Las Vegas Lines
Las Vegas is, if anything, is colorful. But I think the architectural detail really comes through nicely in black and white.
Walking with a camera one night
St George Blvd laid out by Brigham Young with the establishment of the town in 1861. It was centrally located in SW Utah near California, Nevada and Arizona. Like today, it attracted visitors wanting to see the State and National Parks. Walking down "The Boulevard" as they call it, you see a mix of the old and the new. This burger joint closed last year leaving a photo worthy unlit neon sign.
Sand Dunes Sunrise
Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park in Utah features uniquely pink-hued sand dunes located beside red sandstone cliffs. The dunes are formed from the erosion of pink-colored Navajo Sandstone surrounding the park. High winds pick up loose sand particles and then drop them onto the dunes. The 3,300 acres of dunes are estimated to be between 10,000 and 15,000 years old. Wikipedia
Eye candy
Friday Firework
Firework Art
At the end of a fireworks photo session I wrap up the camera, take it home, insert the cameras memory card in the computer and am always surprised at what was captured.
The Key West Strand
The Strand Theater opened in the mid-1920s as a single screen movie house that sat around 800 people. The theater closed sometime in the early 1980s and reopened as a nightclub. It remained open as a few other nightclubs until it became a Ripley's Believe It Or Not museum in 1993.
The theater was again closed in 2002. It has since reopened as a Walgreens drug store. Based on research, over the past 20 years the marquee had become damaged with parts even missing. Walgreens restored the marquee to its original status. All of the interior has been removed and/or covered over with the exception of the balcony.
Hot Colored Air
Getting to ready launch a field of hot air balloons. This is one of the more colorful and dramatic events I get to photograph.
Nelson Nevada
A wonderful collection of abandoned buildings, various junk and a gold mine.
B&W Navajo Sandstone Canyon Wall
Took this on the Navajo Nation in Page Arizona in a very small part of the 26 mile canyon. In color the reds, pinks and even purples brighten with sunlight but I thought I'd experiment with B&W.
Ta Da!
EAA Airshow in Oshkosh WI
On a windy night
Trying to take photos on a windy 4th of July from a boat.
Color Not Needed
Sea Grass
Walking on a coral reef during low tide and bright sunlight offers interesting combinations of color.
Night Airshow
At the night airshow a plane enters my field of view from the left, performs a loop while occasionally launching fireworks from its wingtips then exits my view to the right. All this while flying over fireworks being launched from the ground.
Ferris Wheel
Amusement rides with their color and motion are fun to photograph after dark. Here, once it began moving I opened the cameras shutter to let the light it, after a few turns I slowly zoomed in and out. These types of photos are always a surprise, like painting wearing a blindfold.
Different
Cloudless windy day, palm trees, a black & white camera and looking for something different.
Las Vegas Lines & Steel
Great city to walk around with my black and white camera.
Key West
Whenever I walk by this house I'd make a mental note to someday stop by with my camera.
Rust in peace
Very photogenic auto salvage yard in a Georgia forest.
Morning Coffee
The Reach hotel in Key West has this wonderful structure built out over the water. It's hard to find a better sunrise watching spot on the island.
Retired Milwaukee warehouse
Like so many old buildings in Milwaukee this one was constructed out of cream city brick. It was a porous material which over time collected the dirt and soot of industry. In my eye is makes for nice B&W photos.
Retired
Probably produced food, feed and sore farmer butts. Found this in Pine Valley Utah which is a picture perfect town the head of the Santa Clara River in the Pine Valley Mountains, and was settled in 1859. The population was 186 at the 2020 census. Significant landmarks include the Pine Valley Mormon Chapel designed by shipbuilder Ebenezer Bryce (Bryce Canyon National Park is named after him) in 1868 using the scheme of an upside-down boat.It is the oldest Mormon chapel in continuous use.
Angles & Reflections
Las Vegas street walking with a camera.
Steam Engine
Henry Ford Museum
The Kiss Statue
At night, in front of the Key West Customs House
Detroit
Nose Art
Nose art is a decorative painting or design on the fuselage of an aircraft, usually on the front fuselage.
While begun for practical reasons of identifying friendly units, the practice evolved to express the individuality often constrained by the uniformity of the military, to evoke memories of home and peacetime life, and as a kind of psychological protection against the stresses of war and the probability of death.
The Shimmer
Though about 6 inches of water the sandstone bottom of a lakeshore shimmered in the noon high sunlight.
Monday Fireworks
Stained Glass
Makes one look up
On a walk with a black and white camera in downtown Milwaukee I saw this in an old warehouse district near the river. The hard working hands are very well done.
Keane Wonder Mine
You can find this mine at the end of a very dusty twisted road on the outskirts of Death Valley National Park CA. It produced gold from 1907 to 1942 when it played out. If you hike up 1.5 miles to the top of the visible ridge, you will see a mile long tram that moved buckets of ore.
