Teach Me Today Photo

Photographer’s Note

There are many facts these school kids have to learn before examination! And this is their homework for tomorrow:

The Texas State Capitol is located in Austin, Texas. It is the fourth building in Austin to serve as the seat of Texas government. It houses the chambers of the Texas State Legislature and the office of the Governor of Texas. Originally designed by Elijah E. Myers, it was constructed from 1882–88 under the direction of civil engineer Lindsay Walker, and a $75 million underground extension was completed in 1993. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970 and recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1986. It is the largest state capitol building in the United States. Although popularly believed to be the tallest capitol building in the U.S., the Louisiana State Capitol building is taller by 142 feet (450 feet tall) and Texas' is 308 feet tall. It has less square footage than the National Capitol in Washington, D.C., but is 14 feet taller.[3] It is, however, the largest state capital building in terms of total square footage.

Construction of the Italian Renaissance Revival capitol building was funded through an article in the state constitution, adopted February 15, 1876, which authorized the sale of public lands for the purpose. The builders of the capitol were paid with over three million acres (12,000 km²) of public land in the Texas panhandle; this tract later became the largest cattle ranch in the world, the XIT Ranch. The value of the land, combined with out-of-pocket expenses, added to a total cost of $3.7 million for the original building. It was largely constructed by convicts or migrant workers, up to 1,000 at a time. The building has been renovated many times, with central air conditioning installed in 1955 and the most recent refurbishments completed in 1997.

Cornerstone of Texas State Capitol building
The cornerstone for the building was laid on March 2, 1885, Texas Independence Day, and the completed building was opened to the public on April 21, 1888, San Jacinto Day. The building was originally planned to be constructed entirely of limestone from Oatmanville (present-day Oak Hill), about 10 miles to the southwest. However, the limestone was found to have a high iron content after it began to discolor. Hearing of the problem, the owners of Granite Mountain near Marble Falls offered to donate to the state free of charge the necessary amount of pink granite as an alternative. While the building is mostly built of the Oak Hill limestone, most of it is hidden behind the walls and on the foundations. Pink granite was subsequently used in many state government buildings in the Austin area.

The capitol rotunda features portraits of every person who has served as president of the Republic of Texas or governor of the state of Texas. The south foyer features sculptures of Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin made by Elisabeth Ney. The rotunda also acts as a whispering gallery. The capitol has 360,000 square feet (33,000 square meters) of floor space, more than any other state capitol building, and sits on 2 1/4 acres (.9 hectares) of land. The building has nearly 400 rooms and over 900 windows.

The Texas State Capitol was ranked 92 in the "America's Favorite Architecture" poll commissioned by the American Institute of Architects, that ranked the top 150 favorite architectural projects in America as of 2007. In a 2008 poll by the AIA, it was also ranked the number one state capitol.

And if you can´t remember everything, read it on Wikipedia!

ellelloo, fanni, fulvio52, rey316, feather, ChrisJ, holmertz, macondo, ilDottore, s_lush has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

SergeMtl (286) 2009-03-17 19:04

I like the shot. Good cropping, nice perspective. I'm afraid I don't have the patience to do anything but skim through that long a note though.
Serge

ellelloo (4733) 2009-03-17 23:36

Hej Gunnar,
An attractive shot. The composition is excellent with many good details. The capitol building and the group of kids in opposite corners are two balanced main objects. The crossing paths are adding dynamics and the trees are framing the building and the whole photo nicely. Good, well saturated colours and perfect clarity. How did we get along earlier when Wikipedia did not exist? ;-)
Hälsningar,
Lasse

jasmis (50184) 2009-03-18 1:03

Interesting situation. Fine composition in vertical frame.
Important note.
Regards.

jonathan_hart (22570) 2009-03-18 2:01

good depth and well framed with the monument in a strong area of the frame
jc

bracasha75 (21977) 2009-03-18 2:28

Hey Gunnar
Nice day life picture from Texas and very impresive biulding in BG
Excellent sharp photo
TFS
Cheers,Braca

npecanhuk (13655) 2009-03-18 2:32

Hi Gunnar!
That's a pretty eye-catching and truly beautiful picture!
Very well chosen pov and excellent composition, as you put together both the impresssive building in the background, with all the vegetation around and those informal looking folks!
Sharpness is excellent, exposure is perfect and colors are natural and beautiful!
TFS - Congratulations!
Best regards,
Neyvan

graffer (1764) 2009-03-18 2:37

Hello Gunnar,

This is a really stunning composition.

The Capitol is perfectly placed on an intersection of thirds, and is nicely balanced in the picture by the group of figures close to the diagonally opposite intersection.

There is a strong leading line of the main path taking the eye from the group, and curving up the slope to the building partly hidden by the trees. The two horizontal paths lead the eye back in to the group again.

The attitude of the two girls in conversation at the front, and the dynamism of the movements the other children hold the group together, and of course that orange shirt which zings out from the background mainly of green, is the lynchpin of the whole picture.

The colours, sharpness and clarity are, as ever, excellent.

Best wishes,

Peter.

jhm (82233) 2009-03-18 2:49

Hello Gunnar,

Thank you very much for the excellent note.
I find your picture wonderful, you did very well addition the people in foreground, this care for more dynamic.
The quiet environment care for an excellent composition.
Splendid presentation and lovely colours.
Very well done, TFS.

