Every morning makes it apparent the summer days with long periods of daylight are leaving us. It's pitch black when the alarm goes off and the light is barely breaking when the school buses start rolling around. I like light. Could we rewind the clock for a bit? 

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Today, I would like to share a bit of an architectural study. And for architecture, black and white often works well. And black and white works great for a Thursday post!

I often drive by the entrance to the Hilbert College in Hamburg, NY. And often I break my own rules not to postpone shooting to another day. But this day, I was ready and the conditions seemed just right. And I loved just about everything about this opening scene. A beautiful building with a pool in front to offer a reflection. The surface of the pool partially overgrown and moodily blocking the reflection. And who would not like a fountain? And as a cherry on top, the trees provided quite a way to frame the scene in. Especially the leaning one!

Hilbert College ReflectionHamburg, NY

Hilbert College Reflection, Hamburg, NY
Shot on film: Nikon FE, Ilford Delta 100

Then just walk around and you get another wonderful view of the same building from the back. I really like the tall entrance and the ample use of glass to let light in. See, we're back to liking the light!

Franciscan HallHamburg, NY

Franciscan Hall, Hilbert College, Hamburg, NY
Shot on film: Nikon FE, Ilford Delta 100

The whole campus offers several opportunities to focus on architectural symmetry, like in the Campus Center photo below.

Campus CenterHamburg, NY

Campus Center, Hilbert College, Hamburg, NY
Shot on film: Nikon FE, Ilford Delta 100

And yes, the topic of symmetry carries over to the next photo and another thing I like to do, which is to allow the symmetry to be broken, even if very subtly. It would have been very easy to walk a little closer and eliminate that intruding shadow on the left but this was how I liked the scene the most. All perfectly symmetrical until the shadow just crept in.

McGrath Library SymmetryHamburg, NY

McGrath Library Symmetry, Hilbert College, Hamburg, NY
Shot on film: Nikon FE, Ilford Delta 100

So that's your dose of black and white architecture for the day. Thanks for stopping buy, I hope to see you back soon!

Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

Do you enjoy reading my photography blog? Would you like to see more photographs from Buffalo and Western New York? Visit my Buffalo Cityscapes and Buffalo & Western New York Landscapes and enjoy! For more black and white photographs click to the World without Colorphoto collection. Please, let me know if you have any questions about any photo products offered, or not offered, I will be happy to help! For a quick reference to all photo galleries and collections as well as all photo products currently offered through my site, please, visit the Products page.

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Stormy over Buffalo Central TerminalBuffalo, NY Nostalgic Hydraulic HearthBuffalo, NY

As you can see I've been intensely bouncing between two extremes. On one hand, black and white photography, which I love, and on the other the wild colors of the fall season that will soon be upon us. This is not a recent phenomenon with me, it's a permanent state. I just love both very much! Each has something different to offer!

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Many times over the years I have found that I often prefer the journey to the destination, especially when it comes to hiking to waterfalls. Sure, the reward at the end can be quite magnificent, either tall, or with a lot of water rushing through. However, the gems along the way often offer something even more rewarding to me. What is that? Small mostly overlooked cascades bouncing over moss-covered rocks. All quiet, just the water humming. Most other hikers just passing by on their quest to reach the destination. Solitude, peace, quiet, escape from civilization and from people. Yep, I bet that's what causes me to stop so many time along the way, for sure driving my family crazy.

Water, Leaves, and MossShenandoah National Park

Water, Leaves, and Moss, Rose River Falls Trail, Shenandoah National Park

Many of these spots are very hard to leave and continue the hike. There are so many different angles one could cover. The light often keeps changing. Oh, and wait, how about a different lens to try? How about adding a polarizer to cut the glare to get nice deep saturated colors? It would not be a problem to spend over an hour at each stop. But how do you finish a 5-mile hike like that?

Fall CascadesShenandoah National Park

Fall Cascades, Rose River Falls Trail, Shenandoah National Park

Yes, it's a constant struggle and joy at the same time finding the balance between finding "the one shot" and covering the distance. I am sure this also leaves so many future opportunities to revisit locations like this. I would love to hike this trail again soon!

