When it originally opened in 1937, the plan was to use the Tower as a library with a series of dumbwaiters moving the books between floors. This was short-lived as people figured out having to move books up and down nearly twenty stories wasn’t the most logical thing. During World War II the tower had an air raid siren installed at the top, however it was never used outside of testing. Now the Tower is home to administrative offices, as well as an observation deck where tours are routinely given in the Spring and Fall. During special events, such as the University of Texas Longhorn football victories, the tower is illuminated with bright orange lights. The Tower is also used to honor graduates with their graduation year spelled out in giant lights.
There are many great places to appreciate this seventy-eight year old architectural beauty. The East side of campus has a great view with it’s giant stone staircases in the foreground. To fully appreciate it however you should stand due south and take in the lush greenscape hillside as it leads up to the tower. Once at the top of that hill there is a large bronze statue of George Washington to take in as well.
We have many different views of the UT Tower, both from closeup and with the entire campus skyline. Check out our full University of Texas Gallery Here, and be sure to check back often as we add more shots of this iconic landmark.
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We look forward to working with you!
The amenities are so plentiful that there is plenty to occupy your time. There are the old standbys like the massive pool and fitness center, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. There is a massive game room with pool tables and a full kitchen, as well as a mini movie theater, an outdoor fireplace, and even a meeting board room for when it’s time to get down to business. For those wanting some fresh air, the tree lined path around the building is a beautiful way to spend your walk.
The highlight of the property is without a doubt the penthouse suite. As you can see from our photos, the main living space is simply breathtaking, with the hardwood floors, high ceilings, and the amazing panoramic view of the neighboring golf course and countryside. We photograph a lot of spaces, but this was easily one of the most dramatic.
If you are in the market for some great architectural photography in Dallas, TX or any other part of Texas, Clear Sky Images is here for your needs. Contact us here to get a quote and to get the process going!
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We began taking Austin Texas skylines in September of 2014, and have continued to shoot them on a monthly basis from a variety of locations. From the East side to the West, the waterfront on Auditorium Shores to the Convention Center parking deck, and even from the top of Mount Bonnell, we go everywhere. Taking these photos really gave me a chance to explore the city and find some of the most amazing vantage points. My two personal favorites are Auditorium Shores and the West Side, mainly because they are unique.
On the shores of Lake Austin there is a statue of one of the most famous Texas musicians, Stevie Ray Vaughan. From this vantage point it is possible to have the weathered bronze statue towering over the city just like he did during his playing days. Given the popularity of live music in Austin (home to numerous festivals such as South by Southwest and Austin City Limits, among others) it’s wonderful to be able to have a local musical legend standing as tall as the skyscrapers.
In addition to being known for its music, Austin is also known for its weirdness. The skyline view from the West Side bike path is a perfect illustration of this. Painted on the side of the railroad bridge is “I’ve got Ninja Style Kung Fu Grip”, which the artist undoubtedly had given the position of the artwork. When combined with the six cranes building new developments it’s a nice image of both the progress and artistic spirit of the city.
As the city continues to grow, Clear Sky Images will be there to grow with it. Check back regularly for new Austin Texas Skylines.
This South Texas property located in McAllen, Texas is a sprawling 287,000 square foot shopping center. The major tenants include Target, Academy, Office Depot, and Marshalls, as well as a wide variety of smaller shops and restaurants. The majority of major tenants face North, which can pose a problem with getting good photographs later in the year.
Before photographing your site we research it thoroughly to make sure we are there at the right time of day to capture it in full sunlight. Due to the fact that the fronts of some North facing buildings may never see the sunlight, we have to get a little creative in order to make your property look its best. The most effective way to accomplish this is to start taking photos right at sunrise.
In order to capture sunrise photos, our photographer arrives on site a good thirty minutes before sunrise to set up. Just as the sun begins to rise it will cast a wonderful even light across everything, giving us a few brief moments to capture the site. In the case of Las Tiendas Plaza, our photographer did wind up sprinting up and down this vast site to ensure that all of the major tenants were captured. When we shoot photos like this, we take multiple exposure so that we can blend them together in post production. This allows us to illuminate the building while keeping the nice blue sky.
While this isn’t a perfect substitute for shooting a building in sunlight, sometimes it’s the only option that is available due to time constraints. We here at Clear Sky Images go the extra mile to make sure you get the absolute best looking images no matter how difficult the circumstances. Have a shopping center in need of photography? Contact us today for a quote
The unofficial motto of the city is “Keep Austin Weird”, nowhere is this on display better than the South Congress district. Located within walking distance of downtown, and within view of the state capitol, South Congress is home to a wide variety of restaurants, shopping, and live music. Oh, and also home to a fair amount of weirdness as well.
If there is a food type, chances are you can find it within a few blocks on South Congress. From Guero’s Taco Bar to Home Slice Pizza to a whole host of food trucks featuring everything from fried chicken to crepes. And for dessert there is a Hey Cupcake truck hiding in a random parking lot.
