Photos of Omaha's Urban Fabric

[RockHarbor]

Some of my favorite urban photos are photos taken at odd & off spots, that reveal more the unique "urban fabric" of the town. Each major city has a special look to their own urban fabric, although some cities' urbanscapes are very unique, special, signature, and recognizable instantly -- like New Orleans, San Francisco, Boston, ect.

The Midwest cities may all look the same at a quick glance, and yes, they are very similar. But, they are slightly different. Omaha's urban fabric has a slightly different look than Des Moines, for example. Indianapolis has an urban fabric that I recognize that is uniquely "Indianapolis." It can very subtle. It just comes down to local house & building styles, architectural features & accents & forms & textures on structures, and the prevailing mindset of designers that were around locally when the historic sections were built.

Anyways, I found this shot online last week, and I've been enjoying it as a computer screensaver, so I wanted to share it. Here we have a picture of Omaha that is taken at an odd, off spot, and the urban fabric of Omaha is perfectly & uniquely captured, imo. Sometimes, a shot like this captures more of "Omaha" to me than the typical pretty postcard shot does (although those type shots are needed & exciting, too).



I have some I've taken of Omaha that I can share here, too, although I don't have time right now. But, please enjoy that shot...and feel free to share any photos you feel fit this category!

[Linkin5]

Looks like it's from the residential tower on 39th and Dodge.

[RockHarbor]

Looks like it's from the residential tower on 39th and Dodge.

Exactly. That's what I was thinking, too. That picture just warms my heart -- and I can't even see the Woodmen in it. Seriously, if living somewhere else, it would make me miss Omaha more than looking at a postcard, or something.

I think Omaha is characterized by more of those old, hip gabled-roofed homes (seen in this pic) than Des Moines, or Minneapolis is. Again, I'm getting at the subject of "urban fabric." I need to get some of my pictures to post here...

[Linkin5]

Looks like it's from the residential tower on 39th and Dodge.

Exactly. That's what I was thinking, too. That picture just warms my heart -- and I can't even see the Woodmen in it. Seriously, if living somewhere else, it would make me miss Omaha more than looking at a postcard, or something.

I think Omaha is characterized by more of those old, hip gabled-roofed homes (seen in this pic) than Des Moines, or Minneapolis is. Again, I'm getting at the subject of "urban fabric." I need to get some of my pictures to post here...

Definitely share them if got em'!

[RockHarbor]

Looks like it's from the residential tower on 39th and Dodge.

Exactly. That's what I was thinking, too. That picture just warms my heart -- and I can't even see the Woodmen in it. Seriously, if living somewhere else, it would make me miss Omaha more than looking at a postcard, or something.

I think Omaha is characterized by more of those old, hip gabled-roofed homes (seen in this pic) than Des Moines, or Minneapolis is. Again, I'm getting at the subject of "urban fabric." I need to get some of my pictures to post here...

Definitely share them if got em'!

Yeah, let me get them out! You can get some oddish photos in this town with the Mutual of Omaha building sitting among houses, especially. I'll post some.

[RockHarbor]

Ok, here are some I've taken through the years... I don't have that many. Although these type pictures aren't "postcards shots", they still are not the easiest type shots to get -- especially in cities like Omaha, I feel. Typically, the bigger the city, the easier it is to get this type of "urban fabric" shot. For example, NY and NJ have a lot of opportunity for this type of shot. Enjoy... (P.S. I have/had a shot of the Mutual of Omaha building from the south of it, with houses butted-up against the broad back of it. I can't find it, though. But, it really is an odd scene of forms, shapes & textures... Check it out sometime!)

[RockHarbor]

More

[RockHarbor]

More

[RockHarbor]

More

[RockHarbor]

More (The first one here is a "bad picture", but I still like it, and hung onto for some reason... It is just odd, yet gritty and likable.)

[Omababe]

Here are a few I've taken in Omaha over the years which do have a particular urban feel to them ...

[RockHarbor]

Omababe: I absolutely LOVE your pictures! You totally "get it!" Seriously, you have excellent pics, that look perfectly urban & almost vintage. Do you put them through any type of filter?! Then, I went to your blog, and I can't believe your LV photos! They are also excellent. Really, you have a great eye. And, I can tell you focus-in things I focus-in on, too. (You appreciate those vintage old motels w/ the palms around them, just like me, and all the neon signs, and the gaudy interior of the casinos. Seriously, I have GOOGLE-imaged "Vintage motels in California Arizona Nevada Florida" before.) Do you sale your photos?

Thanks for sharing! It is neat seeing people's eye and talent and perspectives.

My focus in my pictures really was about getting that "odd" shot of Omaha, especially in the Mutual of Omaha ones. It's almost like my rule was: "Get an unusual glimpse of the city's buildings, with some urban fabric." They really aren't pictures I'm totally proud of -- or anything. (lol) I want to get more pictures like yours -- almost with a focus to get a "raw" urban shot. They are really cool. My favorites Omaha ones (of yours) are the 2nd, and the last one. I would put them in twin-matching frames on the wall -- seriously. Great job!

[RockHarbor]

And, Omababe: I also have an urban-orientated blog, you may find interesting (as it gets going), I started late last week. I had to start it for a certain reason, so it's kinda fun, but I didn't really want to start it that much. I only have two entries so far.

