LISA M. BOND PHOTOGRAPHY
  • Home
  • Portfolio
    • Architectural Interiors
    • Architectural Exteriors
    • Architectural Details
    • Fine Art
    • Landscape
    • Personal Projects
  • Client Login
    • F&B Tax Dept. Photo Shoot >
      • F&B Final
    • Mark A.
    • Architectural Group
    • Fort Snelling
    • Ice Castle
    • Political
  • Contact

Minnesota State Capitol: Floor Number Three, Please

10/18/2013

 
It's a long way to the top, but we've finally made it there in the Minnesota State Capitol.  The top floor is the third and final interior level the public can travel on.  It is also possible to travel to the roof if one takes the tour to the Quadriga.  Let's take a look around this space of the building.

Unlike level two, the third level would house the upstairs, if you will, of the important 2nd level spaces occupied by the Minnesota Supreme Court, the House of Representatives, and the Senate.  The Supreme Court does not have an upper level and instead one can find offices of state officials in these areas.  The Senate has a gallery but it is only open during tours.  There are nice bird's-eye views of the second to third level staircases and murals near the ceiling in the center of every corridor.
©2013 Lisa Bond Photography
©2013 Lisa Bond Photography
©2013 Lisa Bond Photography
As previously mentioned, the House of Representatives has a gallery on the 3rd floor.  It is reserved for the public and media to oversee proceedings and hearings.   As a reference point, here is what a peek through the 2nd level gate looks like.

Picture
©2013 Lisa Bond Photography
The perspective from the 3rd floor gallery provides a much more intimate view of the detailed artwork on the upper walls located behind the Speaker of the House's chair.
©2013 Lisa Bond Photography
©2013 Lisa Bond Photography
©2013 Lisa Bond Photography
©2013 Lisa Bond Photography
©2013 Lisa Bond Photography
©2013 Lisa Bond Photography
The sides and opposite ceiling are adorned with an intricate pattern of paintings.  Repeated throughout is a series of "M" with faces.  I became interested to see whether the faces were the same person or different.
©2013 Lisa Bond Photography
©2013 Lisa Bond Photography
©2013 Lisa Bond Photography
©2013 Lisa Bond Photography
©2013 Lisa Bond Photography
©2013 Lisa Bond Photography
©2013 Lisa Bond Photography
©2013 Lisa Bond Photography
©2013 Lisa Bond Photography
©2013 Lisa Bond Photography
Let's take a closer look at their faces.
©2013 Lisa Bond Photography
©2013 Lisa Bond Photography
©2013 Lisa Bond Photography
©2013 Lisa Bond Photography
©2013 Lisa Bond Photography
©2013 Lisa Bond Photography
©2013 Lisa Bond Photography
Who are these ladies?  I am curious and wonder how they got to be so lucky to have a likeness of their face overlooking the state's representatives for all eternity.  Perhaps they are divine figures.  I wonder if the people at the information desk know?  I am sure that someone before me has asked the same question.

Here are a few other close-ups of the ceiling murals.  The last two feature corn and can be found outside in the hallways.  There's quite a bit of corn throughout the building.  Do you know many ears of corn in total can be found in the Capitol?
©2013 Lisa Bond Photography
©2013 Lisa Bond Photography
©2013 Lisa Bond Photography
©2013 Lisa Bond Photography
©2013 Lisa Bond Photography
©2013 Lisa Bond Photography
©2013 Lisa Bond Photography
I hope you have enjoyed continuing to explore the Capitol.  There are only two more areas to cover: the Quadriga and the tunnels.  Thank you for visiting.

Minnesota State Capitol: The First Floor

9/7/2013

 
I have a lot more images to show from the State Fair.  It was so fun and I was sad to see it go.  But to keep things interesting I'm going to switch back to my report from the State Capitol and as promised, we are back to the main or first floor.

