Bookmark - Building Adjacent to the Houston Zoo (Architecture)

Back to the zoo with this one.  While there my eyes aren't on just the animals, but anything in the surrounding area that has potential for a photo.  This combines my interest in the patterns of architecture with a favorite theme of taking a picture of something through something in the foreground.

Bookmarks - Round Building in Taipei (Architecture)

 

Bookmark - St. Paul's (Architecture)

St Paul's Cathedral here in Houston, in the museum district.

Bookmark - Williams Window Shot (Architecture)

Another bookmark of the fountain wall that's adjacent to the Williams Tower here in Houston.

Bookmarks - Walkway Patterns (Return to Architecture)

Now to continue with architecture while at the beach, a reminder that so much of the way things are built create patterns.  And patterns are a photographer's friend.  This and the photo below captured our neighbors' walkways down to the sandy shores of the Pacific:

Bookmarks - Topsail Beach (A Departure from Architecture)

But the beach does provide ample opportunity for photography, provided that you keep your camera dry and salt-free.  This was taken from the back balcony of the house featured in yesterday's bookmark.

And below is Maggie, my dad's wife and our step-mother, who enjoyed the beach every bit as much as he did.  That was a good marriage; their lifestyles meshed beautifully and she provided a transparent, honest love mixed with just the right dose of conflict.  She had two wonderful daughters and an awesome family that, being from the New England states, was quintessentially American.  A joy to be around.

Bookmark - North Topsail Beach Steps (Architecture) / Not a Beach Person

My dad and his family rented this house for about a month every year in September.  Being on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, they were chased inland on occasion due to hurricanes.  The family and I made it there a couple of times, but I'm not a beach person so didn't get much out of it other than spending time with loved ones.

Some express surprise that I don't like the beach.  Never have, which sets me apart from most of the population I guess.  When asked, I give three reasons:  I don't like sand; I don't like wind; and I don't like getting into water where wild animals that you don't see bump into you.

Bookmark - Galveston Porch (Architecture)

Jumping ahead in time a bit, this is a house on Broadway in Galveston, captured back in 2008 while on a Girl Scout trip with our daughter.

Bookmarks - Byland Spire (Architecture)

Bookmarks - Abbey Window (Architecture)

 

Bookmark - Yorkminster Facade (Architecture)

I was a tad envious of the couple way up there because of the picture-taking potential.  But it was windy that day, and cold, so we didn't make the effort.  Besides, time was short and we needed to head on to Manchester for the flight back to the States the next day.

Bookmarks - York Spires (Architecture)

 

Bookmark - York Clock Tower (Architecture)

A clock tower in York, England.  This pic was captured with a very dark exposure, and it took quite a bit of finesse to coax the pixels to give up what light there was.  Finally ended up satisfied with what you see here and here...

Bookmark - Red Condominuims (Architecture)

For some reason I latched onto this, the Hotel ZaZa (whatever that means) overlooking the Mecom Fountain.  Would be interesting to have a room here on the third or fourth level, looking down on (and taking pictures of) the park below.

This is a good candidate for sky replacement...am toying with the idea of putting a mountain or something similar in the background.

Bookmark - Corpus Omni (Architecture)

Could use a tiny bit of tweaking for perspective on this one.  Anyone who's been there knows that this is the Omni by the waterfront in Corpus Christi, which has quite a distinctive look.  I had a room in the tower to the right, which afforded some pretty good views of the harbor, which in turn afforded some pretty good opportunities for picture-taking.

Bookmark - Williams Tower (Architecture)

The Williams Tower in Houston, Galleria area.  In days gone by it was called the Transco Tower.  Behind me is the Hines Waterwall, where this pic was posted of our daughter Allison.

Bookmark - Top of Rice Tower (Architecture)

 

Bookmarks - Rice University Arches (Architecture)

The iconic administration building at Rice University, with the facade of another of its buildings below:

Bookmarks - George R Brown (Architecture)

Supposing that a picture of a building is a photograph about architecture, I continue with this, the George R Brown Convention Center in Houston.  Reflection shot below of same:

Bookmark - Yorkminster Door (Architecture)

 

Bookmarks - Harbor Bridge (Architecture)

Another one from Corpus; the masts of tall ships can be seen beneath its span.

Using branches for effect below:

Bookmarks - Steward Title Co (Architecture)

Bookmark - Woodlands Cemetery Chime (Graveyards)

Buried a close friend in The Woodlands, and during a visit chanced by this chime.  Because cemeteries are so numerous and varied, you never know what you're going to find...

Bookmarks - Columbus Christ (Graveyards)

 

Bookmarks - Graveyard Flowers (Graveyards)

 

Bookmark - Columbus Cemetery (Graveyards) / Tombstone Trouble

As stated many times on this blog, I love a graveyard.  Graveyards are generally peaceful, quiet places, and very interesting...lots of history and culture, each unique to its locality.  So for me there is solace in slowly wandering through the rows of tombstones, being careful not to step onto the graves themselves.  And - as also stated before - while on the road for a business trip I would often pull into a graveyard to take a nap, as most have shade trees.

I suppose that the one I visit most is the graveyard where Mom is buried in Orange.  Lots of people and families we knew are there, and, sadly, even several of my peers growing up.  Seeing their names stirs mostly-good memories of days gone by.

My penchant for stopping at graveyards even got me into trouble at work one day.  We were in Austin on business, and I was on my way to a meeting after dropping off a presenter at the airport when I passed the Texas State Cemetery.  I had to stop, and got so lost taking pictures of its history and lore that I missed the meeting.  Not only that, I was so excited about it that when I got back to the hotel I shared my enthusiasm to some friends, which was overheard by someone who went straight to my boss.  I was justifiably raked over the coals, and had to take vacation hours for the time spent at the graveyard.  Was it worth it?  I've long since stopped second-guessing one's path and the things that happen in life...

Bookmark - Tall Ship Mooring (Boats)

Captured on a Criminal Justice business trip, saw an opportunity here to use depth of field for effect.  Tall ships are quite a draw on the coast...this one was in Corpus Christi, where they have replicas of the ships that Columbus used in his voyages west.

Bookmark - Elissa Workforce (Boats)

 

Bookmark - Galveston Masts (Boats)

Boats with masts can sometimes make for interesting shots.  Other examples here and here.

Bookmarks - Galveston Ferries (Boats)

Their bright colors and long, low profiles make these guys good candidates for a bookmark.  And these in Galveston go back a long way...remember many a ride as a small child on our way to McFaddin or Crystal Beach.

Bookmark - Crated Skiffs (Boats)

These also from Corpus Christi.  Guess I was in the mood to take pictures of boats that day.