THE OLD QUARTER

HANOI, VIETNAM

Image Number 876

Tangles of electricity and telephone wires are virtually an art form in Hanoi's old quarter.  As the oldest continuously developed area of Vietnam, Hanoi's Old Quarter has a history that spans 2,000 years and represents the eternal soul of the city.  Because inhabitants of each street came from the same village, streets developed a homogeneous look. Commoners' homes evolved out of market stalls, before streets were formed. Because storekeepers were taxed according to the width of their storefront, storage and living space moved to the rear of the buildings. Consequently, the long and narrow buildings were called "tube houses." Typical measurements for such houses are 3 meters wide by 60 meters long.

TECHNICAL NOTES

The image was taken with a hand-held Phase One 645 Camera at ISO 400. Exposure of 1/250th of a second and aperture F2.8.  80 mm Schneider Kreuznach lens with a leaf shutter. 

THE HANOI RAILWAY

HANOI, VIETNAM

Image number 864

The Hanoi railway is a popular location for photographers.  It runs through the city on a single track - a remnant of colonial times - close by the houses.  Immensely crowded.

TECHNICAL NOTES

The image was taken with a tripod-mounted Phase One 645 Camera at ISO 35. Exposure of 1/125th of a second and aperture F10.  80 mm Schneider Kreuznach lens with a leaf shutter. The image was captured on a Phase One IQ180 80 megapixel digital back.  

THE OLD QUARTER

HANOI, VIETNAM

Image Number 845

As the oldest continuously developed area of Vietnam, Hanoi's Old Quarter has a history that spans 2,000 years and represents the eternal soul of the city.  Because inhabitants of each street came from the same village, streets developed a homogeneous look. Commoners' homes evolved out of market stalls, before streets were formed. Because storekeepers were taxed according to the width of their storefront, storage and living space moved to the rear of the buildings. Consequently, the long and narrow buildings were called "tube houses." Typical measurements for such houses are 3 meters wide by 60 meters long.

TECHNICAL NOTES

The image was taken with a tripod-mounted Phase One 645 Camera at ISO 200. Exposure of 1/110th of a second and aperture F3.5.  150 mm Schneider Kreuznach teleohoto lens with a leaf shutter. The image was captured on a Phase One IQ180 80 megapixel digital back.  

COLONIAL ICON

THE METROPOLE HOTEL, HANOI

Image Number 840

The Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi boasts a rich history. Its doors first opened in 1901, when it was constructed in a French Colonial architectural style.   The hotel has seen string of eminent guests - Charlie Chaplin celebrated his honeymoon in 1936 (his suite is preserved); Graham Green wrote The Quiet American at the hotel and Somerset Maugham wrote The Gentleman in the Parlour.  The hotel boasts spectacular restaurants, some orginal rooms and corridors of museum photos.  It even has a bomb shelter where Ho Chi Minh took refuge during the American bombings.  It is by far the most expensive hotel in Hanoi, but is well worth the experience.  Atticus loved it.

These Citroen cars dating from the 1950's were not part of the original fleet.  They have been fitted with other engines and they are used to drive hotel guests.  But they add greatly to the romance.

TECHNICAL NOTES

The image was taken with a tripod-mounted Phase One 645 Camera at ISO 35. Exposure of 1.8 seconds and aperture F12.  150 mm Schneider Kreuznach lens with leaf shutter.   The image was captured on a Phase One IQ180 80 megapixel digital back.  

OLD AND NEW

THE METROPOLE HOTEL, HANOI

Image Number 836

The Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi boasts a rich history. Its doors first opened in 1901, when it was constructed in a French Colonial architectural style.   The hotel has seen string of eminent guests - Charlie Chaplin celebrated his honeymoon in 1936 (his suite is preserved); Graham Green wrote The Quite American at the hotel and Somerset Maugham wrote The Gentleman in the Parlour.  The hotel boasts spectacular restaurants, some orginal rooms and corridors of museum photos.  It even has a bomb shelter where Ho Chi Minh took refuge during the American bombings.  It is by far the most expensive hotel in Hanoi, but is well worth the experience.  Atticus loved it.

