Gettysburg, Lipsmack Studio
At Eternal Peace - Codori Farm - Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Just a short walk from the Eternal Peace Monument at Gettysburg sits this silent sentinel, seemingly still aimed at the Codori Farm, the scene of the historic Pickett's Charge. The military park is unlike anything I have ever seen. It is still farms and large open fields, untouched by the town around it. You can still imagine what it was like back in 1863.
This solemn ground is where more than 50,000 soldiers died in the war between the states. Hard to believe that more than 175,000 men fought the bloodiest battle of the Civil War in the first three days of July, 1863. People from town watched from the hills as these men fought for their states.
Gettysburg is still reverent to the men who gave their lives here, if not somewhat a little eery. It seems to be frozen in time as the numerous monuments watch over the battlefield.
©2010 Laura Smetak All rights reserved.All photos and stories on this blog are copyrighted and use without the artists express permission is prohibited.
A SILENT SENTINEL
A Peaceful Place
Isabella 1861 - St. James Episcopal Cemetery -Lancaster, Pennsylvania
One of our discoveries while stopping in Lancaster, PA, this cemetery is tucked neatly behind the St. James Episcopal church in downtown Lancaster. Graves date back to the 1700's. The church was founded in 1744. It is quite different to find a cemetery in such an urban location and date back so far, but yet it was still a peaceful, relaxing place to be. 
Unknown - 1798: Aged 4 months 16 Days
©2010 Laura Smetak All rights reserved.All photos and stories on this blog are copyrighted and use without the artists express permission is prohibited.
A Piss Chunk by Any Other Name
Watermelon - Fruitstand, Nowata, Oklahoma
Be careful what you say, there will always be a kid around to repeat it. Chris' nickname for a watermelon (for obvious reasons) is "piss chunk". He happened to say this around our nephew when was young (He is now 30). So the next most inappropriate time, Stephen yelled to Chris "Hey, look they got piss chunks!"
Needless to say, Chris is proud of that moment.
©2010 Laura Smetak All rights reserved.All photos and stories on this blog are copyrighted and use without the artists express permission is prohibited.
Well Traveled Fruit
Fruit Stand - Nowata, Oklahoma
Chris loves peaches. Well, he loves any kind of fruit, but especially peaches. We stopped at this roadside fruitstand and purchased some of the peaches on our way to Kansas. Ironically, they were Georgia peaches, bought in Oklahoma, eaten in Kansas by two Texans.
©2010 Laura Smetak All rights reserved.All photos and stories on this blog are copyrighted and use without the artists express permission is prohibited.
McKinney in Bloom
Tulip Tree - The Chapel at Chestnut Square, McKinney, Texas
I decided to take advantage of a gorgeous spring day and take a walk near downtown McKinney. I Googled this tree, and it seems to go by many names: Japanese Magnolia, Saucer Magnolia, Tulip Tree, Orchid Tree. Whatever it is, it is really beautiful in the Spring. In the background is a historic church that was moved to Chestnut Square. The church was originally Foote Baptist Church and was located just off Virginia Pwy., where Stonebridge Ranch is today....I live very close to its original location. Early posts you will also find a photo of this church in the snow.
Mom and POPcorn - , McKinney, Texas
I enjoyed walking around downtown and came across Mom and POPcorn and its nostalgic candies. Love those Bit-O-Honeys. Reminds me of being a kid and how exciting it was when winter was over and Summer was insight!
©2010 Laura Smetak All rights reserved.
All photos and stories on this blog are copyrighted and use without the artists express permission is prohibited.
John and Judy Gay Library Now Open
The newest library is now open in McKinney. I am proud to have taken this photo for the Judy Gay. She was one of my high school teachers, and her sister Joan Coleman was one of my elementary teachers. They were both wonderful teachers and I thank them for giving me such great guidance! I had the privilege of working with their daughter at the City of McKinney for a few years as well. (Reminds of me McKinney was a small town and everyone knew each other.)
©2009 Laura Smetak All rights reserved.
All photos and stories on this blog are copyrighted and use without the artists express permission is prohibited.
Peaceful Moon
The Promise - Adriatica, McKinney
This 16-foot tall, 100-ton stone carving of a dove with an olive branch is being hand carved by artisans in Adriatica in McKinney. The Croatian inspired village is just around the corner from where I live. It is like an escape to the Mediterranean without ever leaving home. When finished, it will be the centerpiece of a 50-foot diameter fountain.
©2009 Laura Smetak All rights reserved.
All photos and stories on this blog are copyrighted and use without the artists express permission is prohibited.
Back to Yosemite
Merced River and Half Dome - Yosemite Valley
Yosemite Meadow
©2009 Laura Smetak All rights reserved.
All photos and stories on this blog are copyrighted and use without the artists express permission is prohibited.
Did you BART?
BART platform - San Francisco, CA
My Sunday experience in San Francisco was to board my first train and head to meet my friend Cary in Alameda. I had no idea what to expect, but the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) was very simple to use. I boarded the train in San Francisco and was whisked under the bay toward Oakland.
