Panorama – Streaming thru America

Views of Edinburgh

April 4, 2019April 4, 2019Posted in Architecture, culture, hiking, History, landscape, literature, Photography, travelTagged Arthur's Seat, Calton Hill, Castle Rock, Devil's Advocate Close, Edinburgh, Hollyrood Palace, Panorama, Royal Mile, Scotland, St Giles Cathedral, St Margaret's Chapel, The Hub6 Comments

There’s no need searching for fabulous viewpoints in Edinburgh, because the city is chock full of them. And each one delivers the most splendid views of a town steeped in Scottish lore and history. All that’s required is an ability to scale any of the neighboring hills, and the payoff is heavenly.

For instance, a hike up to Castle Rock…

to access the gate to Edinburgh Castle…

provides a fantastic overlook to the south end.

But the bigger reward becomes more apparent after buying an access ticket to the castle for £18,

and stepping back through time to follow in the footsteps of Scottish royals who traversed the cobblestone roads since the 12th century.

Once inside Foog’s Gate, one discovers St Margaret’s Chapel–the oldest surviving building in Edinburgh–built around 1130 by David I, and dedicated to his mother Queen Margaret, who was later canonized in 1250 by Pope Innocent IV.

The chapel was designed in a Romanesque style with small, irregular stones fashioned in a simple rectangle, and underwent major reconstruction in 1851 by Queen Victoria,

and was updated with Douglas Strachan’s stained glass windows in 1922.

St Margaret’s Chapel commands a view of north Edinburgh,

looking to Leith.

In addition to the best westerly views in the city…

the Castle’s royal palace…

offers a glimpse of the elaborate decoration of the birth chamber of James VI, son of Mary Queen of Scots.

A visit to the Great Hall is also in order…

boasting an interior ceiling constructed without nails–looking much like an upside down hull of a boat–

and housing a variety of vintage weapons displays.

Several exhibits on the mount recount the many coronations of its kings and queens,

the fighting character of the Scots…

and an active tribute memorial to all of those who have fallen in battle throughout the ages.

Once outside the castle entrance, a walk down the Royal Mile…

past The Hub (where the famed Fringe Festival headquarters resides)…

will likely lead to an encounter with a bagpipe player…

standing by one of the many Closes of Edinburgh which look out to the north and south.

Continuing further east is St. Giles Cathedral, founded in 1124, and the focal point of the Scottish Reformation in the 16th century.

Inside the church are an array of small knaves and chapels enhanced by extraordinary examples of intricately detailed stained glass.

Views of Edinburgh also abound from Calton Hill,

where several monuments dot the landscape, whether it’s to honor Horatio Nelson,

Dugard Stewart,

or the war veterans who lost their lives in the Napoleonic Wars.

Once the site of medieval tournaments and festivities during the 1400s, Calton Hill was also the best place to catch public executions in the 1600s.

But today, it’s best known for it’s iconic views of the royal residence, Hollyrood Palace positioned beneath Arthur’s Seat,

and a look down Princes Street.

Views notwithstanding,

the real appeal of Edinburgh lies in its streetside presence, where it’s never too early (or late) to duck inside a pub or a whiskey bar on Grassmarket…

for a pint or a single malt to really put a different spin on the city views.

Dynamic Panoramics

June 27, 2018August 13, 2018Posted in Art, hiking, landscape, National Parks, Nature, Photography, technology, travelTagged Panorama, Samsung Galaxy S812 Comments

Every so often, when visiting many of the iconic vistas across America, I’d struggle to capture the overwhelming awesomeness of the landscape around me.

Grand Canyon NP — *South Rim, Grand Canyon National Park*

Framing the image through my viewfinder frequently posed a tremendous challenge to adequately represent the expansive angle of the surrounding landscape.

That’s when I knew it was time to put down my Lumix and pick up my phone.

Mount Victoria, Banff NP — *Lake Louise, Banff National Park*

By turning to the panorama feature of my Samsung Galaxy S8,

*Johnson Ridge, Mt. St. Helens National Monument*

I found a tool that brought me closer to recording longer distances.

Zabriskie Point, Death Valley NP — *Zabriskie Point, Death Valley National Park*

By instantly and seamlessly stitching successive shots with integrated photo-manipulation software,

Iceberg Pass, Rocky Mountain NP — *Iceberg Pass, Rocky Mountain National Park*

I found another way to express the world around me.

Shenandoah Valley — *Blue Ridge Mountains, NC*

Panoramas provide an opportunity to share multiple perspectives simultaneously,

gathering as wide an angle as the scene allows–

Watermark Vista, Capital Reef NP — *Watermark Vista, Capital Reef National Park*

–eliminating the frame lines and expanding the aspect ratio to maximum effect.

When used appropriately,

High Bluff, Redwoods NP — *High Bluff, Redwoods National Park*

whether in color…

Great Smoky Mountains NP — *atop Clingmans Dome, Great Smoky Mountains National Park*

or black and white…

Mount Rushmore National Monument — *Mt. Rushmore National Monument*

there is no better way to establish a field of infinite view without sacrificing the integrity of the image.

Badlands NP panorama — *Badlands National Park*

Conversely,

Bald Butte, Cypress Hills PP — *Bald Butte, Cypress Hills Provincial Park, Saskatchewan*

a case can be made for showcasing the apparent aberrations and distortions that can arise from difficulty interpolating the multiple parallax points across a scene,

Cinder Cone Crater, Lassen Volcanic NP — *Cinder Cone Crater, Lassen Volcanic National Park*

thus creating something unique and/or imaginary.

Athabasca River, Jasper NP.jpg — *Athabasca River, Jasper National Park*

For instance, flattening a circular garden path…

Mable's Rose Garden of Ca'd'zan, Sarasota — *Mable’s Rose Garden of Ca’d’Zan, Sarasota, FL*

or warping a linear edifice.

