Color

Well, to break my run of black & white I had to really blast some color. Somehow this unusual shot appeals to me not so much as a photo but as design. I am sure most people would not purposely shoot this framing but the intense color and contrast appeals to me... so that is the story I am sticking with. 

STOP

There are three stop signs in this photo... can you spot them all? (Click image to enlarge)

Really what this is saying is "stop with the black & white". Maybe I got a little carried away with all the monochrome photos but I do have a renewed interest in that look. So stay tuned for a return to color, at least some of the time.

Frame shadow

I sometimes wonder if the artwork frame should get a mention in the museum title card. The intricate detail and amazing piecing and mitering is really quite extraordinary, yet it is only there to support the painting. Who makes these frames? 

High Reach

Not sure why I am attracted to construction but it does lend to be unordinary opportunities for lines, textures, and not seen every day equipment and angles. 

To my right

As I sit at my computer, and turn to the right, this is what I see in with late afternoon sun. Hope you enjoy your everyday simple sights too.    

Expired

This rose was fresh and fragrant ten days ago but, as expected, it is now dried up and looking diminished. If I had presented this flower, in this condition, to my wife for our anniversary I think she would not have been pleased, Yet, one could argue that even now a certain beauty persists. Similar to the aging process us humans undergo, time imprints its mark, but our essence remains beautiful, although transformed.

It is worth noting that the image was captured utilizing the macro lens of my iPhone 15 Pro, which the device automatically selected. The advancements in mobile photography are nothing short of remarkable. No longer a novelty, smartphones have evolved to adeptly handle many photographic situations.

Quiet table for two

Quiet unless the air condition system turns on. And a nice view of the electrical meters and disconnects. What could be better?

Bricks in a circle

Pendent lights

Window view

Gallery angles

Maybe it is just me, but I like interior shots that are not of a specific thing, but rather just angles and surfaces. These were taken at Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens, the predominant gallery in Jacksonville.

Pergola on top

You can't beat the system

I have been playing a bit with shooting in black & white recently. On one hand it seems unnatural, kind of like using a filter, but on the other hand it is a throwback to my early days in photography when I had my own darkroom in the sixties. There is something about black & white that creates a distinct character to a photo which of course is not natural... the world is in color.

Selecting "Dynamic Monochrome" as a setting on the digital camera provides a good preview of the image but of course when I import the RAW file, the camera processing is not retained (only the JPEG preview has the effect). But going back to B&W in Lightroom brings up much more control over the look and the ability to fine tune the final image.

This photo was taken at a building under construction where, for whatever reason, building materials where boxed in these unusual printed cartons. Patriotic perhaps? Or just playful?

(Click the image for a enlarged view) 

Birds

Found this image while going through some photos from last years Africa trip. Image has been fussed with, probably too much, but tried to make it better with editing. This was an art piece hanging from the roof of a rustic airport terminal.

Picnic table

Looks like a cozy spot for lunch... not.

Wilderness fireplug

Construction

Somewhere over Georga

Boat reflection

Ghost moth

Tanks

A six-pack?

Canoe for sale: Half off!

Memorial

The twisted remains of the World Trade Center. 

AKG Art Museum

The old name was the Albright–Knox Art Gallery in Buffalo NY. The recent addition of another large building, connected by the pictured walkway, blends the old and new architectural styles. Art museums are one of my favorite places to visit, and this institution is especially attractive to me as it focuses on modern and contemporary arts.

Sunny seating

Hey Mark…

Next time you get to Buffalo you should check out the Richardson Hotel. It appears they have plenty of room for you. 

The Richardson

Originally an insane asylum and New York State Hospital built in the late 1880’s. After standing abandoned for about 40 years it was extensively restored and updated at great expense into a first class hotel. 

The building was designed by the famous architect Henry Hobson Richardson and the grounds designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. Now known as The Richardson Hotel. 

Beautiful but still a little spooky. 

Stairway

Outside the window

Stop

Peony blossom

A/C alley

>

I like to break the rules of composition sometimes.

Fake flowers

Swamp

Abandoned

 

Faucets

TPC golf course

In the rain

Transisition

Deep Creek

Immersive

Pink