Once you are through with lunch, it’s time to hit the shops. As with any shopping district there are plenty of clothes and gift shops, but on South Congress it’s taken a step further. Lucy in Disguise (with diamonds) has every type of costume in existence. Uncommon Objects has an unbelievable variety of, well, uncommon objects ranging from 19th century text books to a 1960’s kitchen set to black velvet self portraits. Even if you have no intention of buying it is an incredible shop to visit. If Sci-Fi is more your thing, there is a wax museum opening up early in 2015. On the landmark front, there is the iconic “I love you so much” graffiti on the side of Joe’s coffee shop. Both the Austin Motel and the Hotel San Jose are among the oldest hotels in the city and have kept the same look and feel for decades.
The best part of South Congress however is the weirdness. On any given day you can walk down the street and see a deer head mounted on the driver side seat of a convertible. Or you can see a singing cowboy doing some light shopping while on horseback. Or my personal favorite, seeing the three most common modes of transportation all in a single shot against the backdrop of the skyline and state capitol (the three transportation modes are of course car, bike, and horseback).
If you want to completely sum up Austin in six blocks, South Congress is without a doubt the way to go.
]]>There are multiple ways to get the full view of this impressive structure. On the South side there is a boat dock, granting you easy access to the Lake. If boating isn’t your thing, there is also a park that doubles as a popular fishing spot. However, if you want to get the best view possible of not only the bridge but of the surrounding area, you will need to venture over to the North Side.
On both the East and West side of the 360 Highway there are short hiking trails that will take you to landings that rise up higher than the bridge. The West side is the more popular of the two as it gives you not only a great view of the bridge, but on a clear day you can see all the way to downtown. There is also a fantastic old tree clinging on to the edge of the cliff to give you photographers out there a nice prop to use. This is also one of the most popular destinations in Austin for engagement and wedding photos.
The East Side is the more difficult of the two climbs, and puts you up higher than the West Side. For those willing to fight against some light brush, some amazing angles of the bridge can be found on this side. And if you aren’t afraid of climbing down the side of a mountain in low light, the sunset shots with the bridge can’t be beat.
While the 360 Bridge is a bit off the beaten path for those visiting downtown Austin, it is well worth the trip to get a firsthand look at the beauty of the city.
Moving to a new city can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to finding a new apartment. Most people have a limited amount of time to spend visiting complexes, which is why they conduct their initial search online. This is why it is vital to have your apartment complex looking its absolute best on your website, which is where Clear Sky Images comes in.
After submitting your order, our photographers will research your property to figure out the exact right time to shoot the showpieces of your property (clubhouse, pool, etc) and schedule your shoot accordingly. And while we shoot everything your complex has to offer, we do coordinate with you to make sure we highlight the things that are important to you. Just renovated the kitchens and want lots of photos of the new countertops? Done. Have a spectacular waterfall in your pool and want to show it off? Done. New workout room? Done. Whatever your needs, we will deliver.
Once on site, we continue to go the extra mile as we stage every shot we take. For the pool area we make sure all the chairs are uniform, umbrellas are open, and chairs are straight and underneath the table. When it comes to shooting interiors we take our time and go through the entire apartment to make sure everything is perfect. We make the blinds look uniform, bedspreads are straightened, and furniture is moved to create symmetry. In short, we make sure every room looks its absolute best.
After the shoot we provide you with a proof gallery of every angle we shoot, giving you an overabundance of images to pick from. Once you make your selections we put them through a rigorous post-production process to turn good images into great ones. Ready to get started? Go to www.clearskyimages.com and click “Get a Quote”
This is a gorgeous view right? Well, believe it or not it could be even better.
Brett used a 30 ft pole cam and shot from a elevated position in order to showcase the exquisite view of the lake hiding just behind the house. Utilizing the exquisite sensor performance of the Nikon D800 coupled with a very fast Nikon lens and photographing this home at the exact right time of day under ideal conditions, Brett was able to create this stunning image:
Sometimes you have to elevate your photography!
]]>Tuesday, March 12th 3:00 PM
The Garage @ Packard Place
222 Church Street
Charlotte, NC 28202
With some 900,000 e-commerce sites in the United States, "click" and "brick and click" sales are growing in double digits and becoming a significant selling channel in many firm's business models. During the 2012 holiday season alone $ 33.8 billion was spent on-line, a 13.8% increase over last year.
Clear Sky Images Owner and Commercial Photographer Brett Osborne will share his experience and expertise in developing high impact images to increase a firm's internet presence AND sales.
Click Here to check out our last blog post on our product photography. Here's some of our latest work:
]]>Click the images to see more examples of our food and product photography!
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We
had the privilege of shooting photography and video for the replica of the first airplane of World War II to complete 25 bombing missions, The Memphis Belle. This B-17 is the exact plane that was used in the 1990 Warner Brothers movie showcasing the history of this remarkable aircraft and its crew.
