Tallinn, Estonia: Settled for 5,000 Years and a Contemporary, Digital Powerhouse

 2018 Europe  No Responses »
Feb 222019
 

Tallinn has been an important trading hub for centuries. Today it is a World Heritage site and boasts many digital-age accomplishments, including the place where Skype was invented.

The Old City of Tallinn Surrounded by a Formidable Wall

The Medieval Wall

Alexander Nevsky Russian Orthodix Cathedral

Coats of Arms of Families Who Belong to This Church

The Medieval Pharmacy Continues to Flourish

Established in 1422

Contemporary Architecture Is as Interesting as the Medieval Buildings

A Beautiful Gate

Feet Vessels inside a Contemporary Pottery Maker and Shop

I can’t figure out how you can wear these shoes on the cobblestone walkways!

Colorful Buildings in the City

I would have loved to stay for dinner!

Orchids of Color

 Inspiration  No Responses »
Feb 072019
 

The variety of forms and colors of orchids at the Venice Orchid Show amazes me. All the displays at the show are from area orchid growers. Some are professional growers and others are growers who belong to an area orchid society.

Orchids with White

 Inspiration  No Responses »
Feb 042019
 

The Venice Florida Orchid Society presents an annual orchid show. When I enter the community center the heady fragrance of multiple kinds of orchids enchants me. Various area orchid societies and orchid growers create exhibits. The orchid growers also have a large sales area. The difficult part about making orchid portraits in this setting is the abundance of orchid plants vying for attention. This year I used an off-camera flash to illuminate the flowers from a high angle and let the diminishing light provide separation from the background. Another method, where the flash is too far from the orchids, is to use a slow shutter speed, but this requires a tripod. Fortunately our camera club arranged for us to arrive before the official opening time and use tripods for an hour. I chose these orchids as a series because they contain white.