Monday, February 15, 2010

The Pioneer Square Pergola - Revisited





Well...most of my followers know that lately I've been creating a lot of HDR (High Dynamic Range) photos. There is a reason...for me the results have been simply amazing! I found more early shots of this structure, and figured I better find out exactly what I've been capturing. With the help of Google, it's called the Pioneer Square Pergola.

A friend of mine informs me that the first photo is one of my only photos that conveys some sort of social commentary - a face of society that many of us tend to ignore. I think it's one of the more powerful shots I've created to date.

The following is from the "Seattle.gov" website:

The Pioneer Square neighborhood was the hub of pioneer Seattle. The first industry, Yesler Sawmill, was built in here in 1852.
In 1889 local businessmen returned to Seattle from a trip to Alaska with a Tlingit totem pole and gave the Puget Sound it's first landmark.
The first buildings following the Great Fire of 1899 were built around Pioneer Square and in 1909 an iron pergola was built as a shelter over an underground restroom, known as "the finest underground restroom in the United States". The Pergola and the totem pole still stand, along with a bust of Chief Seattle. This tiny park is at the heart of Seattle's historical district.

Hope you enjoyed a little bit of history...the underground restroom info is pretty funny!

Make sure you click on the photos for a larger photo...I'd love to know what you think.

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Happy Valentine's Day!

"Hearts" - Soft Pastel Painting

May there be love in all your lives! Happy Valentine's Day to all my followers and friends!