The Ezekiel W. Cullen Building
At the University of Houston, the Ezekiel W. Cullen Building and fountains are one of the "post card" shots that everyone takes, so I had to make sure I did too.
Evening Towers
The first photowalk I did locally was last spring in downtown Houston. It started on the top of a parking garage, just before sunset. I got out of the car and looked up and WOW!
Quick, grab the tripod. Grab the camera. Go!  Needless to say, it was a fun evening. Some of my favorite images came from that evening. I’m not sure if it’s because I was pleased with the images themselves or because it was gave me confidence that I could shoot and process HDR images I would like. I hope you like them as much as I do.
The Frog by the Lake
There are few things more relaxing than floating in a calm, shady pool, pond or lake. I'm fortunate to have good friends that have a hidden gem in the middle of town, an oasis of sorts. Their neighborhood has a small lake the homes are built around. Though their home isn't the newest, they have an incredible "lagoon" of sorts, with large overhanging shade trees. It's always a treat to visit, but you add their lake to the mix and it's a day of paradise. 

This little frog stands watch over the lake, enjoying the beauty of a warm afternoon.
Rocket Science
The Saturn V rocket was the most powerful rocket ever built. The first stage had 5 F1 engines. The second stage had 5 J2, while this third stage has one J2. It required only one, because by this time, it was well away from the strong pull of the earth gravity, plus it had far less weight to push, since it had lost two previous stages and all of the fuel they first contained. 

The phrase "rocket science" has multiple meanings; the science it takes to plan and navigate the path into space, the physics of gravity vs. lift, and the mechanics of creating and building something so complex as to push out the amount of thrust these engines created. 

And to think this was state of the art for the 1960s. I can't even fathom the complexity of what it takes to build a station in space or create a reusable vehicle like the Space Shuttle. I guess that's why I just take the photos and leave the science to the real heroes, those scientists that create it.
Up in Smoke
the holidays seem like the perfect time to light the fireplace, or in warmer climates, a nice candle and enjoy the aroma and atmosphere. Just try not to think of it as your money going up in smoke.
Three Course Lunch
The fun thing about shooting High Dynamic Range (HDR) photos is even a normal scene can look very interesting. HDR brings out details and tones that you actually see when there. It looks more "alive".
Take this shot for example. In person, the colors and textures are quite interesting. Shot with a single photo, however,  it becomes bland and flat. This wall is in front of Bayou Place in downtown Houston.
Morning Treat
I love the winter skies. The clouds have so much more interest and variations than summer skies. I'm not a meteorologist, but the high clouds you get during winter is enough to make me want to get up before the sun, just to see what it has in store for me. I had to pull the car over yesterday morning on the way to work to capture this with my iPhone. I only have about a half mile stretch where that is possible and the timing was perfect.
Faith
It's this time of year we celebrate Christmas. Not a happy holiday "day", but Christmas day. The entire basis for this holiday is the celebration of the birth of Christ.
Reflecting on Christmas
Like  many photographers, reflections have a special attraction that can make a photo come alive. But since I don't live close to a lake, pond or other natural attraction, I have to keep a keen eye open for rare opportunities. The reflection pool at the local Town Center provided a great chance for this Christmas photo.
The Ezekiel W. Cullen Building
At the University of Houston, the Ezekiel W. Cullen Building and fountains are one of the "post card" shots that everyone takes, so I had to make sure I did too.
The Ezekiel W. Cullen Building
At the University of Houston, the Ezekiel W. Cullen Building and fountains are one of the "post card" shots that everyone takes, so I had to make sure I did too.
The Ezekiel W. Cullen Building
At the University of Houston, the Ezekiel W. Cullen Building and fountains are one of the "post card" shots that everyone takes, so I had to make sure I did too.
See photo in original gallery.
Tim Stanley Photography - All images covered by the Creative Commons License and not for commercial use, without prior permission.