Hello to all and welcome!

I can't really say what you should expect to see here as I've never before tried blogging or anything similar. It'll have to be a work in progress. I'll probably talk about photography in general (and mine in specific) as well as point out different things that are going on that I find interesting or worth commenting on. If anyone (assuming anyone actually ends up reading this) has questions or suggestions on topics, feel free to let me know.

I'm here you're with me, here at the beginning of all things.

Roger

p.s.  Comments and feedback are very welcome.

Photos of the Week - New Art Gallery opening

June 22, 2015  •  Leave a Comment

Special thanks go to my friend Doug for mentioning this to me.
 

There's a new art gallery in St. Paul that opens its doors for the first time on Wednesday http://theshowartgallery.org/.  The official opening is in August. 
 

They had a general call for artists over the weekend, so I stopped by to discuss particulars with them and to see what type of stuff they were looking for.  To make a long story short, I dropped off two framed prints there earlier (see images below).  I encourage anyone who can, go visit the gallery.  It is in Lowertown St. Paul, on 4th St. between Wacouta and Wall St.
 


 

As with almost all the images I include in these blog posts, prints are available if you click on the image (or any other on the website). 
 

If you go to the gallery, you will see that the prints here are less expensive than those in the show.  The reason for this comes down to matting/framing costs and effort (ie. I don't have to print, matte or frame anything you purchase through this site).
 

Click to Purchaseresting flamingo
 

cedar waxwingcedar waxwing
 


Photo of the Week - Flying Home

June 19, 2015  •  Leave a Comment

I love flying, and, when possible, want a seat by the window.  It is worth it to me to sacrifice leg room for the view.
 

Here's a shot I got flying home from NYC.  It may need a bit more processing, but I like the feel.
 

Click to purchaseFlying into Minneapolis
 


Photos of the Week - History

June 16, 2015  •  Leave a Comment

A couple of things should be noted at the start of this post: 
 

First, downtown Manhattan is not all that large an area, so there are lots of different locations of historic significance within a block of each other.
 

Second, downtown Manhattan has been settled for well over 350 years and there are still a lot of historic sites still standing (or memorials to those that aren't).
 

So, let's start our wandering at Pier A, which is the southernmost tip of the island and also the point closest to both the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island (second image).
 

Click to PurchasePier A
 

Click to PurchaseEllis Island
 

A fairly short walk from there, you can visit Wall Street (but I didn't get a decent picture of the Stock Exchange) and then a block or so later, to Federal Hall, which was where the US government convened and where George Washington was inaugurated as President.

Click to PurchaseFederal Hall and Trinity Church
 

On the far left of the above photos, you can see Trinity Church, which dates back to the 1700s (the version seen here was rebuilt in 1846 (after a fire destroyed the original in 1776 and the second was damaged by weather).  Wander around there and you will quickly see the grave/memorial below (and many others I didn't know to stop and look for):
 


 

Associated with Trinity is St. Paul's Chapel, which has another historic, picturesque graveyard.
 


 

And then, across the street from St. Paul's Chapel is where the twin towers of World Trade Center once stood.  The 9/11 memorial is still under construction, but the footprints of the two towers have been excavated and converted into a very touching site.
 

Click to Purchase9/11 Memorial
 

9/11 Memorial9/11 Memorial
 

No, I do not know the person named or who put the flower there.  It does add to the sense of the place, though.
 

Finally, next door is where the new Freedom Tower looms over the downtown skyline at 1,776 feet tall.
 

Click to PurchaseFreedom Tower
 

Click to PurchaseFreedom Tower
 

Click to PurchaseFreedom Tower
 

The first two images of the Tower were taken at the base, looking up to get a sense of the height.  The final one is a stitched panorama taken by the South Tower pool at the 9/11 Memorial.
 


 


Photos of the Week - A View from the Bridge (and of the Bridge)

June 08, 2015  •  Leave a Comment

Here are a bunch more images from my recent trip to NYC.  They were all of or on the Brooklyn Bridge.
 

This first image is a stitched panorama taken of downtown Manhattan from the first supporting tower.
 

Click to PurchaseDowntown Manhattan from the Brooklyn Bridge
 

This next two were along the river about a block away from the base.  I think the moon gives the images a needed bit of balance.
 

Click to purchase
 

Click to purchase
 

The rest are from the bridge itself.  I think I (and everyone else who shoots there) feel a bit in love iwth the patters made by the support cables.  Not that that's a bad thing.
 

Click to purchase
 

Click to purchase
 


 


Photos of the Week - A View from the Room

June 04, 2015  •  Leave a Comment

I was in New York City over the weekend and had a lot of fun wandering around the downtown area taking pictures.  Of course, I didn't need to leave the hotel room to get some nice shots.  Here was the view from the room at various times of day.
 

Click to purchase
 

Click to purchase
 


 

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