LA visitor - BART train
My fellow BART passengers - West Oakland, CA
On my train travel, two young men from LA sat across from me loaded up with their luggage. Good...I am not the only tourist on the train who doesn't know where the hell they are going. I could tell, they were trying to figure the system out themselves. One stood up and I started taking a few photos of him (with his permission of course). All his tatoos and LA skater look just added to the adventure.
Fruitvale BART Station
Finally, I reached Fruitvale Station where Cary was waiting for me. The artwork in the station was very colorfully painted tiles. It was Sunday, so not very many people in the station. The station itself was very artsy on the outside. I would love to go back.
So, I guess if you want to ask, I would answer, "Yes, I BARTed.
©2009 Laura Smetak All rights reserved.
All photos and stories on this blog are copyrighted and use without the artists express permission is prohibited.
(Hot) Chocolate Anyone?
Ghirardelli Square - San Francisco Bay
While waiting for the cable car back to my hotel, I stood looking at Ghirardelli Square and a beautiful sunset at Fisherman's Wharf. It gets quite chilly at this time of the evening in San Francisco, so I suggest getting a cup of hot chocolate for your wait. I am sure they could scrounge up some at the famous chocolatier. (Oh, and just before boarding the cable car, the guy behind told me that the place right across from the trolley stop was where they invented the Irish coffee. Now he tells me.)
Fisherman's Wharf - San Francisco, Ca
©2009 Laura Smetak All rights reserved.
All photos and stories on this blog are copyrighted and use without the artists express permission is prohibited.
A NATIONAL PARK ICON
El Capitan - Yosemite National Park
The icon of Yosemite stands as a shear face of gray granite. I wish I had more time to study and photograph it, but I only had minutes outside the van to get my shots. It is amazing to see it in real life after staring at it in Ansel Adam calendars and books I have collected over the years. I got there and stood awe struck, almost forgetting to take the photograph. Well, I did get a couple, but it was only a teaser of what I need to go back and really photograph.
Yosemite Valley - Yosemite National Park (El Capitan, Half Dome, Bridal Veil Falls)
©2009 Laura Smetak All rights reserved.
All photos and stories on this blog are copyrighted and use without the artists express permission is prohibited.
How does your garden grow
I was out shooting photos for the Annual Report yesterday, and I thought this was kind of cool flower. The tiny cluster of flowers are only about 2" in diameter.
©2009 Laura Smetak All rights reserved.
All photos and stories on this blog are copyrighted and use without the artists express permission is prohibited.
THINGS ARE LOOKING UP
Yosemite Tree Moss - Yosemite National Park
I just thought the moss on this tree trunk and the canopy was kind of cool. I got to playing with it in photoshop and came up with this. The texture of the bark is so thick and rustic, it was begging for a photo. As you can tell, I spend a lot of time looking upward.
©2009 Laura Smetak All rights reserved.
All photos and stories on this blog are copyrighted and use without the artists express permission is prohibited.
Flashback in Alameda
One of my main reasons for traveling to San Francisco was to see my very talented and life-long friend, Cary, who had spent the summer in the Bay Area doing summer musicals. He was the vocal director of Alameda Civic Light Opera's (ACLO) production of Hair at the Kofman Auditorium. The 60s musical was brought back to the Bay area where the hippie movement had started, and it seemed to be the perfect place to see it for my first time. The performance was top notch, and was a perfect nightcap to my wonderful weekend.
Curtain Call Frenzy - Alameda Civic Light Opera's "Hair"
It is unbelievable that Kofman Auditorium, built in 1926, is a high school auditorium. It is unlike any that I have seen. I was taken with the architecture and lights. I kept studying the ceiling and the artistic lights and carvings surrounding me. Todd, one of my newer friends grew up here, and this was his high school and said that it had recently been renovated and brought up to earthquake code. The years had taken its toll and it was deemed unsafe for students to use. But seeing what they had brought back to life was beautiful.
The whole island is this way. Victorian homes line the street, the downtown is full of art deco architecture. New buildings are built to blend seemlessly with historic buildings.
During my stay, a rare summer thunderstorm had come up. That evening, the streets of Alameda reflected the neon lights of local restaurants. Across from Linquini's was Ole's Waffle Shop and the bright neon's caught my eye, as everyone said their evening farewells.
Ole's Waffle Shop - Alameda, California
Farewell between old and new friends - Cast and crew of Hair, Alameda, California
Thanks to Cary, Todd and the cast of Hair for making my mini vacation such a wonderful and memorable trip.
©2009 Laura Smetak All rights reserved.
All photos and stories on this blog are copyrighted and use without the artists express permission is prohibited.
From the inside looking out
Dining Hall - Alcatraz, San Francisco
Maximum Security - Alcatraz, San Francisco
Solitary Confinement - Alcatraz, San Francisco
I couldn't resist studying the way the bars on the windows cast light and shadows on the walls of the prison. Oddly, the maximum security cells were more spacious and nicer. They faced the windows and instead of the tiny 5' x '9 regular cells, if you were bad enough to end up in maxmium security, you moved up to a spacious 8' x 10' cell.