When arriving at the Capitol for a visit, people climb up a series of steps and then enter through the main doors.  Upon entering they will usually take several steps forward and enter the rotunda.  It is an open space that shows the interior circle of that floor as well as the second and third floors above it.  It also includes the fabulous chandelier which I wrote about several years ago.  The rotunda features many arched openings and to best capture it in its entirety, I traveled around the room photographing at each arch.   Here are a couple:
With the rotunda being the center of the building, the Capitol floor plan consists of 3 wings which are referred to as the West, East, and North Corridors.  Each floor houses different offices and the first floor's main public attraction aside from the rotunda is the Governor's Reception Room located in the West Corridor.  During the weekend, it is closed to the public except for a 5 or 10 minute stop on the organized tour led by the Minnesota Historical Society.  If a person wants to spend any extended time in there, they have to go during the week.  Even then it is subject to the Governor's schedule and press conferences and whatnot.  So the day I was there, it appears there had just been some sort of speaking engagement as the remnants of wiring and sound equipment were still running about the room.  In order to get a really good shot in here, some work would have to be done, furniture needs to be rearranged, cords removed, burned out light bulbs replaced, etc.  So I was only able to work with things as they presented themselves that day.
It is a fabulously ornate space and who wouldn't love to call this their own reception room.  It's enough to make a person want to run for Governor.  The rest of the West corridor as well as the North and East Corridors are mainly used for offices and those doors were all closed.  So I focused on the hallways and, guess what, more portraits of governors.  I still have not found Mark Dayton's portrait.  I wonder if I'll ever find it.
As you may have noticed, there are some gaps in the Governors' portraits.  Maybe they will appear on the 2nd floor.  The other question would be why are they on the 2nd floor, out of order?  I might ask around and see if I can find an answer.  Here are a few of the breathtaking hallways, arches, and stairways beckoning visitors up to the next floor.
Then when I was about to leave, I saw what turned out to be one of my favorite shots.
Picture
©2013 Lisa Bond Photography; Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair
Thanks for stopping by and I hope you can come back next week for some more images of the fair, either food or animals this time.

Minnesota State Capitol: An In Depth Study

7/21/2013

 
The Minnesota State Capitol houses the legislative and judicial branches of government, both of whom meet there to do the business they are elected or appointed to do.  In Minnesota's case, they have the pleasure of meeting in one of the most prestigious buildings in our state.  It is an architectural marvel featuring gold, marble, granite, statues, an unsupported marble dome, cantilevered stairways, and elaborate paintings dating back to the early 1900s.  There is something fascinating to photograph in every direction and at times a person can feel like they are spinning round and round shooting everywhere, including up and down.  It is very easy to lose focus.

I've been there several times over the years and during my last visit I found that the more I thought about things, the more questions I had and the deeper I wanted to explore.  I am going to attempt to cover each floor of the building, one floor at a time, so that I can give every area as much attention as possible and hopefully, remain focused.  To keep things interesting, I may have a few weeks in between to talk about other things, including the State Fair (woo-hoo!) which is just around the corner.

So now that I've committed to this, I will be reporting back with, well, I might as well start at ground level.  This will be tough since the entrance is on the main level.  Yes, it's that good.  I will have to put on blinders to make it down to the ground level.  In the meantime, fresh from a trip yesterday, here is a preview of what you can expect to see in future posts.
Picture
©2013 Lisa Bond Photography
Picture
©2013 Lisa Bond Photography
Picture
©2013 Lisa Bond Photography
Picture
©2013 Lisa Bond Photography
Picture
©2013 Lisa Bond Photography
Picture
©2013 Lisa Bond Photography
I'm quite certain every detail has meaning behind it and so I'll be exploring that as well.  Not that I can cover every detail, but I'll try to hit on some of the big ones.  This piece of architecture taken collectively as one piece of art, is quite an amazing feat for someone to have constructed in their imagination.  Hats off to Cass Gilbert, the guy who pulled it all together way back in 1895!

As always, I appreciate you stopping by and wish you a wonderful summer.

P.S. You may notice a little crumbling/peeling paint or other repair needs in some of these images.  Our capitol will begin extensive renovations this Fall.  So I may be repeating this whole project again when it is completed as it will change somewhat by the time it is done in 2015.  They will be not only repairing but also restoring some things to their original design.  This is a great time to document it before its regeneration.

