I don’t know how many times I’ve said, “I’m going to get this shot in all four seasons!” Only I never do.
That’s what makes me love this series of photos so much. I caught the autumn leaves before they passed their peak and had a blast shooting the “tunnel” of trees in all their orange glory.
As my dear friend lived on this street, I was around often enough to notice the changing of the seasons and grab the next shot.
Snow days in Brussels were scarce and typically short lived. One year it snowed a little and I snapped some shots, but it was just a dusting and I wasn’t happy with the scene. As our departure from Belgium loomed, I resigned myself to the fact that I wasn’t likely to get the winter photograph I wanted.
In January of 2017 I caught the break I was looking for. It started snowing in the early hours of the morning and was still snowing when I got up. It was just enough to give me what I wanted, but not so much to be snowed in.
I finally had my four seasons series! Will I ever repeat it with another scene? Who knows?
I don’t always use a wheelchair, but when I do, I take the opportunity to take a lot of pictures! Inspired by a recent trip to the zoo in which we brought out the power wheelchair, we decided to venture downtown to visit Denver’s Union Station.
I have been to the Union Station in DC a million times and never get over the feeling of awe it inspires. And my university team used to go to the Model UN conference held in the former Union Station in St. Louis – which is now a hotel, conference center and mall. In fact one of the first places I crossed paths with my husband was at this former train station. Both places left a lasting impression, so I have wanted to check out the station here to see if it lived up to its cousins in other cities.
Getting around downtown Denver is no easy feat, and my mobility issues make it even more daunting. Add cold weather and I just couldn’t do it alone. Luckily we had a free weekend and the weather was unseasonably warm. We loaded up the power chair and found the closest parking garage to the station. While the idea of using the wheelchair full time is daunting, I can’t deny that it is handy for longer outings and makes it possible for me to use my big Sony camera.
Union Station in Denver is an impressive structure, built in 1880. It’s smaller than the other two stations mentioned, as train travel west of the Mississippi River has never really taken off, but still worth a visit. The inside is also less ornate, but classy, and filled with bars, restaurants and shops, with the bulk of the building taken up by the Crawford Hotel. Local, regional and national trains stop here and it’s a great place to start or end your train travel adventures.
One feature of the Dairy Block not to be missed is “The Alley.” In December , this heated alleyway is home to the Mistletoe Market filled with stalls selling everything from jewelry to artwork to culinary delights. An interesting feature is the mirrored ceiling in the middle of the alleyway. Pass through after buying your Christmas presents, or stop for a drink (or ice cream!).
Another noteworthy block nearby is McGregor Square. In December it boasts an ice rink set up in it’s center. But this would be a great location at any time of the year to have some beers while watching a game on the giant TV overlooking the square. Built to mimic nearby Coors field, the buildings housing various eating and drinking establishments wrap around this space, giving you the feeling of being on a baseball field.
At the end of the day I was satisfied with my little outing. I got some great shots of the station and practiced seeing – and getting – shots from my new vantage point. I still need practice, but the whole exercise boosted my morale. And I finally got to explore part of downtown Denver (LoDo as the area is called by locals).
It helps that Denver is a fairly accessible city. Most areas have curb cut outs in the sidewalks for us wheel-dependent folks. And a large number of businesses have an accessible entrance somewhere. Not all the sidewalks are well maintained, but nothing I encountered was enough to hinder my exploration. I look forward to taking the wheels out for a spin in other parts of downtown Denver again soon!
*It is worth mentioning that the Accessible/Family bathroom in Union Station requires a code to enter. You must track down a security guard who will come let you in. There is plenty of space and grab bars near the toilet, but the sink is not really accessible. I didn’t go into the main bathroom, but I did notice that the main doors are propped open, so that is one less obstacle to overcome.
Where it all began – a very timid booth at the Information Fair!
It was a very sad week for me! I had my last showing at the Tri-Mission Association shop at Embassy Brussels. I cannot express how thankful I am to the Embassy community for supporting my work and encouraging me to push beyond my comfort zones in pursuit of more and more opportunities. This venture has been more successful than I ever would have imagined possible and I have learned so much along the way. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for your purchases, for your compliments and for your friendship!
Though I know I won’t have quite the same, sweet, set up I do here at Embassy Brussels at my next location, I now have a basis on which to build and learn, and I hope to get my online presence up and running as successfully as my in person sales. To that end, I will be slowly transitioning my photos onto my sale page at www.brandy-herren.pixels.com. Here you will be able to continue purchasing my prints – framed, canvas, etc – as well as fun photo products for home, office, and personal use!