Solitary was just below, and had solid doors with tiny screen holes. One prisoner recounts that he would pull a button from his jacket and pitch it up in the air. He'd then get on his hands and knees and search for it in the dark. Once he found it, he would repeat the activity. This gave him something to do until he was released.
The dining hall was lined with windows. The long light and shadows shown across the numerous layers of flooring that had been piled on top of each other of the years. I counted as many as five different types of tile and concrete.
Library Shelves - Alcatraz, San Francisco
©2009 Laura Smetak All rights reserved.
All photos and stories on this blog are copyrighted and use without the artists express permission is prohibited.
Welcome to the Rock
Dance Hall - Alcatraz Island, San Francisco
Rooftop - Alcatraz Island, San Francisco
Lighthouse - Alcatraz Island (Flag at half mast in honor of Sen. Edward Kennedy)
The Warden's house - Alcatraz, San Francisco
A surprising part of my trip was my visit to Alcatraz Island. Everyone said I should go, so I went. I barely made the last tour of the afternoon of my first day. The sun was setting and the wind just about blew you over there. I began to get pretty chilly as the sun was going down.
But the best thing about that time of day, was the way the light cast itself on the ruins of old structures and through the barred windows. It is easy to see nature is reclaiming many of the structures. You can imagine the ghosts who still stay.
I highly recommend you take the audio tour while you are there. It is narrated my many of the inmates and guards, and even family member of staff who grew up on the island. It is eery, yet beautiful.
And in case you are wondering, yes Alcatraz had a dance hall, where socials were held for staff and family who lived on the island.
©2009 Laura Smetak All rights reserved.
All photos and stories on this blog are copyrighted and use without the artists express permission is prohibited.
Seeing the forest for the trees
Archway - San Francisco, Ca
Recently I made my first visit to San Francisco. I really enjoyed the beauty that surrounds this city. The Victorian architecture is everywhere and survives next to modern skyscrapers. The contrast is what makes the city so beautiful.
First Presbyterian Church 1874/1911 - Van Ness Dr. San Francisco
This church was just about a block from my hotel. I had just arrived in San Francisco and had a few hours to kill before I could check into the Holiday Inn. Now, you have to realize, I am pretty inexperienced at traveling by myself, and especially trying to get around using public transit. I decided that the first thing I would do is see the Golden Gate Bridge. It would kill a few hours. So the concierge told me to walk down to Sacramento St. and hop on the #1 bus to Park Presidio, transfer to #28 and it would take me to the bridge.
I took a deep breath, and decided to make my first step of my big adventure. As I walked to the first bus stop, there was another photographer walking in front of me. I was taking in the sights and kind of got a kick out of watching him spot the same things I did. I got close to bus stop, and we both saw this church. He was busy snapping away, so I passed him. I watched him focus in on the elaborate carvings of grapes around the windows on the side of the building. I looked up and saw this huge stained glass window on the front, with colorful tiles and the similar carvings repeated on the front. He was busy on the side of the building where there were smaller windows.
I stood waiting to cross the street, trying not to be too obvious of being a newbie tourist. I noticed he had yet to see the biggest element on the building. I watched him, and he backed up to get another angle, I said "Have you seen the huge window on the front, it is beautiful." He looked up and the surprise on his face was kind of funny. He had been so busy focusing in on the details, he was missing the big picture. He politely said thanks, and started shooting the window.
After my visit to the bridge, I had to pass the church again. I stopped and took a few photos. What amazed me about the church were the colors. The colorful tiles looked quite modern, but you could see it was all original design.
I love the details of things. To focus in tight and see those tiny things that make up the whole. But sometimes I have to remind even myself to watch for the forest AND not just the trees.
©2009 Laura Smetak All rights reserved.
All photos and stories on this blog are copyrighted and use without the artists express permission is prohibited.
Phoning it in
El Capitan (right), Half Dome (Center), Bridal Veil Falls (Left) - Yosemite National Park (iPhone 3g).jpg)
Merced River, Half Dome - Yosemite National Park (iPhone 3g).jpg)
Merced River - Yosemite National Park (iPhone 3g)
A GIANT SENTINEL
Tunnel Tree - Tuolomne Grove Yosemite National Park.
The tunnel was carved through this dead Sequoia tree around 1870. It stands like a giant castle door at the base of the Tuolomne Grove. The tunnel is large enough to drive a stage coach through.
Visitors have been carving their names inside the tunnel for nearly 150 years. This signature dates back to 1905.
©2009 Laura Smetak All rights reserved.
All photos and stories on this blog are copyrighted and use without the artists express permission is prohibited.
FALLEN GIANT
Fallen Giant Sequoia Tree - Tuolumne Grove Yosemite
The gnarled roots of a fallen giant sequoia tree in the Tuolomne Grove in Yosemite National Park. The mighty Giant Sequoias which tower over 250 feet tall, have surprisingly shallow roots. This fallen tree, is large enough that it has a tunnel that can walk through from bottom to top. The roots photographed here are as tall as many regular trees.
The photo below may help you with the scale of the base of the fallen tree.
©2009 Laura Smetak All rights reserved.
All photos and stories on this blog are copyrighted and use without the artists express permission is prohibited.