Chicago B&W
It is the reflections that really intrigue me. And, by taking this without color or sharpness it forces me to look harder at what is in the photo.
In its Day
Sad architectural decay in Havana
Customs House
Opened in 1891 the Key West Customs House contained Customs Offices, District Court, and Post Office. Today it serves as a museum which I've taken a few photos of over the years due to its great color and design.
Alley Redecorating
What once was a rather ordinary bland alley has now become (IMHO) photo worthy after artists got involved in a beautification project.
Brian Head Overlook Tower
At 11,300 feet in elevation, the structure, built in 1934 has served as a recreational overlook and an occasional fire lookout. It features panoramic views across state lines, from Utah’s wilderness, to Arizona’s Mount Trumbull and Navajo Mountain and Nevada’s Wheeler and Highland peaks. A storm in 2024 tore its roof off but a restoration project is planned.
How to dress up a city block
Walking along the Milwaukee River, an area of abandoned warehouses and factories when I came upon this beautiful mural which was about 3x larger than what you see here.
Air Show Artistry
Night airshow maneuvers as seen with a long shutter opening.
Spinning Mirrors
Thousands of 2 inch mirrors spinning with the breeze.
Old Town Havana
In its day, prior to 1959, the old town section of Havana must have been one of the most beautiful cities anyone could have imagined. These days everything, unless it attracts tourist dollars, is crumbling from neglect.
Light and Symmetry
The buildings on the Las Vegas Strip offer wonderful combinations of color, light and design.
Alley Art
Walking in an old neighborhood in Milwaukee I came upon this alley behind a restaurant which looked bright and colorful. On both sides were a dozen nice murals. One even had a small flower garden planted in front of it.
Mushroom
Walking through a farmers market I saw these very large mushrooms and because it had almost no color I tried a B&W photo. For a second I considered calling it Colonoscopy.
Cuban Art
Floored
Standing in the magnificent lobby of the Milwaukee Art Museum I placed the camera on the highly polished floor.
Air Show Finale
Following the EAA night airshow the grand finale is beautiful fireworks. I stood behind the DC9 as it was polished aluminum hoping to get good reflections.
Lou Ruvo
Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, opened in 2010, in Las Vegas. It has become a national resource for the treatment of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's disease, multiple sclerosis, and ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease); also focusing on prevention, early detection, and education. Its 65,000 sq ft includes 13 examination rooms, offices for practitioners and researchers, a "Museum of the Mind", and a community auditorium. It was designed by Frank Gehry.
Need a project?
On the way to explore Pioche NV there are a few roadside (in my opinion) photo ops.
Radial Aircraft Engine
Nelson Nevada Mines, active from about 1858 until 1945. Many of the men that created this area were deserters from the Civil War. This was one of the first major gold strike areas in Nevada. Now a gold mine of great junk. Many open mines and ventilation shafts-use caution. Man who lived here after the mines closed was a hoarder.
Neon museum
Las Vegas neon museum opens their yard once a month for photographers.
Dashboard Hula Girl
From the 1950s
Old and New Chicago
R.I.P.
1950 Super Buick Eight
Smartly decorated auto body shop in Las Vegas
While walking down an alley between The Strip and Downtown.
Plate Glass Art
A fraction of what you see was through the glass while most of it is behind me reflecting into it.
Nevada Suntan
Another thing along that same road
Along the same fence but way different...possibly another family member likes to also weld.
Wet Confetti
There must have been a big celebration last night because confetti was blowing all over. Someone was hosing to the street as I was walking by, colors simply caught my eye and now maybe they catch yours.
Rescued & Retired
For many years a non-profit has been saving old Las Vegas signage from the wrecking ball. They collect them in storage yard, light them and allow photographers in once a month. Some are refurbished and installed in the boulevards around Fremont Street. Day or night hey are beautiful examples of historic Downtown Las Vegas.
Mackinac Bridge
Connecting the lower and upper portions of Michigan. As we wiz under, the steel is 200 feet above me. The length of the steel is 19,243 feet. Depth of the water below is 295 feet. Overall total length of the bridge including approaches is more than 5 miles.
Key West Porch
I walk or ride a bike everywhere in Key West. When I walk I usually carry a small camera. In what is called Old Town most homes sit close to the sidewalk on very narrow lots so front porches are the dominant feature. To me they all tell a story or just give a hint to what you'll find on the inside.
Nelson Art
Nelson Nevada is a wonderful collection of photogenic junk, cholla cactus, snakes and an old gold mine.
Sun Baked
Nevada sun.....
Rhyolite Nevada
In it’s day this was a large wealthy city until the gold mine stopped producing.
Night Airshow Eaa
Some of my favorite time playing with a camera.
