Of course, it was a work function I was attending and while I knew my time would be limited, you know I had to bring the Beast with me. Not only was it my first time heading up to Boston, but it was also the Beast’s as well. So I packed him up to be part of my carry-on items and off we went. Boston bound and the excitement was real.

Now, again I will say that this was for a work event, and partaking in the 9-5 was required. My employers also did have activities planned out for us so you can say it was a busy stay in Boston and that time was an issue however one thing I know for sure is that if someone wants to, they do. We make time for the things we want. Especially in today’s era when busyness has become the norm. 

So of course from the moment our plane landed I was sorting out how I was going to make it happen. I wasn’t intending on anything too crazy just a quick little walkabout. So I woke up early enough on day two to give me time to walk and still make it to work when expected and while the morning was gloomy and foggy, off I went into the area known as Back Bay. I set my sights on the river I was able to see from my hotel room and decided to work my way back from there. 

Now, before anything here is a quick little disclosure, I love architecture and let’s just say that I am in love with all the brownstone vibes in this lovely little town. Granted, construction of this neighborhood began in 1859, as the demand for luxury housing exceeded the availability in the city at the time, and the area was fully built by around 1900. It is most famous for its rows of Victorian brownstone homes—considered one of the best-preserved examples of 19th-century urban design in the United States—as well as numerous architecturally significant individual buildings, and cultural institutions such as the Boston Public Library, and Boston Architectural College. Initially conceived as a residential-only area, commercial buildings were permitted from around 1890, and Back Bay now features many office buildings, including the John Hancock Tower, Boston’s tallest skyscraper. It is also considered a fashionable shopping destination (especially Newbury and Boylston Streets, and the adjacent Prudential Center and Copley Place malls) and home to several major hotels. All of which had me walking around in awe even when I wasn’t behind the lens.

Now, enough of the historical information, let me show you my favorite images. Again, I was pressed for time and so I basically walked a straight line from the river back to the hotel but I did snap a little bit of everything I saw along the way. I am breaking away from my top 5 in this entry and have included a total of 20 images in this little collection though there are a few more on my Facebook page you are welcome to browse through. Let me know what you think. I for one fully intend on going back to Boston.

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The goal that I set out for myself was to take the Beast out on a quick little walkabout with only a 50mm 1.4  prime.  That in itself is not the challenge as while I don’t really do it as often as I would like, I love shooting with my shorty. Using a prime lens encourages you to envisage the composition by the constraints of your focal length. You get set in place to take the shot even before holding the camera to your eye, whereas zoom lenses can make a person lean a bit towards the lazy side. 

The more you get used to using just one focal length, the quicker you’ll be able to visualize your final shot by looking at the scene (with your eyes, sans camera!). In my opinion, zoom lenses with their varying focal lengths options don’t encourage you to develop this skill as much. It can actually make a photographer lazy with their compositions and lazy is one thing I am not. 

While I do always visualize my final shot even with a zoom lens on Beast, there is something to be said about my feet being what brings me closer to my shot. It actually allows me to connect that much more to a subject allowing me to more accurately emote what I am seeing in my eyes. Let’s not even get started on the depth of fields these lenses with their wider apertures allow for.

While shooting with a wide aperture won’t make you a better photographer, it does allow a higher degree of creative control over your image. Being able to fine-tune what is and isn’t in focus in your picture using a wider aperture is just one other great way to take your photography to the next level. Now on this day, my real challenge was to not only visualize my final shot, it was to produce that final image with no cropping or rotation at all. I wanted simply produce my images exactly as shot with the only editing being by way of color, tone, etc.. 

That is exactly what I did. I met with my obligations as early as I could in the morning and carved out a bit of time at the Intermodal Center at Miami International Airport. I haven’t shot just for me in some months and I decided that while I was presently wrapping up a set for a client, I would take a little time to work on my craft. Yes, there is another bit of learning taking place for me behind the scenes in my photography, I needed to take the time and allow my eyes to create their vision.

That being said, I am bringing to you my top 5 images from this little project of mine. I did upload a few more to my Facebook page and as always, you are welcomed to click the link and have a peak. Let me know what you think. Are you able to see any difference between what I typically share and what turned out from my little project? 

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Right around the time Hurricane Irma came across South Florida, I began running in to a few technical and personal difficulties. I won’t dive in to the specifics, however let’s just say that technology and I did not get along very well. I would come out of one setback only to encounter another. I’m not one to admit defeat however and so I adjusted my sail and now I continue to sail. Okay, that was corny. Still the same, you get my point. 

So amidst the insane hours I’ve been putting in at my day job, I’ve been burning the midnight oil again and again playing catch up and getting it done. That being said I’m bringing to you a quick little set I snuck in while attending a PBA barbecue a couple of weeks back. There’s nothing particular crazy about this set. It’s just a few snaps I took while I explored the museum they’re presently working on. 

