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Monday, November 26, 2012
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
New-ish lens continued
Yesterday turned out to be a pretty nice day to get out & shoot. Cool & crisp- I could hear my dad doing his "WHOOOH its a bit cool today dontcha think"
Had to get a new cache of cat food & I was on my way. Over to Eaux Vive & then I dont know where I wandered to. Saw some really neat apartments that had patios (somewhat rare in Geneve) & just imagined having one of our own...... Le sigh :)
Anyway- I think I really love this lens!!! Learning to get back, WAY BACK as compared to my 14mm lens- but talk about getting another whole perspective on a subject- its taken me this long??? I have had zoom lenses before so they are nothing new to me- but those were shooting with an SLR- I LOVED my Canon AE-1- I still have it- although its in a box & hasnt really been touched since I went digital. I digress....... So the new lens- great feature that isnt a part of the 14mm- when I upload into Iphoto, the vertical shots are automatically rotated- a bit of a time saver for sure & a nice feature.
Crossed the Mont Blanc bridge & it was nice to see the flags of Geneve & Suisse all unfureled & enjoying the sun. They are so much nicer than the Doner Kebab ones they put up. Took this one from the left bank as it had better light. Not @ full zoom & still quite crisp.
Noticed a few sea gulls on a tie off rope, so I got down on the wall & went to a full zoom- still quite nice.
I liked the shadows & the different architectural elements in this shot of an apartment building in Eaux Vive.
AH- one of my most FAVORITE buildings in Geneve- this one by Le Corbusier-"Immeuble Clarté". Looks like they have done some renovating on the exterior since the last time I stopped to take a look- it was looking a bit worn. What a treasure to have this building in Geneve. The apartments look to be 2 story loft type- so I can only imagine they arent very big- Id still want one though BIG TIME!!!!
Random guy who thinks we are all astronauts gathering a crowd along the Pont de la machine- he was talking about something & seemed pretty engageing as people were stopping to talk to him- no idea as it was all in the Francais......
Monday, November 19, 2012
New-ish lens
OK- so a few months ago, best gal friends Megan & Carley departed Geneve for their around the world experience. Carley had a lens she didn't want to take on the trip- bulky & heavy & offered it up for sale. Mark purchased it or me (I am spoiled & loved) & I have used it on occasion- translates- not enough. So this week I am only going to be using my Lumix 45-200 micro 4/3 zoom lens.
I read an article over the weekend to "Boost your creativity- use a different lens today" & that is exactly what I'm going to do :) Change is good??? :)
Hopefully you wont get too tired of close ups.........
Stay tuned, day 1 is upon me & its a beautiful day here in Geneve.
I read an article over the weekend to "Boost your creativity- use a different lens today" & that is exactly what I'm going to do :) Change is good??? :)
Hopefully you wont get too tired of close ups.........
Stay tuned, day 1 is upon me & its a beautiful day here in Geneve.
Friday, November 16, 2012
European Bicycles
A bike I came across in the Cinque Terra- looks to have weathered the floods |
You gotta hand it to the Swiss, well ok, Europeans et al- they have really embraced the bicycle. Everywhere we have visited since we have been living in Suisse, there are noticeably more people riding bikes in the city centers than there are in the USA. Not just people out having a ride around for exercise- you see business men & women, decked out in suits & high heels (respectively), talking on cell phones or smoking a cigarette. Street bikes- nothing fancy, not mountain bikes or super tricked out bikes- just normal bikes. I think some almost look like they are from the 50's.
They use bikes here because its easy. Bikes have their own lanes in traffic, people here actually yield to bicycles!!! Sadly, somewhat unheard of in the US. At least in Seattle that is. I think cyclist in the US are seen as a nuisance, they get in the way, you have to go around them, & when you hit one- well, it ends up making you late to where ever you were in SUCH a hurry to get to (Costco, Starbucks, Nordstrom). In Europe- there never seems to be this sense of urgency to get somewhere. If you get stuck in traffic here its looked upon as "well everyone else is stuck so why stress about it". Although, if you are on a bike- you get through it by weaving in & out of the cars are usually on time. I'm not going to get into the conversation about the damn scooters though- they kind of drive me nuts.
