Then and Now
View allAll Photos Tagged RetroPhotography
Captured with a Minolta Dynax 700si on AgfaPhoto APX 100 film, this black-and-white image presents the Reinhold-Maier-Tower in Boertlingen. The green-and-white striped structure, resembling a lighthouse, is a repurposed nearly 100-year-old pendulum tower of the state water supply, now serving as an observation tower. Standing tall against a textured sky, its bold pattern contrasts with the surrounding landscape. A bare tree frames the right side, adding a touch of quiet solitude, while the adjacent building grounds the scene in a sense of place. The image evokes both clarity and nostalgia, blending architectural precision with an atmospheric stillness.
This black-and-white photograph captures an ancient stone engraving of the Eye of Providence within a radiant triangle. Common in Christian iconography, the symbol represents divine omniscience and the Holy Trinity. The weathered surface and cracked masonry evoke a sense of time’s passage, while the surrounding shadows enhance the solemn, almost sacred atmosphere. Found in the old cemetery beside Oberhofenkirche in Goeppingen, this emblem serves as a reminder of faith, vigilance, and the eternal watchfulness of the divine.
Been reading about retro photo effects recently - more to do with film than digital which led me to work with grain in Photoshop this afternoon. There is a name for this particular film process but for the life of me I can't remember what it is. Never mind in the great scheme of things its not a problem. 'cept its making my neurons buzz..
USA B/N 2024.
The Erie County Clerk's Office is a New York State government office responsible for a wide range of essential public functions for Erie County, which includes the city of Buffalo.
Location: The main office is situated in the historic Old County Hall in downtown Buffalo, a building notable for its architecture.
Key Functions: The office serves as the:
Clerk of the Court: Manages records for the County and Supreme Courts (civil, criminal, and divorce cases).
County Recorder: Responsible for recording all documents related to real property (land deeds, mortgages, etc.) and property titles.
Public Services: Provides various services to the public, including the issuance of hunting and fishing licenses, acceptance of U.S. passport applications, and the processing of pistol permits.
Notable Programs: The office actively promotes the "Thank-A-Vet" program, which provides a discount card to veterans who file their military discharge papers.
Daisy, Daisy
Give me your answer do
I'm half crazy
All for the love of you
It won't be a stylish marriage
I can't afford a carriage
But you'll look sweet
Upon the seat
Of a bicycle built for two
Daisy, Daisy
Give me your answer do
I'm half crazy
All for the love of you
We'll spend all our life together
Regardless of the weather
And you'll look sweet
Upon the seat
Of a bicycle built for two
USA B/N 2024.
The Wayne County Building is a stunning Beaux-Arts architectural landmark in downtown Detroit, which served as the seat of government for Wayne County (Michigan's most populous county, which includes Detroit) for nearly a century.
Architecture and Design: Designed by John Scott and dedicated in 1902, the building is renowned for its opulence and detailing. The exterior is adorned with an abundant use of granite and limestone, and features a wealth of sculptures and columns.
Key Features: Its most recognizable feature is its impressive colonnade of Ionic columns and its intricate upper roofline, which is crowned by a large bronze statue of Justice (also known as Lady Justice).
Restoration and Current Use: Following a period of vacancy in the early 2000s when the county government relocated to a more modern site, the building has undergone significant restoration. While still owned by the county, much of it is now leased for private and commercial use, once again serving as a central feature of the revitalized downtown Detroit.
USA B/N 2024.
Gold Wynn in Buffalo is a family-owned real estate company with a significant presence in the city of Buffalo, New York. The company is primarily focused on the investment, management, and maintenance of residential and commercial properties. Buffalo is one of its main areas of operation in the United States, along with Tulsa, Oklahoma.
In Buffalo, Gold Wynn has a portfolio of buildings that includes various residential apartments and commercial properties.
USA B/N 2024.
The First Presbyterian Church of Detroit is the city's oldest Protestant congregation, founded by the Rev. John Monteith in 1816.
