Travel
By Scott Shephard
The lesson in this colorful railing is that if something is left unattended long enough, it has the potential to become photogenic. Could that be true of the amazing clutter that surrounds me on my desk as I write this?
By Scott Shephard
"The Holy Family" is in the heart of Barcelona, my favorite city in Spain (though I've only spent time in a total of 5 Spanish cities). It was begun in the 19th century and in 1883 the controversial and perhaps visionary architect and artist Antonio Gaudi took over the task of completing the church. Gaudi died in 1926 and the church is still unfinished. The official "La Sagrada Familia" web site says that "the church could be finished some time in the first third of the 21st century." To me it seems to be Barcelona's equivalent of Korczak Ziolkowski's "Crazy Horse" monument in that both are being funded entirely by private donations and both are taking forever to complete.
As a side note, the Alan Parson's Project recorded a concept album called "Gaudi." Check it out on iTunes. And, as long as I'm meandering, did you know that Alan Parsons was the sound engineer for Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon," which is considered one of the best recorded albums ever made (as far as sound engineering is concerned)?" You can check that out on iTunes as well. The Alan Parson Project is perhaps best known for providing the music used by the Chicago Bulls when they introduced their players during the Michael Jordan years. Maybe they still use it. . . . The song is called "Sirius."
By Scott Shephard
Yesterday I posted a close-up from Mt. Rushmore in South Dakota. Today I am posting a photo I took in Nashville, TN. To see this huge statue of the Greek goddess Athena, you need to visit "the world's only replica of the Parthenon" in Centennial Park near Vanderbuilt University. It is well worth the visit.
The original gold and ivory statue of Athena in the actual Parthenon was plundered in ancient times and there is no perfect description. Thus, the artist of the version you see here was allowed to imagine what the statue might have looked like. For another view of this statue and to get an idea of scale, try going here (click.)
By Scott Shephard
This is not the first time I've posted a photo from this beautiful place. It also peaceful - for a while. If you ever visit, try getting there before the bus loads of tourists show up.
Having been put in charge of finding a place to stay near Siena, Italy, I was very proud to have secured lodging in a well-kept Villa a few miles away from the city center. On the grounds of the villa we stayed in a small cottage that had once been a grainery. Just a few feet away from the cottage was a large swimming pool. There was also a main house that had been converted into 4 more apartments. But for two days we had the place to ourselves. The cost per night was $100!
None of these details have anything to do with this photo other than the fact that it was taken near our villa. (I like the sound of that.) I suspect that this view is a bit of a cliche since scenes like this are commonplace around Siena. I half expected to bump into Francis Mayes (Under the Tuscan Sun) but her villa is in Cortona.
These two were part of a crew of "panhandling jackasses" working the crowd in Custer State Park. Donkeys are not regal animals but how can you not think that this couple isn't photogenic? I like the white hooves of the little one. In a few short years he'll be sticking his hairy muzzle through open car windows and eating Fritos out of tourists' hands. What a life!
Canon 5D 1/200s f/6.3 ISO320 130mm
By Scott Shephard
. . . but in eastern European countries, such as Hungary, they had giant Communists. Marx, Engels, Lenin, happy workers - you name it, and they probably had a giant statue for it.
Many of you may remember that when Sadam fell from power, one of the first things that happened is that the giant statues and pictures of Sadam were toppled and destroyed. That also happened in eastern Europe when communism fell. But in Budapest, someone had the foresight to save the statues and many are now housed in a park on the outskirts of Budapest called "Statue Park." In all of my European travels, our visit to this park is one of the more memorable experiences.
The title of this blog entry is a reference to the fact that in our community, the most monumental art we have are two identical statues of cowboys, intended to draw attention to the convenience stores they stand next to. I was trying to imagine why anyone might topple them. A revolt against capitalism? Or overpriced necessities like bread or milk? Or maybe bad art? Who knows. . . ?
Canon 5D 1/320s f/13.0 ISO250 40mm Some rights reserved under Creative Commons Copyright
By Scott Shephard
Amsterdam is known for many things, including coffee bars that sell marijuana brownies, and young ladies that sell . . . well, I'd just as soon not mention it.
These ladies were selling lingerie and leather goods. I and my friend Billy didn't succumb to any of the temptations of Amsterdam, other than the great art museums.
By Scott Shephard
Is it ironic that I post of picture of words? This is supposed to be a "blog for the right brain." Ironic or not, this is a photo I took on a rainy night in Tokyo. I was struck with the civility of the warning, though in Japan civility is abundant - even in a bustling city like Tokyo. In the US we would say "Keep Off!" In Japan they say, "Since it is easy to slip, stepping on a stone should withhold." Who can disagree with that?
By Scott Shephard
Toledo Spain, not Ohio. El Greco provides a much more interesting version than mine. I have no more words today.
By Scott Shephard
There are many places that claim to be the "Center of the World." As you might expect, the claims are generally ethnocentric. The ancient Greeks, for example, who thought very highly of themselves, erected a monument in Greece called the omphalos. It is Greek for navel (or belly button).
The Hagia Sophia in Istanbul doesn't claim to be the belly button of the world but it many ways it is. Because Istanbul has long been located on the major trade route between Asia and Europe, it became a melting pot of cultures. The Hagia Sophia is an amazing testament to the clash and then mixing of these cultures. Built on the site of a pagan temple, this basilica was first a Christian temple, then converted to an Islamic mosque. Because Islam prohibits representational art in its mosques, all of the mosaics in the dome were whitewashed. But in 1935 Mustafa Kemal ("Ataturk") decreed that the Hagia Sophia become a museum and evidence of both religions are clearly evident, including the Arabic writing and the beautiful mosaic decorations on the domes.
Photographically, this is a very difficult subject - in part because of how dark the interior is and in part due to the expanse of the interior, which my lens couldn't do justice to. You'll have to go there to experience this place in person.
By Scott Shephard
The student tour group I was with had almost a whole afternoon free in Florence and this is one of the unexpected photo opportunities we encountered. I think that doing chalk reproductions of Italian masterpieces on sidewalks would be a tough way to make a living. But you do get plenty of attention from people like me.
I can't help noticing her foot in this photo. Aren't these shoes for tight rope walkers?
