427 Cobra...

Yes, I'm behind and yes I've been lazy.  I know the four of you who had been regularly checking my blog have probably given up on me by now, but I am going to put up some new stuff anyway.  So, to get to it I could have just titled this post "wow" and left it at that, but I went with 427 Cobra because that sums it up pretty well.  We took a side track from our recent Yosemite trip (yes, I'll put some of those up later) to see my friend Zack in Santa Cruz.  He and his dad had built the beast that you see here as a father/son bonding experience.  Pretty good idea if you ask me.  As for the car- its a big boy toy and driving it was a sensory overload experience that was completely unforgettable.  Thanks to Zack and his parents for having us and giving us a glimpse of Santa Cruz.

Zack referred to this view as "a neutral carbon footprint"

All images copyright 2010 Andrew Browning Photography

Portland's Japanese Garden...

Zen and the Art of Japanese Garden Photography - as opposed to motorcycle maintenence.

All Photographs Copyright Andrew Browning Photography 2010.

Portland's Chinese Gardens...

All Photographs Copyright 2010 Andrew Browning Photography

Spring...

I decided to put this post off until today as it just didn't seem right to post pictures of the fresh purity of spring during the month of February.  Even though the buds burst open here in the valley in the midst of the winter rains.  Its kind of an evil temptation, because in Colorado this would be the sign that winter was coming to an end.  I think in Oregon it just means we're in for four more months of rain.

 

All images Copyright 2010 Andrew Browning Photography

Leafy Skeleton...

I discovered this slightly decomposed leaf in our yard the other day.  Only its skeleton remains after three months of winter rain, making it a fun subject for my new 105mm f2.8 AF Macro lens.  Hey, after three months of rain you have to find fun somewhere.

All Photographs Copyright 2010 Andrew Browning Photography

John Jaqua Academic Center for Student Athletes

Just a few years ago the Denver Broncos replaced their beloved home, Mile High Stadium, with a new stadium called Invesco field at Mile High.  This was a highly controversial change and the "at Mile High" part was a serious compromise to appease the community.  With this brand new academic center for student athletes on the University of Oregon's Campus, financed principally by the founders of Nike, one has to wonder, will it soon be the Nike Sports University at Oregon.  Especially considering just behind it, the largest and most expensive PAC ten indoor arena is rising from the earth, upon being finished will bear the name of the Matthew Knight Arena (after founder of Nike, Phil Knight's son).  But, back to the new academic center.  First, it is the kind of project that every architect dreams of, and ZGF of Portland definitely did not drop the ball.  To say it is a display of opulence doesn't begin to describe it.  I think if the Egyptian Pharaoh King Tut was an Oregon college sports aficionado this would have been his tomb, not that cheap pyramid in Giza.  Its really quite overwhelming, and I honestly can't describe it with words, I even struggled to describe it with photographs, but it sure was fun to try.

The building is surrounded on three of four sides by a reflecting pool (non student athletes who do not get to use the building have referred to it as a "moat")

The three story lobby looking up.

There is no such thing as a "second grade" material in this building, only first class, innovative, beautiful and expensive stuff here.

This is the emergency exit "fire stair." The pattern on the wall is made up of the names of student athlete graduates.

All Photographs Copyright 2010 Andrew Browning Photography

Modern Asian Bathroom...

So, if you've read my brief profile statement you'd have noticed that I said I'm an architectural designer (and so is my girlfriend Carrie) as well as a photographer.  Until now you've probably been thinking, "I'll just have to take his word for it."  Well, this is my good friends master bathroom, which we designed and built for him before departing to Oregon.  His bathroom(s) started out as the cheapest possible, worst excuse for a bathroom that large scale residential builders think they could get away with (and unfortunately they do everyday).  Carrie came up with the original idea of an asian theme and a color palette from the traditional Chinese and Japanese scrolls.  Dan's taste, however, is not traditional, so what we ended up with was a strong statement of luxury that balanced the modern and traditional.

Photographs Copyright 2010 Andrew Browning Photography

Eugene Courthouse

Yep, that is a courthouse. Didn't believe me at first did you? Better yet, it is a United States District Courthouse, not just a county courthouse. I bet you thought it was a convention hall or modern art museum. Nope, this is the place where our country determines wrong from right.

I see that confused look on your face, and I completely understand. After all, you wouldn't deposit your hard earned paycheck with some guy in a cardboard tent; your looking for something more substantial, timeless and honest.

Does it help you to know that the form of the building is derived from a fluid expression of law? Yeah, I didn't think so.

But, it is an amazing sculpture to photograph, and that's about it.

Note to "starchitect" Thom Mayne: I'm not jealous, (well, maybe a little) but please stop being different just because you can and actually consider the site and place as part of the design. Oh, I do hear that the interior is actually quite well organized, but I don't want to find out for myself.

All Images Copyright Andrew Browning Photography 2010

Fall in Oregon...

Took a stroll through the University of Oregon's Campus a while back with the "nifty fifty" lens. Fall is particularly nice there as there are hundreds of great trees with leaves changing in colors from yellow to red. The buildings lack a consistent statement in design (look for a future post on that point) that I miss from Colorado, but the landscape is so majestic you hardly notice the shortcomings of the architecture.

All Images Copyright Andrew Browning Photography 2009

The Bridges of Lane County...

No, its not the Oregon version of the only Clint Eastwood movie that I never want to see. Nor am I a National Geographic photographer on assignment to document the historic covered bridges of Lane County. Too bad though, sounds like a hell of a gig.

Images Copyright 2009 Andrew Browning Photography