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August 2023 Holland Photoblog!

 The assignment was to take an old disposable camera that I'd found in the basement, jimmy-rig a polarized filter out of an old pair of sunglasses, then shoot what I saw in and around Downtown Holland, Michigan.

Some key takeaways?

  • It's not necessarily worth using a filter like this when the clouds are making diffuse light anyway (except when it is)
  • Rule Of Thirds is a general guideline, and I hope I didn't create too much imbalance
  • Holland has some really cool architecture!
 
A view of the sidewalk in Holland Heights, looking westward along E. 8th Street

The entryway to the Windmill Way subdivision, at the corner of Paw Paw Drive and E. 8th St.

A retaining wall looking west on E 8th St, just a bit down the road from Windmill Way

Construction in front of Barber Ford, looking westward at US-31.  Background has the Shell Station and the plaza where Ditto and the Secretary Of State office are

Barber Ford looking south along Homestead Drive.  Love that Blue Oval!

The same construction from the corner of US-31 and E. 8th St.  Possibly installing fiber?

The famous DeNooyer Chevy American Flag

A sign guiding traffic to Windmill Island, out front of the now-closed Quality Gas Station

I couldn't tell if this house is being demolished or if this is yet another continuation of the construction from a few pictures prior.  The cones in the road are from the construction on E. 8th whereupon they're resurfacing the road and reconfiguring the interchange by VerHage Motors

This one's really dark, but it's a retaining pond I'd never noticed before

This one's also dark and I have no idea what it is.

Behind Our Brewing Co. I'd hoped to capture the birds that were playing in the flowers, but alas, 15 year old film does not a sharp image make.

The Holland Armory, 16 W. 9th Street, Holland MI 49423

Front entrance to the Park Theatre

The wonderful marquee of the Park Theatre, along with the rough exterior.  The contrast between this shot and the previous one show the importance of good backlighting when using a polarized filter (especially a low quality one like I had)

The front entrance of City Hall.  Hi, Mayor Bocks!

I'd hoped this was more readable, but alas, old film is not sharp.

Velo City Cycles, officially endorsed by Tulip City Dispatch as the Coolest Bike Store In Town

Day Center of Evergreen at 55 W 16th St, Holland, MI 49423.  Former location of Holland High School.  I didn't want to be too creepy, taking pictures of an apartment building, so I got 1 shot then scooted.  The building really is an architectural gem!
 

Templo Jerusalén Pentecostal Church of God, 161 W 19th St, Holland, MI 49423.  I love the simplistic architecture of this church, standing in stark contrast to buildings like Pillar Church

House Of The LORD'S Grace, 173 W 20th St, Holland, MI 49423.  Very old-school look, harkening back to churches you might find in much smaller, more agrarian towns.

The old facing part of the Holland Aquatic Center

The Armed Forces memorial inside Restlawn Memorial Garden

The mausoleum inside Restlawn Memorial Gardens

I don't quite know what this structure is inside Restlawn, but I'm incredibly proud of this shot with the light/dark contrast

More contrast over the Essenburger Family

Finally, the fieldstone archway that greets visitors and the bereaved at the Paw Paw Drive entrance to Restlawn Memorial Gardens


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