Advantages of a Tilt-Shift Lens

7/13/2013

 
A tilt-shift lens is essential to getting lines and perspectives straight in architectural photography.  Its main feature is the ability to shift up or down without changing the plane of the camera to the subject.  If a photographer tilts their camera back to include more of the sky or building the image will end up with converging verticals, sometimes referred to as keystoning.

Here are some images that demonstrate the lens' capabilities for shifting up or down.  Additionally, since this lens is a TS-E II, the lens can be rotated in the mount to allow for left/right shift without rotating the entire camera body.   In most of these, the subject is much higher or lower than my camera and a normal lens would not be able to produce this type of shot.
Picture
©2013 Lisa Bond Photography
Picture
©2013 Lisa Bond Photography
Picture
©2013 Lisa Bond Photography, this particular image is a great example of what this lens can do. The only way to get this shot of the lock would be to dangle off the bridge with some kind of rappelling equipment or super trusty rope and assistant. Fortunately I was able to get it with the TS lens and my feet planted firmly on the ground.
Picture
©2013 Lisa Bond Photography, if I didn't say anything you might not notice it...but that contrail was extremely difficult to clone out on account of using a circular polarizer on this shot. Another good reason to get it right in the field and wait for the contrail to disappear, if time permits.
Picture
©2013 Lisa Bond Photography
Some photographers resort to using perspective correction software with a regular lens which is an option and I have used it in the past.  However, it is always advantageous to get the image correctly in the field whenever possible to minimize post production work and any unforeseen issues that may arise after you've left the location.

I am using a Canon 24mm TS-E II.  Thanks for stopping by and I hope you are enjoying the warmth of summer!

Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum

6/29/2013

 
The Twin Cities are home to several remarkable architectural gems.  One of them is the Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum located at the University of Minnesota campus on the banks of the Mississippi River.  If you haven't seen it before, please take a moment to view the images in this post.  If you have, here are some quick facts about the museum that you might find interesting followed by several images I captured this summer.

Q:    Why is it named after Frederick Weisman?

A:    Originally from Minnesota, Mr. Weisman donated $3 million dollars as well as "additional support" to see it come to fruition.  He was a successful entrepreneur who loved the arts and was a known philanthropist.

Q:    Who designed it?

A:    It was designed by architect Frank Gehry.   He subsequently won the Progressive Architecture Design Award in 1991 for its design.

Q:    When was it built?

A:    The building officially opened on November 21, 1993.

Q:    What is the building's exterior surface made of?

A:    Stainless Steel.

Q:    What was Gehry thinking when he built it?

A:    He is known to come from the style of Deconstructivism and his works seems to have a common theme reflecting this.  Many of them feature large sheets of metal (presumably stainless steel) in various degrees of curvature.

Q:    What else has Gehry built?

A:    Experience Music Project in Seattle, The Guggenheim Museum in Spain, Standing Glass Fish in the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, and The Walt Disney Concert Hall in LA, to mention a few.

Q:    Was Gehry inspired by any other artists?

A:    When I look at the Weisman, I immediately think of a Picasso painting, but couldn't find any evidence to back that up.

Q:    Is there a face in there?

A:    According to Wikipedia there are 2 faces.  Also a waterfall and a fish.  Can you see them?
Picture
©2013 Lisa Bond Photography
Picture
©2013 Lisa Bond Photography
Picture
©2013 Lisa Bond Photography
Picture
©2013 Lisa Bond Photography, just wondering what the GoldnBlue Polarizer would do to all that metal
Picture
©2013 Lisa Bond Photography
Picture
©2013 Lisa Bond Photography
Of course there is more great design and art to see inside.  The Weisman is home to my all-time favorite art exhibit - a re-assembled apartment building hallway from Seattle, I believe.  The neat part about it is as you approach an apartment door, you can put your ear up to it and hear what is going on inside.  Each apartment has different sounds coming from it.   I'm not going to tell you what they are in case you can get there and hear it for yourself.  It's an interesting experiment in human psychology.  If you've ever lived in an apartment or stayed in a hotel, you can relate to the thin walls that allow sounds to permeate both ways.  It's much harder to maintain any privacy in this kind of environment, despite the physical barriers of walls and doors.  How does this affect our relationships as people?  Do you treat someone differently if you know something about them that you found out indirectly?  How does it change depending on whether you heard it via gossip or through the walls?  Could conclusions have been jumped to?  There is a lot to consider.

