


You can read more about the Brooks Estate via this link: http://www.brooksestate.org/
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes, On the Road, tagged autumn, beauty, Branches, Brooks Estate, colors, Inspiration, landscape, leaves, Medford, reflections, seasons, water on December 8, 2014| 5 Comments »
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes, On the Road, tagged Brooks Estate, colors, hiking, Inspiration, landscape, light, nature, Photography, shadows, silhouette, walking on December 8, 2014| 6 Comments »
Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes, On the Road, tagged abstract, beach, Inspiration, maps, nature, Photography, Revere, Revere Beach, shells, WalkBoston, walking, walking map, water on December 1, 2014| 5 Comments »

Earlier this year, the nonprofit WalkBoston produced a wonderful walking map of the historic city of Revere. If you’re ever in the neighborhood you can access the map online via this link or contact the organization for lovely paper maps. As with many a seaside town, Revere in summer is quite different than Revere in winter. In either season, my favorite walk is along the beach. This is what I saw this weekend before the chill drove me home.





Posted in Inspiration, On the Road, tagged abstract, architecture, art, churches, colors, Galway Cathedral, Inspiration, interiors, ireland, light, Photography, stained glass, travel, walls on November 16, 2014| 3 Comments »

More images from Galway Cathedral. I was able to briefly visit the cathedral on two different days.

The first day was cloudy but on the second there was a period of bright sun.

As I tried to capture the colors of stained glass shimmering on the wall, I was reminded of light dancing on water and nature’s colors reflected and rippling on the surface.

A magical moment, indeed.
Posted in Inspiration, On the Road, tagged architecture, art, artwork, beauty, cathedrals, churches, colors, faith, Galway, Galway Cathedral, ireland, Patrick Pollen, religion, stained glass, travel on November 14, 2014| 1 Comment »
Of all the buildings that I was able to step into in Galway, I was able to spend the most time at the Galway Cathedral. Dedicated on August 15, 1965 by Cardinal Cushing of Boston, it is noted as the youngest of Europe’s stone cathedrals. Its art and architecture reflect many different styles and periods from Byzantine to Gothic to Romanesque.

Detail from St. Michael, by Patrick Pollen of Dublin
Online, there are many images of the exterior. My camera tended to focus on the variety of stained glass windows, mosaics and carvings on the interior walls. In addition to learning the larger story of the building’s creation, it has been a pleasure to research and learn about the individual artists, like Patrick Pollen, who dedicated so many years of their lives to producing artwork for this cathedral.

Detail from St. Gabriel, by Patrick Pollen of Dublin
It will take me a while to sort through the images and continue my research. There are always stories to discover! Until I pull together my words and images about this beautiful structure, here are few images to peruse.


Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes, On the Road, tagged abstract, birds, books, colors, dublin, gratitutude, Inspiration, ireland, landscape, nature, nature photography, photobooks, Photography, travel, UCD Belfield, water on November 13, 2014| 2 Comments »

Last year, I created a “book of thanks” for folks who made me feel very welcome in my travels around Dublin. As simply the guest of one of the conference speakers, I was free to ramble about the city and especially St. Stephen’s Green. This year, I was lucky enough to attend again (and even visit Galway). I decided I should do another book, to thank folks, and to highlight just a tiny bit of the beauty I saw as I meandered, this time, about the UCD Belfield Campus and its wonderful system of walking paths. The images are sorted into three sections: Amidst the Trees and in the Fields, Among the Birds, and Reflected in the Many Waters. Below are a few excerpts and the entire book is available via this link.







Posted in Inspiration, On the Road, tagged architecture, art, beauty, churches, colors, faith, Galway, George William Walsh, Gothic church, Inspiration, ireland, Photography, religion, St. Augustine, stained glass windows, storytelling, travel on November 12, 2014| 3 Comments »

As I’ve written about before, one of the great pleasures for me of stepping into a church is to see the wide variety of artistic expression through stained glass. Such is certainly the case with a quick visit to St. Augustine’s, a Gothic church in Galway completed in 1859.

Apparently during renovations in the 1970s, the original window over the main altar was replaced by a new window depicting the Resurrection. The artist is George W. Walsh.You can read a bit more about Mr. Walsh via this link. His father, with whom he apprenticed for several years, was a pupil of stained glass artist and illustrator Harry Clarke.

While no one seemed to mind me meandering about with my camera, I focused mostly on that window above the altar with its many lovely parts making an incredibly beautiful whole.

The other window that caught my attention happened to be a depiction of St. Augustine himself. Later I discovered that Mr. Walsh also composed and completed that window.

It was a bit rainy that day so I did not take many exterior shots, but via this link you can view the building. On this webpage, you can read just a bit more about the history of the Augustinians in Galway and more about the construction of this particular building.

Posted in Inspiration, On the Road, tagged architecture, art, churches, colors, faith, Galway, Inspiration, ireland, Photography, Priory of St Mary, religion, stained glass windows, The Claddagh, travel on November 11, 2014| 3 Comments »

I’ve been on a bit of whirlwind travel for work and pleasure. In addition to spending time among swans, I managed to step into a few churches along the way. Here’s a bit of the beauty to be found at the Priory of St. Mary’s, The Claddagh, Galway, Ireland. I hope I have the opportunity to return one day.






Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes, On the Road, tagged autumn, beauty, citylife, colors, Inspiration, landscape, leaves, nature, Photography on October 19, 2014| 3 Comments »
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes, On the Road, tagged abstract, beauty, Charles River, colors, Inspiration, landscape, nature, North Point Park, patterns, Photography, reflection, water on October 16, 2014| 1 Comment »

Reflected in the waters are the usual plants found by freshwater and also the long lines of neighboring buildings. No fish have I seen at this juncture yet nor turtles or frogs. The ducks seem to have a good time when they drop in, and there are many colorful dragonflies.

