Photowalk Minneapolis!

Ok!  After 45 days, 9 photowalks, and SO MANY TRAINS, here are photos from the final America By Rail photowalk!  I'm going to continue posting photographs over the next few days, weeks, and months... but I'm going to save some for the book :-)  

Minneapolis is a gorgeous city filled with incredible architecture, patterns, colors, and textures.  I had an amazing time exploring last Saturday!

The Salk Institute

Yesterday I got to explore The Salk Institute in La Jolla, CA.  The architecture is so interesting, stark, and textured -- I really enjoyed checking it all out and playing with my new Diana Fisheye Lens.  The shadows and light in and around the buildings suggest an Escher type of perspective.  Here are some of my favorite shots from Salk.

Greetings from the Lone Star State!

Yesterday was my first full day in San Antonio and the first day of rain on America By Rail.  I managed to dodge the showers with visits to the Institute of Texan Cultures, the Spanish Governor's Palace, San Fernando Cathedral, Sunset Station, and the Museo Alameda.  I even took in an IMAX depicting the story of the Alamo.  Today its sunny and gorgeous -- just in time for Photowalk San Antonio with Lotus Carroll.  I have a bunch of sites to cram into just a few hours before the photowalk tonight, so I'd better get moving.  Check back tomorrow for shots from the photowalk, and more images of beautiful San Antonio!

The incredible ceiling of Sunset Station in San Antonio

Everywhere you look... stars... they take the Lone Star thing pretty seriously here :-)

The ceiling of San Fernando Cathedral

Looking up at the San Fernando Cathedral

A beautiful courtyard beside the San Fernando Cathedral.  What a peaceful place :-)

Beautiful silhouettes outside the Museo Alameda

An archway at Sunset Station

Beautiful stained glass window at Sunset Station

There is so much Spanish architecture in San Antonio... I love all of the details!

Chicago -- winning at everything

A friend once told me that "many cities are built to fit the most people, but Chicago was built to be lived-in".  Having spent so much time in cities of all sizes, regions, and energies, I couldn't agree more -- Chicago is in a class of it's own.  The architecture in Chicago is a photographer's dream.  The variety of styles and delicate relationship between man-made and natural features in the city are unparalleled.  

If yesterday's photowalk helped me hit the ground running, today's casual exploration of the city got me excited to learn the personalities of all the locations coming up on this trip.  I can't wait to sample the local foods, learn about the regional histories, and get a sense of the culture and energy for all of the amazing stops along the journey.  Tomorrow I head out for two nights in Memphis, TN, so I have right around 24 hours to celebrate my favorite things about Chicago.  For tonight I predict deep-dish pizza and a leisurely cruise along Lake Shore Drive heading south.  For tomorrow, I'll go wherever the windy city takes me!  

Come back and check in with me tomorrow for more photos of Chicago!

America By Rail: Photowalk Chicago

Today was our first America By Rail photowalk!  Our Chicago crew for the day was a fantastic bunch -- some were frequent photowalkers and some were participating on their first photowalk.  

New photo friends at the Wrigley Building in Chicago, IL.

Photographer Steve Gubin led us on an excellent itinerary featuring iconic Chicago architecture.   We talked to him about his views on the expansive community of photographers on Google+ and the many reasons he loves to photograph Chicago.  I had a great time talking to everyone about photography and hearing their perspectives on gear, Google+, and the city.  Some of today's group is already posting photos on G+!

If you are a photographer or a photography lover and are local to one of our America By Rail Photowalks, you can't miss these events.  We've got 8 more -- and lots of prizes to give away!

Today's events left me completely jazzed about the whole project -- the next 42 days are going to be AMAZING.

Here are a few of my quick edits from today's walk...

Thanks again to Steve Gubin, and to everyone we met today, for coming out.  I still have 2 more days in Chicago, so check back tomorrow for more shots from the windy city!

Temple Emanu-El

Two weeks ago, we were endlessly fortunate to be granted access to Temple Emanu-El, my childhood synagogue in New York City, for a photography session. Located on the corner of 65th St. and 5th Avenue, Temple Emanu-El is the largest, and in my opinion, most majestic synagogue in the world. Through the assistance of Senior Rabbi Dr. David M. Posner and Administrator Mark H. Heutlinger, Cassius and I were offered uninterrupted, private access to photograph the Main Sanctuary and the adjoining Beth-El Chapel.  Over the course of three hours, I was able to explore and record the grandeur of the synagogue through sweeping wide angles and abstract details -- a rare opportunity.  After decades of envisioning this incredible location only in memory, I feel unbelievably fortunate to be able to add a collection of images of Temple Emanu-El to my portfolio.

Below are only a sample of the incredible photographs resulting from my time in Temple Emanu-El.  Enjoy!

The main entrance on 5th Avenue

The Ark and floral display of the Main Sanctuary

Details on a menorah

A view of the rose window facing 5th Avenue

The pews and center aisle of the Main Sanctuary

Mid-afternoon light colored by the stained glass windows on the South wall

A view of the Main Sanctuary

A symbol of the Congregation, etched in glass

A close-up view of the Organ Screen above the bimah

A view of the Bimah

The hand-painted ceiling of the Main Sanctuary

Details in the Mosaics that decorate the Bimah

Details in the vases next to the Ark

The Ark - containing the Synagogue's seven Torahs

Details in the stained glass windows of the Beth-El Chapel

Jewel toned light enhances the northern corridor between the Main Sanctuary and Beth-El Chapel

Stained glass in Beth-El

The Southern stairway leading to the balcony in the Main Sanctuary

The view from the balcony

The stonework and northern balcony, enhanced by light through stained glass windows

The view from beside the Ark on the Bimah

For more information about the history and design of Temple Emanu-El, visit the brochure for their self-guided tour.

Many thanks to:

Rabbi Posner

Mark H. Heutlinger

and 

Joe and Jose at the 65th St. security desk