As always, thank you for stopping by!  Here is a link to the Weisman if you would like to learn more:

http://www.weisman.umn.edu/

Classic Shot of Downtown Minneapolis

5/11/2013

 
Several years ago, some one published a shot of the Minneapolis skyline from under the Stone Arch Bridge.  Since then, It has become somewhat of a popular photographic destination.  It is only a matter of time until the city puts a "Scenic Overlook", or in this case a "Scenic Underlook" sign.

Because it has been so widely captured, it is a bit of a challenge to get a unique image that is different from all the others.  Adding an element can help.
Picture
©2013 Lisa Bond Photography
The classic shot of the city is actually from the other side of the bridge, but we crossed under to get this one.  There is a staircase to help you get down there although it is a bit of a workout.

We have a lot of bridges between Minneapolis and St. Paul.  They are all different and really great to photograph.

January, A Time for Reflection and Creativity

2/7/2013

 
Originally published Jan. 7, 2012

While recently perusing a copy of "Midwest Home" magazine, I came across an article about Jennifer Hedberg's winter ice lanterns.

Fire & Ice - Midwest Home - November-December 2011 - Minneapolis, St. Paul, Minnesota.

What a perfect idea to cure the wintertime blues.  I wanted to see what kind of images I could make of these.  Who would have known it was going to be 40 some degrees during the day in January in Minnesota?  I made two ice lanterns - but they are in my freezer.  You will have to come back to hear how that project develops.  Maybe February or later this month?  So far, I got a few images but I am expecting to do something more impressive than this including some exterior architectural shots at night.
Picture
©2012 Lisa M. Bond Photography
Want to try it yourself?  You can order these at Wintercraft.  Here is a link:

http://wintercraft.com/shop/kits

They are also available for purchase at Kowalski's, Patina, Goodthings, or select Bachman's to mention a few.

    Author

    I am a photographer who lives in Minnesota.  I blog about Minnesota, photography, music, food and miscellaneous topics.