The Building (1891): Its fourth and most famous home, dedicated in 1891 on Woodward Avenue and Edmund Place, is one of Detroit's most renowned landmark churches.
Architecture: It was designed by Mason & Rice in the Richardsonian Romanesque style, inspired by the famous Trinity Church in Boston. It featured a towering brownstone exterior.
Interior Art: The interior richness of the building included stained glass windows crafted by the prestigious Tiffany & Co. and Nicola d'Ascenzo Studios.
Legacy and Change: Following a period of congregational decline and demographic shifts in the city, the building was leased in 1992 and later donated to the Ecumenical Theological Seminary, which continues to occupy the building today.
USA B/N 2024.
St. James Cathedral is the mother church of the Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle, Washington, and the seat of its archbishop.
Location and Dedication: It is located in Seattle's First Hill neighborhood and is dedicated to St. James the Greater.
Architecture and History: It was designed by Heins & LaFarge in the Renaissance Revival style and was dedicated in 1907. It originally featured a dome which collapsed due to heavy snow in 1916 and was never rebuilt, being replaced with a flat roof.
Community: Beyond its liturgical function, the cathedral is noted for its active role as an inner-city parish and for its many social outreach programs directed towards the poor and homeless.
USA B/N 2024.
The Buffalo City Hall is the seat of municipal government for the City of Buffalo, New York, and an architectural icon of the city.
Style and Architecture: It is an Art Deco masterpiece.
Construction: It was designed by architects George J. Dietel and John J. Wade of the firm Dietel, Wade & Jones, completed in 1931, and dedicated in 1932 for the city's centennial anniversary.
Height and Significance: With 32 stories and a height of 398 feet (approximately 121 meters), it is one of the largest and tallest municipal buildings in the United States.
Ornamentation: Both the exterior and interior are richly adorned with symbolism celebrating Buffalo's history, industry, and values, featuring friezes, sculptures, and murals (such as those in the lobby) that illustrate industrial themes.
Key Features: The Common Council Chamber features an exquisite skylight, and its Observation Tower provides panoramic views of the city and Lake Erie.
Recognition: It was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1999.
USA B/N 2024.
The Center Street Bridge in Cleveland, Ohio, is a historic swing bridge that spans the Cuyahoga River.
Bridge Type: It is a Pratt through truss swing bridge of the "bobtail" type, meaning the pivot axis is located on one of the riverbanks, resulting in unequal arm lengths to avoid obstructing the navigation channel.
Construction and Significance: Its current structure was built in 1901 by the King Bridge Company of Cleveland. It is the only operational highway swing bridge in the entire state of Ohio and one of the oldest bridges in Cleveland.
Function: It allows vehicular and pedestrian traffic to cross between the east and west banks, but it also swings open regularly to allow maritime traffic to pass on the Cuyahoga River. It recently underwent a major rehabilitation, reopening in October 2023.
Historic 1970s view of Toronto’s Union Station rail tracks with surrounding buildings and urban skyline.
USA B/N 2024.
The Willis Avenue Station is a historic steam production plant located in Midtown Detroit, near Woodward Avenue. It is part of the city's district steam heating system.
Function and History: Built by the Detroit Edison Company and brought online in 1904 (with the current structure dating to 1916), it was the company's first steam power substation. It was crucial for supplying heat (thermal energy) to buildings in the downtown and Midtown areas via an extensive network of underground pipes.
Henry Ford Connection: The station is located near the original site of an earlier electric power station owned by the Edison Illuminating Company. In 1891, Henry Ford began his career with the Edison Illuminating Company, working as a Steam Engineer on the night shift at that substation.
Recognition: The building, which features a Colonial Revival architectural style, was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1997 due to its historical and industrial significance.
USA B/N 2024.
Cadillac Place is a landmark high-rise office building located in the New Center area of Detroit, Michigan.
