The Chicago El

Although natives might complain about it, the Chicago Transit Authority runs the best metro rail service in the United States. Yes I know DC has a good one but it is a fraction of the size compared to Chicago. Chicago lines are usually on time, relatively clean,free of graffiti and also still moderately priced. This is a picture of an elevated train running parallel to the Chicago River. You can buy a print of this one and see other images on my commercial site by clicking here.

The Chicago Transit Authority

The Chicago Transit Authority

San Antonio River Walk

San Antonio has a unique attraction that you wouldn’t expect to find in a Texas city. Let’s face it, most rivers in Texas don’t have a lot of water. I lived in Dallas for three years and never saw water in the Trinity river. However San Antonio is different and through the center of the city runs the San Antonio river and the San Antonio River Walk is a public park complete with Gondola tours, water taxis and scenic restaurants and shops along the banks. Not to be missed if you are there on business or pleasure. See this image and others in my book, A Hundred Places I Went to Before I died.

San Antonio River Walk

San Antonio River Walk

Santa Fe–The Prettiest State Capital

I live in Pennsylvania and Harrisburg is our Sate Capital. It is a perfectly nice place but not pretty in any sense of the word. Jackson Mississippi and Austin Texas are both beautiful capital cities. However, the best in my opinion is Santa Fe New Mexico. One of the reasons is because they have strict building covenants in the city so the old city looks the same as it always has. Sure there are new buildings but they all conform to the code and the result is an adobe old west environment. See more scenic images at my commercial site by clicking here.

Santa fe New Mexico

Santa fe New Mexico

Hurry Back!

It is around this time of year that I get desperate for Spring and begin to look for signs of Spring returning to the mountains. Last week I saw and heard a Pileated Woodpecker. They don’t leave for long and are usually the first birds back to the area. Soon the winter birds will start to leave and fly north. Then the Robins will return. All these birds can fool you however, they can all handle a little cold and snow. You know its really spring when you see the hummingbirds and I can’t wait for their return. You can buy prints of these images and see others by clicking here.

Hummingbird

Hummingbird

Hummingbird Close Up

Hummingbird Close Up

Art School Model

In the 1970’s I taught photography at the Ivy School of Professional Art in Pittsburgh and still I am in touch with some of my former students today thank to Facebook. Occasionally I would take a shot or two in the studio while they experimented with lighting. This is a multiple exposure done during one of those sessions. You can purchase a print of this image or see others at my commercial gallery.

Art School Model

Art School Model

A Street in Orléans

Orléans France is a sister city to New Orleans and while they have much in common they are fundamentally different. They both offer scenic beauty, architecture and are along important rivers. Both cities serve great food to their guests and have wide choices in dinning. New Orleans however is edgy, vibrant and sometimes a little vulgar. Orléans is almost bucolic in nature; they keep their edgy in Paris which is an hour away by train. This is a street in in Orléans adjacent to river Loire. You can buy a print and see others at my commercial gallery by clicking here.

A Street in Orléans France

A Street in Orléans France

Paris from the Pompidou Center

The Pompidou Center is one of the greatest modern art museums in the world. If you manage to get all the way to the top you will also see one of the great views of Paris. It is worth the ride up the giant escalators listening to the drumscape provided my Mickey Hart just to see the view. Of course the top floor has some great exhibits too. The sculpture and water garden on the roof is invigorating as is the view. You can buy a print of this image and see others on my commercial gallery by clicking here.

Paris from the Pompidou Centre

Paris from the Pompidou Centre

Sunning on a Yacht

We were visiting Monterey California on our way to attend my cousin’s wedding in Los Angeles. We stopped in Monterrey to see the world famous aquarium and as we were walking towards the aquarium we passed the harbor and saw that the seals had taken over. Boat owners could not have possibly gotten to their boats on some of the yachts there were dozens of seals and boy do they smell like dead fish. They were all over the harbor, hundreds maybe thousands of Seals. They bark like dogs and fight and play like dogs but smell of the sea! I took this image while we watched them off the pier. You can purchase a print and see others by clicking here.

Pals Sunning Themselves

Pals Sunning Themselves

Pecos National Historic Park

Americans visiting Europe will talk about how much they like exploring the old culture of Europe. Europeans coming to the USA visit New York, Boston, San Francisco and Chicago and talk about how young our culture is. I wonder how many Europeans come to the United States and visit our ancient culture which is the Native American culture of the Southwestern United States. The Pecos National Historic Park in New Mexico is one of these places of ancient American culture that dates back to before the birth of Christ and a true wonder. It is only a short drive from Santa Fe New Mexico and should not be missed if planning a visit to that area. This is a photograph of one of the ancient ruins and you can purchase a print on my commercial gallery by clicking here.

Pecos National Monument

Pecos National Monument

Sea Dogs

My wife and I visited San Francisco and Monterrey California for our twentieth anniversary. A few years later we took our daughter there for a visit on the way to Los Angeles. We had told our daughter about all the Seals we had seen in San Francisco but of course when we got there the seals were not where we had left them six years earlier. The park official in San Francisco told us they were gone from the area and migrating to the channel islands. We were disappointed. A few days later after getting to Monterrey we were walking towards the aquarium and we smelled them before we saw them. They were all over the harbor, hundreds maybe thousands of Seals. They bark like dogs and fight and play like dogs but smell of the sea! I took this image while we watched them off the pier. You can purchase a print and see others by clicking here.

Harbor Seals in Monterrey California

Harbor Seals in Monterrey California