Shooting with what you have: Expressions of the 35mm lens

Art to me is expression, and that specific artistic expression – as well as interpretation – has allowed me to be creative on both the front (camera) and back ends (photoshop, etc) of every picture I take. I don’t take any of this too seriously, of course – simply because I can’t imagine enjoying it as much as I do if I lamented the shot, or if I’ve post-edited something in a shoddy way.

Before my California trip (where these shots were taken), I picked up a 35mm lens for my Nikon DSLR – a first “prime” single-focus lens in the mix of my growing list of lenses. I’d read it’s a great choice for street photography and an overall good entrance to the class of wide-angle lenses. Granted, as for street photography, it can mean getting rather close and intimate with any people you may want to be the focal point. That I didn’t do so much this go round, but instead again decided to just get a sense for the limitation it forces upon the photographer – me, who is used to adjusting my usual all in one zoom lens to suite the subject in a jiffy. 35mm too can lend to some of the best color renditions in photography. Perhaps power of suggestion, but I was in fact pleased with more than a few of the shots that were color inspiring to begin with.

None are edited, only the file size reduced for web presentation. Some are “meh” to  me, but the exercise here was shooting as though I had film in my camera, fixed focal length, with no chance of edits before or after “processing” them. I will admit, some give me the itch to really want to use even subtle post-editing features 🙂

For a bit of perspective, I posted the same images all in monochrome in a separate gallery. *Update – I now posted the monochrome first, as it gives a better sense of the color! Thanks Manja for that suggestion 🙂

I don’t typically photoblog in mosaic, but 80 photos can be tedious presented individually. You can click on the photos itself to view in larger format, as a side note. I’ve not captioned them, they are from around San Francisco, specifically the Financial District, North Beach, Telegraph Hill, Chinatown, and Embarcadero neighborhoods.

So first up: Monochrome set.

 

The same gallery, as shot in color.

A bit of a shuffle,  colorless….

 

 

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Thursday Doors December 7: West Coast Doors (sung to West End Girls, if you’re a Pet Shop Boys fan)

FINALLY.

A doors posting for Thursday – what is it with busy lives??

But, on a positive spin, this week’s doors come out of a little vacation, a little respite. Actually, a lot of both, in a favorite place of mine: California. Specifically, the San Francisco Bay part of California. And while I took a boatload more pics of wildlife, birds, nature and beautiful landscapes (all that never end), those will certainly come later,  once I sort thru the mountain of digital images (thankfully, the ‘mountain’ a tiny SD card nestled in my DSLR. Heh).

Ok. Here’s to some fun funky and classy San Francisco doors!

For this week’s doors challenge.

Love the floor dial above this circa 1927 elevator

Bodega Bay view.

No doors, but felt this clearly had to be in the mix.

Good thing I’m not a peddler.

Red doors are meant for Christmas shops.

Cable Car spin.

Chinatown, San Francisco CA

Took a self guided “Beat Generation” audio tour which was outstanding. This in Jack Kerouac Alley.

Only a reflective pane of glass, another that adds to my most excellent trip. This at the ferry terminal in the north bay, on my way to the city for the day.

Fun. The green chair and pink umbrella a must.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Windows

My window views from different cities, states, and islands and countries.

For The Daily Post’s Weekly Photo Challenge, Windows.

View of St. Maarten from Blowing Point Ferry Terminal

Snowy evening, Pennsylvania

Light, shadows, textures, windows

Dusk, Pennsylvania

Anguilla, view from breakfast

Tiny churches, Philadelphia

Tower view, Florence Italy

Abandoned paper mill, Pennsylvania

Arriving, Anguilla

Leaving, San Francisco

 

Thursday Doors September 21: Summer Wanes…

We headed to the weekly grower’s market again this past weekend, having been really fortunate with great weather during this changing of the seasons. And once again, taking it on foot as opposed to tooling around in my car makes it alllllll a new adventure.

