Brahma Kumaris
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Low tide around Mont Saint-Michel reveals an enormous canvas for sandpainting. Many shapes, lines and colors are exposed by the withdrawing waters. Shot at Mont Saint-Michel, Normandy France on June 3, 2010 ©John Schiller Photography
44/365 Out of chaos, comes art. Collections are indeed their own art form. They bring balance, and even within their own chaos - a semblance of peace. And certainly within Old Car City, they are a hallmark of this junkyard - rotting cars scattered across the forest, transmission parts spilling out of the back of a bus, or a van overflowing with a rainbow of aluminum cans, some filled with water and rust, others airing out from the last wet weather.
Geothermal activity abounds around the Champagne Lake in the Wai-O-Tapu area of Rotorua, New Zealand. Sulphur hangs heavy in the mist. Shot on 4/14/13 ©John Schiller Photography
38/365 As you’re rushing by, did you ever catch something out of the corner of your eye - and then stop, back up and take a really closer look? In the category of “I shoot what I see”, that’s just what happened here. Sort of. I was waiting for the elevator in our hotel, focused on counting down the floor numbers as they lit up, and trying to will the elevator to get closer to us, faster. A quick glance around the open corridor stopped my counting. Was it the twin wicker chairs perfectly balanced around the bright open window, against the strong deli-mustard-yellow background? Likely, all of it. Here, time stood still. What was the story, though? I imagined all the people who must have sat in these chairs over the years, talking to one another, looking out the window, watching the clouds go by. As a photographer, the camera has taught me to look at things differently - to really look at what’s in front of me: whether it’s lines, color, balance, framing, the story (especially the story, when people are involved) and think about what I want to express through my imagery. Now I know why it’s called a “still life”.
Chincoteague Island, Eastern Shore of Virginia
37/365 “You’re in the way, mister.” Someone was surely yelling that at me, as I was in the middle of the annual horse roundup on Chincoteague Island. Every July, wild horses swim from Assateague Island to Chincoteague - where they are rounded up for an auction. The auction helps to thin the herd and to raise money for the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company. It’s a site to behold - first saltwater cowboys chase the horses off the southern end of Assateague and into the water for the swim between islands. Once on Chincoteague, they are rounded up by other cowboys who channel the heard into corrals for health checks, viewing and auction. The most famous of horses was Misty - about which a childrens book was published: “Misty of Chincoteague”
The Chrysler Royal was produced by Chrysler from 1937 to 1942 and 1946 to 1950. The Royal was the base trim Chrysler during its production. In 1939 Chrysler contracted with Hayes Bodies of Michigan to build 1,000 coupe bodies, 373 of which were Chrysler Royal Windsors. The main difference between the coupes were the changes made to the windows, making the the Royal appear 'Art Deco.' The Royal was equipped with a new design six cylinder engine that developed 95 horsepower. In the case of THIS car, it’s hard to confirm the model because it’s windows are occupied with wooden fuel – which also replaced the 6 cylinder engine with a uniquely grown 6-branch tree. Shot at Old Car City in May 2017 © John Schiller Photography
35/365 En route to the highest peaks above Sante Fe, the switchback roads were lined with striking white birches, standing tall against the background of the aspen-yellow forest floor.
The storm was closing in as we weaved through the mountain pass from Taos to Santa Fe. Everywhere was dark, and becoming darker. The road settled down as we approached the lone tree and it's personal mailbox. Wiithout warning, the sky cracked open - just enough to allow the intense rays of the sun to burst through and paint the side of the tree and surrounding land in a near-blinding light. We stopped. Every branch, and every inch of the tree that was bathed in the sun's harsh glare lit up white. Moments later, it was dark again. October 6, on St Route 68 along the Rio Grande between Taos and Santa Fe, NM. © John Schiller Photography
One of hundreds of spectacular, many-colored and many-shaped balloons reach for the skies during the week-long Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. An event not to be missed. Shot in Albuquerque, NM in October 2017. © John Schiller Photography
At one time, at the Scranton Lace Company, this room housed many Nottingham lace looms. Now its ghosts sit quietly staring out the windows into a courtyard between buildings. For more images from the Scranton Lace Company, see: http://www.johnschillerphotography.com/Portfolio/Abandoned/Scranton-Lace-Factory/ Shot on November 5, 2017 © John Schiller Photography
Castel Sant'Angelo, Rome, Italy
43/365 There’s something about way stairs invite you somewhere … sometimes just beyond your sight. These steps were found in Castel Sant’Angelo, just down the street from the Vatican, and overlooking the Tiber River. They present an inviting contradiction to the sight sense - smooth, curved walls offering hard-edged steps carved out of rock walls lit by soft overhead light.
