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Tucked beneath the soaring classical columns of San Francisco’s Palace of Fine Arts, this intricately carved frieze features a procession of sculpted female figures garlanded in flowing robes. Designed by architect Bernard Maybeck for the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition, the Palace evokes ancient Roman ruin with theatrical grandeur. The relief in this image shows the allegorical “weeping women,” part of sculptor Ulric Ellerhusen’s original decorative program. Their bowed heads and ceremonial postures symbolize reflection and the ephemeral nature of beauty—an echo of the fair’s fleeting presence and a memento mori wrapped in Beaux-Arts elegance.
This image captures a quiet corner of the rotunda where the ornate urn-topped pedestal becomes a stage for these neoclassical figures. Their draped garments and downward glances contrast with the vertical energy of the fluted columns behind them, while a lone pigeon below offers a modern, living counterpoint to the monumentality of the stonework. Just beyond, greenery softens the scene, highlighting the Palace’s function as both architectural relic and living park. Located in the Marina District, the Palace of Fine Arts has endured through time, fire, and urban change—its beauty now a beloved fixture of engagement shoots, tourist strolls, and cinematic dreamscapes. Whether viewed up close or across the reflecting lagoon, this masterpiece of San Francisco's architectural heritage continues to captivate with its blend of melancholic artistry and monumental form.
© Ben Heine || Facebook || Twitter || www.benheine.com
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I took this photo at the Ancient Greek Agora in Athens. I just spent 10 days in Greece. I took more than 5000 pictures in this wonderful country. I'll share the best of them in the coming weeks. Thanks for watching.
The above photo has been shot with the Samsung NX10
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For more information about my art: info@benheine.com
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Bathed in soft daylight filtering through elegantly draped Palladian windows, the Librarian of Congress’s office is a masterpiece of traditional design and symbolic authority. Located in the Thomas Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., this distinguished space blends the dignity of government with the warmth of scholarly pursuit. The room showcases the architectural gravitas that defines America's largest and most prestigious library, where every detail—from the polished mahogany desk to the ornate gilded molding—whispers of legacy and intellectual leadership.
The commanding central desk, crafted from richly figured wood with carved drawers and raised panels, anchors the room with executive weight. Paired with a tufted leather chair, it signals both comfort and seriousness—a working seat of national literary stewardship. Behind it stands the American flag, boldly striped and unfurled, next to the distinctive Library of Congress flag, its seal emblazoned in white against a rich blue. These twin standards frame the office’s role in preserving the cultural memory of the United States.
Bookshelves lining the rear walls hold carefully curated volumes and framed photographs, speaking to a personal connection to literature and history. Their presence is a reminder that this office is not just a ceremonial space, but one of active scholarship and policy. Nearby, a plush high-backed yellow chair and matching settee echo Gilded Age aesthetics, their curves contrasting with the room's rectilinear symmetry. The tailored rug in dusty blue softens the visual tone, grounding the room in a stately calm.
Overhead, the ceiling reveals golden coffered detailing and mural panels, nodding to classical ideals of knowledge, beauty, and civic responsibility. Painted spandrels depict symbols of enlightenment and mythology, celebrating the arts and sciences with Renaissance flourish. The warm tones of oak, gold, and brass create a rich palette that envelops visitors in a sense of gravitas and respect.
Though not open to the general public, this office is an architectural and cultural gem. It encapsulates the mission of the Library of Congress: to serve as a beacon of knowledge, an archive of national memory, and a home for democratic values in literary form. For those fortunate enough to see it in person, it inspires reverence for both the institution and the idea that leadership should be rooted in learning.
Captured in impeccable light and detail, the photograph invites viewers to step into a space where decisions about the nation’s intellectual heritage are made. Whether viewed as an office of high function or a sanctuary of thought, it remains one of the most iconic workspaces in the American capital.
When overly confident people meet, confrontation often is inevitable. Everyone assumes their views are the right ones as different worlds collide. However, if everyone thinks this way, common contact points are minimal. Yet, in such a manner, one can only live side by side at best.
