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 .