Tag: monday window

Wednesday Window – pt 37

Another playful exploration of the architectural aspects of the magnificent Harpa Concert Hall of Reykjavik

After last week’s lighthearted window reflection selfie, I’m continuing the study of the amazing Harpa Concert Hall in Reykjavik. It might feel a bit indulgent to enjoy the magnificence of the architecture, but I just can’t help myself. The striking design of the Harpa, with its geometric shapes and dynamic interplay of light, never ceases to captivate me.

There are many photography opportunities throughout the entire building, beckoning both amateur and professional photographers alike. Although I might not do them justice the way my good friend, George Fellner, does, I’ll share another one here. George has an incredible eye for the architecture through his compositions, and his ability to capture the essence of a structure is truly inspiring.

The ceiling is definitely my favorite subject in the overall Harpa oeuvre. It allows for lots of playful exploration of angles, surfaces, reflections, colors, and lights. Each time I look up, I see something new – the way light dances across the textured panels, creating a kaleidoscope of hues that shifts with each passing moment. It’s a remarkable experience that invites contemplation and creativity, making every visit feel fresh and exciting. I find myself continually drawn back, eager to discover new perspectives to share, and to further appreciate the exquisite craftsmanship that makes Harpa a standout gem in Reykjavik’s architectural landscape.

Escalation

This particular angle, and interplay of lights, dark, mirror, and captured reflections gives me a sense of an old-time video game, where the protagonist hops from one block to the next avoiding hazards and gathering points. The vivid contrast between the warm glows and deep shadows creates a nostalgic atmosphere, reminiscent of pixelated graphics and simplistic yet engaging gameplay mechanics. Each jump across the precarious platforms feels like a thrilling challenge, as the main character cleverly dodges enemies and navigates through intricate levels filled with secrets and surprises. This representation not only evokes fond memories of childhood gaming but also invites me to reminisce about the excitement of discovering hidden treasures, all while competing for the highest score in a vibrant, digital landscape.

This is my mid-week contribution to the Monday Window thread, a creation of Ludwig Keck. To read more about Ludwig, check this page.

Wednesday Window – pt 36

Today, we go for a lighthearted offering of a joyful selfie taken during a photography tour in Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik.

After just over a week of the return engagement on my blog, I’m beginning to hit my stride and having some fun with the posts thus far. The process has been both invigorating and enlightening as I’ve revisited my work and sought new angles to explore. I’m working my way ahead a little bit for the Wednesday Window series; after looking through a good amount of my shots from the 2022 photography trip to Iceland, there lurks a series of images of Harpa Concert Hall to be featured over time. Each photograph captures the stunning architectural design and the vibrant interplay of light that the building is known for, presenting an exciting opportunity to share not just visuals, but also the stories and experiences behind them. I look forward to weaving narratives that complement these images, drawing readers into the atmosphere of Reykjavik and the striking presence of this cultural landmark.

For today’s featured image, I present you with something lighthearted and rare in my collection: a selfie that captures a moment of pure joy and spontaneity…

A Harpa Selfie!

Walking around this magnificent architectural structure, if one pays close attention to the reflection in the south-facing facade, a spot can be found that mirrors the viewer in one of the lower windows. Of course, this is a lot easier to find in the presence of an experienced photography tour guide, such as Loren Fisher! Our little group huddled together, enabling me to capture this particular moment. As you can tell from the facial expressions, we enjoyed the contrast of this instance of levity to our ‘serious’ photography (maybe not so serious). It’s great to have fun in everything that we do!

This is my mid-week contribution to the Monday Window thread, a creation of Ludwig Keck. To read more about Ludwig, check this page.

Wednesday Window – pt 35

Join this Wednesday’s Window journey showcasing some frosty beauty and diffraction amidst the chill of winter mornings.

As part of the grand, albeit quiet, return engagement with the blogosphere, I came across a recent photo of a window, so it only makes sense to continue the series of Wednesday Window posts.

Those who have enjoyed (endured) the recent spate of rather chilly, frigid days will relate to this window…

Crystalline Morning

During a stretch of exceptionally cold days, there were mornings when the sun would shine through the garage door window to present structures of crystal and beauty. The form may be attractive, but going outside on one of these mornings was not the most welcoming feeling!

This is my mid-week contribution to the Monday Window thread, a creation of Ludwig Keck. To read more about Ludwig, check this page.

Wednesday Window – pt 34

Let’s explore Spilberk Castle in Brno, Czechia. There may be a bit of graffiti, but the ambience and view still stand out!

A quick look back at a visit to the wonderful city of Brno in 2019. Even though this was a work trip, I was lucky enough to have a bit of free time and made it up to Spilberk Castle.