I am writing this because since moving here I have become one of those bicycle riders in the city center. It feels good riding next to cars that you hope- see & respect you & share the road. I don't ever get honked at, I don't ever get yelled at for riding in the middle of the road. I feel somewhat safe in traffic here. I'm sure people do get hit on bikes here- they have to, never seen it though. It would be interesting to see a study of bicycle accidents per capita here vs. a city like it of similar size in the US. There has to be more here because of the sheer number of cyclists on the roads.
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Commuter bikes at Gare Cornavin here in Geneve |
Anyone seen a Dakota bike before?? |
An art bike in Geneve |
An Italian bike in the shadows- I think I'm going to get this one framed |
For some reason- I take photos of bikes A LOT..... |
Monday, November 05, 2012
Lavaux Vineyard Terraces
What a beautiful location those silly Romans had 2000 years ago & the idea to terrace the hillsides for ultimate southern exposure to grow their grapes that they would eventually turn into wine- (I wonder if they knew what a beautiful area this was way back then as well.......) I tell ya..... And we are still doing it- albeit some of the wine isn't to our liking even though living here is pretty much the only place on earth to get wine from Suisse...... they only export a very small amount because they don't grow that much & they like to take care of the Swiss market before they offer it out elsewhere. This idea rings true for MANY aspects of the Swiss culture- not just wine.......
Friday, November 02, 2012
London weekend
What a great long weekend in London with Mark!!! He had to be there for work so he left on Oct 14 & I flew in to meet him on the 17th. We stayed @ a Hilton in Islington ( a suburb of London- Angel tube stop) & it was a nice little area- busy as is most of London. I arrived @ about 2 & he had to be in the office until 6 so it gave me an opportunity to wander the streets of Islington. Asked the concierge whats to see & he looked @ me & said "What 'round here?? I suppose you can have a walk 'round the canal- thats nice". So he pointed me in the direction & I was off. He was also right- not too much going in in Islington- pretty working class area, kebab shops & pubs, real estate offices & of course Starbucks- noting too endearing. Made it over to the canal system & it was quite pretty- there were a number of the canal boats like ones in the jubilee water parade down the Thames- not as large as the ones in Amsterdam- but similar in design- I still cant think they are very dry in there- none of them never look new to me..... Anyway- snapped a few photos & that was that- the path ended up being closed a little ways down so it was back to the streets & alleys to explore. Some great shops on the High Street- found a Penhaligons, our most favorite products- I couldn't NOT go in!!!! Very helpful gal popped up from behind the register with a HELLOOOO- scared the hell out of me- but she was trying to fix the internet. I went through all the scents on the table- some I liked, some I REALLY liked & some I hated. One of them smelled like church incense- a bad memory from catholic upbringing- they should have named it either Penance, Hair Shirt of GUILT because if I wore that it would be a constant reminder & vision of Sister Lucy, Sister Mary Josephine, Sister Karen & Father Fox......... UGH........ Checked out a few of their new scents- put on my FAVORITE Blenheim Bouquet- their signature scent from 1902 :) ALSO the what Hotel 41 stocks as their bath products!!!! YUM!!!! So I was on my way- wanted to go back with Mark to see what he wanted but would probably go to their larger store over in Covent Garden on Thurs or Friday. Anyway- a new favorite was Opus 1870 SOOO fabulous- nice and Cedar"y"- how I like it :)
Did some great exploring- headed to the Tate Modern Museum- what an incredible building- its the worlds largest museum- housed in a old power company facility- HUGE!!!!! Now, I am all for modern art- but seriously- some of the works housed here left me scratching my head- a pile of bricks, a twisted ball of wire, white paint in the shape of a hexagon painted over the white wall, a chain link fence gate with a crayon tied to a piece of string hanging of it??? No wonder there are starving artist out there. Granted- some of the art was great & thought provoking, they do have some great Kandinsky's, Picasso's & a few Giacometti sculptures that are always fabulous to see & most of the modern masters- but this place is SO IMMENSE- I have a feeling we just scratched the surface- must go again on the return trip next year with Mark's parents. We'll see their take on it- although- I kinda already know- but it will be good for them to expand their horizons & it will certainly make for some fun conversations with them with the help of wine :)
Alberto Giacometti |
Hanging lights @ Veeraswamy |
Fresh Game Birds @ The Borough Market |
We just love London, its so easy to get around, no language barrier to hurdle over, the city is clean & there is something for everybody of every ethnicity. I think I could live there- although they say the weather is worse than Seattle- so perhaps not as that drives me nuts.
Mark enjoying a double handled cup of English tea @ Costa & wishing I would STOP taking his photo :) |
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