Repetitive Patterns Competition

The April Challenge Competition for the Heat of Texas Professional Photographers Guild was “Repetitive Patterns.” Our train for New Orleans was late getting into Houston.  The last time we went, I noticed the platform and how the supports lined up.  I am not sure how many different pictures I took of them, but it was a lot. I finally decided one of them was worth more time.  This began as an HDR image.  After processing, the colors were rather bright, as much of the support was painted AMTRAK blue.  So, once I had the composition I wanted, I decided to convert it to Black and White. This image took first place in the competition.

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New Orleans – Houston AMTRAK Station

The AMCA met in New Orleans.  As always, a good time was had by all. We took the train out of Houston.  Next to the AMTRAK station in Houston is the Jefferson David Hospital.  This is an old historic hospital dating back to the end of the Civil War. I am not sure what it is used for today, but there was activity in it and cars in the lot.  I kind of liked the concept of posing the anatomical model in the window.

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This is the skyline of Houston from behind the AMTRAK Station.New Orleans  002.jpg

New Years Cruise 5

After Cozumel, we spent a day at sea before getting back to Galveston.  Over the course of the cruise, I was able to get some sunrise/sunset pictures.  So, I am going to put them all in this post.

This was from Falmouth Jamaica.

Jamaica Sunset

This was at sunrise in George Town Grand Cayman Islands.

Sunrise Moon

as was this

Sunrise in George Town

And, as we were preparing to leave George Town, I got this shot.

Sailing into the Sunset

New Years Cruise 4

Our third port of call was Cozumel.  I am not sure how many times we have been to Cozumel, but it has been enough that we no longer consider doing any organized excursions.  We took a cab into town, walked around, and had lunch at Las Palmeres. I have taken so many pictures in Cozumel over the years, that it is hard to take anything new.  But, I tried. As we were about to leave port, I got a couple of shots of Cozumel at night.

Cozumel at Night 2

and

Cozumel at Night

New Years Cruise 3

Our second port of call was George Town Cayman Islands. We did a scenic trolley tour, and it was really not worth what we paid.  When we went to catch it, we noticed there was a “hop on – hop off” bus tour that would probably have been far better.  Even at that, I got a couple good images.  The trolley we took went out the main street for a couple miles, and at the end, we stopped at a beach called “Smith’s Barricade.”

Smith Brigade 2

When we got back, we walked around George Town for a while, and got this shot.

George Town Harbor

We could not dock in George Town.  So, we had to use tenders.  Returning to the ship, I took this picture of our cruise ship.

Navigator of the Seas

New Years Cruise 2

Our first port was Falmouth Jamaica.  From the ship, it looked fantastic, but what we saw was all built specifically for the cruise ships.

Falmouth Jamaica

We took an excursion to “Good Hope Estate.” This was a 18th century sugar cane plantation. Seldom are cruise excursions worth their cost, but this was one that really was.  This plantation was built up on the top of a mountain, and the views were stunning.

Good Hope Plantation View 2

and

Good Hope Plantation View 3

There was a small pond on the plantation, and when we walked around it, I saw this water lily.

Water Lily

New Years Cruise 1

We took a cruise on The Navigator of the Seas the week after New Years.  The first two days were at sea, and these are a couple of the images of the ship that I captured.

This first one is The Elissa in Galveston Harbor from the deck of the cruise ship.

The Elissa

The next one is a huge sculpture in the center of the hip that is several stories tall.

The Sculpture

This is the 11the deck of the ship facing forward.

Looking Forward