Wortham Center

Wortham Center, originally uploaded by PrawnConnery.

Houston doesn't have a lot of dark, scary alleys, but this one by the Wortham Center will do nicely. Thanks to PrawnConnery.

Tragic

Tragic, originally uploaded by Secret5468.

Secret found this ghost bike monument.

Sweet reflection

Imperial Sugar Plant, originally uploaded by Secret5468.

Secret has another shot of the Imperial Sugar factory. This one a reflection.

Patas Monkeys

Patas Monkeys, originally uploaded by blue_sharpie.

Blue Sharpie found these angry monkeys at the Houston Zoo in 1997.

BioScience Research Collaborative

BioScience Research Collaborative, originally uploaded by bill barfield.

A great shot down at Rice from Bill Barfield.

Bright lights, big reflections

, originally uploaded by jfre81.

Jfre81 shows us how light and water mix in downtown Houston.

My yellow is brighter than your yellow

James Broadhead found this flaming yellow restaurant in Harrisburg.

Snow and grass

houston blizzard of 2009, originally uploaded by jfre81.

It's Houston, so the grass will eventually win. But in this photo by jfre81, the snow has the upper hand.

Hermann Park Sunset

Hermann Park Sunset, originally uploaded by J-a-x.

Jax nailed the perfect shot of Hermann Park.

Rest Yourself

Rest Yourself, originally uploaded by data5amurai.

Data5amurai shot this pastoral scene in Sam Houston Park, showing how the natural and built environment can coexist.

Heat of the Night

Heat of the Night, originally uploaded by data5amurai.

Data5amurai uses HDR to enhance, not overwhelm, this dusk photograph of downtown Houston. Too many people abuse HDR technology, but in this case it is used well.

Hillcroft Professional Building.

Telwink says it all, "Nothing screams Hillcroft/Harwin like this 70's cube."

Ask him to tell you about how he risked his life to get a photo of the building's top floor.

Fred Hartman Bridge

Fred Hartman Bridge, originally uploaded by pinemikey.

The Fred Hartman Bridge is a great structure. I've never been able to get a really good shot of it. But PineMikey did, and even did it in HDR to bring out all the color and detail of the surrounding marshland.

blue skies over houston

blue skies over houston, originally uploaded by jfre81.

Heritage Plaza surveys its domain, looking over Uptown and the Galleria area.

down on the bayou

down on the bayou, originally uploaded by jfre81.

An inviting scene at Allen's Landing. Makes you want to blow an afternoon with an iced beverage and a thick book.

Red Line Splash

, originally uploaded by jfre81.

Jfre81 caught his shot of the MetroRail Red Line downtown. With the way the fountains are spraying, it almost looks like the train is splashing through the water.

The View from the View Deck

The View from the View Deck, originally uploaded by photine.

There's more going on here than just the city lit up and framed by a silhouette of Minute Maid Park. Note the beams of sunlight illuminating items in the interior of the ballpark as well. Great photo from photine.

So, we're gong south then?

, originally uploaded by jfre81.

On the left side of the platform, you can catch the train southbound.

On the right side of the platform, you can catch the train southbound.

I bet there are people who still screw this up.

train kept a-rollin'

train kept a-rollin', originally uploaded by jfre81.

This slice of downtown life at Main and Lamar was captured by jfre81.

Enclave Park

Enclave Park, originally uploaded by pinemikey.

PineMikey broke out the HDR for this shot of a corporate pond/flood control feature that's prettier than most.

El Problema

Telwink calls this photo "El Problema."  I'll let you argue over whether it is, or not.

To me, it signifies something sad about a society when the most important feature of a home is not an entrance which welcomes others, but a fortress garage.

One Eldridge Place

One Eldridge Place, originally uploaded by pinemikey.

If God had an office, the building it's in might have similar lighting.

The Water Wall

The Water Wall, originally uploaded by pinemikey.

Everyone's favorite Houston waterfall (unless you like one of the other ones). Can't go wrong with a little Water Wall action.

