Philadelphia | 2nd Exposure: The Prodigal Photographer

Philadelphia: Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter & Paul

Mar 152013

Philadelphia Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul

The crossing dome of the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul

Looking straight up at the crossing dome of the Cathedral.

The Cathedral is one of the most eminent structures in Philadelphia. Its construction took from 1846 until 1864. Designed in the style of Italian Renaissance, its interior is richly decorated.

The architect was Napoleon LeBrun, a man whose career spanned the entire 2nd half of the Nineteenth Century and included such famous buildings as the Metropolitan Life Tower in Manhattan.

This is one of the many great photo opportunities available on my Philly Photo Safari. Plenty of room is still available for my next one on April 21, 2013 at 1pm. See my photo tours page for more details.

Philadelphia: Market Street National Bank

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May 212012

Facade detail of former Market Street National Bank 1 East Penn Square Philadelphia PA

Facade detail of former Market Street National Bank at 1 East Penn Square

1 Penn Square East is a decent enough Art Deco structure, but the building’s most appealing feature is its polychrome terra-cotta decoration.

This is just a section of the Mesoamerican-inspired design over the main portal on Market Street. The architects, Ritter & Shay, also applied the same theme to each setback and along the edges of the crown.

Thanks to Residence Inns, the builing is in excellent shape, looking almost as good as it did upon completion in 1930.

Philadelphia: Gravity Assist

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May 092012

A child runs down a path below the Philadelphia Museum of Art

While her parents stroll further up the hill, she takes advantage of gravity and sunlight

If you wanted to find some really good photo opportunities in Philly, you couldn’t do much better than the area around the Philadelphia Art Museum and the Fairmount Water Works. Here’s a strolling path that connects the museum, on higher ground, to the level of the Schuylkill River.