Venetian Stroll Las Vegas Style

The day was perfect. It was warm but not hot by Vegas standards with a mild breeze blowing. Our destination was The Venetian Hotel. We walked through the milling crowds all with the same purpose; having fun. There are many ways to accomplish this and one of my favorites is shooting photography. As I looked down the colonnade there was a lull in the constant foot traffic and I quickly took this photo. Then the wave of people surged once again into the frame. It occurred to me that this ebb and flow is much like nature. Sometimes you have to allow things to unfold to catch the perfect moment.

Venetian Stroll
Two people are dwarfed by the beautiful classical colonnade architecture at the famous Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, NV.
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Etsy JulieMagersSoulen

Water Tower at Sunset

Traveling in the American midwest you find many abandoned warehouses, factories, and old water towers. There is a reason this area of the United States is called the "Rust Belt." It is a vision into a past when America was the world's leading producer of goods. I remember that past and feel saddened by the direction our country has taken. But all that aside, I love the interesting rusty beauty of these old structures. I hope you enjoy my latest in this series from my Ohio trip. If you love to look at photographs of old water towers you should check out the work of my friend, Gary Heller. He has some fantastic shots of old water towers in New York City. Enjoy!

Water Tower
This old water tower with a golden sunset painting its rusty surface with an orange glow is found in Bucyrus, Ohio.
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Etsy Buy Handmade JulieMagersSoulen

Warehouse Moon

An old warehouse in Bucyrus, Ohio has been boarded up for a long time. Every time I venture back to my childhood home a few miles away, this building beckons my camera to shoot. If anyone recognizes this building I would love to know what its former life was. I think it is a very beautiful old building and in the west we do not see very much brick, especially used in such a big structure. I loved playing in post processing with this one. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did creating it.

Warehouse Moon
A slice of American history is preserved as a full moon glows over an old 19th century brick warehouse, long ago boarded up and abandoned.
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Etsy Buy Handmade JulieMagersSoulen

Sunlit Copper Dome

I admit it. As well as my love of nature, I love architecture and it is one of my favorite things to photograph. The abstractions and geometry fascinate the eye. This Greek Revival courthouse in Bucyrus, Ohio caught my eye just as the sun was near setting. The lighting was perfect as the copper dome caught fire with the glow of the sunset. The close angle really shows off the classical Doric style of the building and it almost seems to be tumbling in upon itself. I hope you like it.

Copper Dome
A copper dome catches the last light of the day atop the classical Doric styled architecture of a Greek revival courthouse.
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Etsy Buy Handmade JulieMagersSoulen

Stepping out of My Steel Box

If you are familiar with my work then you know I tend toward natural images found in the Western USA. Today I am stepping out of my comfort zone. You might think I took this photo in a major city, but in fact, it was taken at a rural interstate rest area in Wyoming. It is what my eye saw when I looked at that reflective steel face shining like a beacon in the sun. Let me know what you think.

Steel Box
A wedge shaped building with a face of reflective steel shines in a blue cloud filled sky.
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Etsy Buy Handmade JulieMagersSoulen

I-80 Road Trip: Colorado to Ohio

Some of you may remember my road trip last month from Colorado to Ohio. I thought I would share a few photos from that non-stop whirlwind tour. We started bright and early on a Saturday morning and made it to our destination by Sunday night. That is pretty good time for 1300 miles. We had a fun family visit squeezed in between our obligations before we headed home. On the return trip we had one little glitch of a spark coil going bad on our truck. Apparently, our desert rat truck did not like the humidity either. Then it was back on the road. Some of these photographs were taken in a moving vehicle at interstate speeds. That might explain some of the blur and bugs!

Glass Building
This glass church with post and beam construction is exceptionally beautiful.

Happy Face

Wind Turbines
This could be the AT&T logo. Somewhere in Iowa on I-80.

Rob's Nap
Rob takes a nap in the jump seat of the truck. He ended up in many peculiar positions trying to get comfortable but this was the cutest.

Glass Dome
A glass geodesic dome flashes by at 80 mph.

Jordan Truck
Michael Jordan's head. Just one of the unusual sights on I-80 somewhere in Indiana near Chicago.

Best Moment
My Mom is a great grandmother for the fourth time.

Worst Moment
Our truck breaks down in Iowa City. We spent the evening and next morning with repairs sitting in this parking lot.

Road Weary
After almost 2600 miles of driving within six days, we are all a bit weary.

Colorado Sunset
An exceptional Colorado sunset greets us as we return home.

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Gothic Revival Church Architecture

First I want to thank all of you that have stuck by me during my internet equipment failure. I apologize for not being able to communicate or post new work and have missed you! I am excited to be able to share my work with you once again.

These photographs were taken in Georgetown, Colorado. This little church is a perfect example of Gothic Revival architecture. The influences are apparent in the pointed arches, steep gables, and spired tower. The Gothic Revival period spanned the 19th and 20th centuries and was primarily used in the design of churches and universities. It was a romantic period of Victorian architecture and was found not only in Europe but the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Bulgaria.

Gothic Church
The tower of a stone Gothic Revival church reaches toward a stormy sky with green capped spires.
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Church Door
The burgundy doors and stained glass window of a stone Gothic Revival church are outlined with beautiful brick arches.
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Etsy Buy Handmade JulieMagersSoulen

Firehouse Architecture - Alpine Hose No. 2

Hello! It's great to be back home in Colorado. We accomplished what we needed to do in Ohio and made time for some family reunions too. The drive was long, roughly 1300 miles one way, but we made it in record time even though we had a mechanical failure in Iowa. Seems our truck does not like moisture so I'll be staying closer to home in the semi-arid climate of the West for now.