About 3 years ago, I started a blog, and reserved a domain name, but didn't really get started on it, and let it go. Last week, I tried to snag the domain name again, but some lady in Michigan now has it under her ownership -- although she does nothing with it (so far). So, I had to come up with a new one. Like you, I should put it in my signature here.

http://www.lotstotalkabout.com/

Although I've seen your comments before, I didn't see that link to your blog. Again, really love your photos. I'm impressed! That vintage look is what I love, and you capture that. I see you wrote some remarks on what setting on the camera you used. I need to learn all that. I tend to rely on Photoshop to change my photos, but I know it is not quite the same.

[GetUrban]

RockHarbor & Omababe, thanks for posting your photos! It's really interesting to see things from different perspectives, other than the typical postcard-type shot. I'll have to look though my old photos from the late 90's, when I first got a digital camera, up until now. Great idea to start a blog. I have some photo's of DT from when they built the FNB tower, including a couple of tours up to the top when it was still under construction, among other things.

[RockHarbor]

RockHarbor & Omababe, thanks for posting your photos! It's really interesting to see things from different perspectives, other than the typical postcard-type shot. I'll have to look though my old photos from the late 90's, when I first got a digital camera, up until now. Great idea to start a blog. I have some photo's of DT from when they built the FNB tower, including a couple of tours up to the top when it was still under construction, among other things.

I'm so glad you're enjoying this. It is fun. Yeah, post anything you feel you want to. It's just great seeing anybody's stuff, imo.

I have a really cool, odd (almost surreal) view of St. Paul, MN I took, and I have a neat shot of a shabby, vintage motel in Globe, AZ that I think Omababe would/may like. But, I won't post them quite yet -- or maybe I won't at all. I don't want to steer this thread, centered on Omaha, off course.

Blogging: It is kinda fun.

[Omababe]

Omababe: I absolutely LOVE your pictures! You totally "get it!" Seriously, you have excellent pics, that look perfectly urban & almost vintage.

Thanks {blush}

Some of those are becoming vintage, as they're mostly 5 or more years old. I kind of went through a few folders and picked out a few that I thought fit the theme. Urban scenes are probably my favorite subject.

Do you put them through any type of filter?!

No filter on the camera except for a skylight on a few lenses, mostly for protection. Really no post except for levels, minor cropping, etc. I'm kind of a minimalist in style. All of the above are film shots although quite a few on the blog are digital.

Then, I went to your blog, and I can't believe your LV photos! They are also excellent.

Thanks again. On my do-it list is another photo walk in Las Vegas but it just hasn't happened over the past few trips. I had planned a photo walk in Houston last month but it didn't happen either just due to a time crunch. I also have a half-finished blog entry on Millard which I'll finish when I get around to it. Since the Great Recession eased up I've been taking on as many projects and as many hours as I can handle, so the time I have for photography and blogging and such just has not been there.

Really, you have a great eye.

One thing I really believe in is that the most important piece of photo equipment you have is your eyes! I'm not a photo gear head at all. It kind of annoys me when I try talking photography with someone and they immediately switch to talking about gear and more lenses and yet more megapixels and such. I also think there's much too much photoshopping going on lately.

No, I do not sell photos. (LOL, I have a job. I guess I could repeat the old joke about the professional photographer and the panhandler but I won't.)

The closest I've come to fame is a few published but not in recent years. I also have the honor of having a 13x19 print hanging in a client's waiting area right next to a Manglesen!

My favorites Omaha ones (of yours) are the 2nd, and the last one.

The second is an "available darkness" one shot on Fuji 800. The light just happened to "work" on that one. The last is about 10 years old and I love the color casts of the various light sources, which I did not even notice when I was shooting. Both of those were hand-held, probably 1/30 and close to wide open f/2 or so.

What I might suggest is to simply carry a camera (a real one, not a cell phone!) with you as much as you can. You know, "decisive moment" and "f/16 and be there!" and such.

[RockHarbor]

Wow...I would love to see your picture hanging in that office near Mangelsen's. Thanks for your reply! Yes, your photography and eye is great... I just really appreciate the same things you do.

Houston: Although having towering, eye-catching skyscrapers, I always think of the Texas cities having more disappointing urban fabric in their inner-city, not really being historic & charming like other cities around the country are. Even Omaha has more a charming "train set" character to its inner-city look than many areas of Dallas, for example. (I would say San Antonio is probably the most decent out of them all, and Austin is nice, too -- but doesn't seem to have much old cityscape around.) HOWEVER, there is a look in Houston to be captured, and one can get pleasing photos (like the ones we like). For example, I remember being near "Gulf City Mall" (or something like that), and the town just looked gritty & shabby & worn in an exciting sort of way (a look like I see in Memphis, a weather-worn look from all the heavy moisture & humidity). In addition, tacky neon signs and palm trees and telephone poles & wires added to the scene. It is not a look I want to live around, but it is a look I want to venture into the inner-city and capture in pictures -- for some reason. They aren't pictures that are crowd-pleasers or that usually sale either. But, still...

Anyways, yes, enjoy your photography and look forward to checking out your entire blog -- including any future entries. Thanks again.

[RockHarbor]

Omababe: With the Houston discussion, I remembered a photo I found online years back Google-imaging "Houston Ghetto." Thankfully, it is still there. This is the best example I can find online of the look I mean. But, if down there, and cautiously venturing around inner-city Houston, I would personally hope to get better photos than this. (I know you could.)

http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/k59 ... y1/h95.jpg

[ita]

I came across this old thread the other day. I saw this picture on Facebook today. I thought it fit the bill