TECHNICAL NOTES

The image was taken with a tripod-mounted Phase One 645 Camera at ISO 100. Exposure of 1/135th a second and aperture F2.8.  80 mm Schneider Kreuznach lens with leaf shutter.   The image was captured on a Phase One IQ180 80 megapixel digital back.  

ROW HOUSES

ALLEGHENY, PITTSBURGH, USA

IMAGE NUMBER 658

The Mexican War Streets, originally known as the "Buena Vista Tract", is a historic district in the Central Northside neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The district is densely filled with beautifully restored row houses, community gardens and tree-lined streets and alleyways. The area dates from 1848, around the time of the Mexican–American War, and consists largely of row houses, mostly Victorian-era.

The Mexican War Streets Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. In that year, the listing was a 27-acre (11 ha) area and there were 119 buildings deemed to contribute to the historic character of the district.  Many of the buildings now have "funky" exteriors.  Fashionable micro breweries are disposessing the black community which had until recently been consigned to Allegheny since it fell out of favour.  This image showsrow houses on North Taylor Ave.  

TECHNICAL NOTES

The image was taken with a tripod-mounted Phase One 645 Camera at ISO 35. Exposure of 4/5ths of a second and an aperture of f25.  150 mm Schneider Kreuznach lens with leaf shutter.   The image was captured on a Phase One IQ180 80 megapixel digital back.  The image has been cropped and straightened using Capture One.  

SAN CARUSO BEER WHOLESALER

ALLEGHENY HISTORIC DISTRICT, PITTSBURGH, USA

IMAGE NUMBER 657

The Mexican War Streets, originally known as the "Buena Vista Tract", is a historic district in the Central Northside neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The district is densely filled with beautifully restored row houses, community gardens and tree-lined streets and alleyways. The area dates from 1848, around the time of the Mexican–American War, and consists largely of row houses, mostly Victorian-era.

The Mexican War Streets Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. In that year, the listing was a 27-acre (11 ha) area and there were 119 buildings deemed to contribute to the historic character of the district.  Many of the buildings now have "funky" exteriors.  Fashionable micro breweries are disposessing the black community which had until recently been consigned to Allegheny since it fell out of favour.  This image shows the wholesale beer shop at 397 North Taylor Ave.  

TECHNICAL NOTES

The image was taken with a tripod-mounted Phase One 645 Camera at ISO 35. Exposure of 1/2 of a second and an aperture of f18.  45 mm Phase One wide angle lens with focal plane shutter.   The image was captured on a Phase One IQ180 80 megapixel digital back.   

PITTSBURG

PENNSYLVANIA, USA

IMAGE NUMBER 655

The Mexican War Streets, originally known as the "Buena Vista Tract", comprise a historic district in the Central Northside neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The district is densely filled with beautifully restored row houses, community gardens and tree-lined streets and alleyways. The area dates from 1848, around the time of the Mexican–American War, and consists largely of row houses, mostly from the Victorian-era.

The Mexican War Streets Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. In that year, the listing was a 27-acre (11 ha) area and there were 119 buildings deemed to contribute to the historic character of the district.  Many of the buildings now have "funky" exteriors.  Fashionable micro breweries are disposessing the black community which had until recently been consigned to Allegheny since it fell out of favour.  This image shows "Randy Land" an eclectic gallery in old-time "dark town", on Jacksonia St Allegheny.  

TECHNICAL NOTES

The image was taken with a tripod-mounted Phase One 645 Camera at ISO 35. Exposure of 1/6th of a second and an aperture of 20.  80 mm Schneider Kreuznach lens with leaf shutter.   The image was captured on a Phase One IQ180 80 megapixel digital back.   

