Take one last look

July 29, 2012

Last Look - Meyrin, Switzerland, 2012

I've been taking one last long look at the beautiful countryside that is the corner of France (and edge of Switzerland) that we live in. In less than a week we move back to upstate New York.

The picture above has been on my list for a while now, maybe not that particular vineyard, though this hill has stood out to me for some time, but one like it. I'm pleased that for a few minutes while I was out the sun and clouds played a little, and gave me this wonderful dance across the fields, and that the sunflowers are blooming beautifully this summer.

I'll keep my eyes open, but we lose a little of our mobility this week, and I imagine it'll get pretty hectic making sure we're completely ready to leave. I'm glad I took some time to look around yesterday and make a few more pictures. I'd like to do some documentary of the move itself, we'll see how it goes.

Oh, and one more thing. I'm getting ready to make the jump to self-hosting this blog at my own domain. I'm posting both there and here, sort of "preview mode." If you'd like to check it out, it's at justing-pictures.com/blog. I'm haven't completely settled in yet. Some things are still undecided, like whether to keep the pictures on flickr or on my blog too, or both. A few tasks to work on still, and I'll make a bigger announcement when I to transition.

Red Letter Day

June 24, 2012

Versoix, Switzerland, 2012

Yesterday was a Red letter day. A multitude of errands were accomplished, fun was had, clothes were bought, household goods were donated, even a spontaneous romantic evening walk on the lake was had! See photo above.

This literally never happens. We must be getting the hang of this expat thing. I'll try not to focus on the fact that this is occurring as we are heading for the door, coat in hand and car keys out. We've got less than six weeks until we repatriate back home.

Today was not so great, but I'll keep my focus on yesterday's awesomeness. I suppose it seems even better now that there is such a contrast. See Ali's rant about today here.

Fence Posts

June 2, 2012

Meyrin, Switzerland, 2012

Something a little different.

Two From Meyrin

May 2, 2012

Meyrin, Switzerland, 2012

Meyrin, Switzerland, 2012

I got a very brief chance to take a few pictures in Meyrin this afternoon. I decided that sixteen chaotic people swimming in a space usually reserved for six orderly swimmers was just not for me today. So instead I took care of an errand while Alessandra braved the waters. After that, I had enough time to slow down and take four pictures before she came out of the pool. As I've said before, sometimes that's just the way it is.

Silent Saturday

April 28, 2012

Talgo

Switzerland (2012)

Two from Meyrin

April 26, 2012

Meyrin

Switzerland (2012)

The town of Meyrin is mostly urban refugees, it's almost all highrise apartment blocks like the ones in this picture. They are so bland that they almost look like office buildings, especially on the window side (as opposed to the balcony side). The building on the left (extreme diagonal) is the showing the window side. The two face on, behind the Shell station are showing us their balconies. Not much of an improvement.

Meyrin

Switzerland (2012)

The other side of Meyrin, the surrounding area, is mostly farmland. I think that is true of all smaller European towns, at least ones situated in arable land. That part can be quite picturesque. Even this location has it's downside, it's between the highrises (to the left, a bit away), and the airport (immediately to the right).

Something about trains

April 9, 2012

If you've been following along at home, you know that recently Alessandra and I took a long weekend trip down to Como, Italy. This has been a rich vein of photographic material for me, first there was a small sampler of some of the more abstract images I took, then there was one from the end of the trip, Vogogna, and most recently there were all (40!) of those bicycle pictures. I really enjoyed those bicycle pictures.

We got to Como by train, so I made it a point to take a few pictures around (and from) the trains. It was a lot of fun!

Platform

Switzerland (2012)

Train Reflections I

Switzerland (2012)

These two are in Geneva, at Gare Cornavin.

Train Reflections II

Switzerland (2012)

That's our train reflected in the glass.

Milano Centrale

Italy (2012)

The Milano Centrale train station is pretty cool. It's got a huge ceiling, with two smaller covers, and one main huge one. The station is done primarily in a Liberty/Art Deco style. I didn't get too many pictures of the styling, for me the train yard cover stole the show.

We're about to board the train out into the great wide world!

Freight

Italy (2012)

In the station of Monza, one of the commuter stations between Milan and Como, the freight trains don't really slow down when going through the station. I hope accidents don't happen very often. Yikes. Also, the track banks at the exit of the stations, so the trains are all swoopy as they exit the station at full speed. Cool. Dangerous, but cool.

Monza

Italy (2012)

Rho (panorama)

Italy (2012)

I stitched two pictures together of one of the buildings in Rho. It's not quite perfect, but I think its the best I can hope for from a moving train.

And finally, one of the train station in Como (well, one of the train stations, the place has at least four).

Como Nord Lago

Italy (2012)

I put that picture up on Flickr a couple of weeks ago, but didn't post it here. That's why it doesn't have a watermark. Do any of my dear readers have a comment on the watermark? Yay/Nay?

That's all for now.

Springy

March 29, 2012

Blossoms

Switzerland (2012)

The blossoms started popping last week around here, if I'm not quick I won't get any pictures!

The Cold Wind

February 7, 2012

A bit of reportage; it's really freakin' cold!

A Cold Wind Blows Across Europe

Switzerland (2012)

A Cold Wind Blows Across Europe

Switzerland (2012)

The second picture is from the car, so the positioning isn't optimal. I would have liked to be a little more to the right, but I like the bundled up commuter, so I take what I get.

Also, I was playing around with 50mm on my zoom lens, thinking harder about what my next lens choice will be. I can only really think of a couple more that I think I woud want, ever, so I was "playing with one of them". I really like the perspective I get with the 50mm, even on DX. Also, I'm thinking of doing some portraiture of my family when I'm back home next. So the 50 might be next. Honestly the other lens I'm contemplating is a super wide angle one, but it's screw focus, so I'll have to wait for the old body upgrade for that. I think a 135mm old manual lens would be great, and inexpensive too. I don't have anything with that kind of reach currently, so when I decide to get that it'll just be a surprise all around.

Another thing that motivated this was that I realized how useful a narrow depth of field really is, and how frustrating it can be when you can't get it. My zoom dens can't get to wide, f/5.6 at 50mm, which doesn't offer too narrow of a depth of field. The DoF really is one of knobs to turn on the isolation plane of photography, so I think I want to be able to really use it.

Thats all for now....

Technical Reprise

January 23, 2012

Technical Wall

Switzerland (2012)

This is one of the walls in the engineering hall next to my building, or maybe it's just a machine shop. It can be hard to tell. This room has both machining equipment and science equipment. I suspect it is a dedicated suport hall for one of the rings. Outside there are many brown (painted) gas bottles The gas bottles are next to the next building over (pictures another time). It's the same room that the pictures in this post were taken in.

Correction: gas bottle correction.