Out for a walk with our US guests I was struck by the spire of the local church against the dramatic sky.
The Spire
Tag: architecture
Musée d’Orsay, continued
Once again, I focused my lens more on the architecture, the geometry, the sub-text of this hallowed space. Click any of the pictures below to see them full-sized.
Walk to the Musée d’Orsay
Our first full day we walked through the Tuileries Garden and over the Seine to the Musée d’Orsay which I had purchased timed tickets for a month in advance. Click any of the pictures below to see them all larger.
National Museum Roof Garden
Edinburgh, Scotland
The National Museum of Scotland has a roof garden with tremendous views. Above an in camera sweep panorama that covers only about 180º of the view. Below, a series of shots that will show some of the views a little closer. Click on any of them to see them larger.
National Museum of Scotland
Our last morning we toured the National Museum of Scotland. Naturally, most of my photographs were about the geometry of the space and less about the exhibits themselves. As ever, click on any of the pictures below to see them at full size (clicking the post title first if that doesn’t work for you in email or on social media).
Scottish Parliament
At the base of Arthur’s Seat we toured the Scottish Parliament, a striking set of buildings with an interesting architectural history, only opened by the Queen in 2004 following the establishment of the parliament in 1999. Click on any of the pictures below to see them larger (clicking on the post title first if you’re not viewing this directly on the web site already).
Back in Edinburgh
After the train brought us back from North Berwick (see previous few posts) to Edinburgh’s Waverley station, we walked back to our hotel via Princes St and Lothian Rd. Click any of the pictures below to see them bigger (if seeing in email or social media you may need to click the post title first).
Modern Art Redux
After a walk by the Water of Leith and the Dean Village we eventually made it back to the Scottish National Galleries of Modern Art. There are actually 2 buildings at opposite ends of a small park. In the morning we walked though Two. In the park there’s a construction of an open room with half-silvered glass inviting spectral self portraits.
We returned there in the afternoon for a coffee and then made our way to Gallery One. Click any of the images below to see them bigger (you may need to click on the post title to go to the web site if you’re seeing this in email or social media).
Museum Spaces
No visit to a museum would be complete without a review of the geometry of the spaces. Click any of the pictures below to see them full sized (you may need to click the post title first if you’re not seeing this directly on the web-site).
Edinburgh, first look
A few street shots from our first walkabout on the afternoon of our arrival. Click the post title and/or any of the images to see them at full size.
Hotel Room View, Edinburgh
Our hotel turned out to be some kind of hybrid of a student dormitory and a hotel room. Interesting in many ways and adequate, if a trifle odd.
Last Views of Antwerp
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KMSKA
Our final morning in Antwerp was spent at the KMSKA (Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten Antwerpen), which underwent a massive refurbishment for many years. It’s a stunning museum and as you can see I continue to be interested in capturing the spaces, the geometry, the whiteness (and blackness), the symmetry and awe of this cathedral to the beauty of the capitalist art world. Please do click into the images below to see them all full-sized (you may need to click on the post title above first if you’re seeing this in email).
Streets of Antwerp, the Fritkot
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Sint-Jacob Antwerpen
Saint James Church Antwerp
Evidently James is an English version of Jacob, via Latin and Old French. A monumental, lavishly decorated Gothic church, home to the tomb of artist Peter Paul Rubens which, alas, was closed with a lot of the church for renovation when we were there. The rear wall you see in the first picture with window light falling on it from the right is actually a painting on a barrier. Click any of the pictures to see them enlarged (unless you’re seeing this in email, in which case you may need to click the post title above first).
Cockerillkaai, Antwerp
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Magritte in Antwerp?
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Hotel Room Views, Antwerp
Cathedral of Our Lady
Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal
Some touristy postcard snaps of this magnificent cathedral, famous for its Pieter Paul Rubens paintings. You can see his Descent from the Cross in the 5th picture above and next to it an homage by Sam Dillemans. The accompanying brochure explains that the very realism of the Rubens fails to perturb the contemporary viewer as it ought, where the brutal impasto of the homage succeeds (it’s difficult to write sensibly about art). Click any of the pictures to see them all big (you may have to click the post title, above, first if you’re seeing this in an email).
A first stroll, Antwerp
Meir, a long, broad shopping street puts Fifth Avenue to shame. All of the global luxury and high fashion brands were featured here and, as we moved further West, some less upscale brands like Primark and the ubiquitous MacDonalds. Needless to say, it was chock-a-block with tourists and shoppers. Click any picture to see them all bigger (if seeing this in email you may need to click the post title, above, first).