    Archives

    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013

    Categor

    All
    1858
    2012
    2013
    2015
    #28
    4th Of July
    #71
    Ac/dc
    Adrian Peterson
    Adventure
    Aerial Photography
    Albums
    All Along The Watchtower
    Allium
    America
    American Goldfinch
    Animal Rummy
    Animals
    Appropriation
    April Snow
    April Wine
    Architectural Account
    Architectural Photography
    Architectural Shots
    Architecture
    A&W Drive-In
    AZ Canteen
    Azia
    Babies
    Bacon
    Baking
    Barred Owls
    Baseball
    Bear Bells
    Bear Suit
    Bells
    Beverages
    Bird Bath
    Bird Feeder
    Birds
    Bob Dylan
    Bono
    Boston Museum Of Fine Arts
    Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
    Buick Wildcat
    Bumblebee
    Bunny Rabbits
    Butterfly
    Bwca
    Cake
    California
    Camera Gadgets
    Camp Menogyn
    Candy
    Canon
    Canon 24mm TS-E II
    Canon 65mm
    Carrots
    Cars
    Cass Gilbert
    Cat
    Cathedral Of St. Paul
    Cats
    Cell Phones
    Cell Phone Use
    Champagne
    Chandelier
    Charlie Parr
    Cheap Gas
    Chickens
    Children
    Chinese Year Of The Dragon
    Chippewa National Forest
    Chocolate
    Chris Dicke
    Christian DelGrosso
    Christmas
    Christmas Tree
    Churches
    Cinnamon Crunch Peach Sundaes
    City
    Cityscapes
    Clarity
    Classic Cars
    Cold Weather
    Colorado Springs
    Color Priority
    Colors
    Community Spirit
    Competition
    Contest
    Control
    Cookies
    Cooking
    Cooking While Driving
    Cool Rain
    Cop Car Lights
    Cops
    Corn
    Costco
    Courage
    Cows
    Cranberries
    Cranberry Daiquiri
    Creativity
    Dan Auerbach
    Dark-eyed Junco
    Darkroom
    Day Dreaming
    December
    Deconstructivism
    Decorating
    Deer
    Dogs
    Dog Sledding
    Driving
    Driving On The Shoulder
    Driving Too Easy
    Dr. Seuss
    Dry And Dusty Road
    Duluth
    Dylan's Candy Bar
    Easter
    Electric Fetus
    Elevation
    Elvis Presley
    Emotions
    Ernst Haas
    Ess-A-Bagel
    Exercise
    Experience Music Project
    Experiment
    Fair Photography
    Fair Use
    Fall
    Fall Colors
    Fall Leaves
    Farmer's Market
    Farmers' Market
    "Fell In Love With A Girl"
    Film
    Fire & Ice
    First Avenue
    Flowers
    Fodor's
    Food
    Food Trucks
    Football
    Fourth Of July
    Frank Gehry
    Frederick Weisman Art Museum
    Freezing
    Frozen Trampoline
    Fuel
    Full Moon
    Furniture
    Gardening
    General Grant
    General Sherman
    Georgia O'Keeffe
    Getting Honked At
    Giant Sequoias
    Gifts
    Giving Thanks
    Goats
    Gold-n-blue Polarizer
    Gooseberry Falls
    Gourds
    Grand Central Station
    Grand Marais
    Gray
    Great Architecture
    Great Lakes
    Great Minnesota Get Together
    Green
    Green Lights
    Greeting Cards
    Groundhog
    Guggenheim Museum
    Gummy Bear
    Gunflint Trail
    Halloween
    Hanukkah
    Happy Birthday
    Happy Easter
    Happy Halloween
    Happy Holidays
    Happy New Year
    Happy Valentine's Day
    Harvest
    Hay Bales
    Hearts
    Hens
    Highway 61
    Holiday
    Holidays
    Holiday Table
    Homer Simpson
    Horses
    Horton Hears A Who!
    House Finch
    Ice
    Ice Fishing
    Ice Lanterns
    I Love My Job
    Inspiration
    Interior Design
    IPad
    Iphone
    IPod
    Jack White
    Jim Gaffigan
    Jimi Hendrix
    Jimmy Buffet
    Joe Reifer
    John's Pizzeria
    Jonathan Pavlica
    Journey
    Justin Hayward
    Katherine Tolene
    Kirkland
    Lake
    Lake Superior
    Landscape Photography
    Leaves
    Legacy Bricks
    Legacy Ship
    Lemonade
    Lemon Juice
    Lemons
    Life
    Life Lessons
    Life Photography
    Lightning Strikes
    Lights
    Limoncello
    Lisa Bond Photography
    Lisa M. Bond Photography
    Looking Behind You
    Louis Vuitton
    Love
    Luck
    Luiz Rodriguez
    Macro
    Magazine