PITTSBURG

USA

IMAGE NUMBER 654c

Although Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been remodelled and turned into an East Coast sylicone valley since its steel mills closed, vestiges of the rust belt remain.  These include Pittsburgh's spectacular early C20th sky scrapers which the city could never afford to replace subsequently.  As a result, Pittsburgh has a pocket of unique buildings which have served as a backdrop for many nostalgic and gritty movies, including the Godfather.  They centre around the 4th Ave Historic Precinct, including the Arrott and Commonwealth buildings, all constructed between 1902 and 1906 during the ascendancy of Pittsburgh's greatest son, the steel mogul Andrew Carnegie.  

Atticus worked hard to capture the ghost of the greatest steel town in the world through his inner city images of Pittsburgh.  In particular he managed to exclude any buildings that did not date from the age of steel.  This image in particular aches for a lost age.  It is one of Atticus' favourite images.

IMAGE NOTES

The image was taken with a tripod-mounted Phase One 645 Camera at ISO 35. Exposure of 1/25th of a second and an aperture of f14.  45 mm Phase One wide angle lens with focal plane shutter.   The image was captured on a Phase One IQ180 80 megapixel digital back.   

PITTSBURG

PENNSYLVANIA, USA

IMAGE NUMBER 654b

Although Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been remodelled and turned into an East Coast sylicone valley since its steel mills closed, vestiges of the rust belt remain.  These include Pittsburgh's spectacular early C20th sky scrapers which the city could never afford to replace subsequently.  As a result, Pittsburgh has a pocket of unique buildings which have served as a backdrop for many nostalgic and gritty movies, including the Godfather.  They centre around the 4th Ave Historic Precinct, including the Arrott and Commonwealth buildings, all constructed between 1902 and 1906 during the ascendancy of Pittsburgh's greatest son, the steel mogul Andrew Carnegie.  

Atticus worked hard to capture the ghost of the greatest steel town in the world through his inner city images of Pittsburgh.  In particular he managed to exclude any buildings that did not date from the age of steel.  This image in particular aches for a lost age.  

TECHNICAL NOTES

The image was taken with a tripod-mounted Phase One 645 Camera at ISO 35. Exposure of 1/15th of a second and an aperture of f14.  45 mm Phase One wide angle lens with focal plane shutter.   The image was captured on a Phase One IQ180 80 megapixel digital back.   

PITTSBURG

PENNSYLVANIA, USA

IMAGE NUMBER 654a

Although Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been remodelled and turned into an East Coast sylicone valley since its steel mills closed, vestiges of the rust belt remain.  These include Pittsburgh's spectacular early C20th sky scrapers which the city could never afford to replace subsequently.  As a result, Pittsburgh has a pocket of unique buildings which have served as a backdrop for many nostalgic and gritty movies, including the Godfather.  They centre around the 4th Ave Historic Precinct, including the Arrott and Commonwealth buildings, all constructed between 1902 and 1906 during the ascendancy of Pittsburgh's greatest son, the steel mogul Andrew Carnegie.  

Atticus worked hard to capture the ghost of the greatest steel town in the world through his inner city images of Pittsburgh.  In particular he managed to exclude any buildings that did not date from the age of steel.  This image in particular aches for a lost age.  

TECHNICAL NOTES

The image was taken with a tripod-mounted Phase One 645 Camera at ISO 35. Exposure of 1/3rd of a second and an aperture of f18.  150 mm Schneider Kreuznach telephoto lens with leaf plane shutter.   The image was captured on a Phase One IQ180 80 megapixel digital back.  The image has been cropped and straightened using Capture One.  

PITTSBURG

PENNSYLVANIA, USA

IMAGE NUMBER 655a

The Mexican War Streets, originally known as the "Buena Vista Tract", comprise a historic district in the Central Northside neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The district is densely filled with beautifully restored row houses, community gardens and tree-lined streets and alleyways. The area dates from 1848, around the time of the Mexican–American War, and consists largely of row houses, mostly from the Victorian-era.

The Mexican War Streets Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. In that year, the listing was a 27-acre (11 ha) area and there were 119 buildings deemed to contribute to the historic character of the district.  Many of the buildings now have "funky" exteriors.  Fashionable micro breweries are disposessing the black community which had until recently been consigned to Allegheny since it fell out of favour.  This image shows "Randy Land" an eclectic gallery in old-time "dark town", on Jacksonia St Allegheny.  