Arizona Slot Canyon
It is called Canyon X in Page AZ which is part of the Antelope Canyon system. The entire canyon is on Navajo land so entry requires a Navajo guide.
Holy Hill Shrine
Holy Hill National Shrine of Mary is a Roman Catholic Marian shrine in Erin, Wisconsin. It serves as a religious pilgrimage and attracts approximately 300,000 visitors each year. The shrine is located atop a high kame in 400 acres of woods. Visitors can climb a 178-step observation tower to view the Milwaukee skyline, about thirty miles southeast. At approximately 1,350 feet above sea level, it is one of the highest points in southeastern Wisconsin. Wikipedia
Welcome 2024
Bye Bye 2023....Welcome 2024 Madison WI
Pastoral Utah
Driving back after a day at Bryce Canyon we came upon this building next to a pond. Climbed a fence which kept the cattle in, took a few photos and continued on.
Early 1900s
Nelson Nevada Mines, active from about 1858 until 1945. Many of the men that created this area were deserters from the Civil War. This was one of the first major gold strike areas in Nevada. Now a gold mine of great junk.
Friday Fireworks
I really enjoy taking photos of fireworks because of what the camera sees when it freezes the light and motion. Always a surprise and all so different.
Long Retired Buick
Many years spent retired in a Georgia forrest.
Night Airshow
Long open shutter then a surprise when I download the photo to see if it worked.
Glass Steel & Lights
Las Vegas at night is wonderful to photograph.
Lifeguard tower
There are now 36 Lifeguard Towers just along the coastline of Miami Beach from the very tip at South Pointe Park up to 87th Street.
Civilian Conversation Corps
Nelson Nevada Mines, active from about 1858 until 1945. Many of the men that created this area were deserters from the Civil War. This was one of the first major gold strike areas in Nevada. Now a gold mine of great junk. Many open mines and ventilation shafts-use caution. Man who lived here after the mines closed was a hoarder.
Blue & Bright
Carved Sand
Lit up...maybe 7-8 feet tall, very cool.
Attached to the earth
Maybe 50 years ago it was parked?
Plane enters from the right
Makes a turning loop while releasing fireworks then leaves show center to the left while releasing more before exiting.
The Reach
The Reach is a hotel in Key West with this beautiful pavilion. This photo was taken long before sunrise with my shutter left open for 36 seconds to absorb as much light as possible.
Looking Glass
Into one building and what's behind reflected on top.
Rust in peace
I found this Hudson I think, covered in rust and moss with plants were growing out of it on a photo trip to the circus museum in Baraboo WI.
FW9
Scenic South Dakota
Surprisingly, the town of Scenic, South Dakota is anything but and is currently in a state of ruin and disarray. Currently, the town sits abandoned and empty, as if it is waiting for nature to completely wipe it off the map, which may just make it the most abandoned town in South Dakota.
Long Retired
Lincoln
Not exactly sure of the year but over 50 years old.
Fireworks in the wind
I was sitting in the bow of a boat on a windy night taking photos of shore launched fireworks. So the wind was coming from the left pushing the bow to the right but my friend was steering to the left to keep the fireworks centered. The lights near the bottom were other boats that were probably steering and moving to the left to counteract the strong winds as we were. So that explains that...I guess.
Bellagio Hotel Ceiling
Designed by famous glass artist, Dale Chihuly.
Rock House
Near Lee's Ferry Arizona. Used as a place for travelers to stop way before there was a paved road in this area. I tried to find out how old it was with our success.
Falling Man
The Falling Man site is located in Gold Butte National Monument. This is one of the most stunning landscapes in the Southwest…beautifully colored red Aztec sandstone, along with purple and orange rocks. The rock art in this location has many layers of history, being used by several generations over the millennia. Estimates date the rock art between 700 years old for the newest petroglyphs to 7,000 years old for the very oldest. The name “falling man” comes from a single image of a man that appears to be falling, located on the cliff wall. Based on the image and its location on a high narrow edge of a it’s easy to think that this was some form of memorial for an individual that fell. Per Guide
Havana
This really is a photograph. Sometimes street scenes look like paintings.
Hello hello
Walking through a tough area of Las Vegas there were many signs of trouble.
Key West Color
Wynwood Walls
The Wynwood Art District in Miami contains galleries, outdoor murals and private art collections. It was conceived in 2009 as a way to revitalize the neighborhood by turning warehouses into works of art. Formerly an industrial district, the area is now known for the murals that cover the walls of many of the buildings and much of the sidewalks. Wikipedia
This building contains an arts and crafts business. This mural, and all the art I saw in the area, was done using spray cans.
Window Art
It made walk over..so colorful, strong yet delicate.
Havana Door
Walking in Havana offers wonderful photo opportunities on each and every street.
Plymouth
One of thousands