Church

 of the Assumption 

This church is located on 7th street in downtown St. Paul.  It is over 150 years old.  A catholic church built by German immigrants.   Architectural photography is still my favorite and I spent a few hours at this church.  I think I could have made a day of it there is so much to take in.

Saint Louis King of France Church

The weather has been amazing and I took a little time off on Sunday for a photo walk.  This is the corner of 10th street E. and Cedar street in downtown St. Paul.  You can stand on the corner and see an interesting combination of old buildings and new ones.  They look like they belong together.

Maple leaves

I took this with my phone while I was walking the dog yesterday.   I processed it on an iPad using the DynaLightHD app.  It doesn’t look much like a photo any more but it would work on a web site banner or maybe as a background or wall paper.

Hanging flower baskets - downtown St. Paul

I don’t remember taking this picture.  I must have been walking or riding my bike past the science museum.  It was especially nice to see the flowers this year.

St. Paul Skyline

It is easier to see the stars if you click on the photograph to make it bigger.  I have been asked what I do to make the lights look like stars.  I know there is a filter for that but I don’t use it.   It is the slow shutter speed that creates the affect and it isn’t the same for all lenses.   The slower the shutter speed the bigger the star but they only get so big and the camera has to be very still or you end up with a mess.

I had trouble this particular night because it was windy and my camera strap flapping in the breeze was just enough to make my first shot come out blurry.  I took this photo with my 50mm prime lens which makes the nicest stars.  My wide angle lens makes stars with more points and the kit lens makes stars with fewer points.  The shutter speed for the photo was 49 seconds and it is the view of downtown St. Paul from the top of the Smith avenue highbridge.

Front Porch

Here in the Twin Cities Metro area if you live in the burbs you are likely to have a garage door in front of your house.  If you live in the city the garage will be in back where it belongs and your home may have a front porch.  I have always lived in a house with a porch and I don’t know any other way.

Union Depot - 2011

It still looks messy but the light rail construction is progressing and one day I will be taking photos of this historic building with tracks in front of it and people walking around. . . and that is the way it should be.

E. Sixth Street

Mississippi River

I took this on Memorial day. In this part of the country cold and rain on the Memorial day holiday are more common than sunshine and warm weather.

Waiting at the light

It is Bike and Walk week in the Twin Cities this week.  I did not bike as many miles this week as I usually do because of the 103 degree heat and high winds but I biked for more than 30 miles.  Most weeks I put at least 50 miles on my bike.   I love to ride and I enjoy the trails and tunnels that go by rivers, lakes, creeks and through the woods.  I took this photo while out on my bike last weekend. On the days that I can not bike I walk along some of the same paths with my dog.