Architecture Photos
Monday, May 13, 2013
Santa Barbara Courthouse Anapamu Garden
A panoramic view of one of the most beautiful buildings in Santa Barbara, the Santa Barbara County Courthouse. The sunken garden in the center is used for a wide range of creative things throughout the year. It's an amazing spot right in the middle of the city.
Friday, April 5, 2013
Stearns Wharf Evening View
It's always a challenge to try to get a new angle on one of our local landmarks. Our beautiful city has been photographed so many times from just about every angle imagineable. But it's still possible to get a creative take on it if you do a little exploring and have some patience. It doesn't hurt to have a creative best friend location scouting for you while you cruise around the city on a beautiful evening.
Sunday, March 10, 2013
El Paseo Fountain Courtyard
This beautiful spot is right off of State Street in Santa Barbara. winding back pathways in the appropriately named El Paseo building, you find yourself in an amazing garden-like courtyard in the middle of a busy city block.
Saturday, March 9, 2013
El Paseo Evening View
View from the Paseo Nuevo building looking over Santa Barbara City Hall and De La Guerra Plaza.
Friday, March 8, 2013
Above State Street
View of Santa Barbara overlooking State Street tword the last glow of the setting sun.
Thursday, March 7, 2013
De La Guerra Plaza Panorama
View over De La Guerra Plaza next to the Santa Barbara City Hall.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Casa de la Guerra Panoramic View
A panoramic view from the top of Santa Barbara overlooking Casa de la Guerra.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Courthouse Sunken Garden Clouds
The sunken gardens at the Santa Barbara County Court House is the location of many community events and festivals. There are few places more recognizable as a local Santa Barbara landmark.
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Country Club View
A view out the back door of a beautiful house in a Montecito country club. A golfer's dream, your back yard is also a fairway.
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Candlelight Christmas Carols at the Santa Barbara Mission
The candlelight service on the Saturday before Christmas at the Santa Barbara Mission is one of the most beautiful events of the Christmas Season.
Friday, December 14, 2012
Temple Rays
Sunset from the front stairs of the Vednata Temple in Montecito. This little temple out in the hilss above Montecito has some of the best views anywhere. In the winter the sun sets in the area of the Santa Barbara Harbor and the wharf. But closer to the temple the beautiful grounds make for a very peaceful place to spend the evening.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Clocktower Compass View
Another angle on the view from the Courthouse Cocktower
Monday, November 19, 2012
La Arcada Christmas Panorama
Walking on State Street at Christmas time.
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Ye Cold Spring Tavern vertical
A beautiful little spot on the way to Santa Ynez along the San Marcos pass. Cold Spring Tavern is a great place to stop for lunch, and a little bit of history.
From the plaque in the stone...
In 1886 this tavern was known as "Cold Spring Relay Station". It was the half-way stop between "Mattei's Tavern" to the north, and Patrick Kinevan's "Summit House" to the south.
In those days sturdy stagecoaches known as "Mudwagons" traveled the rugged San Marcos Pass. It was here horses were changed and passengers rested and enjoyed the noon-day meal.
In 1900 the Doulton family bought the old tavern with its adjoining 40 acres.
In 1941 they sold it to the Ovington family whose daughter Audrey Ovington owns it to this day.
Plaque Dedicated August 4, 1993 by
Santa barbara Parlor No. 116, Native Sons of the Golden West
Del Mar Parlor No. 126, Native Daughters of the Golden West
Tierra De Oro Parlor No. 304, Native Daughters of the Golden West"
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Clocktower View Center stereographic corner vertical 02
A view from the center of the Santa Barbara County Courthouse Clocktower.
Friday, November 2, 2012
Santa Barbara Courthouse Clocktower
One of the best places in Santa Barbara to sepnd the day is the Santa Barbara County Courthouse. One of the most amazing architectural experiences around, and it costs absolutely nothing to enjoy the beauty and the view from the top. (Unless of course you have a photo shoot there and you have to pay for a permit, but this day was purely for the enjoyment.)
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Heavens Above
This view of the Milky Way Galaxy over the Santa Barbara Greek Orthodox Church is a long exposure taken in almost total darkness. The light inside the greek orthodox church is the smallest flicker of light from a very small bulb. The lighting of the thin clouds and shadows on the wall were cast by the glow from the horizon of the just past full Moon, which had not risen yet. Although long by normal photo standards, at 30 seconds the stars are still points of light rather than trails. This much detail in the stars would have been nearly impossible just a few years ago without a motorized tripod head to track the movement of the stars which, of course would make the objects on the ground blur.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Courthouse Clockwork Closeup
This is a close-up of the gears at the top of the clockwork inside the Courthouse Clocktower. I find the gear box on the top as well as the cool looking universal joints on the four sides that allow the shafts to have a slight angle in them. I'm sure glad they were inspired to display the clockworks when they refurbished the clock.
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Stearns Wharf Harbor Restaurant View
This view is from the end of the Sea Center section of Stearns Wharf. The Sea Center has it's own little wing, apart from the main section of the wharf. An area where you can escape the fray of the restaurants and shops and watch the people go by from a distance. And while you're there you can stop in and learn about the amazing world 20 feet below your feet too.
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Evening Wharf Wandering
One of my favorite views on Stearns Wharf. I'm looking through some older Wharf shots for a new project. This particular view comes up a lot. The meandering shape of the Wharf makes for a quite a few interesting compositions. If it were just a straight pier you wouldn't be able to get a good picture of it while you were standing on it.
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Natural Cafe State Street
The Natural Cafe on State Street in Santa Barbara. A delicious and healthy place to eat.
Friday, October 12, 2012
View from the Top of Santa Barbara
A beautiful view over Santa Barbara. This is one of the most amazing spots in Santa Barbara. The top of the Santa Barbara County Courthouse Clocktower. From here you can see from one end of the city to the other, The Mission to the Ocean. This particular angleis overlooking the sunken gardens of the courtyard with the Pacific Ocean on the right.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
La Arcada Palms
Just off State Street, at La Arcada Plaza. This is one of those beautiful little spots that you might go right past if you're not paying attention. La Arcada is a nice shpping center on a little walking path back from state street that has some cute little shops and great restaurants. Definitely a great place to spend the afternoon on a beautiful Santa Barbara day.
Monday, October 8, 2012
Santa Barbara, City in the Hills
One of the most amazing views around is, of course, from the Courthouse clocktower. I love the perspective it gives you on the city, like a map laid out in front of you that not even Google can compete with. This is the view over Anapamy Street looking north. On the left you can just make out the towers of the Mission Santa Barbara.
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Santa Barbara
The classic view from the courthouse clocktower. I have been thinking about visiting the courthouse for a few months now. Yesterday the clouds were so beautiful I had to drop everything and go!