But if you want to live together, you should realize that your ego seldomly really is your friend. Only mutual understanding and respect let the magic of compromising happen. Instead of claiming to know the truth, liberating yourself and listening to what others have to say can be very enlightening for everybody.
Framed by soaring Corinthian columns and the monumental arches of Bernard Maybeck’s rotunda, this view inside San Francisco’s iconic Palace of Fine Arts captures a moment of calm, geometry, and grandeur. Designed for the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition, the structure remains one of the city’s most photogenic landmarks, beloved for its theatrical evocation of Roman ruins. Here, from the interior looking outward, the fluted columns rhythmically draw the eye upward while the arches open like doorways into an imagined antiquity.
Urns perched like sentinels atop pedestal walls echo the symmetry and reinforce the Palace’s ornamental detailing. Trees just beyond soften the otherwise monumental scale and add a sense of serenity to this classical stage. Above, tucked between the arches, sculpted female figures from Ulric Ellerhusen’s program stand watch—evoking themes of reflection, creativity, and melancholy. What was once a temporary fair pavilion has become an enduring icon of San Francisco’s cultural and architectural identity, reborn in concrete after its original plaster began to deteriorate in the decades following the exposition.
Visitors today wander this colonnade to pose for wedding photos, enjoy quiet moments by the nearby lagoon, or simply marvel at the craftsmanship of a bygone architectural ambition. This angle—underneath the rotunda and looking through its arches—reveals not just the Palace’s design brilliance, but its function as a portal: between past and present, ruin and rebirth, imagination and form.
The National Central Library of Florence (Italian: Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale di Firenze, BNCF) is a public national library in Florence, the largest in Italy and one of the most important in Europe, one of the two central libraries of Italy, along with the Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale of Rome.
The library was founded in 1714 when scholar Antonio Magliabechi bequeathed his entire collection of books, encompassing approximately 30,000 volumes, to the city of Florence. By 1743, it was required that a copy of every work published in Tuscany be submitted to the library.
Originally known as the Magliabechiana, the library was opened to the public in 1747. Its holdings were combined with those of the Biblioteca Palatina Lorenese in 1861, and by 1885, the library had been renamed as the National Central Library of Florence, or the BNCF. Since 1870, the library has collected copies of all Italian publications
A view over some of the archaeological sites of the ancient city of Petra, from the mountain path leading to the Monastery.
Don´t redistribute - don´t use on webpages, blogs or any other media without my explicit written permission.
© Andy Brandl (2016) // PhotonMix Photography
--> Andy Brandl @ Robert Harding
Standing tall at 801 Market Street, the Pacific Building is a masterwork of early 20th-century Beaux-Arts commercial architecture in downtown San Francisco. Completed in 1907, just a year after the devastating earthquake and fire, the structure symbolizes the city’s rebirth—an embodiment of resilience rendered in brick, terra cotta, and marble. Designed by the renowned firm Reid & Reid, the same brothers behind many of San Francisco’s grand post-1906 reconstructions, the Pacific Building’s ornate façade bridges the energy of the Edwardian era with the enduring strength of neoclassical form.
The building’s symmetrical façade commands attention with its vertical rhythm of red brick pilasters and white terra cotta trim. Every detail of its composition—modillions, garlands, dentils, and cartouches—reflects the opulent Beaux-Arts style that flourished in the aftermath of the city’s rebuilding. At street level, a grand arched entrance framed in carved marble leads the eye upward to a magnificent clock cresting the central bay, a subtle reminder of San Francisco’s forward momentum through time.
Inside, the Pacific Building originally housed offices for shipping companies, insurance firms, and other enterprises critical to the city’s commercial revival. Over the decades, its interior adapted to changing needs, but the exterior has remained remarkably intact—a tribute to the craftsmanship and permanence that defined early skyscraper design. The deep red brick façade, punctuated by pairs of arched windows and layered ornamentation, stands as a living document of urban evolution and historic preservation.
