This highway in the hillside makes the mountain look rather smug, I think. This is the Han Solo of rocky formations.
Tag: HDR
Huguenot Church
Charleston is full of churches, so many that it has the nick name Holy City. Among them is the historic Huguenot Church which, while it is not the largest is definitely one of the most distinctive, and I’d say my favorite.
Inside the Century
The Century is a classic of early-twentieth-century Art Deco styling, but I also appreciate the somewhat understated courtyard that it presents. There’s such great texture in the brick, and the setting looks almost boring until the lovely structures in the windows and their frames become apparent.
Stone to Steel
The new structures of Hudson Yards are rising above the old rail yard and the old/updated High Line. The mix of old and new is a little obvious, but it’s one of the aspects of New York that I appreciate the most. The same species that made flint hand axes and mastered fire also developed structural steel. Perhaps the High Line’s gravel and 10 Hudson Yards‘s work-in-progress faces represent that.
Cape Hatteras
The Cape Hatteras light house, though not quite in its original location, is a pretty iconic site (and sight) in the Outer Banks. Too bad you can’t climb it in the early spring!
Coronado to Cabrillo
A study in the contradictions of California and the importance of federal lands: In the foreground is Coronado, home of resorts and Navy SEALs. This is the developed, modern California. The cliffs in the background are Cabrillo National Monument, where the first Europeans reached the West Coast in 1542. I imagine that the peninsula would be equally carpeted with homes if not for the presence of the monument. I appreciate the contrast.
Independence Hall
Keeping with the theme of great things being surprisingly small, Independence Hall.
San Diego Morning
Time zones are a source of confusion and consternation (seriously, they’re insane to deal with). Jet lag can be surprisingly disruptive. There are some temporal challenges to transcontinental (not to mention intercontinental) travel.
But sometimes the time zones align and travel makes waking at dawn trivial. To get a view of the San Diego skyline with the perfect mix of lighting and color, and with minimal sleep deprivation, was a treat.
Liberty Bell
Apart from being a lot smaller than I expected, being able to get so close to the Liberty Bell in person is amazing.
Needle Buildings Above Central Park
There’s no better place to see the abrupt transition from the semi-“undeveloped” to the densely urban than the edge of Central Park. Trees give way directly to the new generation of “needle buildings,” these spiky skyscrapers that have attracted: (1) big money from Russian kleptocrats and (2) complaints from fans of New York’s traditional architecture. I might be sold on the futuristic spires for their sci-fi appeal.
Flag
I can’t pinpoint exactly what it is but there’s something very inviting about the iconic Charleston single houses. Maybe it’s the welcoming looking piazzas, or maybe it’s the palmetto’s standing guard.
Yachtset
Toaster glow sunlight was the result of through marine-layer haze coating San Diego every evening. I couldn’t help but notice the three abnormally large ships in this image: In the distance, two Navy aircraft carriers are the essence of industrial, practical form. Moored in the foreground is a truly massive sailing yacht that is 100% style. Look at how it dwarfs even the ostentatious motorboats beside it. Quite the contrast.
Bodie Island Lighthouse
I love the lighthouses in the outer banks but I’ll have to come back later in the season so that I can climb the towers!
OMNI, Again
Traveling back to California for the first time since I left in 2013, I realized I had forgotten the little but important differences: the streets are crowded with cars instead of trucks and the air is saturated with a different set of volatile organic compounds.
From another perspective and at another time, this photograph captures the same Omni hotel and Petco Park from one of my earliest Decaseconds posts, almost four years ago. How odd to be back again.
Dunes
Even in early march the sandy beaches of the outer banks are really spectacular.
Decaseconds 