Additionally,

Cedar Pass, Badlands, NP — *Cedar Pass, Badlands National Park*

by stepping away from the camera,

Bryce NP, Amphitheater — *Amphitheater, Bryce Canyon National Park*

and freeing oneself from the single-mindedness of staring,

Bryce NP, Yav Point — *Bryce Canyon National Par*k

focusing,

Bryce NP, Queen's Garden — *Queen’s Garden, Bryce Canyon National Park*

composing through a viewfinder,

Canyonlands, NP Crater — *Upheaval Dome, Canyonlands National Park*

a feeling of liberation arises,

El Capitan and Cathedral Mountain, Yosemite NP — *El Capitan and Cathedral Rock, Yosemite National Park*

which can also deliver a moment of greater clarity of vision…

Waterfowl Lake, Jasper NP — *Waterfowl Lake, Jasper National Park*

and kinetic connectedness to the photograph,

Grand Tetons NP — *Grand Tetons National Park*

as the body slowly rotates to encapsulate the scene.

Rainbow Curve, Rocky Mountain NP — *Rainbow Curve, Rocky Mountain National Park*

What follows is a retrospective of panoramic images of some of my favorite places,

Painted Desert, Petrified Forest NP — *Painted Desert, Petrified Forest National Park*

in an attempt to convey the diversity,

panarama scenic canyon (2) — *Capitol Gorge, Capitol Reef National Park*

and beauty of wide-open spaces across America,

Olympia NP, Hood Canal.jpg — *Hood Canal, Olympic National Park*

albeit,

with a word of advice:

Lake 4, Jasper NP — *Lake 4, Jasper National Park*

Although this post can be enjoyed on a mobile device,

Painted Canyon, Theodore Roosevelt NP — *Painted Canyon, Theodore Roosevelt National Park*

many of the images are rich in detail,

Olympia NP, Olympic Peninsula — *Olympic Peninsula, Olympic National Park*

and are best viewed on a larger screen…

Navajo Knob, Capital Reef NP — *Navajo Knob, Capital Reef National Park*

to better take advantage of the breadth,

Mt. Edith Cavell, Jasper NP — *Mt. Edith Cavell, Jasper National Park*

the scope,

Moro Rock, Sequoia NP — *Moro Rock, Sequoia National Park*

the scale,

Louise Lake, Mt. Ranier NP — *Louise Lake, Mt. Ranier National Park*

and enormity of the subjects.

Joshua Tree, NP — *Joshua Tree National Park*

Also,

Bearhat Mountain & Hidden Lake, Glacier NP — *Bearhat Mountain & Hidden Lake, Glacier National Park*

my apologies in advance to those who are downloading on slow networks,

Gooseneck Overlook, Canyonlands, NP — *Gooseneck Overlook, Canyonlands, National Park*

for the generous number of photographs with large data files…

Forest Canyon, Rocky Mountain NP — *Forest Canyon, Rocky Mountain National Park*

may make it seem like an eternity before everything eventually loads.

Garden Wall, Glacier NP — *Garden Wall, Glacier National Par*k

But such is the case when shooting a photograph.

The virtue of patience…

is ultimately rewarded…

Blue Mesa, Petrified Forest NP — *Blue Mesa, Petrified Forest National Park*

by the satisfaction of knowing that the final image can finally be appreciated.

Brokeoff Mountain, Lassen Volcanic NP — *Brokeoff Mountain, Lassen Volcanic National Park*

Hail Lisa Marie, Full of Graceland

March 30, 2017April 29, 2017Posted in Architecture, Photography, travelTagged Elvis, Gift shop, Graceland, Lisa Marie, Panorama, Photography3 Comments

The Graceland mansion tour allows visitors to gawk at garish furnishings that are fit for a king throughout the year except on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

On those two days and afterhours, Lisa Marie (as sole heir) and her family are certain to emerge from their second floor retreat (which is strictly off limits to everybody else) and romp about the downstairs–perhaps to enjoy dinner in the dining room without the roped stanchions,

or take coffee in the living room.

A private tour guide was overheard discussing Lisa Marie’s comings and goings, which have become more frequent now that she resides in Nashville. So it’s not uncommon that she’ll visit with her 8-year-old twin girls.

Since the kitchen is surrounded with display glass to preserve the $750 microwave oven Elvis bought in 1972, I asked if a kitchen existed on the second floor for family use during the day.

Sources have confirmed that only a refrigerator exists in the living quarters, but if anybody is hungry–for instance when the twins requested McDonalds the other day–the Graceland staff was more than willing to bring it back, helping Lisa Marie avoid the paparazzi, and maintain anonymity.

“She could be upstairs right now,” said the VIP guide, “lookin’ down at you through that window, and you wouldn’t even know it.” That sounded creepy to me.

Lisa Marie fondly recalls the childhood years she spent in the Jungle Room while growing up in Graceland–feeling the green shag carpet under her feet, and snuggling in the plush barrel chair by the waterfall, usually while she watched TV (one of 16 on the property).

In fact, her father, Elvis so adored TV, that like LBJ at the time, he maintained a media room in the basement so he might watch 3 side-by-side TVs at once.

And while the house is a triumphant tribute to gaudiness, like the pool room,

it pales in comparison to the on-site gift shop, where the public can take home an endless supply of in memoriam memorabilia.

Because, Elvis by design, according to Lisa Marie, is all about taking care of business (TCB).

And at the end of the tour, long after the last pre-recorded note has been sung, and the last of the 2,000 guests per day has been bussed away, there can be little doubt, regardless of what you’ve heard, that Elvis is definitely still in the building.

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