Walking with a Purpose

Walking with a Purpose. Washington, D.C., U.S.A. February 2017.

Twice a year, the Library of Congress welcomes the public to it's famous Main Reading Room for an open house.  One of the open house dates lands on President's Day every year and I visited during my staycation this year.  

The Reading Room in the Thomas Jefferson Building is truly breathtaking, however the most unique moment I saw was this group of sisters exiting the Library together. Running into sisters traveling together in public was a common sight in Italy, however it's not something I see every day here. I noticed their bright blue habits as I approached the Library and was happy I snapped them before they disappeared out of frame. 

Little House on the Ocean

Little House on the Ocean. February 2015. San Diego, CA, U.S.A.

I am back home in San Diego for the holidays and one stop I like to make is at the historic Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach. These Cape Cod style cottages sit on the pier for visitors to rent for a stay above the Pacific. Crystal Pier was built in the 1920s, followed by these cottages in the 1930s. They are particularly unique because these accomodations are the only one of its kind along the California coast line. 

Stop Wars You Will

Stop Wars You Will. Miami, Florida, U.S.A. December 2016.

Over the weekend I traveled to Miami to attend Art Basel and its surrounding art shows for a dose of creative inspiration. The city is always colorful, alive, edgy, and during Art Basel it is even more so. I took this photo in the Wynwood District, Miami's artistic beating heart. Wynwood is renowned for Wynwood Walls, however the entire neighborhood is an urban graffiti park. 

Artists from around the world have left their mark in Wynwood including Brazilian street artist Eduardo Kobra who painted this mural during Art Basel last year. Kobra is known for his colorful, kaleidoscope wall murals. If you were in New York last year, you may have caught his large tribute to Alfred Eisenstaedt's "V-J Day, The Kiss" off of 25th St. and 10th Ave near the Highline (it has since been painted over). Similar to "The Kiss" mural, this one also addresses the topic of war, this time featuring the all-knowing, powerful Jedi Yoda. Murals in Wynwood get painted over so if you are in Miami, make it a point to catch this one and Kobra's entire wrap around this building while you can. 

San Diego, Winter Wonderland

San Diego, Winter Wonderland. February 2015. San Diego, CA, U.S.A.

I never knew what a "real" winter felt like until I moved to the east coast. Growing up in San Diego was a dream. The days average about 70F/21C and, being a desert city, the evenings can dip pretty low, but never ever below 32F/0C. San Diego has an average of nearly 3000 hours of sunshine per year so even when it is cold and crisp, the sun is typically shining.

I took this photo during a visit in February. While the east coast is bracing for snow storms, this southwest corner oasis looks like this. In fact, the chilliest part of of San Diego may be the Pacific Ocean*.

Pictured here is a pier on Scripps Beach that is located next to the UCSD Scripps Institution of Oceanography campus in north La Jolla. The pier is closed to the public, but the beach is not. Scripps Beach is quieter than its southern sister La Jolla Shores so if you are looking for a beach that is more peaceful and one that locals retreat to, Scripps is a good place to go. 

*In fact, let's hope it stays this way. Donald Trump, climate change is not a hoax. 

Freshly Minted

Freshly Minted. Washington, D.C., U.S.A. July 2016.

I used to race through the Main Hall of Union Station to catch the Amtrak, however since the recently completed renovation I have taken a bit more time walking through to enjoy the transit hub. For the first time in 50 years, the Main Hall is clear of any obstructions. The renovations were prompted four years ago when an earthquake shook D.C. and damaged parts of the Station. Stakeholders used the opportunity to rethink the atrium of the hall e.g. remove the monstrosity of a cafe that used to sit in the middle of this beautiful space. Now visitors can appreciate the beautiful Beaux Arts hall the way that brilliant architect/urban planner Daniel Burnham created and designed it.  

Moment of Zen

Moment of Zen. Washington, D.C., USA. September 2016. 

