Beautiful Accent

A rose by any other name...

Respite in Downtown Phoenix

A Spanish gate graces the entryway of an otherwise relatively modern building in downtown Phoenix, AZ.  The interior courtyard reclines in beauty, serving as a place of respite.  We could all use a respite from the tumult of life from time to time.  To enhance the drama, I utilized a black and white color scheme, intensifying the drama with noir.

Christmas Greetings

Have a warm and cheerful Christmas and a happy New Year.

Two Views of Michigan Avenue at Night (Chicago, IL)

I took these photos towards the end of my trip, when I was walking down Michigan Avenue and soaking up the Christmas shopping energy. With their lights of red and green, both the John Hancock Center (above and below) and the Bloomingdale building (below) are decked out in seasonal glory. Growing up in Chicago, I used to love walking down Michigan Avenue during the Christmas season, with the chilled air brushing my face, sometimes bringing snow flurries to the city, and the holiday shoppers migrating from one vertical shopping mall to another.  To this day, nothing says Christmas to me like a visit to Chicago, and a walk down Michigan Avenue. After all, the holiday season is about coming home, is it not? 

Sears Tower Noir (Chicago, IL)

Growing up with the Sears Tower as part of my Chicago cityscape, I have long loved this skyscraper, and no other building in Chicago says "home" like it.  Here is another "noirish" scene I captured last week, with the Sears Tower looming large over the streetscape and its antennae glowing in the evening dark.  Just beautiful.  By the way, I used part of my visit to continue my search for Willis Tower and still encountered no luck.  I'll continue the search next time and keep you posted on the results.

Two Views of Hanukkah in the Midwest

Menorah, Daley Plaza, Chicago, IL

At this time of year, when Christmas decorations, as beautiful as they are, dominate the landscape, I take great pride in seeing large menorahs displayed in public, for everyone to witness the miracle of Hanukkah.  Here are two such menorahs on public display, thanks to the efforts of Chabad. Above, at Chicago's Daley Plaza, you can even see the famous Picasso statue in the background, along with all the activity of Chicago's annual Christkindlmarket.  Good times.

Menorah, Milwaukee Union Station, Milwaukee, WI

Noirish Chicago Night

Having just flown back from a visit to my hometown of Chicago, I am tired and feeling a little depleted.  I did make use of my trip, however, by capturing some great photographs, which I will post here in installments.  This evening scene is one of the first photos that I took, and one close to my heart.  In this Chicago scene, the top of the Sears Tower is obscured by mist.  Below, an "L" train makes its way along the elevated tracks, a classic Chicago landscape scene.  Enjoy.