It was very interesting to see some items from the early law enforcement days here in Miami. The famous Car 9, some old motormen motorcycles, even an old bomb retrieval unit. The best part for me was while you were at each particular piece of memorabilia, they played an informative audio clip of what it was you were looking at and the history behind it. Yes, I can be a bit of a geek. It’s alright though, the Beast doesn’t seem to mind. 

Well, without any further ado, here is my little snippet. I hope you enjoy them in their simplicity. I think it’s important to dial down the crazy of the world sometimes and just keep things simple. So simple that I did post the same few shots on my Facebook album. For now though, on to the next collection. I have quite a bit of making up to do.

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I haven’t had much spare time as of late though I haven’t let that stop me from working on my craft. That’s why when I had to run a few errands downtown a couple weeks ago, I took my trusty sidekick right along with me and captured a bit of my sights while walking about. While I wouldn’t want to live there because I honestly dislike the idea of a concrete jungle, I do really love architecture and all its lines. Especially downtown Miami when you look up and immediately feel infinitely tiny amongst the high-rises.

The downtown skyline has changed over the years, but it still keeps me in awe as the time goes by. As for my images I’m sharing, they aren’t out of this world. I don’t even focus too much on composition. I just wanted to basically take you guys with me so that you can have maybe get an idea of what I see sometimes. I have had people comment to me, “you’re alway scanning”. Yes, yes I am. You could say that my camera is my eyes but the truth is, the lens is only an extension of what I hold within me. We all do. 

Truth is, we all have a photography within us. We all envision things from our own point of view and perspective. That’s why they say there are two subjects in a photograph, the photographer and the subject (whatever that may be). I will add my own spin to that though. For me, there are three subjects. The last one being you, the viewer. What do you see when you look at a photograph? What does it make you feel or think? Think about when you look at photos and you’ll know exactly what I mean. 

Enough on that though. Let’s get to the goods. There aren’t many. Just a token, merely a trifle, yet all are special to me in some way shape or form. I hope you enjoy. 

Oh and please make sure you subscribe to my blog or follow me on Facebook. You know the routine. 

The post Walkabouts, a Downtown quickie appeared first on Through The Eyes Of a Queen.

A couple of weeks ago, a friend of mine was driving home from work and came across a particular set of train cars that had been parked along the tracks along 72nd Avenue by Miami International Airport. It had been stationed there for a few days that week and I was hoping it would remain there until the weekend when I would be able to go and capture it with my lens. 

How lucky was I that it was? When she initially told me there was a “few” cars just stationary there, I was surprised to find it was at least 30 cars in length. It was a hot day and there was certainly far more train to explore than I expected. Still, I had to explore it. The cars were cargo cars. I believed used for vehicle transport of some sort. I was even lucky enough to find one who’s lock was opened and quickly stepped inside. 

I’m so glad I’m short. Turns out the car did not have much height but it had a few cool things inside. Plus, I got to stay out of the heat so it was a double win. I snapped a few shots on the inside and then stepped outside for another few snaps and then it was home to take a nice cold shower. I really enjoyed getting out there and just exploring not to mention I loved playing in post with this set. The colors and textures were an absolute playground for me. 

Well, enough talking, come see what I saw and browse my favorites. Yes, there are a few more on Facebook. 

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On to the reason for this particular post. I already mentioned how I am patiently sitting on a post I’m excited about. Time, however, waits for no man and so, that being the case, I keep on keeping on. I have had this idea in my head of revisiting some of my old spots and taking them all in once again though this time through my new set of eyes. Yes, I’m speaking of Beast. I thought it would be great to go out and see the old with the new. It isn’t even so much having new gear and taking it for a spin around an old block as much as it is let’s take in the past and perhaps give it a different perspective. 

On that track, I decided to hit up the Intermodal Center at Miami International Airport a second time around. Initially I wanted to go in to the terminal once again though I didn’t quite make it in that far. I have to admit I got carried away at the hub and was enjoying myself far too much to diverge from that track. Hindsight, I should have just gone and made a day off it however I was rather worn out from the weekend and thought it would be a better choice to just head home and get to work. 

I had a lot of fun playing with lines and symmetry, shapes and colors.As for the post work, I kept it on the cold and moodier side of the coin. I’m not sure why that was except that it was the general feel I had that day while walking about. Maybe it was all the metal wherever I turned. Perhaps it was on account of it being a ridiculously hot day out and being indoors not melting away was a welcomed feeling. I’m not sure. What I do know is that it was a great day and I captured some images I am rather pleased with. 

Here they are. The favorite of the lot. You know the routine, the whole set is uploaded to my Facebook page. Go on, take a look. 

