Posts Tagged ‘architecture’

Tampa, Florida

Urban Walkabout

Downtown buildings of Tampa, Florida ©TimeLine Media
Downtown buildings of Tampa, Florida ©TimeLine Media

Last April, I accompanied my wife on a trip to Tampa, Florida. In a previous post, I talked about the trip out of DCA south to Florida. I have never been to Tampa before, and this was a great opportunity to see a new city for me. From my research before arriving, I did see that they had a nice downtown with some large buildings that I hoped to get in photos while I was there.

Downtown Tampa ©TimeLine Media
Tampa from above ©TimeLine Media

During the day, my wife was at a convention to earn some continuing education credits. I had some photography projects to work on that I had on my laptop. Despite not being at home, I can do most of my work remotely. Thanks to readily available internet and fast laptop computers! While my wife was out, I walked around downtown Tampa and saw a lot of interesting sights.

city skyline view from above ©TimeLine Media
Tampa, Florida ©TimeLine Media

Flying Mayor

The NHL Tampa Bay Lightning were in the middle of a playoff run! When I approached a building near city hall, I saw a ladder fire engine lifting the mayor up high into the sky! He revealed a “Go Bolts” banner on the side of the building. That was a fortunate event to run into!

Mayor Bob Buckhorn raising a Lightning Banner ©TimeLine Media
Mayor Bob Buckhorn raising a Lightning Banner ©TimeLine Media
Go Bolts! Tampa Bay Lightning banner ©TimeLine Media
Go Bolts! Tampa Bay Lightning banner ©TimeLine Media

Tampa is a very walkable city. From our hotel, we could walk along the Hillsborough River down to the Convention Center and Amalie Arena where the Lighting play. Walking around the arena area, we found a nice parking garage with a beautiful panoramic view of downtown. Because it was a quiet night in the city without any games being played in the arena, we spent some time getting some nice photos of the tall skyscrapers. I really enjoyed the short time we had to explore this area of Florida!

Amalie Arena, Tampa, Florida ©TimeLine Media
Amalie Arena, Tampa, Florida ©TimeLine Media

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Reagan National Airport

Terminals – Reagan National Airport

Reagan National Airport Terminal A ©TimeLine Media
Reagan National Airport Terminal A ©TimeLine Media

Earlier this year, we took a plane out of and back to Reagan National Airport. I accompanied my wife on a business trip. Since I can work remotely, it was a good opportunity for me to visit a new city. While I did have some photography work, I did find some time to go make some new images while there.

DCA Main Terminal ©TimeLine Media
DCA Main Terminal ©TimeLine Media

The first location on our trip was not far from home. Reagan National is the closest airport to downtown Washington, DC. During the time from checking in with the airline and boarding, the airport has a lot of possibilities to make architecture photos. The largest and most popular photos are made in the main terminal with its Jeffersonian Domes and long promenade.

Reagan National Airport Terminal A ©TimeLine Media
Reagan National Airport Terminal A ©TimeLine Media

Additionally, there is another great spot in the former Terminal A. Now, this section is a Conference Center and Historic Lobby as it no longer functions as a place for passengers to board airplanes. I have photographed some events in this space which is a showcase area for the DC area.

The large panoramic window provides a beautiful view of the airfield, the Potomac River, and shores of Maryland. Who doesn’t enjoy viewing planes as they take off or land? Maybe it heightens the anxiety for nervous flyers – lol!

Approach to Airport

Tysons, VA from airplane window ©TimeLine Media
Tysons, VA from airplane window ©TimeLine Media
Tysons, VA from airplane window ©TimeLine Media
Tysons, VA from airplane window ©TimeLine Media

On the flight back from the trip the good weather provided more opportunities for photos out of the window. The challenging approach to the airport follows the path of the Potomac River. On one side you may see the familiar sites of Washington, DC from the air, but this side I had view of Tysons, Arlington, and the Pentagon in Virginia.

Arlington from airplane approach ©TimeLine Media
Arlington from airplane approach ©TimeLine Media
Pentagon from plane approach ©TimeLine Media
Pentagon from plane approach ©TimeLine Media

All of these are so familiar to me from the ground but are really photo worthy from above. The fleeting time that you have above the area makes you hit the camera trigger much faster knowing there is no time to review them. It’s really time to spray and pray!

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Christmas in July at Tysons Corner Center

The Plaza at Tysons Corner Center during the holidays

Let’s celebrate Christmas in July! I am clearing out my photos from my computer and I came across these from the complete opposite end of the calendar. Even though we are in the middle of the summer concert season at the mall, the holidays are the most colorful and may have even more visitors than summer days.

The Plaza at Tysons Corner Center during the holidays

One of the largest differences in these two times is the shortness of the days. The early sunset really makes it easy to get some blue-hour photos of the center. Blue hour is what photographers use to describe the time after the sun has set in the horizon, and the approximately the next hour. During this time there is still plenty of light in the sky and it is usually a beautiful blue color especially in the winter. This makes for a beautiful backdrop for holiday lights.

The Plaza at Tysons Corner Center during the holidays
The Plaza at Tysons Corner Center during the holidays

But the cold is perfect to keeping the ice in the rink ready for skaters!

Ice skating on the Plaza at Tysons Corner Center
Ice skating on the Plaza at Tysons Corner Center

And of course, we cannot forget about Santa Claus! He is one of the hardest working people at the mall during the season. He has the traditional portrait sittings at his set in Fashion Court, but he also has several other appearances over the two months leading up to Christmas. He has the Santa Breakfast, along with meet and greets throughout the center. I love to see the reactions to Santa whether young or old, and it always makes for a great photo.

Santa Claus at Tysons Corner Center
Santa Claus at Tysons Corner Center
Santa Claus at Tysons Corner Center
Santa Claus at Tysons Corner Center

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