Travel || Boston Uncovered + # Project

Yet again I was found in Boston finding random things to take pictures of. It was rather windy and still cold so in order to really enjoy this adventure I had to pull out the positivity trick. The following picture (Holocaust Monument) is probably something that a LOT of people have seen. Sometimes it is the thousands of lives, destroyed by insanity, that need to be remembered and looked at once again. These are a teeny portion of the numbers identifying the people killed during the Holocaust...


This picture is for all of you who LOVE Starbucks. I had forgotten about this little detail tucked in the city until my mom pointed out, "Look! Krystal, get a picture of that tea kettle with the steam coming out of it!" Well I was unable to catch a shot of it with the steam, but it really does come out of that thing. It isn't every day that you see that kind of animation. There is also another Starbucks near Boston Common that is very quaint and woody.


These next 3 images are for my Number Project. My mom noticed the "No. 20" and thought I should get a picture of it for the project. It got me inspired to find some more numbers. I LOVE the "10 1/2".




SOoo glad it is Friday!

Travel || Boston Public Library

Went to Boston for a quicky trip with the mom. While there I wanted to show her the Boston Public Library. You wouldn't find this in Chicago or LA. Seems like Ben Franklin should walk through the door or something. Guess I should be in Philly to expect more of that feeling. It was dark in most of the rooms, so I took several of the pictures with the lights in view. Just something a little different. So intricate this place is! I wanted to get pictures of the reading room but I did not want to disturb the readers.

Before I go into the Library pictures here is a friend I found outside the door. I think his buddy in the back was having a spazz attack.







This is across the street looking at Copley Square, with Trinity Church sticking out of the modern crowd.


Down the street. This is an unintentional shot but I liked how real it felt.


Happy 1st day of the week! Say hello to February!

Travel || Boston Uncovered

I would love to travel to different cities and discover their signature styles. Discovering new designs and ways of living is pretty fascinating. Give me a history textbook and I will flip to the anthropology (with a 'y' ladies) section. There I find people's lives. They come alive in my mind and once I picture their homes, how they cook, and what they buy I can handle the wars and dates much easier. Despite wanting to discover distant lands, my heart still finds Boston to be the all time favor-ite.

I know that maybe I cannot justify that until I see rainy Seattle, the Golden Gate bridge of San Francisco, and hot Texas towns like Houston. I am very biased because it is so close to me, physically speaking. I become overwhelmed in new situations STILL, even at almost 27. But when I was 13 and had to visit Tufts every month due to braces, I ended up informing my mom about where we should be on the T. I used to always take the subway, but not till this last year did I really discover the value in just WALKING around.

For a while I thought Boston was huge, because I always took the T. When I started walking around I realized that for the most part everything is only a few miles away from each other. Not unless I want to take a trip over to BU will I really want to take the T anymore. The last time I visited Boston was on New Years Eve. I decided that it was about time this town was uncovered. I wanted to get pictures of places that the tourist might not suddenly stop for, causing pedestrian pile ups. Here are some of those discoveries.



I think that my brother Bobby would appreciate this picture. Architecture in Boston is like hidden treasure. You have to search the side streets for the unexpected and unique.




I cannot get over this location. It is like Barnes & Nobles taken to another level. Tad bit cold though.

Travel || Boston Public Garden

Every time that I go to Boston I find something different. Ironic enough, I found animals in the city. They were kind enough to let me take their picture. I also came across some lovely plants. It rained before I brought out the camera so it gave me something to be thankful for. Even, beautiful lighting. We had planned to go on the swan boats, but due to thunder we could not. Next time I guess! I am still dreaming of another lens. My 50mm does a beautiful job, but I would really like to branch out.



Look at this guy. He paused just for me to take his picture. Most likely he was getting ready to hiss at me if I got any closer, but we have to think the best of him right? For such graceful looking birds, swans have pretty clumsy feet. They are blue, too. (The swan could have been a she, but roll with me here.)



My dad thought that maybe Mr. Squirrel was rabid. Mom thought he was just friendly. I guess it is all in how you look at it. Doesn't he look so inquisitive?


Happy Thursday!

Travel || Ogunquit, ME

Summer is always something appreciated in New England. Since only a few months out of the year are actually bathing suit appropriate, if that, we know how to approach it in full force. While I was at the beach this last Sabbath I realized how people are generally pretty happy when they are at the beach. At least they appear that way. The breezes, sunshine, fresh air, and the sound of waves crashing on the shore I know soothes the soul. Here are some pictures from the day in Ogunquit, ME.

Travel || West Boyleston Old Stone Church

I needed to work out some frustration. What was my frustration? Photography. Haha. My love is so frustrating. Sometimes you concentrate so hard on something that you just fall into this trap called "BRAIN BLOCK". Or just the inability to feel it AT ALL.

I was avoiding the idea of taking stupid... boring... hideous pictures. But the only way to conquer my little fears (yes little), was to drive. I drove in the heat of the late Spring... with my AC just not quite making it. I was determined to love life, love the fact that I had a car to drive, the fact that I could breathe. I think that I was successful. At least with appreciating life.

Loss makes you be aware of it, ya know? I haven't had any major losses in my life, but I have let little things get me down so that it starts to look like I went through a war. Well yes, life is a war... but looking at what others have lost, I see that I should not be sitting around grumbling. I have breath so I might as well go right on singing... till Jesus comes to take us home. After that I will probably just sing louder. : )










I became more aware of the appreciation of life when several people that I know lost a friend this weekend. I knew this friend just a little and can know for a fact that the loss is great. My sympathies will rest here on the webs.

A Taste Of Quincy

I have really been bugging inside to get a post up. Sunday, for Mother's Day, we went out to Boston to see an IMAX film and then got a bite to eat. Later on we wondered toward Quincy Market and the area. Here are a few random pictures. I also stuck in a picture of the Blue Line T station. I am not overly pleased with these pictures, but at least you can get an idea.

This must be posted. Otherwise I just would not be doing my job.

I am not going to eat them, but I sure can photograph them. It is like looking death in the face! Haha.

When I see this gold lettering and font, I always think of AMERICA. White wigs. And good ol' fashioned freedom.

And the T.

Travel || Edenton, NC

So here I am catching a little wireless in NC. I was able to get a few pictures dressed for the blog so that you can see them. The town that I visited a few days ago is nestled along the coast, tucked in a cove that is protected from the seasonal hurricanes and historically from the coming British. It used to be a major port town, but now it is just a quiet little town with some pretty fascinating homes. Sadly, I don't have many pictures of the homes. I tried photographing a couple, but I had to practically back up into the street and then some to get the whole thing. A normal (50 mm) lens is not made for such things.

These are from a little restaurant we stopped at for lunch. It was colorful, with plenty of creative decor.

I had to show you the flag of course.


These rocking chairs are sitting on the porch of a home that was moved from in town to the edge of the water. It was moved all in one piece. This thing has two porches. Ya, it is big. It is the home of Penelope. A woman who started another Tea Party down in the south. She got a bunch of women to stop buying the British tea since they were charging a tax. Nothing beats the Boston Tea Party though. Bostonian folks not only didn't buy the tea... they threw it in the harbor!


This is inside of her home. Though the lighting that day wasn't all that wonderful for outside shots, it was beautiful for indoor photography.



I know that these pictures do not really give you an idea of what the town was like, but I had to try my best. I really want a wide angle now. Here is one picture of a home that I worked to get. As you can see, an overcast day does nothing for a house and all its curves. ;)


Just a close up of the wonderful garden at this home.