Historic Honolulu Architecture 2

[ShaneS]

Some color this time...

The ornamentation around the pool at the Laniakea YWCA in downtown Honolulu.





"Laniākea, the YWCA of O`ahu's flagship headquarters, was the first building of architectural significance in Hawaii to be designed by a woman. Constructed in 1927, it was developed and designed by women at a time in history when there were few opportunities for females to excel in male dominated professions."

Julia Morgan, the architect, also designed Hearst Castle in San Simeon, California and counts the YWCA in Honolulu as one of her 10 favorite projects.

Next, three stained glass windows adorning one of the historical buildings in the area:



Lastly some postal boxes in the Custom House and Post office that was built in 1922.



I got really excited when I rounded the corner and saw the lighting and colors that you see here. I'm not sure that I did the scene justice though...

Any and all C&C would be appreciated.

[terrib]

I really like #2 & #3. In #2, I think it is the colors and the symmetry and I'm always a sucker for reflections. In #3, I really like your placement of the windows - centered horizontally but not vertically.

Interesting project...

[Mike Buckley]

The second and fourth images grab my attention the most.

The first one doesn't work at all for me because the palm fronds get in the way of rather than frame the uppermost ornamental detail. However, I wonder if that scene doesn't have the most potential for me if you work it without feeling compelled to include the reflection.

[FootLoose]

I like the 2nd and 3rd, too, Shane. As Terri noted, the symmetry of the chairs and their background is nicely reiterated in the reflection. I would clone on the 5.6 in the tiles, though.

I like the colours of the 3rd, and the shape of the windows is subtly repeated in the stone. Well seen.

[MarvinTheSpartan]

I agree with some of the other replies. I thought 2 and 3 were cool looking with the symmetry and reflection. They also have nice colors and patterns. 1 and 4 both seem to be missing something.

[IzzieK]

#2 is really good ... as Terri said the reflections and symmetry is very appealing as well as the colours. The stain glass window is really very nice in such that it is such a simple shot and yet looks complicated enough to show the beauty of the intricate frames adorning the stain glass. The last one -- it will help if you just crop the top that shows the light, I think...or down to the last line of the glass, about halfway down from the top. The history of the place is such that it makes all these shots so interesting..plus the narration that you put with it. I like story telling shots and I am a sucker for such...that plus coupled with your photographs that are not just ordinary shots but seen well and captured well helps a lot in viewing all of these...

Hope you have some more to show us...I really enjoyed the journey.

[Stagecoach]

No 2, No 2, No 2, I like the way the chairs are all at a slightly different angle Shane.

Your latest project is going well, some impressive images and interesting architecture something that can not be found here in such condition.

Grahame

[bnnrcn]

#2 for me too Shane I like the composition with repeating chairs and reflections.

[AndrewMcD]

#1 sort of surprised me with the inclusion of the reflection in the pool, almost as though it were an after thought. On the other hand I thought the color of the pool added something.
#2 seems to be The People's Choice and I'm no different. I just love the patterns; windows, posts, plants, chairs.....and the color of the chairs with the pool.....it all works wonderfully for my eye.
#3 doesn't 'pop' but requires a little meditation, subtle, I like it.
#4 I feel like I'm standing there remembering the combination to my post box......a very solid real feel

Very nice series of images Shane, very enjoyable.

[TonyW]

I think all of these are nice, well presented with good colours and interesting geometry. Although #2 has all the qualities of a good image, there is something lacking for me. I think it is because there is no interesting architectural feature. I quite like #1 and the interference by the the palm fronds of the decoration doesn't bother me - they maintain the symmetry of the panel. The third image is simple but attractive and the last is interesting for its geometry.

Because I have a passing interest in architecture in general, I hope you continue with this series.

[Wavelength]

Nice set

[ShaneS]

Thank you to everyone who took the time to share your thoughts on this series of images.

Mike said (and others agreed):

The first one doesn't work at all for me because the palm fronds get in the way of rather than frame the uppermost ornamental detail. However, I wonder if that scene doesn't have the most potential for me if you work it without feeling compelled to include the reflection.

It was challenging to find an angle on this shot that had less greenery blocking the ornamentation at the top although I agree that would have been preferable. This angle offered the least obstruction in this regard.

Here it is without the reflection:



I think that the second image works so well because of the contrast between the orange chairs and the turquoise water. Thank you for confirming my ability to see and capture that one

I like the simplicity of the third shot and appreciate that some of you are in agreement with me on this. I'm not sure that this image is a stand alone image. I think that it would work better as part of a photo essay on windows or about the various different parts of the one building. I have been wanting to try and compile a photo essay for a long time and maybe this is the impetus that I need to see what I can do in that regard.

As far the post office image I really wanted that shot to be the star of the series and wonder what I could have done to capture or process it better? What caught my eye is the angled shadows on the right side and the variety of colors that were shining through the transparent boxes on the far wall. I tried to capture the same scene angled so a 'v' was created with both the right and back walls angling in towards the corner but it was even less effective

Here is a slight crop as suggested by Izzie but I didn't go quite as far as she suggested because I wanted to leave a strip of yellow on the left.



Thanks again for all of your kind words and constructive C&C. I always find it very helpful!

[Mike Buckley]

To frame the first image ideally, my hunch is that you'll need to take your bathing suit, hope the pool is shallow enough in that area and be very careful with your camera gear.

As far the post office image I really wanted that shot to be the star of the series and wonder what I could have done to capture or process it better?

I thought the same thing when I saw that image but couldn't come up with a suggestion. I think it would be well worth returning to the scene and working it from every imaginable angle using a wide range of focal lengths.

[ShaneS]

Mike, from the marks on the side of the pool it looks at if I would need to take a step ladder with me too as a straight on shot would have me in 7 feet of water

The pool was not accessible when I was there but this shot might work from the opposite side as I was about three feet above (the pool is sunken) looking through some arches in the shot that you see.