Eagle Street Grill

Another roof top shot. I admit I got carried away with this one.  it is made from three shots and well I went too far with it but I had fun and that is all that matters.  The Eagle Street Grill is across the street from the Xcel Center in St. Paul, MN and was really hoping the night of the Santana concert.

Como Park Conservatory

I would probably photography this building every day if I could.  I just shot a part of it last week but I managed to get shadows, reflections and clouds in the shot.  I need to try it at night and I will soon. I would imagine it gets even better as the sun goes down.

Xcel Energy Center

I got this one from a roof top.  Lucky me who practically passes out if I get two feet off the ground.  I find that when I am holding a camera I am fairly fearless.  A wide angle lens usually isn’t the roof top shooters first choice but for this shot it worked well because I was able to get the entire building in one shot which isn’t easy.  I got some better shots from the ground later on that evening. Light makes all the difference and it was too sunny when this one was taken.

Wescott Station

The recommended way to take photos for HDRI processing is to bracket and take at least three photos.  That isn’t always the best plan.  I know they make software that could even clean up my messy flag but I don’t have it. The photo is of Westcott Station an antique and used furniture store on the the corner of West 7th and Chestnut.  I must get more photos of it.

Chicago River

I kept finding this photo on the media card in my camera and I wasn’t going to process it but I kept noticing it and finally I decided to do something with it.  I could have removed the distortion but I would have lost too much of the photo. I love how blue the sky is and the color of the water.  It is a lovely city.  Next time I go downtown I will bring my wide angle lens. It was too heavy to carry all day and I walked miles.

Flower Baskets in St. Paul

Maybe the parking tickets I get help pay for these.  I am always happy to see the flower baskets around town especially during a recession.  I am not sure I am supposed to use that word but it seems to fit.

Public art - The art institute of Chicago

I am a fan of urban art but some of it just doesn’t work because the art is placed in a setting that isn’t very appealing.  I like this art and love the setting.  It is on the sidewalk in front of the Art Institute of Chicago.  The buildings in the background make a wonderful backdrop and some how it all looks like it belongs there.  I liked the use of traffic cones too.  They are such a common site here it is nice to see them on the sidewalk instead of blocking the road for a change.

Public Art - Landmark Center

Public art can be freaky but it doesn’t have to be.  This is the front of the Landmark Building on 5th street in downtown St. Paul.  Fifth street is conveniently located between 4th and 6th.

Simply Orange

This one was for my Sunshine Sunday group on Flickr.  Submissions for the group are supposed to be mostly orange, yellow or red and can only be posted on Sundays.  I am challenging myself to find subjects that meet the criteria but that are not flowers.  This is an ancient house on West 7th Street in St. Paul the a neighbor of mine who is an architect converted into an office.  I have not decided if I like the paint job or not.   I like it when people find new uses for historic homes. This one is very small and it makes a better office than home.

Little house

It looks too small to be a house.  Maybe it wasn’t a house but I found it on a dirt road in South Dakota just waiting to be photographed.