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.