This black and white photo of a historic firehouse was taken in Georgetown, Colorado. The old white clapboard, straight lines of the front facade, and bell tower caught my eye as a storm was brewing. In fact, we had to dash for cover shortly after I shot this photograph because of lightning. We were about a block away from our car and I heard the car alarm go off right after a close strike. Our car's security system has not been the same since! It tends to go off at the most awkward times. I hope you enjoy my new photo, Alpine Hose.

Alpine Hose
A black and white photo of a historic white clapboard firehouse with a bell tower in Georgetown, Colorado holds its western charm.
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To see more of my black and white photography click here.

Etsy Buy Handmade JulieMagersSoulen

Black and White Architectural Arches Photography

Architecture has always fascinated me as a subject. I often see patterns when I am taking pictures and the crisp geometric lines of a building pop out at me. Shadows and light are sharper too and translate well to a black and white photograph. In this photo I like the chaotic element of the tree branches protruding into the frame for visual interest. I hope you like it.

Arches and Brick
A black and white photo of a stately brick building with ornate scrolled stone work and tall arched windows could be found on any college campus. Denver, Colorado
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Etsy Buy Handmade JulieMagersSoulen

Orange Orange

Today's post is all about color. I was inspired to pick orange by the fantastic sunrises I have been greeted by this week. They paint my bedroom in a warm orange glow making it easy to pop out of the covers and start my day. For some reason when it's gloomy it is much better to stay under the blankets. But orange rejuvenates me, gets my motor running. I hope you enjoy my guest photography today and click on the shops and photos. Oooo-aarrrrange you glad I picked orange!

love on a sunday morning
by myan photography
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Le Soleil
by Honeytree
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TTV Gerber Daisy
by The Eye
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Little Orange Beetle
by Starry Blue Sky
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Lanterns
by Ara 133 Photography
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Etsy Buy Handmade JulieMagersSoulen

Architecture in Seattle

Hi everyone! I need your help. I have two images of the same building and would appreciate your feedback. Let me know which one you prefer. Number 1 is a more traditional presentation, while number 2 is a bit more contemporary with composition and color. What do you think? Which do you prefer?

Etsy Buy Handmade JulieMagersSoulen

Sunday Morning Gallery - Mount Evans, Colorado

Mount Evans was our destination on one warm and sunny weekend. West of Denver, Colorado, Mount Evans reaches an altitude of 14,264 feet. It is so amazing that there is a road to the top of this fourteener, the highest paved road in all of North America. Originally there were plans to connect three fourteeners by highway, but this grandiose vision proved unfeasible.



For every 1,000 feet gained in elevation temperatures drop 3.5-5 degrees F and we were totally unprepared for the 26 degree blasting winds. I felt sorry for the motorcycle riders we met on top huddled against the stone wall out of the brutal wind, but they were bravely getting ready for their descent by warming their hands in their pockets.



This is the Crest House restaurant that was built in 1941. It burned down in 1979 but the stone remains are a delight to photograph.



With the numbing cold it was hard to keep the camera steady, but I was determined to get my shots. With regrets, and self recrimination at being so unprepared, I ran back to the car heater.



On the way back down we stopped to appreciate the beauty of the flat alpine tundra with hundreds of little pools reflecting the sky. My daughter was also smitten with the beauty and was doing her own shooting.



Have you been to Mount Evans or the top of any other mountains?

Sunday Morning Gallery - A Night at The Stanley

I am going to take you on a journey back in time. Come with me to The Stanley Hotel circa 1909. Built by F.O. Stanley, the same that invented the Stanley Steamer, the hotel has been featured as one of America's most haunted hotels with numerous stories from visitors and staff. In 1973 Stephen King, inspired by The Stanley's remoteness while staying in Room 217 during an intense winter storm, wrote "The Shining." And yes, it is Room 217 that Maid Elizabeth Wilson likes to visit. There are other regular ghostly visitors as well; ghost children like to play on the fourth floor, Mr. Stanley hangs out in the lobby or bar, Mrs. Stanley loves to play her piano, and Lord Dunraven resides in Room 401. So when night fell and the hotel became quiet I could not resist prowling around looking for ghosts.

The lobby looks quiet and without any apparent ghostly activity.

I crept closer to the piano wondering if Mrs. Stanley would materialize in front of my eyes. The amber glow around the stage gave the room a haunted mood and I have to admit that I was getting spooked.

Time to go upstairs and explore.



Wait, what is that movement by the light! It must have been my imagination. It's gone now.



I hope someone leaves the light on for me.

Spring Snow in Colorado

I usually do a Sunday Morning Gallery post and I had one prepared for today, but because many of you know I live in the foothills of northern Colorado, and may have heard of our intense spring storm I decided to post some photos. It has been a crazy few days.

It snowed all night Thursday and all the next day and through the next night too. Our landscape became surreal as the heavy wet snow clung to everything. The giant ponderosa pines, which normally can handle heavy snows, were swaying like drunken sailors with the heavy weight.

Then the snapping and popping like a rifle shot started as the tops, branches, and whole trees came crashing down around us unable to sustain the huge weight. I started to wonder when it would stop by that time and listened for house groans, but none came. Our post and beam construction held strong.

I am very happy to get this moisture after a very dry winter here in Colorado, but when it comes all at once it can be challenging. But now the road is plowed, the fire is stoked, and dinner is cooking away. All is cozy, safe and warm on a spring day on Stellers Ridge.