Stewart Building

Stewart Building, originally uploaded by pinemikey.

This photo really brings out the vibrancy possible in historic architecture. Too bad all of Houston's historic buildings aren't this well cared for.

77074

77074, originally uploaded by jarrod-drew.

Jarrod Drew turns a strip mall into a work of art. It's simple in form, but there's a lot going on here. From the use of the roofline to lead the eye through the photo, to the angle created by its intersection with the wall cloud, to statements about prosperity and the future represented by sunset, and the juxtaposition of red and blue. Or maybe it's just a lucky shot. Either way, welcome to the HAIF photo pool, Jarrod Drew.

Women's Foundations

going up..., originally uploaded by jfre81.

This is the future Texas Women's Hospital. Makes me think of those snooty department stores that call the bra and undies department "Women's Foundations."

Pretty/Ugly

, originally uploaded by jfre81.

This is either a contrast of pretty and ugly, ugly and pretty, or a scene of both pretty and pretty, depending on you philosophy, politics, and whether it's your property that got tagged.

Blue Bayou

, originally uploaded by jfre81.

Jfre81 got the blue in the shadow just right so that it brings out the brown in the bayou, and the red of the reflected building.

Westheimer Central Plaza

Westheimer Central Plaza, originally uploaded by pinemikey.

PineMikey caught this sweet blueness along Westheimer.

Red, Blue, Red, Yellow, Red

STOP, originally uploaded by bill barfield.

Bill Barfield found these great color swatches while on photo safari recently.

Crackle Over Downtown

Scott Kelby Worldwide Photowalk 2009 -Lightning Just Above The Court House, originally uploaded by I-SEEN-IT.

I Seen It managed to catch a crackle of lightning as it arced through the air over downtown. A one in a million shot.

Downtown Around The World

Count on Telwink to take a very nice picture, add a little computer muscle, and turn it into something extraordinary.

Downtown from Sam Houston Park wrapped onto a sphere.

The Stars At Night

Scott Kelby Worldwide Photowalk 2009 - The Stars we See at Night-, originally uploaded by I-SEEN-IT.

Light pollution obscures all but the brightest celestial bodies from shining on Houston. But in a way, we've created our own stars and constellations that hang far above us and can be seen from space.

Thanks to I Seen It for another great picture.

Leafy, Victorian, Sixth Ward

this old house, originally uploaded by jfre81.

It looks more Berkshire Valley than Buffalo Bayou, but jfre81 made this great picture of a well-preserved house in Houston's Sixth Ward.

Not In My Back Yard!

Not In My Back Yard!, originally uploaded by bill barfield.

Bill Barfield had a great caption for his picture of the Williams Tower:

"Martha always had the feeling that the neighbors looked down on her."

Too funny.

Waiting Above and Below

No Photoshop trickery here.  It's just Telwink and his fisheye lens capturing people waiting in Eleanor Tinsley park for the big fireworks show while a helicopter circles above waiting for the same thing.

HDR Clouds

Untitled3 copy, originally uploaded by Highway6.

Highway6 goes all HDR on us to help bring out the clouds and skyline in this dramatic sky.

Bright Lights, Big City

Scott Kelby Worldwide Photowalk 2009 - Downtown Houston B&W -, originally uploaded by I-SEEN-IT.

Black and white adds drama to this downtown scene. The darkened bridge leading to Memorial Parkway leads the eye to the bright lights of the big city. Thanks to I Seen It for the pic!

Panoramic Slice of Downtown

Scott Kelby Worldwide Photowalk 2009 - Houston Downtown -, originally uploaded by I-SEEN-IT.

I Seen It's panorama of downtown Houston does a great job of using neutral colored clouds to bring out the color and detail in the city's buildings.

The Darkened Bayou

Scott Kelby Worldwide Photowalk 2009 - Night -, originally uploaded by I-SEEN-IT.