I open with, of all things, a gelateria! Yes, Manja Mexi Movie, it’s here in my (almost) back yard waiting for you! Though I’ve not tried it, I’m told the owner is from Italy and knows his gelato! I’ll keep you posted if it’s legit 🙂

For this week’s doors challenge.

Flowers and all, I can reminisce of my Italy trip.

Blue! And a slight doorfie (door selfie – thanks Norm!)

The local Post Office, circa 1885.

Not short on color in my local travels…

The three bricks.

Love this architecture, the diversity is plentiful around town.

Morning Glories, all aglow!

Almost European?

This is the kind of chachkie but not really chachkie way to dress up a cool space.

One needs a window in the mix of doors, right?

Look, look, another gelateria, its little gelato truck!

Fantastic door in shape color and stone wall border.

At the local school, all of the trees named. This one quite large and old!

Oh but for gates!

Once a (very interesting) door.

Feels fall-like…

Charming and cozy.

Round window…

As we ended at the market, I photographed the yummy local fruits and veggies that I bought (but no, not the dogs!)

 

Whimsy in Wood and Name: Wharton Esherick

It’s funny how we can have all sorts of amazing cultural places not far from where we live – museums, gardens, historic landmarks – and we tell ourselves “I need to check that place out some time.” And then the years go by, and you’ve yet to check it out!

I can say I don’t typically let years go by, but in this case Wharton Esherick studio was one of those places I’d not visited.   It wasn’t until last fall that I finally discovered him. The eccentric studio and little homestead of this lesser known artist, sculptor, and craftsman is a hidden gem, filled with an array of art in several mediums (mostly wood).  How can one go wrong visiting a place where he outhouse is on the National Register of Historic Places? I love architecture, and while I’m  not fully privy or educated formally around it, to me it’s what is pleasing and amazing to the eye and the knowledge of the feat and engineering required to build it.

Wharton Esherick (1887 – 1970), was a Philadelphia native, the studio/museum not far from where I now live. He began his career as a painter, built his studio, moved on to carving frames for his paintings, and then on to woodcut prints and finally, sculpture and furniture. He is considered a pioneer in the 20th century for his organic harmonizing style, mostly wood, and today his influence can be seen within the “Studio Craft movement.”  His actual studio evolved over forty years, and is considered his biggest “piece” of artwork. Having visited twice now, I can say I’d never ever tire of popping in a couple times a year.

You can also check out his super interesting bio here.

The Studio, from 1926 – 1966. The stone portion to the left was first, built in 1926. The wooden part, 1940, a bath in 1947, and the silo added in 1966.

The little modern gnome welcomed us.

Wharton’s bed. Books and a great view, who’d want to get up in the morning?

Bedroom. Quirky cozy art and living space.

Outside the studio portion.

Inside the studio living area, with gorgeous views of the property.

Kitchen. The pottery and wood all his creation.

The dining area, with yet another spectacular view and art.

Kitchen.

Wouldn’t you love to have your tea here every morning?

Kitchen, with stairs leading up to his son’s bedroom.

Sculptures, outside-in view

Sculptures in his studio window.

A swan sculpture, under a rainspout which Esherick placed outside his dining area. The rain created a waterfall which would stream onto the swan.

Esherick’s outhouse is a “three sided Expressionist crystalline form” that looks out over valley of his homestead. After Wharton installed a bathroom in the studio in 1947, the outhouse slowly rotted on the hillside until it was taken down and its parts were stored, and then recently reconstructed in Esherick’s existing woodshed.

Esherick collaborated with Philadelphia architect Louis Kahn, one of the great modernists, in constructing what is now an Esherick family residence (the purply blue building).

The doors all had eclectic and interesting handles – most also made of wood.

Self Portrait, 1919.

 

Through the looking glass, Italian style

Windows, windows – I hadn’t realized how many I had photographed in Italy. It’s high time to share!