TECHNICAL NOTES

The image was taken with a tripod-mounted Phase One 645 Camera at ISO 35. Exposure of 1/6th of a second and an aperture of 20.  80 mm Schneider Kreuznach lens with leaf shutter.   The image was captured on a Phase One IQ180 80 megapixel digital back.   

PITTSBURG

USA

IMAGE NUMBER 654

Although Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been remodelled and turned into an East Coast sylicone valley since its steel mills closed, vestiges of the rust belt remain.  These include Pittsburgh's spectacular early C20th sky scrapers which the city could never afford to replace subsequently.  As a result, Pittsburgh has a pocket of unique buildings which have served as a backdrop for many nostalgic and gritty movies, including the Godfather.  They centre around the 4th Ave Historic Precinct, including the Arrott and Commonwealth buildings, all constructed between 1902 and 1906 during the ascendancy of Pittsburgh's greatest son, the steel mogul Andrew Carnegie.  

Atticus worked hard to capture the ghost of the greatest steel town in the world through his inner city images of Pittsburgh.  In particular he managed to exclude any buildings that did not date from the age of steel.  This image in particular aches for a lost age.  It is one of Atticus' favourite images.

IMAGE NOTES

The image was taken with a tripod-mounted Phase One 645 Camera at ISO 35. Exposure of 1/137th of a second and an aperture of f14.  45 mm Phase One wide angle lens with focal plane shutter.   The image was captured on a Phase One IQ180 80 megapixel digital back.   

THE GOLDEN GATE

SAN FRANCISCO

IMAGE NUMBER 653

The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate strait, the one-mile-wide (1.6 km), one-point-seven-mile-long (2.7 km) channel between San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean. The structure links San Francisco – the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula – to Marin County, carrying both U.S. Route 101 and California State Route 1 across the strait.

The bridge has been declared one of the Wonders of the Modern World by the American Society of Civil Engineers.  Frommer's travel guide describes the Golden Gate Bridge as "possibly the most beautiful, certainly the most photographed, bridge in the world."   It opened in 1937 and was, until 1964, the longest suspension bridge main span in the world, at 4,200 feet (1,300 m).  

TECHNICAL NOTES

The image was taken with a tripod-mounted Phase One 645 Camera at ISO 35. Exposure of 1/30th of a second and an aperture of f18.  150 mm Schneider Kreuznach lens with leaf shutter.   The image was captured on a Phase One IQ180 80 megapixel digital back.  The image has been cropped and straightened using Capture One.  

UNION SQUARE

SAN FRANCISCO, USA

IMAGE NUMBER 652

Union Square is a public plaza bordered by Geary, Powell, Post and Stockton Streets in downtown San Francisco, California.  The area came by its name because it was once used for Thomas Starr King rallies and support for the Union Army during the American Civil War.  Today, this one-block plaza and surrounding area has one of the largest collections of department stores, upscale boutiques, gift shops, art galleries, and beauty salons in the United States, making Union Square a major tourist destination, a vital, cosmopolitan gathering place in downtown San Francisco, and one of the world's premier shopping districts. (And not to mention one of the world's longest sentences.)

TECHNICAL NOTES

The image was taken with a tripod-mounted Phase One 645 Camera at ISO 35. Exposure of 1/20th of a second and an aperture of f16.  150 mm Schneider Kreuznach lens with leaf shutter.   The image was captured on a Phase One IQ180 80 megapixel digital back.  The image has been cropped and straightened using Capture One.  

THE PAINTED LADIES

SAN FRANCISCO, USA

IMAGE NUMBER 651b

One of the most photographed locations in San Francisco, Alamo Square's famous "postcard row" at Hayes and Steiner Streets is a tight, escalating formation of Victorian houses back-dropped by downtown skyscrapers.


