Tag Archives: skylight

The Most Impressive Room in the Chicago Cultural Center

Posted on March 24th, 2016 by

On Seeing

An interesting thing happened the last two weeks that I didn’t entirely intend. Perhaps you can see it too, but the last two Monday’s photos were my more modern post processing technique. The last two Thursday’s were a mismatch of old and new. Today’s photo and In the Garden of St Elizabeth’s were photos I had processed long ago and felt were unfinished, something was missing. I found these years later like little gifts in a Lightroom folder marked Needs More Work. Combining the old and the new made for something that felt more complete. Maybe that is what I am always doing here. Exploring, learning, testing my limits.

The Most Impressive Room in the Chicago Cultural Center
The Most Impressive Room in the Chicago Cultural Center

Photo Technical Info

  • Aperture: ƒ/4
  • Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
  • Taken: 12 October, 2012
  • Focal length: 16mm
  • ISO: 1600
  • Shutter speed: 1/160s
  • Title: The Most Impressive Room in the Chicago Cultural Center

Blue Moroccan Skylight, Marrakech, Morocco

Posted on May 4th, 2015 by

Mystery, Majesty…Marrakech

I don’t know what I expected in Morocco, but it was completely different. It’s always the same story with me. I travel to some far off land and despite knowing I should not have any preconceived notions, I always do and they are ALWAYS wrong. Morocco is the second predominantly Muslim country (though most of that time was in Bali, a mostly Hindu island) I have visited this year and people are as they are all over, helpful, kind and genuinely good. This is not unexpected…I learned long ago the basic kindness of others. It is the overwhelming nature of Marrakech that was so surprising. I have not had a greater assault on my senses anywhere I liken it to a casino, a three ring circus and 1000 hawkers, storytellers, fortune tellers actors and more…ALL AT THE SAME TIME!

The Art, OH THE ART

Islamic art stands by itself. It’s logical, mathematical, repeating, infinite…impossible to describe as its muse. The more I experience the art of the Middle East, the more and more I fall in love with it. My first real experience was at the Doris Duke Foundation in Honolulu, but this trip to Marakech deepened my understanding and love of this geometric representation of divinity.

Blue Moroccan Skylight, Marrakech, Morocco
Blue Moroccan Skylight, Marrakech, Morocco

Photo Technical Info

Chicago O’Hare Skylight Concorse G

Posted on March 13th, 2014 by

Amazing Skylight Art in Plain View

Being an mid-west based American Airlines flyer, I fly through one of two airports on every trip I make. DFW or ORD. Dallas is my preferred airport for both its ease of navigation (skylink) and the American Express Centurion Lounge (possibly the best lounge in the United States). That said, I can’t tell you the number of times I have flown through Chicago’s O’Hare airport via Concorse G and it wasnt until recently that I noticed this wonderful and artful skylight in the central hub.

Today’s Photo

It’s wonderful to me when I discover art in strange places. Lots of people know about the light tunnel at Chicago O’Hare, but somehow I almost prefer art that is there for everyone. Randomly placed things of beauty that perhaps many don’t even pay attention to, but occasionally someone stops and says, “Huh! Look at that!”

Chicago O'Hare Skylight Concorse G
Chicago O’Hare Skylight Concorse G by W. Brian Duncan

Photo Technical Info