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Posts tagged ‘photography’

Feb 13

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Byzantine Fort City of Mystras, Greece

Monestary of Pantanassa, Mystras

Looking up from the ruined domestic buildings of the lower city, you can see the active Monastery of Pantanassa further up the mountain in the the Upper City of Mystras, Greece.

So many European cities are jumbles of art and architecture, a testament to the evolving history of the urban area.  Beneath these modern cities are fractured layers of a Renaissance, Gothic and Ancient past, but you have to try hard to imagine how things looked during any one period.  It’s truly amazing to find a city that retains its character from one specific age.  The abandoned Byzantine city of Mystras in the mountains just above Sparta in the Southern Peloponnese, is one such frozen city.  You can walk through the ruined streets and largely intact religious buildings of this UNESCO World Heritage Site and be right back in 1350 AD.

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Feb 11

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Urban Wildlife: Red-Tailed Hawk

I live in an urban neighborhood but have noticed a few red-tailed hawks around, either gliding gracefully spying prey or perched watching pedestrians.  These birds of prey can be found throughout North America.  Audubon depicted this animal as strong and aggressive showing two fighting over a freshly killed rabbit.

John James Audubon - Red tailed Hawk

Apparently these birds have always been aggressive. John James Audubon, “Red tailed Hawk” from Birds of American

Walking around this weekend to admire the snow, I saw one of the neighborhood hawks catch and eat a pigeon!  It was an unexpected but beautiful example of nature in an otherwise urban area.  I watched the hawk for some time and found that Audubon didn’t come close to capturing the subtle coloring or fluffy under-feathers of this gorgeous bird.

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Jan 17

Cristo's Gates, New York City 2005, image 1
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The Gates in Central Park 2005

Cristo's Gates, New York City 2005, image 2

As the East Coast prepares for a very cool spell this weekend, I thought I’d dig up some bright and joyous winter pictures.  “The Gates, Central Park, New York, 1979–2005” by Christo and Jeanne-Claude was erected in Central Park for two weeks in February 2005.  Given my love of contemporary art and temporary installations, it was a given that I would make an art pilgrimage* to see The Gates in real life.  And it was so worth it!  The dramatic orange structures really popped against the frosty ground, bare trees and grey city.  The heavy canvas flags whipped and snapped in the wind but from a distance appeared to floated and swung peacefully as they wound down the park trails. Read more

Jan 10

Photo of the Week – San Diego Sunset

sunset san diego

I hope everyone’s 2013 is off to a good start!  I spend the holidays in lovely San Diego with family and friends.  The hills and coastline are so beautiful there.  The only thing prettier was probably the spectacular sunsets!

Dec 31

Pamukkale Travertine terrace detail
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Wonderous White Cliffs of Pamukkale

What happens when calcium rich spring water flows for thousands of years over a series of rock outcroppings?  You get the incredible “cotton castle” of Pamukkale, a rocky cliff side covered in an expansive, white layer of calcium carbonate and other minerals.  The sight is magnificent in scale and sublime in the natural details.

Pamukkale dried pools Read more

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