The specific architectural details that set the Queen Anne-style Painted Ladies apart from other houses include overhanging eaves and detailed brackets, a round, dominant corner tower, gingerbread-style gables, a small porch covering the primary entrance area, differing wall textures, including patterned wood shingles shaped into varying designs, painted classical columns, spindles and balustrades, cutaway bay windows, and intricate stain-glass paneling.   The Painted Ladies are just seven of 48,000 houses built in the Victorian and Edwardian styles between 1849 and 1915. The switch to building Edwardian houses over Victorians occurred with the death of Queen Victoria in 1901.

TECHNICAL NOTES

The image was taken with a tripod-mounted Phase One 645 Camera at ISO 35. Exposure of 1/28th of a second and an aperture of f22.  80 mm Schneider Kreuznach lens with leaf shutter.   The image was captured on a Phase One IQ180 80 megapixel digital back.  The image has been cropped and straightened using Capture One.  

THE PAINTED LADIES

SAN FRANCISCO, USA

IMAGE NUMBER 651a

One of the most photographed locations in San Francisco, Alamo Square's famous "postcard row" at Hayes and Steiner Streets is a tight, escalating formation of Victorian houses back-dropped by downtown skyscrapers.


The specific architectural details that set the Queen Anne-style Painted Ladies apart from other houses include overhanging eaves and detailed brackets, a round, dominant corner tower, gingerbread-style gables, a small porch covering the primary entrance area, differing wall textures, including patterned wood shingles shaped into varying designs, painted classical columns, spindles and balustrades, cutaway bay windows, and intricate stain-glass paneling.   The Painted Ladies are just seven of 48,000 houses built in the Victorian and Edwardian styles between 1849 and 1915. The switch to building Edwardian houses over Victorians occurred with the death of Queen Victoria in 1901.

TECHNICAL NOTES

The image was taken with a tripod-mounted Phase One 645 Camera at ISO 35. Exposure of 1/25th of a second and an aperture of f22.  45 mm Phase One wide angle lens with focal plane shutter.   The image was captured on a Phase One IQ180 80 megapixel digital back.  The image has been cropped and straightened using Capture One.  

THE PAINTED LADIES

SAN FRANCISCO, USA

IMAGE NUMBER 651

One of the most photographed locations in San Francisco, Alamo Square's famous "postcard row" at Hayes and Steiner Streets is a tight, escalating formation of Victorian houses back-dropped by downtown skyscrapers.


The specific architectural details that set the Queen Anne-style Painted Ladies apart from other houses include overhanging eaves and detailed brackets, a round, dominant corner tower, gingerbread-style gables, a small porch covering the primary entrance area, differing wall textures, including patterned wood shingles shaped into varying designs, painted classical columns, spindles and balustrades, cutaway bay windows, and intricate stain-glass paneling.   The Painted Ladies are just seven of 48,000 houses built in the Victorian and Edwardian styles between 1849 and 1915. The switch to building Edwardian houses over Victorians occurred with the death of Queen Victoria in 1901.

TECHNICAL NOTES

The image was taken with a tripod-mounted Phase One 645 Camera at ISO 35. Exposure of 1/28th of a second and an aperture of f22.  45 mm Phase One wide angle lens with focal plane shutter.   The image was captured on a Phase One IQ180 80 megapixel digital back.  The image has been cropped and straightened using Capture One.  

HOTEL REX

SAN FRANCISCO, USA

IMAGE NUMBER 650

Inspired by the art and literature of the 1920s and the 1930s, this boutique centrally located hotel is located in San Francisco's Theatre District, four minutes' walk from Union Square.    Like other early 20th century buildings in the precinct, it has a spectacular fire escape which makes no apology for being front of house. The fire escape becomes  an artwork in its own right.

TECHNICAL NOTES

The image was taken with a tripod-mounted Phase One 645 Camera at ISO 35. Exposure of 1/100th of a second and an aperture of F6.3.  28 mm Schneider Kreuznach wide angle lens with leaf shutter.   The image was captured on a Phase One IQ180 80 megapixel digital back.  The image has been cropped but has been straightened using Capture One. to correct the verticals - the shot was simply taken from across the street.