Lighted Spaces and Landscapes

Excerpts from a Geographer's Photo Archive

recent posts

  • It Was September so it Wasn’t Green

    I love walking along the Chicago River. Like most urban rivers, it used to be more industrial. As the city grew, it became a more interesting visual space. I was headed to some meeting when I grabbed this shot. (Chicago, Illinois, 2014)

  • The Waves are Too Scary

    Bella the Greyhound was seldom in the mood to try new things. It was hot that day and we wanted her to cool off her paws. She was very skeptical about it all and was a bit skittish about the high surf. She did get her paws in. (Kenosha, Wisconsin, 2014)

  • Cold Commute

    We had met a friend in Hoboken for breakfast. We just missed the ferry back to the City. We caught the next one. Why, yes, those are icicles on the boat. (Hoboken, New Jersey, 2019)

  • South Shore Skyline

    We had decided to watch the fireworks from the south shore of Milwaukee. While hanging out waiting for the show, the city looked magical. (Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1986)

  • High Time for a Great Idea

    We were in New York for a wedding and the High Line had just opened. We enjoy walking in the City–but this was different an allowed more interesting views and opportunities for people watching. The old rail line makes a great park. (New York, New York, 2009)

  • Walk Away from the Tourists

    Traveling to famous spots means crowds–but you can evade them a bit. Like most July days, Venice was overwhelmed with people. We wandered over a few bridges, and found a much quieter street with available seats for fine dining. It was a lovely and relaxing evening in our part of town. (Venice, Italy, 2011)

  • Waiting for a Train is so Pleasant

    I love old train stations. Often they were built during a time “before accountants ruled the world.” One of my very favorites is Union Station in Los Angeles. The tile, the woodwork, the painting. You begin to understand that travel was elegant. This is the outdoor waiting area. A beautiful patio with a fountain. Other photos will follow later. (Los Angeles, California, 2002)

    The phrase “before accountants ruled the world” is attributed to one of my favorite geographers: Michael Palin.

  • We Were Both “Geeking Out”

    I had always wanted to see the Arecibo Observatory. Come to find out–so did my father. Neither of us had been there before so we spent a good portion of the day wandering through the public spaces and looking around. I had seen it featured in films and television shows. I’m glad I got to see it in operation before it was decommissioned. (Arecibo, Puerto Rico, 2015)

  • Aloha Tower

    Although it is a “retired lighthouse” it remains a centerpiece in Honolulu Harbor at Pier 9. I have some daytime photos, but I like this one better. (Honolulu, Hawaii, 2008)

  • Surprise Iris

    One of the great things about traveling is the surprise of finding something you didn’t know existed an hour before. Uncertainty and exploration leads to reward. Kathleen and I came across an iris farm in full bloom one June day. We spend a couple hours just wandering and taking photos–totally unplanned–totally worth it. You will see some other photos in the future. (Traverse City, Michigan 2013)