Enjoy the beauty that surrounds you! (#etbtsy)

Previously from Shenandoah: Trouble with Color - The Details or the Wide and Grand? - The Skyline Drive View in Autumn - The Lonely Tree - Dark Hollow Falls - Cozy at Shenandoah - Skyline Drive of Shenandoah - Shenandoah Sunset - Different Look of Shenandoah at Big Meadow - Shenandoah is Waking Up - On Skyline Drive - Colorful Flashback - Luray Caverns - Luray Valley Museum - Fox Hollow Trail - The Treasures of Shenandoah - Distant Sunset Views - Hiking - Rose River Falls Trail - Still on the Rose River Falls Trail - More Waterfall Wonders along the Rose River Falls Trail - Continuing our hike along the Rose River Falls trail

Did you enjoy this post and the enclosed photographs? Visit the Landscapes Faraway gallery for natural landscape beyond Western New York to see more. If you are a fan of nature's fall colors, I have an Autumn gallery dedicated to that season for you. Please, let me know if you have any questions about photo products offered, or not offered. Looking for a present? I offer ready to hang solutions like canvas gallery wraps, prints on metal, and matted and framed ready to hang photographs. You can see the photo and product offering on the Products page.

Do you like my free content but are not ready to buy a photograph for your walls yet? Using my links to do your shopping helps me share more photographs and write the stories behind them. And it costs you nothing. You just need to start your shopping by clicking on an advertised product or use the Amazon search box in bottom left. It does not matter what you eventually buy as long as you start here. I truly appreciate each purchase, no matter how small. Thank you!

Would you like to see my photographs printed, matted, and framed? Visit Picture Your Walls in Hamburg, NY (184 Buffalo St, Hamburg, NY 14075).

Lower Emery Falls in the FallAutumn Eternal Flame FallsAutumn South Emery Falls in the FallAutumn

Water Veils in the FallAutumn Fall At Watkins GlenAutumn

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It's already Friday and I've not added to my blog. To correct that I have selected a nostalgic black and white photograph from one of my trips to the Czech Republic. I enjoy making photographs of things of the past, whether found decaying where they were forgotten or intentionally used as props. Today, we have a pair of wagon wheels!

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During one of our trips to the Czech Republic we stayed a week in cottage that was conveniently located near the locations we wanted to hike. And as a bonus, this pair of wagon wheels was staged right next to it for decoration. As you can see, I did not mind a bit. Every time we left and returned I had a chance to think about how to make the most out of the setup. And here, you see the outcome.

Wheels of the PastCzech Republic

Wheels of the Past, Czech Republic

Hang on, slow down for a minute and just stare at the photo and let your mind wonder, let it take you places and times, even if for just a brief minute.

Enjoy the beauty that surrounds you! (#etbtsy)

Do you enjoy reading my photography blog? Would you like to see more landscape photographs from places beyond Western New York? Visit my Landscapes Faraway or Travel Photography galleries and enjoy! Please, let me know if you have any questions about any photo products offered, or not offered, I will be happy to help! For a quick reference to all photo galleries and collections as well as all photo products currently offered through my site, please, visit the Products page.

Do you like my free content but are not ready to buy a photograph for your walls yet? Using my links to do your shopping helps me share more photographs and write the stories behind them. And it costs you nothing. You just need to start your shopping by clicking on an advertised product or use the Amazon search box in bottom left. It does not matter what you eventually buy as long as you start here. I truly appreciate each purchase, no matter how small. Thank you!

Previously from the Czech Republic: Of Trains & Stations, A Stroll through Moravian Countryside, Sunset Stroll through Southern Moravian Countryside, Rolling Hills and Poppy Fields, There are as many pubs as there are poppy seeds ..., More Travel Treasures, Drying Garlic, Treasures of Travels, The Power of Simplicity (of the iPhone), Take Me Home, Country Road ..., Sound of Music Induced Moment of Nostalgia, Travel in Space & Time, Of Trains & Stations, Rock Cities, Mills, History, and More, All About the Rolling Hills, An Irresistible Urge to Stop, Czech Countryside, Trains through the Moravian Countryside, A Tourist in Prague, Back to the Land of Poppy Seed, Rock City of Teplice Rocks, Deep in the Rock City, Artifacts of the Past
 

Old Ladder in an Old ShedCzech Republic Drying GarlicCzech Republic

1.0 km Railroad MarkerCzech Republic Train Station Storage ShedCzech Republic A Rural HouseCzech Republic