Modern Mission Style

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.

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

Tampa skyline

Condos

Capital

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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.
 

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. 

Reception

The Hirshhorn

An exterior shot of the The Hirshhorn museum in DC. Here the extra wide camera on my iPhone shows off the dramatic architecture of the building. Again it seemed to work best in black & white. I was lucky to capture the family walking toward the entrance. 

Theater lighting

Both decorative and theatrical lighting at the Florida Theater in downtown Jacksonville Florida. The historic 1927 theater was recently restored and updated. Stage lighting is now all LED providing more efficiency and flexibility. There was also plaster repairs and a complete repainting as well as new seating. Turns out modern theater goers need wider seats than was provided a hundred years ago.

Pendent lights

Window view

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) 

Picnic table

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

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.