My Word with Douglas E. Welch

What is your favorite photographic style? Share in the comments!

Lighting at Helms Bakery Design Center, Culver City, California

Capture this during an event at this amazing, repurposed, location in Culver City which used to be the Helms Bakery back in the day. Now it is filled with a variety of design companies showing off their latest creations. 

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What is your favorite architectural style? Share in the comments!

Architectural Abstract

Another photo of architecture taken to its abstract limits. This isn’t someplace special or unique in regards to architecture but was found in a local shopping mall. 

For myself, I was taken by the regular divisions of space in contrast to the larger panels and the curvature of the roof and how it effects the divisions. 

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What is your favorite architecture?

Architectural Abstract, Packing House, Claremont, California

The sunset created this amazing abstract light painting on the @claremontpacking building on Friday night while we had dinner at @eurekaclaremont . 
My eye is often caught by these interesting patterns. So much so that @drrosannewelch will often ask just WHAT I am taking a picture of. 😀

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Where are your favorite travel memories? Share in the comments!

Chiesa di Santa Maria del Carmine, Milano, Italia

Rosanne and I had stumbled upon this 1446 church a few days earlier on our wandering, but I returned on my way to a second visit to the Orto Botanico (Botanical Garden) in Brera.

This morning, though, I took the opportunity to stop, order a caffé (espresso) and a chocolate croissant, and just sit people watching and taking in the architecture of the church and the art in the piazza.

I was on my own on this visit, but it is one of my favorite memories of the trip. Even alone I found Milano to be friendly, welcoming and very livable. I felt more comfortable there than perhaps any other European city I have visited besides, perhaps, Bath and Leeds in the UK. London is fun but can be a bit too much after a few days.

When out on my own — and not looking a bit Italian in any way — I found it fun to joke with the wait staff at restaurants and museums. They would always start out in English and then expressed surprise and pleasure when I spoke Italian — even my first-grade version of it. Just another way I came to feel comfortable. Joking with everyone and generally having a great time.

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Learn more about Milan

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Where are your favorite travel surprises? Share in the comments!

Chiesa di Santa Maria del Carmine, Milano, Italia

While the exterior of this 1446 church is fairly plain, the interior is amazing. The light and shadows effect on the architecture are so dramatic is almost, literally, takes your breath away. We stepped in from the bright sun on a hot afternoon and it was like entering an entirely different world. The temperature dropped 10 degrees and it took several minutes for our eyes to adjust. We had entered from a side door, so we didn’t get the full effect until we moved up the enter aisle and took in this view. 

This is one of those photos that you easily remember taking. Unlike some, I believe that photography doesn’t take me out of the moment when I am Travelling, but rather makes my memories more vibrant and concrete when I return home. 

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Learn more about Milan

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“Walking The Night”

Walking in the city at night is always such a different experience than walking it during the day. You happen upon scenes that don’t occur at any other time of day. They surprise you. In the dark you don’t see the scenes coming, they are suddenly just thrust upon you in the glow of the street lamp or the glare of car headlamps.

My inherent fear of the dark means that I don’t often go walking in wilder areas, but the pools of light found in the city offer me refuge in the surrounding darkness and I get by. 

My favorite times to walk are during the full moon or on those cloud covered nights when the city lights are reflected back to earth and night almost turns into day. Then I get the best of both worlds. Shadows still conceal much but the moonlight shows off smaller scenes and highlights.

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Learn more about black and white photography

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Winter, Late afternoon, Home

The sun slants low and makes patterns on the floor at the end of the day

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Nighttime Neon

Downtown Columbia, Missouri

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Learn more about Neon Lights and Art with these books from your local library and Amazon!

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** Many of these books may be available from your local library. Check it out!
† Available from the LA Public Library

Along the street in Burbank

Walking while we wait for lunch guests to arrive. 

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Neon Batteries

Storefront neon in Magnolia Park Neighborhood of Burbank

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Learn more about Neon Lights with these books

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* A portion of each sale from Amazon.com directly supports our blogs
** Many of these books may be available from your local library. Check it out!
† Available from the LA Public Library