Outdoor Art

Public art,

in the courtyard of city facilities.

Due to the drought

the fountain has been turned off for years.

The simple trick of raising the bands in the middle

gives dimension and a sense of motion.

Taken 14 May 2019.

Study in Lines

Surprising the number

of lines, shapes,

convergences,

reflection,

light and shadow...

...then the small detail

of the scrollwork

in the pieces of wood

under the eaves.

Taken 30 January 2019.

Lines, Shadows, Shapes, and Planes

Stairwell with open balconies.

Taken 20 November 2018.

Plain Geometry

Yes, the title of this post was an intentional

"misspelling,"

but I find it descriptive of this

gathering of squares.

There is even a 'ghostly' square

sneaking in at the top of the frame...

Taken 20 November 2018.

Wooden Geometry

Simple geometry,

weathered wood,

rustic construction.

A previous resident

placed these glass marbles

in the knotholes.

Taken 11 December 2016.

Mesa Colonnade

This colonnade is at a hotel in Mesa, Arizona.

It is a simple covered passageway

from the main building to some 

meeting rooms in a side building.

There is something comforting and inviting

about the geometry

and the inherent telescoping perspective.

Notice the textured diamonds in the walkway.

Also, the pillars are not directly across from each other.
They are staggered.

This photo was taken 14 February 2017. 

Concrete and Metal

No curves allowed.

It's just metal and concrete.

A utilitarian installation

hidden in the corner

of a much grander edifice

(the Anaheim Convention Center);

but the counterplay

of repeating straight lines,

light and shadow,

in neutral shades of gray,

is appealing.

It draws you in;

makes you want to explore.

Taken 13 October 2010.

Fabric Pattern #12

This is a deceptively simple pattern of repeating rectangles.

It manages to be soothing and unagressive,

but yet eye-catching and interesting at the same time.

The alternating shades of gray and brown

are presented in complementary tones

that are only a couple of degrees away

from blending seamlessly into each other.

The tweed-like texture

lends an atmosphere of classic, all-business integrity

while simultaneously hinting at the comfort and style

of one of grandma's handmade quilts.

It is both formal and familiar.

Taken 16 November 2010, Washington, DC.

A Study in Light and Shadow

Looking a lot like

angry eyes, nose, furrowed brow,

this abstract photograph,

stark with geometric simplicity

and subtly shaded perspective

is a relatively ordinary shot

of a hyper-ordinary subject -

the portico of a building

past which dozens of workers

rush every day to make a living.

In the fuller original photo below

you can see the converging lines

of the post and headers;

and beyond the portico to the left

the amazing blue tone of reflected moonlight

on white stucco.

The optical illusions caused by the

play of light and shadow

with the straight lines

drawn to a central focal point -

that's what caught my eye.

Taken 14 January 2011.

Going With The Flow

Sometimes the most ordinary objects

suddenly take on a mysterious

artistic flair.

Or not...

At the time,

and still now as I look at this photo,

it is brimming with interest:

lines, light, shadow, reflection, shapes, textures.

It attracts and sustains attention.

Taken 15 October 2010, Garden Grove, California.

Light Sticks

I guess it is pretty obvious what this is a photo of when you look closely,

but at first the patterns of light and shadow fool the eye.

These are light fixtures in the ceiling of the Anaheim Convention Center.

Besides the larger collection of fluorescents,

there are also several smaller recessed "can" lights in the photo.

Taken 13 October 2010.

Geometric Wood Inlay Tabletop

Tabletop

at a hotel

in

Surprise, AZ.

3D effect is cool;

the hourglass-waistline imagery

is a subtle reminder to watch what you eat;

and the circles show you where to put your plates!

Taken 27 March 2011.

Blue Wall #2

Besides the wonderful effects of the peeling paint,

and the lines of the boards themselves,

and the little triangles created by the eaves in the upper left,

my favorite thing is the shadow of the overhead power line...

Taken 7 October 2011.

12-Step A-Frame

Light, shadow, lines, geometry...

I like that this

is a color photograph

that would probably look

almost the same

in black and white

(except maybe for the concrete floor).

Taken in Anaheim, CA, 13 October 2010.

Bottom's Up!

A study in

light and shadow,

lines and shapes.

The central oddity

is a view of

a windchime from underneath,

looking upward.

Then there is the night sky,

and the eaves of the house

lit only by the light

of the fixture

outside the back door.

Movement in the center

of the photo

from the breeze

playing with the wind-catcher

dangling below the chimes.

Taken 1 October 2010.

Les Lumieres

Any guesses?

I was shooting directly up

into a lit chandelier

in a mirrored

passageway

in a hotel in DC.

Light,

mirrors,

topsy-turvy,

carpet patterns,

columns, bannisters,

geometry, lines, bevels.

I did not use the flash

because of the mirrors.

Below is my unretouched photo.

I don't usually "adjust" the pics I post

except for a bit of occasional

creative zooming and cropping.

On this one I adjusted the brightness

to see if the mirrors on the ceiling and walls would appear.

They did, and

SURPRISE!

so did the carpet and columns and bannisters.

Fun.

And a little disorienting.

Taken on 15 November 2010.

Fabric Pattern #6

Y'all can draw your own conclusions.

I like the colors,

and the way the pattern of the colors

in the weave

creates subtle illusions

of depth

and motion.

Hotel room carpet.

11 October 2010.

Experience Incredible!

It was incredible before ya even went inside!

Sadly, I did not indulge

in their pizza

because I had just come from a thoroughly

filling meal elsewhere.

But I did go in and look around.

Who could resist?

Taken 15 October 2010,

in Buena Vista, California.

NOTE: I'll be offline for the next week.  Please do not run away to Timbuktu!

And if you do, take lots of pictures.

And share them.

Pretty please.

Curb My Enthusiasm

A very simple image.

Concrete.

Man-made.

Colorless.

Lines, geometry, texture, shadow,

and a persistent impression

that there is a subliminal message

playing hard-to-get.

Four Corners

It's just four frames coming together

on a hotel room wall,

but it caught my attention.

Patterns and textures.

Geometry, lines,

a little color reflecting

from a nearby lamp

invading at the lower right.