Deb and I drove to Nashville and Destin, FL. That’s right. We drove to make our own schedule so we could truly relax. I have to say it was quite enjoyable seeing parts of the country we have not seen.
We arrived in Nashville after a 7 hour drive from Peoria. My goal was to get some dusk pics of the John Seigenthaler pedestrian bridge overlooking the city. So, we quickly walked from our hotel to the bridge to scope out the best composition. After checking out the spots for pictures later, I flew the drone and waited for the sunset.
Looking up the Cumberland river downtown Nashville at dusk from the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge.
Unplanned composition from the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge
This summer, Deb and I visited Ryan for a long weekend to just get away. Of course, Chicago is possibly my favorite city to photograph. And I wanted to try out my DJI tech in this photogenic city. The weather and the city did not let us down.
Wrigley is just a few blocks away. Deb & I walked by the park just as the Cubs beat the Pirates. Wrigleyville was electric. They were in the heat of the league race. The win and electricity motivated us to go catch the game on Friday against the Nats. Unfortunately for the Cubs that game was the beginning of their slide. Wrigley was still a great baseball experience.
Constructed between 1609 and 1616 during the rule of Ahmed I
Just outside the Mosque entrance
Much of the interior appeared to be under some form of reformation/construction.
Hagia Sophia was the seat of the Orthodox patriarch of Constantinople. Constantinople fell to the attacking Ottoman forces on the 29th of May in 1453 and became a mosque. In 1935, the first Turkish President and founder of the Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, transformed the building into a museum.
Had to take a selfie in this famous museum
OK. I was probably in their social media posts so I figured I owed them to return the favor. This Japanese tour was marveling over the Deësis mosaic.
The Deësis mosaic -Virgin Mary and John the Baptist are imploring the intercession of Christ Pantocrator for humanity on Judgment Day.
Hagia Sophia
Comnenus mosaic - The Virgin Mary is standing in the middle, depicted in Byzantine art dark blue gown holding Christ in her lap. On her right side stands emperor John II Comnenus and Empress Irene stands on the left side.
Hagia Sophia
Southwestern entrance mosaic - Virgin Mary, Christ Child. On her left is Emperor Constantine. On her right side stands emperor Justinian I.
Hagia Sophia
Randy Fleener, Deon George, Kurt Bilderback, Rob Coventry, Todd Walls, & Avery Bengston
Theodosius Obelisk 390 AD found in the Hippodrome of Constantinople
Walled Obelisk found in the Hippodrome of Constantinople
Business took me to South Africa and Istanbul for the first time. Thanks to my outstanding IBM hosts, the business side was fruitful and the experience was exceptional.
Getting to South Africa is a challenge from anywhere but from Peoria, it’s a whole ‘nuther thing – 3 hr drive to Chicago, 7.5 hr flight to London, 11 hr flight to South Africa plus layovers adds up to 32+ hrs. Fortunately, the weather was perfect and the Sandton Hilton hotel accommodations made the adjustment better. Continue reading Istanbul & South Africa
