Dream Tomorrow, Live Today, Cherish Yesterday

Fonthill Week, Day Six

Canon 5D Mark II, 35mm F/1.4, multiple exposures processed with NIK HDR Efex

I like this particular POV because it includes so many of the architectural forms used at Fonthill. Understand that this house was not built like others. Each floor was built as a series of "forms."  Like making a sand mold or wax mold if you have ever done any casting.

Sand would then be placed into the forms, then the tile pieces, then concrete. When the concrete cured, the forms would be removed, the sand washed away, and then you have what is seen here.  All this happening around 1910, 100 years ago. Amazing, isn't it?

Fonthill Week, Day Five

Canon 5D Mark II, 14mm F/1.4, multiple exposures processed with NIK HDR Efex

I mentioned a few days ago that Mercer disliked symmetry and went out of his way to have his architectural elements not line up or be similar. He also seems to have had quite the sense of humor, as evidenced by this "stup up to my window" portion of a room.

Besides the fun of seeing this design, again we have more of his amazing tile work. Having always enjoyed glass and tile works myself, this place was a lot of fun for me.

Fonthill Week, Day Three

Canon 5D Mark II, 14mm F/1.4, multiple exposures processed with Nik HDR EFEX

This was my favorite room at Fonthill. Called the Columbus room because of the amazing ceiling, which tells the story of Columbus journey and subsequent time in the new world.

Here you can see nearly all of Mercer's obsessions at one time. The tiles, obviously. The concrete. Books and photographs.  Note too that the columns are not lined up? Mercer disliked symmetry, and thus all the rooms have odd shapes, and any time he could create drama by misaligning elements of the home he did so. Note that the windows at left and right are not the same. People would never do that in a house today.

What glorious tile work! Tomorrow we will check out the ceiling. Imagine me going from this position to laying down on that floor right there, with my camera pointed straight up...

 

Topaz Tuesday - From My Dream

 

Canon 5D Mark II, 13mm F/2.0, 6 exposures blended (read below for explanation)

Ever have one of those dreams where you wake up, and it's like you are still in the scene of the dream? That's what happened to me this morning. The dream was typical, a dose of reality and a larger dose of "that can't really happen."

Today's post is kind of long, so click on the "continue" link if you'd like to read the story behind this image.