L’shanah Tovah: Portuguese Synagogue

Posted by Imagery Photography on September 14, 2015

Tonight as we celebrate one of the most sacred holidays in Judaism: Rosh Hashanah, I can’t help but wonder what services would look like in the beautiful Portuguese Synagogue in Amsterdam.

Amsterdam is known for its Red Light District, Canals, Coffee Shops and Museums. Nestled in this backdrop is one of the great Synagogues of the world. It was built by Spanish Jews escaping the Spanish Inquisition. Since Holland and Spain were at war with one another, those escaping persecution said they were Portuguese to gain entry in to the country. Many Synagogues in Europe restrict access due to persistent anti-Semitic feelings. However the Portuguese Synagogue is open for visitors for a small fee. You can also attend services on Friday or Saturday without paying a fee. The entire Synagogue is lit by candles and there is an excellent Judaica store where you can buy beautiful souvenirs and find out about the history of the building.L’shanah Tovah (Happy New Year!)

Portuguese Synagogue Amsterdam Holland

Dreamboat

Posted by Imagery Photography on September 14, 2015

I grew up in Cleveland Ohio for the first part of my childhood. We used to vacation on lakes and I would go fishing with my dad. We would see Chris Craft boats on the lake and I would ask my Dad why would couldn’t have one of those. He would laugh and say well may someday you will. I still have never ridden in one of these beauties and plan to change that soon but I will never be able to afford one without winning the lottery.

We saw this one while waiting for a steamer in Lake Como. It was privately owned and not available for hire. Who knows maybe it was George Clooney’s

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Wooden Beauty on Lake Como.

Bambi Lives!

Posted by Imagery Photography on September 12, 2015

I took this picture of a fawn in 2002 at the end of our first summer living on the mountain. People that lived there full time like us said wait a year and you will start to think of them as vermin. It never quite got to that level for me because the next year our community voted for a deer cull in a heated political battle between the “full timers” and “weekenders”. The herd grew at a rapid rate in our community because no hunting was allowed. Deer are not dumb and they began to migrate into our community. DCNR noticed that some deer had wasting disease and fawns that were born were small and struggled to survive. The amount of deer/auto accidents increased dramatically.

The size of the herd was unhealthy according to DCNR and our local environmental experts. After the first two years of deer culls the herd reduced to a more normal size. We began to see fawns again and the herd was restored to health. This deer has all but lost the markings fo a fawn as it munched in my back yard waiting for its first summer to end.

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Bambi Lives

Fourteen Years Ago

Posted by Imagery Photography on September 11, 2015

Today is a day Americans will never forget. We all remember just where we were and what we were doing on 9/11/2001. The skyline of one of our key cities was attacked and changed forever. Thousands died, heroes were born. It was the first time the mainland of the United States was attacked since 1812 and it scarred our national psyche.

As a people we have become angrier and more scared than ever before. Our journalists and politicians seem to want to keep us afraid and market fear to us every day. When you visit New York today you see a new tower climbing out of the ashes to once again dominate the skyline.

This image is a look back to what the city looked like before the day of terror. It will never look that way again but with the new tower the city looks more complete and who knows what the future will bring. The new skyline is a monument to perseverance and grit and I hope it will help heal us as a country.

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New York City before the Towers Fell

Spinner Dolphin

Posted by Imagery Photography on September 10, 2015

My son in law hates dolphins. He went to a swim with the dolphin attraction when he was little and the Dolphin bit him. He calls dolphins “jerks” and I understand why. While I have no desire to swim with them, I do think they are fun to watch from a boat or dock.

I took this picture while on a whale watching expedition in Maui. The boat captain called this school of dolphins spinner dolphins. They are smaller than a lot of dolphins and tend to stay near the shore areas. They are called spinners because they perform wonderful acrobatic dances when they jump from the water.

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Spinner Dolphin

Flame On!

Posted by Imagery Photography on September 9, 2015

Watching fire can be mesmerizing. Subtle changes in wind cause the flame to change shape.In real time it happens quickly but using the camera to slow down the process causes the flame to almost take on the appearance of a liquid.

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Flame On!

Found Art

Posted by Imagery Photography on September 8, 2015

Pittsburgh is a great city for just finding art on the street. Some are huge wonderful murals like the one I posted August 11th on my blog about the Pittsburgh Strip District. Others are hidden away and must be discovered.

While walking though Mellon Park I smelled wood burning and noticed it was coming from the Kiln Building behind the art center. I walked over to look at the kiln and hidden away on the wall by the loading dock I found this.

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Found Art

Happy Labor Day!

Posted by Imagery Photography on September 6, 2015

Now that I am retired, I think I have a deeper appreciation of those who labor. Of course I worked for a long time and still do creative work every day, but there is work and then there is labor.

I have also done some labor in my time. I worked in a commercial bakery. I worked in supermarkets. I was a cab driver. I have done photography inside nuclear reactors, steel mills and paper mills. I understand what labor is and to all of you who labor…thanks and enjoy your day!

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Biddle’s Escape

Posted by Imagery Photography on September 4, 2015

Months ago someone told us to try a place for coffee and breakfast called Biddle’s Escape. Of course, it is on Biddle Street in Regent Square and for months we would walk by it and not go in because we usually do not carry cash or credit cards on our exercise walks. Today I took a $20 and we went in and had a great breakfast sandwich and coffee.

You would know it is a different sort of place even if you could not see the weirdness. People sing at you rather than talk to you but the place is a feast for the eyes. Not only that but they have so many different sort of coffees and teas it is tough to make a choice. The food choices are limited but quite good and reasonably priced. Definitely worth the trip.

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Biddles Escape

Mellon Park

Posted by Imagery Photography on September 3, 2015

When I lived in Pittsburgh back in the day, I never hung out at Mellon Park. Frick Park and Schenley Park were are parks of choice. Both had lots of great places for walking dogs and throwing frisbees. Since returning though we have discovered Mellon Park which borders Fifth Avenue and Beechwood Boulevard. It is a lot smaller than the other two parks but has nice paths for walking, beautiful gardens and outdoor sculptures and this lovely fountain where you can contemplate your place in this world.

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