"Window Shopping" ~ Wedding dresses are uniquely displayed in the windows of a bridal shop in Union Square. The building recently underwent a complete renovation that artfully preserved the original 1907 brick exterior by encapsulating it behind layers of translucent and frosted glass. The building stands in striking contrast amongst the dark masonry buildings that surround it. The reflection of a 12-story building completed in 1909 appears in the glass façade, presenting a distinct example of harmoniously blending modern architectural elements into San Francisco's cityscape that is filled with historic architecture.
"The Rock" ~ During his exploration of the area in 1775, Spaniard Juan Manuel de Ayala named the island "La Isla de los Alcatraces," which translates as "The Island of the Pelicans". The 22-acre island is composed of irregularly stratified sandstone, lending itself to the nickname of "The Rock". The lighthouse was completed in 1854, the first to be built on the Pacific coast. The main cellhouse was completed in 1912 and served as a military prison before becoming a Federal prison in 1934. The most hardened criminals were held at Alcatraz due to its natural isolation, being surrounded by freezing waters and hazardous currents. Mobsters Machine Gun Kelly and Al Capone are perhaps the most notable of all notorious Alcatraz prisoners. The photograph was taken through branches near the Municipal Pier and has been given a dark and gloomy treatment such as to echo the ominous history of "The Rock".
"Yucca & Stone" ~ B&W composition of Mojave Yucca plants and a large weathered sandstone within Red Rock Canyon near Las Vegas, Nevada.