As a thank you, I would like to offer a 10% discount on my image markup on the sale site to my US Foreign Service community members. Contact me and let me know your name and your affiliation with the US Foreign Service and I will send you a discount code to use on your Arklahoma Muse purchase through the website.
I have finally uploaded all the cards I have on hand from our lives in Zambia and New Zealand. My initial pass through the Zambian files have yielded quite a few gems and I took the time today to post some of them on my new page – African Adventures – Zambia, South Africa and Namibia. There are many more to come! Also, be on the lookout for the New Zealand page, coming soon. Please clicks through the photos and don’t hesitate to send me feedback and let me know what you think!
This week I showcased my work at the US Embassy in Brussels and I have really enjoyed talking to my peers about photography, travel and Belgium. Going through my portfolio so many times has brought something to my attention though. I MIGHT be a little obsessed with Ghent! It seems that every other picture is of some building, some church, some alley – IN GHENT.
Winter Stroll in Oostende
So I decided that this summer I will make more of an effort to branch out a little more and spend more time in other parts of Belgium. There is so much to see that I should have no problem finding great subject matter. There are war memorials and monuments, beautiful parks and forests, beaches, more churches than my children ever want to see again in their lifetimes, festivals, monasteries (and beer tours!), universities, and more chateaus than you can shake a stick at (stay tuned on Observations of an Okie for pics of Denver shaking a stick at a château…). I look forward to getting out there and really exploring more of this awesome country and I promise that I will be careful if I happen on to some haunted, deteriorating building that just begs me to explore it – ahem. There is also that suburb of Antwerp, slowly being abandoned that is covered in graffiti/street art. The list is truly endless.
Unknown Soldier at Flanders Field
But dear Ghent, fear not! I am unable to abandon you completely. You are so close and I can pop up for a stroll through your beautiful streets, visit with your lovely citizens and do some great shopping any time I want (I might even bring you new visitors and take yet another picture of St. Nicolaus’ Church).
I made an initial pass through my archives and finally created a page for photographs from Luxembourg and The Netherlands. I have also made the discovery that my dearth of website worthy photos from Amsterdam makes a return trip an absolute necessity! With any luck, as the weather warms up and the sun shines a bit more, I’ll make the pilgrimage back to these places with my lovely family so that they, too, can enjoy the sights (and I can get some shots of these cities that aren’t quite so grey!). Enjoy, and let me know what you think!
This past weekend was the 3rd installation of the Ghent Light Festival. A bi-annual event, artists, groups and schools put together various exhibits using light and videography and install them throughout the very walkable city center of Ghent. I am still working on night photography skills, but even so, I was able to catch a few lovely shots of this lovely art form. Check out these new additions on my Belgium page!
Hello! After such a fabulous autumn in 2014 and the outpouring of encouragement and support from my friends and community, I am ready to get down to business in 2015. A new year has begun and the possibilities for growth and creation are just endless. New photos of my travels in Belgium and further abroad in Europe are forthcoming and I am researching other ways of using my photos to create new products for my customers. Stay tuned for updates! In the meantime, be sure to visit the TMA store at the Embassy (if you have access of course) to check out my work for sale hanging above the coffee machine. The works on offer are just a small fraction of what I have, so if you don’t see your favorite, send me a message and I can hook you up!
After two successful portrait sessions for families out and about in Brussels, I am finally ready to offer my services to the USG community and already have a session lined up for later in this quarter. I look forward to the opportunity to increase my portraiture skills this year!
I have also had the opportunity to work with the housing section in photographing some of our lodging for the housing catalog. It’s an incredible opportunity to work on real estate/architecture photography and a real exercise in problem solving and conveying the space to the customer.
Stay with me on this incredible journey of creation and let’s work together to make 2015 the best year yet!
With Gratitude,
Brandy Herren
Are you pulling your own strings or is someone else pulling them for you?
Well I have finally emerged from my seeming hibernation and more of Belgium has been uploaded for your viewing (and purchasing!) pleasure on the “Belgium” page. Eventually I have more photos to share – from the Art Nouveau photo outing with the Tri-Mission Photography club and our recent jaunt to Bastogne and Luxembourg. I haven’t yet decided which photos, if any, are worthy, but hopefully we won’t have to wait until after the holiday season to find out! Take Care and Happy Clicking!
Arklahoma Muse Photography and Design 