If you are a looking for a quiet hiding spot on D.C.'s National Mall, you will find it in one of the two garden courts at the Smithsonian's National Gallery of Art West Building. As a D.C. resident, this is a free and accessible retreat that I do not take advantage of enough.

The Hirshhorn has a panoramic room on their top floor, the National Portrait Gallery has a glass ceiling courtyard created by Foster+Partners, and the National Gallery of Art has this neo-classical garden. This photo was taken on a Sunday afternoon and while the gallery was bustling, the garden was perfectly still. 

So, "Here it is, your moment of zen."*

*Thank you Jon Stewart

Inside the Rib Cage Lies a Resilient Heart

Inside the Rib Cage Lies a Resilient Heart. NYC, USA. July 2016. 

Oculus, this distinctively Calatrava creation, is an intriguing addition to downtown NYC. Was it over-budget and is it unconventional? Absolutely. However if there is one American city that can showcase a piece of non-conformist architecture, it is New York. I love the glean of the white marble, the natural light that pours in through the spine of the rib cage, and the grandeur of the empty space. The steel ribs give me the feeling of walking through a modern day cloister and, to me, it is a fitting sentiment for this particular site. 

It is a busy transit hub, but catching it in a quiet moment between trains allows you to appreciate the size, scale, and location of the project. I found the second floor to be the best place for some contemplation and observation. While many would say it does not fit in with the skyline, I would argue that inside this rib cage lies the resilient heart of the city; commuters and observers give Oculus breath and life and they are the beating heart of New York.

Sunrise, Sunset

Sunrise, Sunset. October 2014. Washington, D.C., U.S.A. 

Tomorrow I begin a new adventure in Milan, Italy. Since I will be leaving this fine city for seven months, I thought this image would be an appropriate one for the day. All D.C. residents have an epic skyline photo featuring the Washington Monument and this is mine. By the time I return here, it will be around the time this photo was taken. A few people have asked if this image is significantly edited, I assure you it is not. I boosted the saturation up slightly to reflect how the sunset looked in person; it was really that beautiful. I will miss seeing this view, but more importantly, I will miss my friends who have been amazing pillars of encouragement along the way. 

A Slight Deviation

Today I take a slight deviation from travel photos I have taken to highlight someone else's work! I was lucky enough to be profiled in the Late Spring 2015 issue of Capitol File Magazine. I really owe a big thank you to everyone who contributed in making this happen. Thank you John McCarthy, Nikki Schwab, Dominique Fierro, Mintwood Place, Natalie Jones, Ambassador Rufus Gifford, Amy Moeller, and Laura Mullen. Big thank you to the Cap File Mag family for having the foresight to create a "Women of Influence" issue. It's smart and progressive. The issue features many amazing women from around the district and you can read it here.

Photo by Dominique Fierro

Glass Tendrils

Spirals of Ice. Washington, DC, USA. February 2015.

Spring has finally come to D.C. I won't miss the temperature, wintry mix, slush, and sleet, however I will miss seeing a beautiful creation like this outside my doorstep. 

'Til Death Do Us Part

'Til Death Do Us Part. New Orleans, LA, U.S.A. January 2011.

Cemeteries in New Orleans are hauntingly beautiful and unique in that they are filled with above ground tombs. In NOLA, there are three prolific cemeteries, Saint Louis 1, 2, and 3. This was taken in Saint Louis Cemetery 2. I spent hours walking through all three; call me morbid, but these were more interesting to look at than the trainwrecks on Bourbon Street. 

Pike Place Bus Stop

Waiting. Seattle, Washington, U.S.A. January 2012.

I was in Seattle for an engagement party and was able to spend some quality catch up time with my friend Connor* while there. I captured this shot as we were leaving the Pike Place. It was an overcast winters day and I thought that this silhouette was a pretty good representation of the mood. 

*Connor is an amazing photographer - his work puts mine to shame. Please give him a follow on Instagram - you won't be disappointed.