These go back to a rainy night in March, 2006. I was in a hotel near LAX and the 405 Freeway, taking long-exposure, hand-held photos of traffic on the freeway to see the visual effects.
I ***STRONGLY*** recommend viewing them while listening to the Doors, “LA Woman!”
Filed under Art, Los Angeles, Photography
As I am wont to do (you can search and find similiar posts at least a couple of years in the past) I like to take long exposures (5-10 seconds seems to work best) of Christmas lights while swinging or moving the camera. You need to use a DSLR or film for this to work – a “smart” camera assumes you don’t know what you’re doing and tries to “correct” the image to compensate for the motion. That isn’t Artificial Intelligence, that’s Natural Stupidity!
The lights got shut off and came down weeks ago, but I grabbed some photos beforehand:
One thing that really stands out in these photos is the color temperature and brightness differences between the incancescent lights and the LEDs. There are a lot of things I like about the LEDs, but those factors are not two of them.
Filed under Art, Christmas Lights, Photography
Because who couldn’t use a tiny little reminder that beauty still exists in the world, especially in light of the horrors going on all around us?
All images from Brussels Cathedral.
Filed under Art, Photography, Travel
My brain was empty, awaiting imprinting or guidance. I ran across a social media thread full of stained glass…
I had stumbled into the National Basilica in Brussels by accident.
Since our hotel was near the city center, my strategy was to get on the subway and go out a dozen stops or so and then make my way back, stopping to see churches, parks, sculpture gardens, architecturally interesting buildings, etm.
This was near the station where I got off the subway and came up, and it was open. At least, no one yelled at me for wandering around like The Ugly American and taking pictures. (I was actually very polite and well behaved.)
The stained glass offerings were pretty straightforward, nothing too abstract or spectacular. But all very bright and lovely.
I found the sunbeams coming in through the dome windows, piercing down into the darkness below.
I’m glad that I stopped!
Filed under Art, Photography, Travel
A statue in front of City Hall in a small city in the Czech Republic, Pardubice. 2016 I was there with my Pepperdine EMBA class, to visit the Foxconn computer factory there.
Kings, Cardinals, Bishops, cherubs, who knows what else. An article I found on the top twelve things to see in Pardubice includes City Hall, the bright white building in the background, but doesn’t mention anything about the statue in front. The “new” City Hall building dates to the 1890’s so one could assume that the statue is of a similar age.
As much as I would truly love to get back to Prague (and also see Paris, Rome, Vienna, Athens, Barcelona, and a couple dozen other European cities), I’m not sure that a repeat trip to Pardubice is high on the priority list.
Filed under Art, Photography, Travel
Brussels, Cathedral of St Michael
I always will remember how the final, desperate, last chance, for all the marbles weapon that the humans put together against the aliens in “Footfall” was named Michael after the avenging archangel.
Never an avenging archangel of death around when you really need one.
Filed under Art, Photography, Travel
The new gym my trainer is using has new toys and torture equipment. I’m feeling that tonight.
It’s a “good” feeling in the sense that my head knows it’s for the greater good, the long term goals, blah blah blah, yadda yadda yadda… Meanwhile, I’m physically exhausted and sore. It’s a good match for the mental exhaustion. It feels like… It actually reminds me of about Mile Twenty of running a marathon. “The Wall.”
At least I’m not thinking about my sore tooth. Mind you, the tooth still hurts. But I’m not thinking about it.
No, the keyboard and world don’t quite look like this – but I wish that I had some of the “good” painkillers so that it did.
I don’t, and my jaw/tooth is plenty sore enough to be annoying as hell. But none of the good stuff, just Extra Strength Excedrin every six hours.
No dentist today, or tomorrow – the earliest I can get in is at the end of the day on Wednesday, and I’m expecting to be told that I need to go to the endodontist at that point, and who knows how long that will take. (Buy stock in GSK Healthcare!)
The audit kicked off today and I spent a full day (and then some) dealing with it through the fog of “significant discomfort.” Almost more fun than any human being should be allowed to have with their clothes on.
Almost.
Yes, I did take yesterday’s picture by sticking my entire iPhone 13 Max Pro in my mouth and then taking pictures. Isn’t that how everyone does it?
Where does that go on my resume? Skills? Life Experiences? Talent?
I’ll be fine. I just reserve the right to be cranky.
Crankier.
Whatever.
St Michael’s Cathedral in Brussels.
The messages and stories and sentiment might be lost on me – I’ve done my time and I’m not a believer.
But I’m still always drawn to the beauty and craftsmanship that’s lasted for centuries.
Filed under Art, Photography
Because some days you just need to look at something colorful and pretty at the end of the day so you can breathe and decompress.
Prague Cathedral.
Filed under Art, Photography
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We Love The Stars Too Fondly 