    Manhattan
    March
    Margueritas
    Marketing Decisions
    May 11
    Medium Format Film Scanning
    Memories
    Merry Christmas
    Metronomes
    Mill City Farmer's Market
    Minneapolis
    Minneapolis Photo Center
    Minnesota
    Minnesota Architecture
    Minnesota Daily
    Minnesota Daily Newspaper
    Minnesota Fishing Opener
    Minnesota Governors
    Minnesota Nice
    Minnesota State Capitol
    Minnesota State Fair
    Minnesota State Parks
    MInnesota Twins
    Minnesota Vikings
    Mississippi River
    Mom
    Moonshine
    Moral Omnivore
    Most Influential Photographers
    Mother's Day
    Motion
    Movement
    Multitasking
    Museum
    Music
    Napa Valley Cabernet Burgers
    Nature
    New Year's Day
    New Year's Days
    New Year's Eve
    New York
    New York City
    New York Minute
    New York Times
    NFL Play-off Games
    Night-photography
    Nikon
    Nikon 9000ed
    Nikon 9000 Ed
    North Shore
    Nostalgia
    Nutcracker
    Nutcrackers
    Nyc
    Oarfolkjokeopus
    October Blue Sky
    Old Cars
    Old Man Winter
    Orange
    Organic Food
    Ornaments
    Orphan Works Legislation
    Oyster Bar
    Painting With Camera
    Palisade Head
    Patrick Cariou
    Patrick Carney
    Peanut Express
    Pecan Pie
    Personal Training
    Phil Loadholt
    Phone Booths
    Phone Service
    Photo Booth
    Photographer
    Photographers
    Photography
    Photography Contests
    Photography Gifts
    Photograpy
    Photojojo
    Pigs
    Pileated Woodpecker
    Plasma Ball
    Plein Air Painting
    Positive Thinking
    Potatoes
    Power Of My Love
    Presto Pete
    Prospect Park
    Prospect Park Water Tower
    Purity
    Purple-and-gold
    Puxtawaney Phil
    Railroad Ties
    Rain
    Rakes
    Records
    Record Store Day
    Recycling
    Red
    Redecorating
    Red Lights
    Red Snow
    Refinishing
    Reggae
    Religion
    Renew
    Resolutions
    Rice
    Richard Prince
    Rich Ryan
    Rob Jones
    Romanesco
    Running
    Salt
    Salty Tart
    Schooling
    Season
    Seasons
    Seattle Seahawks
    Second 2nd Avenue Deli
    Seeing
    Sequoia National Park
    Sheep
    Shovels
    Sierra Club
    Sierra Club Engagement Calendar
    Singh-Ray
    Skyline
    Slowing Down
    Snow
    Snowstorm
    Soccer
    Solar Energy
    Solar Vehicles
    Sorel
    Soul Coughing
    Soybeans
    Space Travel
    Sports
    Spring
    Spring Fashion Show
    Standing Glass Fish
    Stanford
    Starbucks
    Statehood Day
    Statue Of Liberty
    Steger Mukluks
    Stillwater Courthouse
    Stone Arch Bridge
    St. Paul
    Street Signs
    Studio Shooting
    Summer
    Summer Vegetables
    Sunrise
    Sunset
    Superior
    Sweets
    Sweet Tooth
    Take Out
    Tao
    Target Center
    Teenagers
    Tettegouche State Park
    Texting While Driving
    Thankful
    Thanksgiving
    The Art Colony
    The Black Keys
    The Moody Blues
    The Wedge
    The White Stripes
    Thom Pham
    Tilt-shift Lens
    To Dream With Eyes Wide Open
    Travel
    Truffles
    Tulips
    Tundra Swans
    Turkeys
    Twin Cities
    U2
    Up North
    Upper East Side
    U.S. Air Force Academy Chapel
    Valentine's Day
    Vegetables
    Vikings
    Vine
    Vinyl
    Visitors
    Walleyes
    Walt Disney Concert Hall
    Who Cooks For You
    Whoville
    Wildfires
    Wild Flowers
    Wild Turkeys
    Willy Wonka
    Window Design
    Winter
    Wintertime Blues
    Witch's Hat
    Wondrous Azian Kitchen
    Woodchuck
    Wordpress Followers
    Wordpress Likes
    World Trade Center
    Yellow
    Ymca
    Youtube

    RSS Feed

© Lisa M. Bond Photography | 651.762.7774
  • Home
  • Portfolio
    • Architectural Interiors
    • Architectural Exteriors
    • Architectural Details
    • Fine Art
    • Landscape
    • Personal Projects
  • Client Login
    • F&B Tax Dept. Photo Shoot >
      • F&B Final
    • Mark A.
    • Architectural Group
    • Fort Snelling
    • Ice Castle
    • Political
  • Contact