Tag Archives: Philbrook

Shadow Shot Sunday – Valentines Shadows and More

On Valentine’s Day my bride, Heather, and I visited the Philbrook Museum here in Tulsa. I found this shadow outside. It reminded me of a carpet runner.

And then here is me casting my shadow on another set of stairs.

We warmed up briefly here in Oklahoma and I declared it to be the year’s first shorts day. I went to Ray Harral Nature Center and captured this shadow on their revamped hiking trail bridge.

Toward the end of my outing the I found this scene where the pine tree crown is in the sun while the bottom of the trees are getting shadowed by the declining sun.

I’m linking with Lisa’s Shadow Shot Sunday. Check it out.

Philbrook Gardens – Shadows and the secret location of the only Philbrook Geocache ever

Sharp Shadows from a bench on a sunny day.

Complex Patters on a swing

Sculptures of Sheep grazing contentedly on the lawn.

Leaves casting a shadow on a sidewalk

And now a reveal. This is the site of Philbrook’s only geocache from years ago. It has been disabled for years. It was a complicated multicache that would take a lot of time but lazy old me thought it out. Most museums are very protective of their gardens and don’t want nasty deet smelling geocachers tramping through their exhibits, dismantling light fixtures, and climbing trellises, fences, and art work so I thought of two places where the fusty but fun museum staff would deem safe enough for geocaching. And I was right! I found it 13 years ago, read all about it here. Oh, don’t bother looking for it if you visit Philbrook, it is long gone.

Our World – An Afternoon at Philbrook Museum of Art

Sunday morning the family got up and Logan had breakfast and we dropped him off at his job at the Neighborhood Walmart and Heather and I went to have breakfast. Afterward we headed out to Tulsa’s Philbrook Museum of Art to check out their newest exhibit “Innovative Expressions” which turned out to be very academic but interesting. It showcased the printmaking  art of Mary Cassatt, Edgar Degas, and Camille Pissarro.  I learned some things that I didn’t know before. I didn’t take any photos though. Check it out if you are in town. It is open until September 9.

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After the exhibit we toured the three levels of galleries. It doesn’t take us long as we have been there many times before so seeing the art is like meeting old friends. Philbrook does a good job of swapping things out and so we always see things we hadn’t seen before. I love Thomas Moran’s “Grand Canyon” (above).

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And this one is a favorite of mine. I am from New Mexico and too me nothing beats snow on adobe like this, “Tesuque (Dark Houses)” by Theordore Van Soelen. It is also special because when I was born my family was living the Tesuque Ranger Station.

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This is one that I don’t remember seeing but Heather told me that it has been on display before. So meet my new friend, “Bridge over the Stour” by Childe Hassam. I love it.

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Next we went to the gardens of the museum. It had been raining earlier but then settled into a very light sprinkle. The tempietto in the background may be the most photographed item in Tulsa. I think it is beautiful. I’m always trying to think of something new so here I focused on the flowers which caused the tempietto to soften. You can tell there is a person on the other side of the pond who is way out of focus.

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It is my lovely wife, Heather. The gardens at Philbrook are especially lush this time of year. Their gardening staff really works hard keeping things tidy and green.

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I spotted a purple coneflower.

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Another area of the gardens that I liked.

We had a great leisurely couple of hours at Philbrook. It is a great place to get away from it all for a short time. If you plan on visiting check their web site for all sorts of information for days and hours of operation, special exhibits, events and all sorts of other information.

I am linking with Our World Tuesday

Daffodil Mania at Philbrook

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I dropped the kid off at his Improv workshot Saturday morning and headed out to the Philbrook Museum of Art to see if they had any flowers up. And yes they do. I don’t think it is peak yet but there were lots of daffodils up and it was cold and windy so there were hardly anybody out there looking at them.

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I’ve come to love these early spring flowers. They are so beautiful and so fragile. They are the spring color I need after the long grey colors of winter.

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Hey I found some daffodils with a garden cat. Groan, I know, couldn’t help myself. Philbrook does have two or three garden cats. Last time I was there I was inside the museum and one of the cats was outside wanting in because it was so cold. I didn’t let him in. Do you think I did the right thing or am I heartless and cruel?

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And how about a daffodil reflection shot. Strange how they pop out in the reflection against the blue sky but are lost in the lighter colors on the bank.

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And another, subtler daffodil reflection photo.

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That’s all I got for today folks is several shots of one kind of flower.

Philbrook Festival 2015

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Last Sunday we grabbed up the world’s greatest mother-in-law, Nana, and took her off to the Philbrook Museum of Art to check out their Festival. It used to be “Festival of the Trees” with all sorts of decorated trees but they are not doing that anymore. Oh well, as we are told at work, we embraced change and pressed on. They have a wonderful Andy Warhol special exhibit going, so we checked that out and then went upstairs to see the gingerbread houses.

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For some reason I love gingerbread houses.

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This was one of my favorites because of its detailing.

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They had a Santa on the roof.

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And a parlor with a Christmas Tree and fireplace.

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I also loved this Hobbit gingerbread house.

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And here is another shot, this time with Heather behind the lens. Nana, Logan, and me with my cap. Do you like my cap? I love it; it is wool felt, water resistant and very warm. Us fat, bald headed guys love warm hats in the winter. I think that a good time was had by all, with or without the designer trees.

Senior Picture Shoot

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I always claim the right to take pictures of people taking pictures in public places. I did that yesterday of the photographer taking pictures of son Logan. The guy was good! He put Logan, who hates getting dressed up and especially hates changing out of perfectly clean clothes into other clothes. I just tagged along.

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Heather made a great assistant holding the reflector as the photographer did his thing. I’m going to have to get one of those things. I wouldn’t know what to do with it but it sure looks cool.

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I think both Heather and I teared up during the session. Our baby is getting all growns up. It seems like just yesterday we loaded him up for first grade.  He has turned into quite the young man. He has overcome a lot of challenges and I think will do well.

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Anyways we get the proofs in about a week and a half. The guy was good so my expectations are high. I imagine we’ll buy almost everything. We might have to get a second mortgage but you only get Senior Pictures once. Well, at least hope it is just once.

Shadow Shot Sunday – Villa Philbrook

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Topaz Impressions

The Philbrook Museum of Art is one of my favorite picture taking places. From the galleries to the gardens to the building itself it is a great place to take your camera. It is an “Italian Renaissance Villa” built in the late 1920’s by  Tulsa oilman Waite Phillips for his home. He later donated it to the City of Tulsa for use as a museum. It has grown since then and is a treasure.  We have a membership, courtesy of my sweet MIL, so I go there ever month or so just to walk around with my camera. I have been there dozens of times over the years and always find something new.

Linking with Shadow Shot Sunday

Eric Baker’s “Oklahoma Autumn” at Philbrook

Philbrook Redbud Tree

This is a Topaz Labs Impressions modified photograph of part of Eric Baker’s “Oklahoma Autumn” installation” at Philbrook Museum of Art‘s Gardens. It is made of steel, agate, and kiln fired glass and is absolutely beautiful and I always have to go check it out whenever I visit the museum. I used Topaz’s Impressions to give “swirly” the photo a little bit.

Linking with Digital Arts Meme