A Photo a Day by Bill Heller

Lantern Photos
 
Sunday, October 21, 2007

Courthouse Glow

 Sometimes its nice to take a closer look at something beautiful. This is a gateway into the Santa Barbara Courthouse. The building as a whole is amazing, but as I am so fond of pointing out I really like the details. There is some incredible craftsmanship there that I don't think you would find very easily today. Perhaps the only thing that will make me stop sounding like my grandfather now (WHYYYY, IN MY DAY... !) is to point out that it was probably pretty rare to EVER find this kind of creativity!

(Unless of course, it was actually one of my perfectionist German grandfathers doing it! :-D At least I come by it honestly!)

 
Sunday, August 26, 2007

Courthouse Light

 We are getting some unseasonable moisture from the hurricane that went through the Gulf of Mexico last week. The days have been really humid, but the clouds have been a nice change. Seemed like a good time for some evening shots of the courthouse.

This is actually a combination of about ten exposures in a technique called a High Dynamic Range Image. Takes a little work, but a normal long exposure would have blown out the image around the lantern and you would still not have been able to see the clouds and stars.

 
Friday, January 13, 2006

Courthouse Detail

 I always appreciate the kind feedback I have received when I have displayed my photos. I particularly love the stories I get from people when my images make them think of something near to their hearts. Many times I leave with a much deeper appreciation for my subjects.

I was looking through my recent images for a good Santa Barbara image for Mary Ann, and this is what I came up with. The day I took this was a bit overcast so the wider "city" images are not as exciting, They are more "ideas" that I am building on for future images. But the detail in this image reminds me of another person that stopped by the La Cumbre Art Walk a couple of times. She told me about her Grandfather who worked on the stone detail at the base of the Courthouse. If I remember correctly, some of his work is near the fountain. I have always loved taking detail shots of the courthouse especially since there's already a wide variety of angles on the bigger views out there. Now, every time I look at these details, I think about the incredible talent that went into creating them, especially by one particular grandfather.

 
Tuesday, May 24, 2005

Lantern by the Lake

 I like this lantern, it is very raw and natural looking. There are quite a few of them at Lotusland. Which apparently is not very Zen :-) In a real Japanese garden there would be only one. But I can see why she liked them.

 
Tuesday, February 15, 2005

Lantern

 Another relaxing image from Lotusland.

I think I was in a peaceful mood last evening when I picked this image because I spent some time out at the butterfly overwintering spot yesterday. It is about the quietest place I can imagine especially without leaving a populated area.

I mainly went to enjoy the butterflies with my best friend for Valentine's day. But, there are a few pictures to come from the trip, and I scoped things out a little to to go back for some more serious photo sessions later this week.

 
Thursday, February 10, 2005

Lantern

 I walk past this building on my way to Starbucks on a regular basis. It would not be nearly as interesting if they didn't leave the light on.

 
Tuesday, February 1, 2005

Peaceful Spot

 Another of my favorite spots at Lotusland.

 
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-Bill Heller

 
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