Veiled window

Curious

Rhine castle

Strasbourg street

The other side

This is the same church as the last post (see the steeple in the left corner of this photo). It does look like quite different from this angle. The older post is dominated by ocher tones but on closer inspection you can see the muted walls and red trim that is most prominent in this post. Proof that point of view can make a difference. 

Steeple

Purple door

Two ways

I find it amusing that many people only want to see the world through their cell phone camera. The person on the left stopped only a second to take a picture of this well know masterpiece and never really looked at the artwork.

The the group on the left seemed to be much more interested in experiencing the art with their eyes rather than from their phones... a much better choice is my opinion.

Art galleries are only one example of this "take a picture" attitude. Concerts are another example. Didn't you come to see the live performance rather than look at your phone?

Van Gogh Museum

Like many cities in Europe, there are several excellent museums in Amsterdam. The Van Gogh Museum contains many of his famous paintings and everywhere you looked there was reference to his most famous works. The skylight in the the one of atriums had a pleasing pattern and it was fringed by projections of images that tied into the artist's works.

The coffee shop even had a "sunflower cake" as evidenced by the photo below.

Art - Design - Bikes

I recently returned from a European river cruise that started in Amsterdam with stops in Germany, France and ending in Switzerland. I will be posting images from the trip in no particular order or regularity. It is fun for me to visit the photos and do some processing and posting to extend the experience. 

If you have been fortunate enough to visit Amsterdam this shot may look familiar... the city is bike obsessed and a favorite form of transportation. It is one of its charms, but a sharp eye is necessary as the bikes have the right-of-way.

Tied up

Windows and angles

Airport equipment

Stormy weather

Just like much of the country, we have had some active weather over the last few weeks. Clouds and rain every afternoon after sun and blue skies in the morning.

Modern Mission Style

Beachside OPEN

Historic basket

I admire the careful and tedious work that was required for this geometric design work.

Nice hat

From a current exhibition called Knowing the West at the Cummer Museum in Jacksonville.

Yellow ladder

 I often find that when you go around back you can find something more interesting.

Yellow pipe

I try to get the geometry nice and squared-up. I find that very satisfying. Maybe I am just peculiar that way. An unexpected pop of color and a few diagonals help too.

Ghosts downstairs

Blank stare

Window views at MOCA

Over the weekend, we visited MOCA, Jacksonville’s Museum of Contemporary Art, located in downtown Jacksonville, Florida. The museum has resided in several locations over its 100-year history. Currently, it is situated in a converted building that was formerly the Western Union’s offices. While the Art Deco building possesses architectural interest, the large, prominent windows posed challenges to designing appropriate galleries. However, the remaining accessible windows offer unique views of neighboring downtown structures.

The image below depicts another repurposed historic building across the street, which was formerly a hotel and now serves as the Jacksonville city hall.

While visitors primarily come to view the art, I found both the art and the window views enjoyable.

Shadow

From the other side.

Peek inside

Metro

Live oak

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Mural

Science fiction

Unusual because those are obviously not accurate colors. 

I shot this on my recent cruise on the top deck. I liked the white radar domes (I guess) against the pale blue sky with the subtile clouds on the horizon. But... I shot this with my iPhone and I had been messing with controls and did not realize in the bright morning light that the photos were taken in black & white, and not in RAW so I was disappointed to find the attractiveness of that sky was lost.

And so, frustrated, I started fiddling with the photo and created masks and added colors to create this otherworldly image. I was planning to do this in Photoshop but found I was able to achieve the look using only LightRoom.

So it is a gimmick, but a unique image nonetheless.

Splash

Tampa skyline

Margarita

We did a short cruise on the Margaritaville line, and of course the lime/tequila drink was the star of the show (but no FREE margaritas!). This statue was on one of the decks proudly toasting the passengers.

Coaster

Our view from our hotel of Busch Gardens across the street. We were not there to visit the park, but we did get a nice look at some big rides.

Piink house

Spring growth

Condos

Blue theater lighting

Blue LED lighting is so color intense. It is much more magical than incandescent lights with blue gel filters. This stage lighting created a mood while waiting for the band to start.

Little hotel, big mural

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Capital

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Tubes

Details of the pipes that make the Nocatee water slide work. Looks pretty complicated. One of two water parks in the community I live in.

Museum of Arts & Science, Daytona FL

MOAS in Daytona Florida has exhibit space in several galleries and buildings. This building appears to be quite new and is formally known as the Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum of Art. It is billed as home to the largest collection of Florida art in the world. When I visited it also had a impressive display of John James Audubon paintings and prints.
 

Yellow and orange

Pool lanes

Drive-up

Not sure why certain views, like this, appeal to me. Maybe it is the angles or the texture of the surfaces or the overall composition and colors. Anyway, I can post whatever I want, right?

Not sure what that shower-head looking thing is. 

Dragon

Asian lanterns at the zoo

Two birds

Grackles I think. Sitting on the Jacksonville Beach pier admiring the skyline I suppose. 

Casa Marina