Architecturally, the Pacific Building holds its own among Market Street’s more famous landmarks such as the Flood Building and Call Building (now Central Tower). Its proportions are deliberate, its decorative elements restrained yet confident. The rhythm of the fenestration, alternating with crisp terra cotta detailing, creates a sense of vertical elegance while grounding the structure in classical order.
Photographed under clear morning light, the building’s warm textures and intricate masonry are heightened by shadow and contrast. The golden entrance doors glint softly against the pale stone, while reflections from adjacent modern structures play across the street—a quiet conversation between past and present.
As San Francisco continues to evolve, the Pacific Building endures as a monument to architectural grace and civic optimism. Its Beaux-Arts embellishment, balanced with the dignity of structure, captures a moment when architecture was both art and aspiration—a cornerstone of the city’s architectural identity that still inspires awe more than a century later.
Two huge hands - all that remains of the great statue of Hercules that once stood within the Temple of Hercules that stands within Amman Citadel, Amman, Jordan.
Ehemaliges Abspann-, Umspann- und Umformwerk, Alte Jakobstraße, Berlin-Mitte, 1900–1905, Franz Heinrich Schwechten
The ruins of the famous Tholos of Delphi, Greece, which lies a little to the west of the main archaeological site.
old buildings in Gyeongbok-gung Palace, the main royal palace of Seoul, built in14C Joseon Dynasty
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The Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco offers a dreamlike glimpse into classical architecture, and this view beneath the rotunda captures its grandeur and tranquility. Designed by Bernard Maybeck for the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition, this Beaux-Arts structure blends Corinthian columns, monumental urns, and curved walkways with landscaped gardens and sculpted planters. The soft pink fluting of the columns contrasts beautifully with the aged stonework and the green growth nestled at their base. Popular with locals and tourists alike, this iconic landmark is a must-see destination for lovers of art, architecture, and photography in the heart of San Francisco.
A serene view of the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco captures the graceful curve of the Corinthian colonnade framed by lush green trees and gravel paths. Designed by architect Bernard Maybeck for the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition, this Beaux-Arts marvel remains a beloved icon of classical revival architecture. The quiet moment emphasizes the interaction between the monumental stone columns and the surrounding landscape, creating a tranquil contrast between built and natural environments. Soft morning light diffuses across the scene, highlighting the rich textures of limestone and the organic forms of manicured foliage. Nestled in the Marina District, the Palace draws locals and travelers alike for reflection, wedding photos, or leisurely strolls around the adjacent lagoon. This perspective showcases the timeless interplay between symmetry and nature that makes this San Francisco landmark so enduringly photogenic and emotionally resonant.
Standing beneath the soaring rotunda of San Francisco's Palace of Fine Arts reveals the grandeur and theatricality of architect Bernard Maybeck’s Beaux-Arts vision. Captured here in delicate overcast light, the Corinthian columns, oversized urns, and detailed frieze work frame a perfectly symmetrical view toward the rotunda’s outer archways. The octagonal coffered ceiling overhead hints at classical inspiration, while the interplay of shadow and light lends a cinematic air to the monumental space. Built originally for the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition, the Palace was designed as a place for quiet reflection, and that mood persists even today. Spring blossoms peek in from the right edge of the frame, softening the otherwise imposing architecture and reinforcing the seamless marriage between built environment and landscape that Maybeck envisioned. Located in San Francisco’s Marina District near Crissy Field and the Presidio, this beloved structure has become one of the city’s most iconic wedding venues and photo locations. A careful observer will note the lion keystones and Greek key molding—small gestures among the overwhelming verticality of the pink-hued fluted columns. The Palace may have been born of a world’s fair, but over a century later, it remains a permanent reminder of the city’s romantic embrace of art, nature, and human creativity.