Here was a look out the window…

Spilberk View

And, yes, there’s quite a bit of graffiti around the window! The view is toward the much more modern area of Brno, which stands in contrast with this great castle. If you find yourself in Brno, definitely make time to visit this and many other great locations!

This is my mid-week contribution to the Monday Window thread, a creation of Ludwig Keck. To read more about Ludwig, check this page.

Wednesday Window – pt 32

A view from a hotel room in Raleigh during my work trip, showcasing nearby office buildings and a serene sky.

Even when out on a trip for work, there are plenty of windows to be found. Therefore, this week’s post has fresh material!

Here’s a view from yesterday…

View from a Window

As I’m in Raleigh, here’s a view from my hotel room looking toward some of the office buildings nearby. It’s rather quiet at this time of day, as you can see, but at least there’s a nice looking sky!

This is my mid-week contribution to the Monday Window thread, a creation of Ludwig Keck. To read more about Ludwig, check this page.

Wednesday Window – pt 31

This week we highlight the laundromat offering a unique perspective through their windows

Here’s another one in the series, as it’s been a lot of fun thus far. In this week’s installment, I’m taking a slightly different approach to the theme of Window.

Here’s a set of windows that provide a different view…

Watching the dirt disappear

Coin operated laundromats are a staple of just about every American town. They are useful for those high-capacity machines that most of us will not have in our house or for apartment dwellers, who don’t have laundry hookups. For a bit of meditation, one can look through the windows and follow the progress of the laundry tumbling in front of our eyes!

This is my mid-week contribution to the Monday Window thread, a creation of Ludwig Keck. To read more about Ludwig, check this page.

Wednesday Window – pt 30

In this week’s Wednesday Window installment, we encounter a crew of fearless window cleaners in Brno, Czechia.

After last week’s Wednesday Window, we’re staying in Europe going a bit north from Italy to the Czech Republic. This installment is one of those opportune moments as a photographer, when we get to see something that’s not happening every day in our lives.

Let’s take a look at this one…

Clean and Rappel

During a work trip to Brno, Czechia, I was going for a walk on the day before meetings started and came upon this crew of window cleaners. I admire both their skill and fearless approach, as this is not for the faint of heart!

This is my mid-week contribution to the Monday Window thread, a creation of Ludwig Keck. To read more about Ludwig, check this page

Wednesday Window – pt 29

Time to revisit the Mediterranean, reflecting on a 2017 trip to Tuscany’s and the hamlet of Colordesoli. We did find our gelato in the neighboring town of Chiusdino!

We’re staying around the Mediterranean after last week’s excursion to Scotland in our Wednesday Window installment.

Chiusdino Streetview

During our trip to Italy in 2017, we stayed in a small town in Tuscany, named Colordesoli. When I say small, the town of Colordesoli has about 17 residents and is in the municipality of Chiusdino. This photo is from our first day’s exploration, as we needed some gelato, because we’re in Italy. Sauntering around Chiusdino we found a Gelateria and experienced our first bit of charm of the Tuscan hills. It’s just amazing there!

This is my mid-week contribution to the Monday Window thread, a creation of Ludwig Keck. To read more about Ludwig, check this page.

Wednesday Window – pt 28

We’re still in Scotland this Wednesday with a visit to one of its strongholds, Dunstaffnage Castle in Oban.

Just like in the Travel Tuesday posts, we’re going from Egypt to Scotland this week for our window. Even though Scotland doesn’t have quite the same ancient structures as one finds in Egypt, there are plenty of reminders of an often turbulent past. Castles, churches and monasteries tell the stories of battles in a distant memory, as people battled over power, control and religion.

Here’s a window view from that past…

Dunstaffnage Castle

Dunstaffnage Castle, in Oban, was once a stronghold of the MacDougalls, built in the 13th century. It was captured in 1308 by Robert the Bruce and remained in royal hands until 1469. The grounds are a pleasure to visit, as they give a real sense of the Middle Ages and how people built their keeps.

This is my mid-week contribution to the Monday Window thread, a creation of Ludwig Keck. To read more about Ludwig, check this page.

Wednesday Window – pt 27

A reflection seen through a window on a Nile lock during our recent cruise.

Welcome back to the windows in my small part of the world, or rather one from my travels. This week’s window features a reflection as the key element of interest.

Let’s take a look into the mirror…

Lock Window

This window is part of the control structure of one of the Nile locks that we went through during our cruise this year. From the upper deck of our ship, the reflection caught my eye and provided some interesting lines to play with.

This is my mid-week contribution to the Monday Window thread, a creation of Ludwig Keck. To read more about Ludwig, check this page.