(click to enlarge) Our guide (a young man with a remarkable voice, and a spiel to match) in front of the golden dome of the Massachusetts State House
(click to enlarge) The Old Granary Burying Ground, in which Paul Revere, John Hancock, and other notables are buried
I took the color version of this medallion (about a foot across) on a Beacon Hill house, and then experimented with various conversions to black and white. It's striking how different the effects are - and there are many more to try.
(click to enlarge) The original, in sandstone or colored concrete(?)
(click to enlarge) Converted in Adobe Photoshop Ligntroom 3 with Preset B&W Creative - Look 3 plus an 0.9 EV exposure boost and a bit of vignette
(click to enlarge) Converted in Nik Silver Efex Pro for Lightroom with Holga option
(click to enlarge) Converted in Nik Silver Efex Pro for Lightroom with Antique Plate I option
(click to enlarge) Converted in Nik Silver Efex Pro for Lightroom with Push Process N+1 option
I like to take pictures of people in museums, interacting with the art. When the person is themselves a photographer, things get delightfully self-referential.
(click to enlarge) In the Dale Chihuly Persian Ceiling room
(click to enlarge) In the Art of the Americas wing - a splendid collection
A few more photos from the Chihuly glass exhibit at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.
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The Persian Ceiling in the Chihuly exhibit at the Boston Museum of Fine Art seemed especially engaging to the visitors. The glass pieces were in the ceiling, and light from above made the room radiant. People became actors in this work of art.
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For a video of the ceiling itself, see this site.
(click to enlarge) I like this shot because of the light, the color, and the gesture (of the sculpture).
(click to enlarge) A lucky mistake. I had earlier set the camera to bracket exposure, and forgot to change it back. So the longest exposure in a dark room led to a bright blur, an effect I like a lot.
The exhibit of work at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts by the great glass artist Dale Chihuly (and his extensive workshop of collaborators) was an exhilarating spectacle. It was arranged in seven rooms as immersive environments. It was generally packed with viewers, and waits to get in were very long; but we lucked out on a weekday afternoon when the crowds were not so heavy. Remarkably, photography was allowed (not so usual for special exhibits at any museum) and many of us were taking full advantage.
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More to follow.
(Click to enlarge) A very attractive exhibit in which visitors - mainly the kids - can touch small rays as they swim past.
(Click to enlarge) A staff member keeps lookout, giving information about the rays and how to touch them carefully.
(Click to enlarge) In Boston Common
(Click to enlarge) Near Old State House
Waiting to get into the (very crowded) Boston Aquarium.
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I'm in Boston for a few days, and have taken lots of pictures, which I'll begin to post soon. In the meanwhile, here are a couple more from my University of Minnesota buildings series. The stalls in the Large Animal Hospital were mainly empty, because the great majority of patients are horses, and they now have their own Equine Center. However, I think the photos capture the atmosphere of the place.
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I find greenhouses fascinating not only for their botanical contents, but also for their complex structural geometries.
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The greenhouses on the University of Minnesota's Saint Paul campus are a treasure trove of photographic opportunities. In taking these photos, I particularly liked the interplay of natural with artificial.
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(click to enlarge) MRI
(click to enlarge) Surgery
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An impressive makeover of the previous Minerals Engineering Building - which accounts for the heavy metal on display.
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Finally, no parade would be complete without kids trying hard to be grownups.
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Corrales claims to be the horse capital of New Mexico. There were lots of horses and riders in the parade. Here are two examples.
(click to enlarge) Cowboys ...
(click to enlarge) ... and Indians
Any self-respecting 4th of July parade has to have antique cars and pickup trucks.
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No parade is complete without floats, and the Corrales parade had a specially relaxed and idiosyncratic collection of them.
(click to enlarge) A do it yourself junior version
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(click to enlarge) The cow was on the hood of an antique tractor pulling a float.
(click to enlarge) By the end of the parade, participants were looking for spectators to douse with water guns, and were getting doused in return.
The spectators - young and old - are as important a part of the parade as the marchers.
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A mixed bunch of marchers, from patriotic commemoration to light-hearted spoofing.
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(click to enlarge) The Kazoo Band rehearsing, under the leadership of its very energetic director.
(click to enlarge) Decked-out drummer
(click to enlarge) Country music group
(click to enlarge) Clowning around
(click to enlarge) Inspecting a water gun to be used later
The University of Minnesota has a wonderful Raptor Center on the Saint Paul campus. I was fortunate to get a tour recently. They have rescued injured eagles, hawks, falcons, harriers, and owls. Here are a couple of photos of owls.
This one looks pleading, like a lost puppy.
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This one looks stern and formidable, like an owl is supposed to look.
There's something more serious, more austere, more weighty about black and white photos compared to color.
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