Not Lodi, like the song, but Fresno! This is due to a series of unfortunate events (a series of family illnesses being the #1) so that the only out of town travel I've been able to do was an overnight for my 105 year old Uncle's funeral in LA.
We've been talking about a one day trip to Avila Beach for Mother's Day but it doesn't look like that's going to happen either.
Since we're down to one car even a day trip to Yosemite to pick up my National Parks Geezer Pass isn't even on the horizon as I now serve as the family chauffeur and therefor have my standing orders.
This has been going on since mid-winter, but this isn't the rant it sounds like.
I'm sure many here have transited through Fresno on the way to one of three National Parks close by (but not close enough) and probably never wondered what there might be to photograph in Fresno.
Well, I've been studying the situation out of necessity.
Sadly most of the interesting historic architecture in the downtown was destroyed in the 1960's.
The older Catholic churches were wreck-o-vated about the same time although St John's Cathedral survived pretty much intact until it's horrible "restoration" in the 1980s. For color work the French stained glass windows at the Shrine of St Therese (colored glass 1" thick) is a treat as is all the carved marble. St. Ann's at the Chancery has been well preserved though. There are still a some photogenic Orthodox churches (especially the one in the farming community of Yettem as well as the Greek Orthodox church near Radio Park) These are kept locked and a photographer will have to contact the office for access.
For public buildings there is the Art Deco Hall of Records in Courthouse Park and the old Santa Fe Amtrak station nearby. The much prettier Southern Pacific Depot has been converted into a school of some sorts and now looks nothing like a train station, complete with a cement wall separating it from the tracks.
There are a few old fashioned cemeteries with real vertical tombstones just off of Hwy 99 (take the Belmont exit and go West)
Other notable structures include Kearney Mansion, the Meux home, the old water tower, the Coke Hallowell River Ranch and the Warnor's (originally Pantages) theater.
For landscape photography you might enjoy the Shinzen Japanese Friendship garden at Woodward Park, right off Hwy 41 if you're Yosemite bound. You might also find some interesting shots along the river bottom, especially in the winter mornings when there is dense fog and no skeeters.
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by Drew Wiley
Bookmarks