

Shot with my iPhone 11 Pro and is a good example of Night Mode that uses multiple exposures to build-up the image.