Monday, July 23, 2012

Historic Northeast Mini-Mansions Volume 2

 John and Malenda have restored this wonderful 1890 home to its original beauty while preserving its historical appearance.  They have done the work themselves with John leaning to the labor side and Malenda leaning to the design side.
Colonel and Mrs. George Peery Gross were the original owners of the home.  Colonel Gross enlisted in the Civil War when just a teenager and, by the time of the Spanish American War, had been promoted to Colonel.  According to sources the Peery's were "well known in 
social circles." Mrs. Gross was the former Miss Martha Vincil of St. Louis.  They never had any children of their own but raised a nephew, Harry Miller, who served under the Colonel as a lieutenant in one of the companies in his father's regiment.  See a picture of Colonel Gross at the end of this post.
 The living room is to the right as you enter... above we are looking south and below west.  The stairs are now finished and just await a hand-rail which is one of the next interior projects.
 All shots taken with the Nikon D800 and 14-24mm lens.  Multiple exposures each setup for high dynamic range in each image.   ISO 800 indoor, ISO 400 outdoor.
 Above, the kitchen has been totally updated. below, first floor guest room.

 Above, the exercise room.... below, the dining room with its amazing bay window.   The ceiling fixture in this room was purchased by the couple before they even owned the house. It fits in perfectly with the home and its decor which is arts and crafts, art deco, and other forms that are wonderful in their simplicity.
Above, please note the larger, carnivorous, beast that, if you break in, will eat you... to the sound of the alarm...

 Above and below the second floor sitting area with door to the porch.  Most relaxing is performed here.. On the left, through the new doors, is the master bedroom.

 All new bath above.... and, below, the porch....  reportedly quite comfortable in the early morning and late evening.... now-a-days.....

 The couple has re-done the back of the property too with garages and a new water garden.... complete with inedible fish...

 Above, the back of the home as viewed through the water garden gate... below... things are still green thanks to copious amounts of water.
 Right where I'm standing to take this shot  (above) John located a large cistern... after a large amount of concrete and fill it was a lot safer to drive over.   Being built in 1890 prior to the public water system moving this far east, a cistern was a must....
Malenda and John are both very active in the Neighborhood and I'm thrilled they allowed me to photograph their home....

Friday, July 20, 2012

Northeast Homes Tour - Come One Come All

 The newly formed Northeast Kansas City Historical Society has announced its first Homes Tour to be held this Fall on October 20th.   Seven homes in three neighborhoods will be open to the public.   I'll have ticket prices and how to order as we get closer.  In the meantime you may check in at their new website for updates.  http://www.nekchs.com/
 The seven homes comprise a variety of architectural styles that are the hallmark of Historic Northeast.   The featured neighborhoods are Indian Mound, Scarritt Renaissance, and Pendleton Heights.   The homes were built from the 1880s to the 1940s with all but one well over 100 years old.
 For now consider this just a tease.   I'll have more in depth on each of these houses as the tour date approaches.
 All shots taken with the Nikon D800..  Seven shots each combined into one to obtain high dynamic range.   ISO 400, F9-11, with the Nikon 14-24mm lens.  Shot at different times of the day to provide the best light.  I used the full 36 megs of the D800 by centering the house up close to minimize lens distortion and then corrected any distortion in Adobe Camera Raw...



Monday, July 16, 2012

Elmwood Cemetery Infrared

Took this picture with the D70.... many of the Nikon cameras after that version have too good a filtration system which doesn't allow many of the IR rays through.    Used a screw-on filter that blocks visible light and thus IR is all that hits the sensor.   As you can see green records white and blue records black.   This is a straight shot with no manipulation in Photoshop.

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Visual Update - Penn Valley Park

 Penn Valley Park is undergoing a  $7 million renovation.  New roads, curbs, walkways, changes to the Lake area....  and that's what I visited today.   Above, looking south, shows the water level lowered to make working on the banks easier.  I'm standing at 27th Street.
 Above, looking north from just below 31st Street...  much of the drainage and roadbed work (on the far right) is complete.
 Above, flora and fauna still muddle through as if nothing was going on around them.  Below, with the drought, it's not hard to tell where the creek is.

 The path overgrowth has been cleared all the way to the lake.  Much easier walking these days.   Below, another look at the creek that feeds the lake.

 Originally called "Penn Street Ravine"  the area in the early to middle  part of the 1800s was used by wagon trains heading west.   In 1893 it was decided by the Parks Board to preserve the valley as a park.  134 acres were set aside for a Boulevard and Park.
 Above, one of the original walkway bridges is being retained and new walkways are leading up to and away from it.

 Above,  Washington Lake.   Note the WDAF (Fox 4) tower on the horizon.  Just to its left is the Scout Statue.
 Ran into a Blue Heron (thanks John Cooper for the ID) while I was there.   I was thrilled, he/she was not and left.


 Above and below, looking north toward the KC skyline.

 Above, another Heron picture, below, some ducklings...  Carl was line-leader.

One last shot of my Heron with the incongruity of the skyline in the background.    I visited just the lake area.  Penn Valley Park also has an off-leash dog park, skate park, exercise trail, four tennis courts, picnic shelter, playground, two lighted ball diamonds, Just Off Broadway Theatre, and the Liberty Memorial.    All shots Nikon D800.  Landscapes, ISO 100, F5.6-F8, 24-70mm lens.   Birds  ISO 400, F8, 70 - 200mm lens.

Friday, July 13, 2012

Run Little Rabbit

 It was cool summer night concert time at the Kansas City Museum  and "Run Little Rabbit" was the guest group.  Left to right, Michaela, Rachel, and Leslie entertained a record crowd of 175....  great weather on the beautiful grounds. There's a sample of their performance at the end of this post.
 Run Little Rabbit's website:    http://runlittlerabbit.intuitwebsites.com/
 I have never seen this many children at one time in Northeast in a non-playground setting.












 Above, the new gardens that were planted recently are looking amazing...  they duplicate the original plantings and were recreated from photographs.

 Above, a whole slew of Henggelers were on hand.... they live on Gladstone Boulevard... little Simon is not as alarmed as he looks.
Most popular modes of transportation.... feet and bikes.....