Glass, Grass, and . . .

My parents came to visit a few weeks ago and my mom really wanted to go to the Chihully Glass Museum.  I looked it up and thought it would be a pretty neat opportunity to practice taking pictures in a very unique setting. The glass museum is nestled right next to the Space Needle and I was trying to figure out how to get some spiffy pictures, perhaps including the Needle itself, however, I didn't want it to seem too cliche as I find way too many shots of the Needle and don't find them very interesting.

My original thought was that we could head to the museum right around sunset and that would give us the opportunity to do some shots during the blue hour.  However, I read on the FAQ that they do not allow the use of tripods or monopods so that was a bit of a bummer, that and we had a busy day and I knew we would be hungry before sunset/blue moon. And I knew no one else would want to spend hours here waiting for the sunset.  So, I scoured Google Maps/Street View trying to look for a cool vantage point or cool picture.  You can even do a mini tour of the museum so I was clicking through rooms looking for something inspiring.  Unfortunately nothing struck so I was headed in without any real game plan.

As we toured the museum I felt kind of strange. Sure, there was all of this beautiful glass work and some of it was fun to photograph, but there were so many people in there and so many people with cameras that I felt a little out of place and overwhelmed.  Even so, I managed to snag a few pictures worth sharing.

Glass within Glass within Glass
ISO 1600, 1/80th second, f/4.0

The Glass Forest

ISO 1600, 1/10th second, f/4.0

Party Bowls
ISO 1600, 1/6th second, f/4.0

Glass Boat

ISO 3200, 1/25th second, f/4.0

Once we got outside things started to change. It was a bit chilly and a bit breezy so there weren't that many people outside.  That and there was just more room, and the light was better. . .well more familiar to me and and easier for to shoot. I was wandering around looking for some way to capture the space needle when I noticed that the sky looked rather nice. I turned west to try and capture some sunset/sky pictures, but the building was in the way and nothing turned out.

Swirled Reflections
ISO 200, 1/10th second, f/4.0

Sewing with 5 Needles
ISO 1000, 1/50th second f/4.0

Just then I looked down and noticed the rather large glass globes situated all over the place.  As I walked closer I realized that I could see the reflection of the Space Need in the ball.  Ah hah!! There was my shot, a great way to get a photo of the Space Needle and the glass art at the same

Two Big Balls and a Loooong Needle
ISO 800, 1/30th second, f/5.0

I spent the majority of the next hour wandering around outside looking for different glass objects from which to capture the reflection of the Space Needle.

Glass Nymph
ISO 800, 1/40th second f/5.6

The Units
ISO 800, 1/20th second, f/9.0

Oh, and I also found a pretty spiffy log too.

OhYeah, HI MOM AND DAD!!