These run the full spectrum of Rome, Volterra, Cinque Terre, Lucca, Florence, Orvieto, and the uber-charmant Civita di Bagnoregio.

Catching fish in Roma.

Classic Italy.

Charming Civita di Bagnoregio.

Trastevere, Rome.

Volterra kitty.

Rome. Where street art abounds.

Uffizi, Florence.

St. Peter’s Basilica dome.

The Bargello, Florence.

Vernazza, Cinque Terre.

Orvieto duomo – no photos allowed, though I didn’t know that at the time that I was standing outside, the doors ajar early in the morning.

Civita di Bagnoregio; I don’t think there was a single window without a flower box!

Chiesa di San Donato, Civita di Bagnoregio

Chiesa di San Donato, Civita di Bagnoregio

Orvieto.

Vernazza, Cinque Terre.

Roma.

Florence, tower view (our hotel was once a castle!)

Florence, breakfast view.

A brief taste of Lucca Love

Lucca is the smallest portfolio of my photos, in having had only part of a day to visit. As anyone who’s been there could probably agree with, our brief stop left me stomping my feet out of frustration for wanting to see more. Alas, there’s always next time, this I am certain of!! And now, even looking back and sorting through photos, I see exactly why I left wanting more.

Lucca is a charmer – a Tuscan town, an ancient wall surrounding it’s loveliness. Present day, that same wall graces a delightful rampart, where heavenly Tiglio (Linden) trees beckoned us forth. If you’ve not been graced with the fragrance of a Linden tree in bloom, well, I surely can’t begin to describe it here. Perhaps like the blending of honey and lemon peel  – and well, even though that sounds wonderful, it still leaves no room for actually strolling under them on a warm summer day – what a glorious experience. The Linden clearly defined Lucca for me, that day.

And so, I give you, Lucca.

Lucca pedestrian and bike rampart, about 4km (2.5 miles) long around the top of the wall and town.

Rampart bastion tunnel

Rampart bastion tunnel

Basilica of San Frediano

Window of the basilica

Palazzo Pfanner

Cats in baskets in Lucca 🙂

Side door to a church (I can’t remember which one, there are close to 100 I believe!)

Duomo di San Martino (Cathedral of St. Martin)

Cecina cake – a pizza made from chick peas. Surprisingly delicious!

San Martino, Lucca’s Duomo.

Capers growing on the side of the cathedral tower

Way in the distance, with trees growing on it: Guinigi Tower.

Tiglio (Linden) trees line the promenade. I wish this were scratch and sniff for my readers 🙂

In the entrance of Lucca

Somehow I managed to only capture one shot of the outside wall.

Pastaaaaaahhhhhh…

Exterior of the Piazza Anfiteatro.

Piazza Anfiteatro. Fully in the round,.

 

Gems of Italy: Swoon-worthy Cinque Terre, +1

When I first discovered we wouldn’t be staying in any of the five dreamy villages of the Italian Riveria region the Cinque Terre, I was a little disappointed. Levanto, a town just north of the “fifth” town, Monterosso al-Mare, isn’t technically part of the Cinque Terre. But, as our trip had gone, and how Italy had not disappointed even one iota, Levanto – I quickly discovered – was the place to stay while visiting this ever growing tourist attracting Italian coast.

Between lazily swimming in the Ligurian Sea, hiking the cliffside trail between Vernazza and Corneglia, and gazing upon cliffs of grapevines and olive trees – oh, and eating the out of this world local seafood/food – our two days in the Cinque Terre and Levanto were utterly magnificent.

As a side note, it’s incredibly difficult to discern which photos to post, as I took so many throughout Italy. Cinque Terre was no exception to this dilemna!

Our first stop, the northern-most of the 5 villages, Monterosso al Mare.

Monterosso al Mare

 

Monterosso al Mare

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North of Monterosso al Mare was our town of Levanto. We arrived late in the afternoon, and for dinner had one of the best meals there, a delightful Tuscan feast of local seafoods (and rabbit, and pesto that the chef made for us as a demonstration beforehand!)

