HDR Photography
One of my favorite places on campus (or it used to be before the flurry of construction activity around it) is the Hearst Mining Circle, just opposite the chemistry quad on U. C. Berkeley’s campus. In particular the reflecting pool and lawn in front the historic (and fascinating — there used to be a tunnel to the Hayward fault from there) Hearst Mining Building make a great combination, especially on a sunny day such as the day this shot was taken.
If my last post represented what I find foreign about Berkeley today’s post represents what I find comforting and familiar. UC Berkeley’s campus is full of beautiful evergreens like these, with the result that large portions of the campus remind me a lot of my home in the PNW.
The environment changes so completely when it rains that I can’t help but run out with my camera in the moments between storms. Today’s photograph is another from UC Berkeley’s Strawberry Creek on a particularly drizzly day. The contrast between nature and the manicured stone walls works out quite nicely when everything is wet and glistening.
Compared to my home in the Pacific Northwest things bloom mighty early here in California. These magnolias (I think?) caught my eye on a stroll through campus and so I thought I would capture a couple of the early bloomers.
This is the imposing Latimer Hall in UC Berkeley’s College of Chemistry. On this stormy afternoon, the sky and the bare tree and the building itself all took on this similar cast, but with such radically different textures and shapes. If you look carefully, the cracks and stains under each balcony level begin to resemble the geometry of the tree.
This is another example of how Berkeley’s campus can fool you into thinking its not in an urban/suburban setting. The wooded groves on the banks of Strawberry creek are some of the most picturesque places on campus. This a Eucalyptus grove on the northwest side of campus with Strawberry creek in the foreground.
While I’ve posted a few close up shots of flowers on the blog so far this is my first attempt at a multishot HDR shot of flowers. I’m really impressed with the results.
With a few exceptions UC Berkeley has a very pretty campus architecturally. In particular I am a fan of the older buildings because, well, they just look so academic. Stephens Hall in particular looks like I imagine a building on an old university looks. On the south eastern side of the building, where this photo was shot, there is a particularly peaceful little grove with a creek running through it (which was previously featured). The effect is that you are removed from the hustle and bustle of the bay area.
Decaseconds 