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I work by the airport. Actually, I work pretty much right next to it and can see it from our windows at the office. It makes for a good view sometimes. Let’s just say I don’t mind when I have to tour the property. I know you’ve seen my photos of airport terminal explorations in previous posts. I like the airport and of course watching I enjoy watching the airplanes take off. When you are born and raised in Miami, going to the airport and parking off of perimeter road to watch them take flight was at times a nice past time. On this day, I wanted to venture more along the perimeter road area deciding to focus on tracks. It was a quick little stop. Nothing fancy just a few captures of what I saw. Some times you shoot for yourself and no one else. Plus, Perimeter Road has it’s memories, that’s for sure. 

While I suppose you could call this a photographer’s version of a drive-by shooting, my snaps were quick and painless. I just love my Beast. He’s such a good boy. His weight in my hand is absolute perfection. I can’t even begin to express how thankful I am to have him with me. Quite literally a dream come true. Though I will say, it helps when you work for what you want and receive rewards in kind. I am certainly not complaining in the least. 

I uploaded the same selection of shots both to my Facebook page and here in this entry. Whichever your preference is feel free to click through browsing. 

Thank you all, for your love and continuous support. I appreciate you all.

Until next time, 

The Queen

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“Often equated with the engineering feats of Stonehenge and the Great Pyramid of Egypt, Coral Castle was built by reclusive eccentric Edward Leedskalnin, who single-handedly erected gigantic quarried stones resulting in his enigmatic castle. Originally located in the tiny town of Florida City in the l920’s, the site was later moved to it’s current location just south of Miami, Florida. Ed is said to have built the Castle for his “sweet 16” supposedly, a woman from his native Latvia who had promised to marry him and then changed her mind at the last minute. Sweet Sixteen is actually a shielded allusion to his discovery–the ability to redirect the forces of gravity using earths’ magnetics, utilizing uncanny knowledge of hyper dimensional physics.”

As for me, I wanted to see this wonder for myself. Coral isn’t exactly light, especially not for one man with limited tools and machinery back in the 20’s. Of course there was also the idea that much of this site was built calibrated to celestial alignments including a thirty ton telescope towering twenty-five feet above the complex, perfectly aligned to the North Star.  There was even a working sundial calibrated to noon of the Winter and Summer Solstice, supposedly so accurate it tells time within two minutes. So when I came across an event on Facebook about Coral Castle providing a tour on a night of the equinox, I was in.

Before I share my favorites with you though, I will say that there isn’t all that much you can photograph stone wise at night. Well, at least not to my liking. Yes there are different angles and compositions obviously, but to me they all started looking too similar to share publicly. Though these shots today caught my eye. You see, Coral Castle having it’s overall wonders also had little treasures to be had amongst the stone. That is what made this outing all the more special for me. Walking around Ed’s home, yes, he is told to have lived there, looking at his belongings, it was eerily interesting.

He even had a bedroom for himself, who was to be his beloved, child and in-law. It was creepy yet cool at the same time. Must I reiterate the fact that I have an affinity for architecture? Anyways, enough of the deets, here are the shots. I posted a few more on my Facebook page and please, feel free to browse through them as well.

Thank you for your visit.

With love,

The Queen

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You see, a little secret of mine is that I have a thing for architecture. Actually, I think I may have chimed you all in on that tidbit of information before today. So it goes. I love architecture and yes, I have a thing for it. It’s not so much buildings in specific, it is more along the lines of angles or lackthereof in some cases. It’s a visual thing for me really.

So I made stop number two on field trip day, Downtown Miami. I mean, you want architecture right? I thought it might just be a good stopping point to get a variety of it without having to drive around everywhere. Granted, I didn’t drive. I parked and I walked.

I walked a lot and perhaps combat boots was not exactly the foot ware of choice. However, not only did I get in some exercise, I am quite happy with what captured my eye that day. No pain, no gain, I suppose. It was a great day all around. The weather was fantastic and I met quite a few very cool people. Miami isn’t all assholes by the way.

Not much else to say and I’ll let the photos speak for themselves. So here is my Downtown field trip favorites I chose for this entry. As usual, the full set is on my Facebook page which you are free to visit. There is beauty in everything once you take the time to look. As for me, I always have my eyes open to it. Thank you all for stopping by and showing love.

The Queen.

[See image gallery at throughtheeyesofaqueen.com]

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I might add that I am quite pleased with myself in being able to bring this set to you. Not on account of the photos, however. I am ecstatic that not only did I finally get caught up on my backlog, I managed on getting it done by the goal I set. Now I’m all set to move onward and forward to my next shoot

Here are my favorites and until next time,

All love, The Queen

[See image gallery at throughtheeyesofaqueen.com]

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