Swope Park by Delany Dean
Delany Dean

Swope Park by

This lovely old building sits at the entrance of a very large (nearly 2,000 acres) park in Kansas City, MO. Land for the park was donated by Col. Swope, in the late 19th century. It now houses the very fine Kansas City Zoo, Starlight Theater, two golf courses, various athletic fields, and a wonderful Nature Center.

3 exposures, tone-mapped in Photomatix.

Camera: Canon EOS 50D (24-105mm lens)
Aperture: f/6.3
Focal Length: 24 mm
ISO Speed: 100

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Tags

park, kansascity, swope

Comments

  • Lois  Bryan
    Lois Bryanalmost 3 years ago

    First of all … outstanding camera and post work … I’m a big fan of lots of detail and you’ve done a beaut of a job capturing that and some super light as well!!! Certainly an intriguing architectural piece!!!! I’m not wildly conversant with all the styles and their dates … do you have an idea when this was built or what its period is?? It’s almost got a 1910 – 1920’s feel to it, you know, art deco-ish? But then again, it could be 1950’s modern? Regardless, a fave for sure!!

  • Thanks so much, Lois!

    I wish I knew more about this structure. I googled the heck out of it, after I came home, expecting to find more details… but there isn’t anything easily accessible. I’m not even sure what it’s called; I had been calling it the “Pavilion” (in the boxing photos just recently uploaded), but I learned that there’s a different structure that is called the “Band Pavilion,” and I saw no indication that anyone calls this the “Pavilion,” other than me!

    I believe it was built just when you suggested, around 1910’s or ‘20s. Certainly not as recently as the ’50s. Next time I go out there, I plan to look at the plaques around the building and see what they say! It isn’t far from my house, and I’m sure I’ll be out there with a camera one of these days fairly soon.

    – Delany Dean

  • calmac49
    calmac49almost 3 years ago

    Good HDR treatment. The colours just jump out at you.

  • Thanks, Derek!

    – Delany Dean

  • Lois  Bryan
    Lois Bryanalmost 3 years ago

    Delany, don’t go to any trouble on my account!!! It’s just got such a glorious jumble of fun things going on … and I love architecture … thought you might have an idea. Glad I might have been on the right track with the dates of construction … I bet it’s a hoot on the inside!!!

  • Don’t worry, Lois… it’s something I planned to do anyway. When I upload a photo of an old building, like this one, it really bugs me if I can’t provide a better history. Somehow I feel as if the building deserves to have her story told…

    – Delany Dean

  • PSL1
    PSL1almost 3 years ago

    This is a exceptional composition Delany, the overall quality of this image is right on the buttion. Love it.
    Great work, a Fav in my book. – Peter

  • Thanks so much, Peter!

    – Delany Dean

  • Crowmanic
    Crowmanicalmost 3 years ago

    +Fav … nice work with this one, Delany, and of course, the ‘subject’ is interesting in its own right.

  • Big thanks, my friend!

    – Delany Dean

  • Daidalos
    Daidalosalmost 3 years ago

    Very beautiful, great work!

  • Thanks so much!

    – Delany Dean

  • Tara  Turner
    Tara Turneralmost 3 years ago

    this is stunning!

  • Many thanks, Tara!

    – Delany Dean

  • Kate Adams
    Kate Adamsalmost 3 years ago

    Fabulous hdr and and editing Delany – such a lovely styled building, almost looks like an entrance to a train station – gorgeous!!!

  • Thanks, Kate! It does look like a train station, doesn’t it? I hadn’t thought of that, but you’re right!

    – Delany Dean

  • robpixaday
    robpixadayalmost 3 years ago

    Oh, this is fabulous!!!!
    Wonderful composition and GORGEOUS colors!!!!

  • Thanks so much, Rob!

    – Delany Dean

  • Sandy Sparks
    Sandy Sparksalmost 3 years ago

    OMG!!!! i REMEMBER THIS!!!!!! I am from KC, we went to Swope Park all the time/
    My daddy is buried in Park Lawn Memorial. That’s right down the road from there.
    I was born and raised near Olathe!

  • That’s pretty cool, Sandy… I’m glad to have given you a memory!

    – Delany Dean