A lush, flowering garden leads the eye toward the stately Corinthian columns of the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco’s Marina District. Designed by Bernard Maybeck for the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition, the classical colonnade still captivates visitors with its monumental symmetry and ornamental capitals. Blooming purple ceanothus and thick greenery reflect in the tranquil waters of the lagoon, blurring the line between manicured garden and timeless architecture. Nestled among towering trees and seasonal flora, this scene exemplifies the Palace’s unique blend of neoclassical form and natural beauty, offering a peaceful escape in the heart of the city.
Originally, a polyptych was a religious piece on an alter which had four or more hinged panels. Each panel displayed a relief or painting. Today photographers typically use the term to describe a photo-story; a themed photographic sequence or a group of pictures with something in common.
For this particular photography project each polyptych will focus on a subject located in the metropolitan borough of Barnsley, ranging from sculptures, statues, architecture and memorials.
The place of the President of Ukraine, actually the post is occupied for period 2019-2024 by Volodymyr Zelensky!
Olympus OM-D E-M5 MII
I had been itching to take photos of this building in Liverpool for a while now, so when we turned up at the doorsteps to find it closed up we were utterly disappointed! I would have normally given up at this point but luckily I have an Italian girlfriend that likes to talk her way in to places. Livia rang the bell (to my horror) and somehow managed to persuade the burly security guard to let us in. I have no idea what she said but it worked. Lesson of the day, never give up at the first hurdle... Or just get Livia to do all the talking.
Nestled in the heart of San Francisco, the Bliss & Faville-designed One Market Street building stands as a testament to the city’s rich architectural heritage. Completed in 1916, this Beaux-Arts marvel exemplifies the grandeur of early 20th-century design, with its detailed ornamentation and stately presence. The building was originally designed for the Southern Pacific Railroad and has since become one of the city's iconic structures. Its robust, symmetrical facade and the use of classical elements such as columns, pilasters, and cornices convey a sense of permanence and stability that was characteristic of the Beaux-Arts movement.
Located at the intersection of Market Street and the Embarcadero, One Market Street is not only a historical landmark but also a hub of modern activity, bridging the gap between San Francisco’s storied past and its dynamic present. The building’s prime location makes it a focal point for both locals and visitors, with easy access to the Ferry Building, the Embarcadero, and other significant downtown destinations.
Despite the passing of over a century, One Market Street continues to exude a timeless elegance, offering a glimpse into the era of its creation while remaining a functional part of the city’s urban fabric. Whether you’re an architecture enthusiast or simply passing by, this building is a reminder of San Francisco’s enduring legacy as a city that celebrates both its history and its forward-thinking spirit.
I'd never really looked at the National Gallery before, somehow it blends into the backdrop of Trafalgar Square amongst the other equally grand buildings. One advantage of wandering round with a camera is it gives you a good excuse to look at everything in detail making me realise just how wonderful the Corinthian column capitals of the front portico really are.
From Wikipedia : "The National Gallery is an art museum on Trafalgar Square, London, United Kingdom. Founded in 1824, it houses a collection of over 2,300 paintings dating from the mid-13th century to 1900[a]. The gallery is an exempt charity, and a non-departmental public body of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Its collection belongs to the public of the United Kingdom and entry to the main collection (though not some special exhibitions) is free of charge......
The present building, the third to house the National Gallery, was designed by William Wilkins from 1832–8. Only the façade onto Trafalgar Square remains essentially unchanged from this time, as the building has been expanded piecemeal throughout its history. "
Twilight over Paris as seen from the Arc de Triomphe.
Jonathan Reid | Travel Portfolio | Architecture Portfolio | Facebook
A flock of goats emerging from the Cornithinan Tomb - one of the great rock-cut Royal Tombs in Petra, Jordan.
Built 1872 .... in Neo-Classical style .... Matthew Bell, accomplished local stone carver and masonry contractor, built this house in the early 1870s. It is one of a series of notable stone houses which Bell constructed in Guelph. The distinguished scale and proportion of the building have been enriched with fine sculptural details in stone, including the window lintels, the ornate framing of the central doorway, and the three carved stone heads ....