Category Archives: Photography

Another Metal Fly

Posted on by Bill Chance

A while back, I posted a photo of a bronze fly on one of the sculptures in Pioneer Plaza – a little detail that has always held an odd fascination for me.

Today, waiting for a train at the downtown Plano DART station I took a look at a cool little horse sculpture – sort of a steampunk steed. I was impressed to find that it too was being harassed by flies – two of them, as a matter of fact.

The sculpture, by Tom Askman, is named Iron Horse, in honor of the historical trains that have plied the spot. So I guess these two are Iron Flies.

Well, except that the sculpture, although it is called “Iron Horse” – is actually made of cast bronze. So I guess there are still bronze flies.

Iron Horse, by Tom Askman Plano, Texas

Iron Horse, by Tom Askman
Plano, Texas

Iron Horse, by Tom Askman Plano, Texas

Iron Horse, by Tom Askman
Plano, Texas

Iron Horse, by Tom Askman Plano, Texas

Iron Horse, by Tom Askman
Plano, Texas

Iron Horse, by Tom Askman Plano, Texas

Iron Horse, by Tom Askman
Plano, Texas

Shade Structures

Posted on by Bill Chance

“since some people had told me that I was ugly, I always preferred shade to the sun, darkness to light”
― Charles Bukowski, Ham on Rye

Shade structures on the Continental Avenue Bridge Park, Trinity River Bottoms
Dallas, Texas

Continental Bridge, Dallas, Texas

Continental Bridge,
Dallas, Texas

My Xootr folding bicycle, Trinity River Bottoms, Dallas, Texas

My Xootr folding bicycle, Trinity River Bottoms, Dallas, Texas

When I bestride him, I soar, I am a hawk

Posted on by Bill Chance

“They heard somewhere in that tenantless night a bell that tolled and ceased where no bell was and they rode out on the round dais of the earth which alone was dark and no light to it and which carried their figures and bore them up into the swarming stars so that they rode not under but among them and they rode at once jaunty and circumspect, like thieves newly loosed in that dark electric, like young thieves in a glowing orchard, loosely jacketed against the cold and ten thousand worlds for the choosing.”
― Cormac McCarthy, All the Pretty Horses

Pioneer Plaza
Dallas, Texas

Dallas, Texas

Dallas, Texas

Pebbles in the Stream

Posted on by Bill Chance

“Sam was the only member of the party who had not been over the river before. He had a strange feeling as the slow gurgling stream slipped by: his old life lay behind in the mists, dark adventure lay in front.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings

University of Texas at Dallas
Richardson, Texas

(click to enlarge)

(click to enlarge)

“All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake up in the day to find it was vanity, but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible.”
― T.E. Lawrence, Seven Pillars of Wisdom: A Triumph

Contemplation

Posted on by Bill Chance

“Life is an experimental journey undertaken involuntarily. It is a journey of the spirit through the material world and, since it is the spirit that travels, it is the spirit that is experienced. That is why there exist contemplative souls who have lived more intensely, more widely, more tumultuously than others who have lived their lives purely externally.”
― Fernando Pessoa, The Book of Disquiet

Dallas Museum of Art
Dallas, Texas

Dallas Museum of Art

Dallas Museum of Art

“Muddy water, let stand, becomes clear.”
― Lao Tzu

Symmetry

Posted on by Bill Chance

University of Texas at Dallas
Richardson, Texas

(click to enlarge)

(click to enlarge)

Beauty is our weapon against nature; by it we make objects, giving them limit, symmetry, proportion. Beauty halts and freezes the melting flux of nature.
—-Camille Paglia

Sun God (Helios)

Posted on by Bill Chance

Dallas Museum of Art
Dallas, Texas

I never get tired of walking around in an art museum, especially one that I am very familiar with, looking for beauty in odd corners and hidden spots.

Sun God (Helios), Donald DeLue Dallas Museum of Art Dallas, Texas

Sun God (Helios), Donald DeLue
Dallas Museum of Art
Dallas, Texas

From the Label Text:

Donald DeLue
American, 1897-1988

Sun God (Helios), 1937
Patinated plaster
Gift of the Estate of Donald DeLue, 1997.20

A radiant crown of bright sunbeams draws our eyes toward the fierce gaze of the handsome, beardless Sun God, Helios. The ancient poet Homer described how the mighty titan Helios “shines upon men and deathless gods, and piercingly he gazes with his eyes from his goldne helmet. Bright rays beam dazzingly from him, and his bright locks streaming from the temples of his head gracefully enclose his far-seen face.”

Donald DeLue translated Homer’s verse into sculptural form using a theme that appealed to his lifelong fascination with ancient Greek and Roman mythology. This figure is one of the artist’s most beautiful early sculptures. It marks a turning point in DeLue’s working method, as it is the last one that he modeled in French clay and cast in plaster himself. The final bronze version of Sun God (Helios) was DeLue’s first publicly exhibited sculpture.

Sharp and Blurred

Posted on by Bill Chance

Nasher Sculpture Center, Dallas, Texas

blur

The secret of life is to have a task, something you devote your entire life to, something you bring everything to, every minute of the day for the rest of your life. And the most important thing is, it must be something you cannot possibly do.
—–Henry Moore

They Weren’t All Sunflowers

Posted on by Bill Chance

Over a month ago, I drove south of Dallas to meet a friend and take some pictures of Sunflowers (some more here). The field of yellow faces was spectacular and beautiful – can’t wait for next year to go back.

But while I was setting up a shot I looked down and saw a mess of smaller, but more colorful and every bit as beautiful, blooms.

I’m glad I noticed them.

Wildflowers south of Dallas.

Wildflowers south of Dallas.

Weee! on Pillar 4N

Posted on by Bill Chance

Trinity River Bottoms, Dallas, Texas

(click to enlarge)

(click to enlarge)

(click to enlarge)

(click to enlarge)