The Movie Memphis Belle, as it's lovingly called by the folks who are currently responsible for it, has just undergone extensive upfitting and renovations by The Liberty Foundation, the organization striving to keep this amazing airplane in the air.
Click here to see the images we shot of the plane, including before and after renovation by Warren Ludlam and his crew at Carolina Avionics & Aircraft Interiors with donated leather from Green Hides Leather with help from Southeast Aircraft Interiors.
Check out our video below, featuring the pilot of the Memphis Belle, Ray Fowler:
Memphis Belle Photos by Clear Sky Images
We'd love to hear your thoughts! Leave a comment below.
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We rarely work with people or models on an architectural shoot, so for things to have turned out as well as they did, we were ecstatic. After the session, we were surprised to learn that the models, Jordan and Cullen Harper, have not modeled professionally before. Every single shot came out flawlessly and their postures and energy made the spaces even more inviting. They are obviously a gorgeous couple, and Campbell had an added level of comfort in front of cameras because he was the star quarterback for Clemson!
The real winners of this shoot are the amazing twilight shots. Did you know these might not have even been taken? There was no plan to shoot in the morning, but as the sun began to rise around 7:30am Brett noticed a hint of pink in the sky. He and Shelly got all of the equipment together in a hurry and got in several beauties in only about a 10 minute window!
Overall, we think these came our lovely and we were happy to receive this back as a response from Chris after sending the completed gallery:
"Simply - WOW"
]]>Have you been to any of these places? Let us know below!
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Here's a slideshow of all the shots we took of this fabulous facility!
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#1 - Shoot with the sun to your back.
For exterior photographs, you must find the right time of day to shoot. You want the sun to be your primary light source in order to virtually eliminate glare and underexposed images, giving you an overall image quality boost. There are several apps that you can get to determine where the sun will be, such as LightTrac, but keeping in mind that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west will help you tremendously. (If you always have trouble remembering that, it's ok. Sophie does, too!)
Determine what direction your subject is facing and you can guesstimate fairly easily from there. If it faces east, shoot in the early to mid-morning; if it faces south, shoot mid-morning to mid-afternoon; if it faces west, shoot in the early afternoon to sunset. If your building faces north? ...um, just call me at (704) 733-0189, LOL. Generally this direction is best shot in the twilight hours, and that is another subject entirely!
#2 - For interiors, always, always, always use a tripod and never, ever, ever use on-camera flash.
Interior photos mean slower shutter speeds, therefore hand-holding these kinds of shots make for blurry images, which is why you use flash, right? NO!!! That's why you always use a tripod!!! (You're paying attention, right?). On-camera, pop-up, direct flash destroys a photo! It makes them look amateur, washed out, and unevenly lit/exposed. I am well aware that a bright window will make your photos look dark, and a dark room needs to look bright, but flash is NOT the answer, which leads us to Tip #3...
#3 - Shoot multiple exposures.
To get optimal photos you must know how to use your camera. That's why manual mode is the best mode! When you know how to shoot in manual mode you can change the settings on your camera to adjust for different conditions; such as interior spaces that are too dark or too bright, which will throw off ANY camera that is in automatic/program mode. When you learn how to shoot multiple exposures you will be able to pick the best looking photograph from a broader selection of shots, thereby increasing your chances of taking the winning image.
BONUS TIP #4 - Hire Clear Sky Images to shoot all of your photography.
Why? Because we will make you more money, guaranteed! Your listings will get recognized faster; your portfolio will wow your potential clients, and you will be much more productive by not having to wear the hat of "photographer" among the many others I'm sure you're already wearing.
Thanks for stopping by. If you found any of these tips helpful, take a moment and comment below, or preferably, write a review on our Google+ Page and Like us on Facebook to let us know what you thought. We hope to hear from you soon and good luck out there!
Brett Osborne
Lead Photographer
Clear Sky Images
(704) 733-0189
[email protected]
Stay tuned for more tips from me, Brett Osborne, lead photographer at Clear Sky Images and be sure to write me if you have any questions or for more information on our services!
]]>Meet Camden!
This captivating young man is the face of our latest ad campaign through the Carolina's Commercial Property E-Newsletter. We know that a lot of companies out there do the best they can with cell phones and digital cameras, but are they really getting their vision across, or just making all of their hard work look funky?
We picked picture #1371 to truly convey Camden's disgust with the thought that some people just don't realize there's a better way. BUT, which funny face is your favorite? Let us know in the comments section below.
Click here to see all ten looks!
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Coming soon on the blog:
Thanks for staying tuned and as I'm back in the States, please feel free to call me if there's anything we can do for you.
Cheers, mate!
Sophia Matthews
(704) 951-7590
When your potential buyers and customers see your properties, are you happy with what they see? We are pleased to have worked with ARA to showcase the best reflection of their listing.
Thank you! Click the article to view the full image gallery.
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Our hearts go out to everyone affected by the recent tornado!
Please comment here with your own stories and experiences.
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