20/365 Our search for Denise's relatives brought us to the Cemetery of Nicastro. We had an opportunity to meet with the director of the cemetery who shared records with us that dated back to the 1600s. While there were many Alcaros buried here, as best as we could tell, none belonged to Denise's family. Like many cemeteries in southern Italy, there are three classes of burials - personal mausoleums: akin to small, but stylish mini homes with electricity and benches, that house many family members; multi-member mausoleums: like a spreadsheet with many rows and columns, where each “cell” has a bronze plaque with the name and photo of the person entombed; and a simple plot with a cross marker - no names, just the crosses. Each cell of the multi-member mausoleum can be reused as new family members seek burial spots. The “cell” door is simply opened, and the bones of the previous resident are pushed to the back whereupon they simply drop to the lowest level and the new body is sealed in the “cell”. The cemetery in this image is replete with extensive floral decorations to honor the dead.
Trolley Graveyard, Windber, PA
18/365 End of the Line? This the final stop for most trolleys - one not to be missed somewhere near Johnstown, Pennsylvania. This seemingly post-apocalyptic site houses nearly 50 trolleys - many of which are from Boston, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. The PCC - or Presidents Conference Committee - streetcars from Boston are easily identified by their “T” logo - mostly proudly displayed on the side of the cars. Today these streetcars are an eery art form - resting in the silence of the forest - while displaying intensely colorful, creative graffitti in all manner of design. As a former Bostonian, I found streetcars hidden in the dense woods that ran on the Green Line - from Boston College to Lechmere - as well as other streetcars.
Fire escapes architect their own designs with lines and shadows against a Garfield neighborhood building. Shot on August 23, 2018 in Pittsburgh, PA. © John Schiller Photography
Early morning fog lifs from the Cove to reveal hidden color. Shot in Orleans, MA. ©John Schiller Photography
With fall comes the arrival of so many colorful "umbrellas". Shot in Medford, MA on 10/29/19 ©John Schiller Photography
Somewhere near Willow Springs, AZ
46/365 Staring out the window as the car eats up Highway 89 on the way to Page Arizona, it’s easy to conjure up an image of the old wild west. Dried up earth. Sun-faded skies. Waves of heat rising from the yellowing desert floor. And telegraph lines sagging between poles that look more like crosses reaching proudly to the heavens - symbols of the old wild west stretching from here to the edge of the horizon. Only - it’s today, those are phone lines, and we are but slowly passing through time.
55/365 The 2017 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta had over 570 balloons registered to participate in that year’s event. While the majority of the balloons were traditional in shape, there were 93 that were specifically called “special shape” balloons, like one in the shape of a stagecoach or another in the shape of a Mickey Mouse head. (Images of those balloons will be shared on another day.) The event was enjoyed by nearly 900,000 spectators over the 8 day period. By far the most interesting event was the America’s Challenge Race. Unlike the more “traditional” balloons that are powered by the flames of a burner, these balloons are gas-filled. They are not very pretty - but they are highly functional. The rules of the race are simple - he who goes the farthest wins. In 2017, the year we attended the ABQ International Balloon Fiesta, there were 8 entrants in the America’s Challenge Race. The winner travelled 2280.9 miles - from Albuquerque, NM to Labrador City Newfoundland. Yup - that would be eastern Canada in 59h19m. Do the math. .
48/365 Mother nature surely has a way of getting your attention. This trail to the top of Pemetec Mountain in Acadia is NOT littered with snakes (though you could have fooled me!). However roots from the trees do make the climb treacherous.
62/365 A former funeral home in the Lawrenceville section of Pittsburgh offers a quiet, sunlit corner, for a cold drink, something to nosh on, and a place to reflect on one’s thoughts.
60/365 Some of the hardest days of Covid times were not being able to touch the ones you love…
Marstons Mills, Cape Cod, Massachusetts
66/365 The early months of Covid were isolating for us all. During that time that we did a lot more walking around, paying much more attention to the detail of what nature put right in front of us - especially texture, color, shape and patterns. Flowers have it all. From a distance we’re drawn to shape and color of the petals - and the balance across the whole flower. But it is the inside, or core of the flower, where the detail of the stamen and pistil display incredible texture and patterns, and house the real prize, the pollen. Take for example, this purple flower. Now I am no expert on flowers - but this looks like a zinnia. The inner petals show a hint of pollen painted on the undersides. As you get closer to the center, these petals are wrapped tighter and tighter to where the petals look almost completely white. This is nature’s paintbrush.
64/365 Angry clouds fill the darkening skies, forecasting a badly-needed on-coming storm. At the same time, harsh sunlight inflames the fields of dead yellow grasses, highlighting a desert floor parched from the winter drought. Together they create an uncomfortable, juxtaposition as the mid-day weather rapidly approaches.