History and Original Name: Completed in 1922, it was originally known as the General Motors Building and served as the world headquarters for General Motors (GM) from its opening until 2000. When it opened, it was the second largest office building in the world.
Architecture: It was designed by the renowned architect Albert Kahn in the Neoclassical style. It is recognized as a National Historic Landmark.
Current Use: Following a major renovation in the early 2000s, it was renamed Cadillac Place (in honor of Detroit's founder, Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac) and now houses the State of Michigan's offices in Detroit.
The Seattle skyline is world-famous for its unique combination of iconic landmarks, modern skyscrapers, and a spectacular natural backdrop of water and mountains.
Iconic Elements: The skyline is defined by three key elements:
Space Needle: The single most recognizable symbol, anchoring the Seattle Center.
Columbia Center: The city's tallest building (76 stories), which dominates the financial downtown.
Nature's Frame: The skyline is almost always framed by the Puget Sound (to the west) and the majestic Cascade Mountains and Mount Rainier (especially to the southeast), which lend it a dramatic character.
Best Viewing Spots:
Kerry Park (Queen Anne): Considered the classic location for the perfect photo, offering the iconic perspective of the Space Needle with downtown behind it and Mount Rainier in the distance.
Waterfront: The view from the ferry or the piers across Elliott Bay.
West Seattle: Provides great vantage points from parks along the water's edge.
A beautiful, thick lichen carpet covering the forest floor.
Captured this with my old Canon Digital IXUS 90 IS. It's fascinating how this small pocket camera from 2010 still manages to pick up all the intricate details and textures of the forest floor. Testing out the old battery today and it’s still going strong!
USA B/N 2024.
The Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument is the major American Civil War memorial in Cleveland, Ohio, located on the southeast quadrant of Public Square.
Purpose: It commemorates the over 9,000 residents of Cuyahoga County who served the Union during the Civil War (1861–1865).
Design and Dedication: It was designed by architect and sculptor Levi T. Scofield and was dedicated on July 4, 1894, following nearly 15 years of planning.
Exterior Structure:
It consists of a column reaching a total height of 125 feet (38 meters), topped with a bronze statue of the Goddess of Freedom, which Scofield modeled after his wife.
The base is surrounded by four heroic-sized bronze sculptural groupings, depicting the four main branches of military service: Infantry, Cavalry, Artillery, and Navy, shown in realistic battle scenes. Notably, one of the Navy figures is African-American, a rare depiction in memorials of that era.
Interior Structure (Tablet Room):
The base of the monument houses a Memorial Room (or Tablet Room), which contains the engraved names of the Cuyahoga County veterans who served in the war.
It also features four bronze reliefs depicting key events, including the Emancipation of the Slave, the Beginning of the War in Ohio, and the End of the War.
USA B/N 2024.
800 West Ferry is a landmark residential building located in the Delaware District of Buffalo, New York, known for its historic architecture and its transformation over time.
Architecture and Design: Construction began in 1929 and was completed in 1930. It was designed by architect Duane Lyman, of the firm Bley & Lyman, and features a mixed architectural style, often described as Gothic Revival or a blend of Art Deco and Venetian Gothic/Tudor at the entrance. It stands 11 stories tall.
Original Owner: The building was commissioned and originally owned by Darwin R. Martin, son of the famous Darwin D. Martin of the Larkin Company (and Frank Lloyd Wright patron). Darwin R. Martin occupied a luxury penthouse that spanned the top two floors.
Original Layout: The building was initially conceived as a luxury rental property with a small number of very large units. It primarily consisted of 16 duplex (two-story) apartments, four ground-floor "simplex" (single-floor) units, and the expansive penthouse.
Transformation: Due to the Great Depression, the large unit format proved unsustainable. In 1940, the duplex apartments were subdivided into much smaller, single-floor units.
Current Status: The building was converted into a condominium association in 1980 and today maintains its historic elegance as a luxury residence in the heart of Buffalo.