 

Fresh mussels, anchovies, calamari, crab, bruschetta, pasta with pesto, risotto with porcini mushrooms. Profiteroles and limoncello. A very memorable meal.

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Levanto

 

Levanto

Levanto

Morning in Levanto

We were up very early the next morning to get the train to hike the trail from Vernazza to Corniglia. The train here runs thru tunnels to connect the 5 towns, and beyond, and was built in the late 1800’s – fascinating when you see the engineering feet required to do so!

 

Cinque Terre: Vernazza

A few pretty pictures in Vernazza while walking to the trail head entrance (above).

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In about 2.5 miles, and ~60 flights of stairs later, we would be in Corniglia – just in time for breakfast and more beautiful views!

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Leaving early gave us the narrow trail mostly to ourselves. We were told it can get quite busy, and my hike mates Paulette and Charlie were early birds like me; we made for pretty decent hiking partners 🙂

 

Tiered vineyards

Vernazza

Vernazza

Vernazza

Vernazza

Looking back at Vernazza as we ascend the beginning of the trail. Stunning!

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Lots of interesting flora along the way.

Gorgeous Ligurian Sea

A section of train tracks thru the hills

Most of the trail was narrow like this, with lots of up!

Charlie checking out the Olive tree grove

Some highlights from our hike (above).

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Olive tree nets, which sure looked like hammocks to me!

Baby olives!

The olive tree nets (sprawled out when harvested) sure looked like hammocks to me!

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Corniglia

Pretty Cinque Terre

Corniglia in sight! Fortunately it was mostly downhill from here 🙂

 

My hiking buddies, Paulette and Charlie

The bathroom we used had quite the view!

Gorgeous Ligurian Sea

The hills of Corneglia.

Oratory of the Disciplinati of Santa Caterina

A well deserved breakfast in a little village in Italy. Who could ask for more? And the coffee – every cup, everywhere, was wonderful (my usual, cappuccino). Also, I discovered Spremuta d’arancia – wonderful fresh-squeezed orange juice. That too became a ritual for me in Italy!

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Lovely Corniglia

Heading down to the train (about 1/2 way there), which we took back to Levanto. I believe for those coming up, it’s about 33 flights of stairs 🙂  We’d already paid our dues on the other end!

Back in Levanto, enjoying a lovely evening by the Mediterranean Sea.

Volterra: Ancient Times and Fairy Tales

While it’s not easy – or even necessary – to choose a favorite place in Italy, I may have to put Volterra on the top of my list. Coming off of our first stop of Rome, and the city-esque crowds of tourists, Volterra was an incredible respite. And, an amazingly gorgeous hill town that left me teary-eyed from the overwhelming charm and history.

Volterra, historically, is a walled hill town dating back to at least the end of the 8th century BC. What’s amazing is, it’s believed to have been continuously inhabited since that time. AMAZING. This is a place where just being and sharing space with the beauty and history settled into my soul in a gentle, healing, humbling way.

Much of my pictography in this post is meant to convey Volterra in a simplistic way. The irony of simplistic is, here it is charming and beautiful, no matter where or how one ventures in this lovely classic Italy hill town.

Panoramic view from Volterra, beautiful Tuscany

Under the Tuscan Moon

Early a.m. view from my room window

Ombra della sera, “Shadow of the evening”, Etruscan museum. The statue represents a nude male, 22.6 inches tall, with very elongated body but head in normal proportions. It is estimated by archaeologists to date from the third century BC.  Quite humbling.

Wine cellar, the wine tasting fantastic.

Roman Theatre, excavated in the 1950’s, built in the late 1st century BC.

Volterra Cathedral

San Giusto, Volterra

Cute Italian dogs and cute Italian men 🙂

Etruscan Arch, entry into town

One of many, many quaint streets in Volterra.

Beautiful everything here.