Dart's New Uptown Station

Uptown Station

A few months ago I noticed some neon lights along Central Expressway near the Lemmon Ave exit. They didn't use to be there. I soon found out that it was a new Dart Station for the M-Line Trolley that goes up and down McKinney Ave. Last night I photographed the station for the first time and I did get a shot that included the trolley. While writing this post I did a search for some information about the station and came up with something interesting. http://www.dallasvoice.com/gay-photographer-held-gunpoint-cityplace-dart-station-refuses-give-camera-10117972.html This happened just a few days ago. If I ever get robbed, raped, or murdered while out shooting I hope they just refer to me as "a photographer".

To Lubbock and back!

Back in the early 70's I spent a couple of years at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas.   Last weekend I participated in the Lubbock Arts Festival.  This was my third time back since being in college. 

 

Majestic Theater in Eastland, Texas

While driving to Lubbock I took a detour through Eastland, Texas to photograph the Majestic Theater. I wish it had a few more lights on but fortunately there was enough ambient light to get an interesting shot anyway.  During the festival I was asked if I had a shot of the Cactus Theater. I didn't at the time, but I do now.  After packing up on Sunday I drove through Whataburger, stopped to get gas, and then headed for the freeway to get out of town. I didn't get far. Only half of my burger had been eaten when I noticed the Cactus Theater and several other neon lighted businesses that were calling my camera. I found a place to park along Buddy Holly Drive where the Theater is located. It was approaching that magic time of day where the lights are on but images would still show a deep blue in the sky instead of black. I spent the next forty five minutes creating the next three images.

Cactus Theater

Chophouse 

Alley

After leaving Lubbock, my goal was to drive to Sweetwater and get a room for the night. I really hadn't planned on shooting anything else but then I spotted the Tower Theater in Post, Texas. Much like the Majestic, the lights were not on but there was enough ambient light for a decent image. While looking at the  high resolution version of this I could see that most of the lights are not even there any more. I guess that explains why they were not on!

Tower Theater in Post, Texas

A Trip to Albuquerque!

 

  Magnolia Station

On Wednesday I loaded up my vehicle and headed to my next show in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I decided a 45 mile detour would take take to Shamrock, Texas. This would allow me to shoot the Magnolia Station and the Conoco Tower at dusk. I think I got several new images which will add to my previous work from this location.

 

 Conoco Tower and UDropInn

I arrived in Albuquerque on Thursday and set up my work for the show. That evening I drove a stretch of Route 66 looking for something interesting to photograph. When I spotted the Route 66 Diner I knew it was time to get out the cameras. After shooting the exterior I decided to go in and try the food. I took the picture of the car from my table. The chicken fried chicken was also good.

 

Route 66 Diner

 

 Interior of Route 66 Diner

Today was the first day of the Rio Grande Arts and Crafts Festival. After it was over at 5pm I decided to go shoot a few more locations along Route 66. Yesterday I never saw the lights come on at the Hiland Theater. I didn't think they would come on today either so I photographed it right before sunset. I took a few shots of several old hotel signs after that and then spotted the Absolutely Neon building. I would hate to pay their electricity bill.

 

 Hiland Theater

 

Absolutely Neon

Sometimes you just have to keep going back!

Entry to the Corner Pocket

I got together with my friend Mike Pittenger to go photograph in the rain last night. The afternoon had been gray and drizzly and I felt we could get some good reflections in the streets after dark. We drove through nearby Wylie,Texas looking for some interesting things to shoot. A few pixels were used up but nothing terribly exciting came of it. I decided we might try the Square in Garland. I know I keep going there to shoot but when conditions change like this you can create images not possible when it is dry. Good subject matter can be shot in a variety of ways. I also knew Mike had not seen the theater and it would give him a chance photographed it. When we got to the square the streets were dryer than I would have liked. It had only drizzled a little in the last two hours. Mike had some fun shooting the theater and I got a nice one of the entry to The Corner Pocket. We called it a night and we headed back to his place to get my truck.
 I stopped to get something to eat on the way home. I noticed it was raining quite hard outside now. Eat fast.  Bring me the check. Rain has let up. I need to get back to the square. The streets were much wetter when I returned and much stronger reflections. Below is one of numerous compositions that I took from an assortment of puddles that I was able to work with.

Plaza Theater in the Rain #3

I thought I would included this last image. It is the darkest of the four exposures which were combined to make the final image above. If I was still shooting film this is probably close to what I would have had to use as my image of the reflections. It is dark enough to retain some detail in the bright marquee but it leaves everything else much darker than what my eyes could see. Some people seem to think digital is sooooo easy. The truth is that you need to have quite a bit of software skills in order to get the above version instead of what is below. Just thought I would throw that out there.

 I did manage to get a good shot of the Dallas Skyline around dusk yesterday. Most of the best skyline images of Dallas are taken near the Trinity River levee just west of downtown. Not the safest area to be in after dark. I have to wonder why I finally go down there to shoot and go by myself. After hiking down the levee to get a better angle it was almost a relief to run into another photographer. We both photographed until dark and then walked back together. I  drove back into downtown and was able to get a shot of the Majestic Theater. A Laser Spectacular to the music of Pink Floyd was going to be shown at 9 pm. Unlike several nights ago when we drove by, I felt the lights in front of the theater would be on tonight. Even got a free spot from a parking meter that was right out front. All the surrounding parking lots were ready to start taking $15 from people attending the Light Show. Tickets to the show around $30 then about half that again to park. What a rip off.

After having some Mexican food with my wife I made one last stop and photographed C & M Tire. Its an out of business gas station which is now selling tires and chrome hub caps. I combined 5 different exposures but am pleased with the way it turned out.