Best regards,
John

fanni (8733) 2009-03-18 3:47

Hello Gunnar,
I must say that the perspective view is very impressive and interesting! I like this POV which shows the Capitol in a very attractive way. A smartly created composition, I should say.
The children balance the building, as well as the tree on the left.
As far as the homework to remember.......... I'm afraid I can't remember it! :) it's impossible!
Warm regards,
Elena

fulvio52 (8314) 2009-03-18 7:28

Hi, Gunnar.
Brilliant colors and a striking angle on Texas State Capitol, more than good enough for me. A good photographer manages his way through all sort of circumstances, even without sunshine and cloud formations running across blue skies. Excellent job in every respect! Have a good day, I'll be seeing you.
Fulvio.

nirvana73 (8628) 2009-03-18 10:38

Hej Gunnar,
great atmosphere
Who does not want to be students at a school like
i like colors and composition
tfs
regards my friend
Ozhan

Fis2 (45620) 2009-03-18 11:38

Witaj Gunnar!
Wonderful object, beautiful architecture.
Good frame and superb colors.
The persons add savor of photo.
Regards
Krzysztof

rey316 (1900) 2009-03-18 11:59

Hej Gunnar
everything I like in this picture. But the green grass .... it is super and I'd like to run here or visit here. Good atmosphere
Regards

Andrey

emka (21179) 2009-03-18 16:35

Hi Gunnar, Fantastic shot, wow, the sharpness is so stunninng and the green lawn is so green :)). The compositions is also perfect. So many fine details - the children with teacher, beautiful trees, interesting architecture of the building... Splendid

Malgorzata

alibasarir (14303) 2009-03-19 1:01

merhaba gunnar,
çok güzel bir bakış açosı ve harika bir görüntü.yeşil renk tonları ve ışık çok etkileyici görünüyor.ayrıca netlik ve detaylarda mükemmel eline sağlık.
selamlar
Ali

mesutilgim (36639) 2009-03-19 1:02

Good morning dear Gunnar,
You've again captured not only from a perfect pov but also a great moment !
This is the life; the boys at back are still in their own world and quite unserious; whereas the two girl in front part of the picture are discussing more serious matters !
FAscinating fresh colors and very good and usefull notes.
TFS and best regards
Have a nice day
MESUT LGIL

Royaldevon (5890) 2009-03-19 2:20

Hello Gunnar,

A very engaging shot.
The children, their stances and interaction, make a great f/g and are nicely balanced by the grandeur of the Capital Building, at the opposite corner.
Good, strong colours nd fine details.

Kind regards,
Bev :-)

feather (49858) 2009-03-19 15:11

Although the sky is over exposed, the clarity, sharpness nad vibrant colour more than make up for it. The school party add a wonderful element to the scene.
Kath

ChrisJ (70065) 2009-03-19 19:18

Hi Gunnar

The imposing dome shaped building at right, looks similar to the Capitol Hill Building, in Denver, CO. Good sharpness & graphis. The pedestrian path adds good linear perspective, & the people provide scale. Tfs!

skoogmi (39) 2009-03-20 13:07

Hej Gunnar,
Onödigt lång läxa för de här stackars barnen, det hade räckt med hälften. Man kan tydligt se hur de gruvar sig för kommande förhör. Och vad hette nu den där arkitekten som ritat huset i bakgrunden?
Hälsningar
Mikael

holmertz (9546) 2009-03-21 9:05

Hej,
This is a very attractive composition with clear colours and good sharpness. The group of school kkids balance the majestic capitol building in a nice way.
Gert

TopGeo (21675) 2009-03-21 12:43

Hi Gunnar! I admire the exceptional architecture and the all subject In your composition appreciable the first level and prospect Interest the frame and the note.
Georgios

macondo (13073) 2009-03-21 23:59

Hello Gunnar.
I like the inclusion of the human interest here, making it a good slice of daily life as well as an imposing shot of the architecture. Great timing, just as those two kids in front seem to be earnestly discussing something - or does one look angry? I like the perspective and way you have placed the capitol up in the corner of the frame, with the path leading towards it. Lovely colour and a little detail in the sky despite the dull weather. Well done and interesting note.
Regards,
Andrew

Graal (57689) 2009-03-22 0:13

Hi Gunnar,
very nice view and place in Austin. Beautiful capitol in BG. Good composition and quality of photo. I like it a lot.
Gr., Aleksander

ilDottore (4000) 2009-03-24 3:10

Hi Gunnar,
This picture is "very Ameican"!
Even without any description (which is fantastic, indeed) I can recognize typical architecture.
This fatman in orange t-shirt gives us another hint! :)
Best Regards
Excellent composition, fantastic colours and sharpness.
Best Regards
Chris

barrufeto_77 (25705) 2009-03-31 15:08

Hi Gunnar.

Excellent picture. That path, gidding us to the building is a nice idea.

Well done!

s_lush (2052) 2009-04-02 1:50

Hello Gunnar,
I think that architecture is difficult object to capture because even beautiful it is only lifeless stone. You have solved this problem perfectly with adding this nice group of kids and their teacher in the composition. In addition, a lot of green vegetation gives more vividness to the picture. It looks very brightly despite the gloomy weather. Very good job!
Best regards,
Sergiy

globalvillager (104) 2009-04-15 11:43

Gunnar, I love the color combinations here. There is something great about a group of people with same-colored shirts. Lovely.

Also you just transform the all-encompassing Texas Capitol into an object of beauty by itself. Very refreshing take.

jmdias (19087) 2009-04-16 17:22

gunnar

beautiful landascape. I liked the way you framed the image, puting the way that goes to the building, people nicely put in the scenery. It would better with a blue sky but we can't get everything everyday, beautiful light and framing

hugs

jorge