I Seen It takes us to the head of Smith Street where civilization bypasses Buffalo Bayou, left in the darkness below.

Houston Lightning Storm Panoramic

Houston Lightning Storm Panoramic, originally uploaded by leadingmodels.

Custom Minds is a new user here at HAIF, but his photos of Houston are already gaining him fans and making him a favorite.

Wood, Steel, and Stone

House in the Montrose, originally uploaded by bill barfield.

Another view of the new home that Bill Barfield's friend built recently. Similar shapes are differentiated by the materials used. In this case, wood, bricks, and stainless steel.

House in the Montrose

House in the Montrose, originally uploaded by bill barfield.

Bill Barfield shows how color can be used to better define shapes in architecture, as demonstrated by this new house in Montrose.

No need to be Humble

Telwink posted a great picture of the restored Humble Oil Company building.  When I lived in Houston, this place was still abandoned.  Visiting later, I was amazed at how good the transformation has been -- at least on the outside.  It's on my list of hotels where I want to stay on my next trip to the Bayou City.

Telwink posted this picture in the HAIF Photo Pool on Flickr.

You can add you photos to the group.  Just click here:  HAIF Houston Photo Pool on Flickr .

First United Methodist Sanctuary

First United Methodist Sanctuary, originally uploaded by nip2655.

I don't think I've ever wanted to describe a church as "sumptuous" before, but that's the feeling I get from this great picture of the inside of First United Methodist in downtown. Nip2655 posted the picture for those of us who likely will never go inside.

Nip2655 posted this picture in the HAIF Photo Pool on Flickr.

You can add you photos to the group.  Just click here:  HAIF Houston Photo Pool on Flickr .

Mid Century Vacancy

downtownvacantmidcentury, originally uploaded by jarrod-drew.

There's lots of MCM fans on HAIF, which is what makes this photo by jarrod-drew so heartbreaking. Another piece of great Houston architecture going to waste.

Jarrod-Drew posted this picture in the HAIF Photo Pool on Flickr.

You can add you photos to the group.  Just click here:  HAIF Houston Photo Pool on Flickr .

Pavilion Panorama

Telwink goes both HDR and panorama with this great picture of Dallas Street downtown.  That's the Houston Pavilions in the center.

Telwink posted this picture in the HAIF Photo Pool on Flickr.

You can add you photos to the group.  Just click here:  HAIF Houston Photo Pool on Flickr .

Photographer Fuel

Lots of photographers talk about the inspirations that get them going.  But the truth is, the real photographer's fuel is Starbucks.  In the case of this shot by Telwink, it's a quad grande cappuccino.  For me it's a venti iced zebra.

Lots of people harsh on Starbucks, but it is a great tool.  When shooting on location, there's usually one nearby and it's like an oasis where you can cool off, get a snack, transmit some early photos to your client, get feedback and make corrections on the fly, use the bathroom, and then go out and start shooting again.

From Saint Louis to Singapore, the first thing I do when planning a photo shoot is map out the locations of the nearby Starbucks stores.

Telwink posted this picture in the HAIF Photo Pool on Flickr.

You can add you photos to the group.  Just click here:  HAIF Houston Photo Pool on Flickr .

Passing up the Chronicle

Houston Chroncile Layoffs, originally uploaded by fcarters.

fcarters took this great picture of a truck passing the Houston Chroncile building. You can look at it as a beautiful photograph, or a metaphor for large issues in our society. Your choice.

Fcarters posted this picture in the HAIF Photo Pool on Flickr.

You can add you photos to the group.  Just click here:  HAIF Houston Photo Pool on Flickr .

Montrose Moonrise

H-Town Moonrise II, originally uploaded by J-a-x.

The moon peeks out from behind the clouds and looks down on its man-made competition in this picture of the downtown skyline taken by Jax from Upper Montrose.

Jax posted this picture in the HAIF Photo Pool on Flickr.

You can add you photos to the group.  Just click here:  HAIF Houston Photo Pool on Flickr .