Introduction 
A Historical Snapshot - Early Years - Visitors - Diversity
Modern Culture - South Beach - Pop Culture
The Art and Architecture - Art Deco A Tourist's Perspective
Works Cited |
 | The reason this topic was chosen and the website was created is a product of my newly found interest in the city of Miami. The popular culture elements first pulled me in but following that I wished to learn more about the history of the city. Reading books and looking at photographs taught me a lot about the city but it just wasn't enough. Fortunately, I was offered the opportunity to visit Miami during the summer. I was overwhelmed by the beauty and the culture. I had never visited a place where at least half the population spoke a language other than English. Seeing the Art Deco hotels of Ocean Drive in person instead of in pictures was like meeting a celebrity face to face. I brought my digital camera and took over 100 photographs of everything in sight. Some came out very well and some not so well. But each posessed its own character that made it distinct. Unfortunately, due mostly to bad luck and partially to ignorance, I lost almost every photo I had taken when my hard drive crashed and was unrecoverable. I managed to gather together pictures taken by another person on that same trip that were almost identical to mine. I will take this opportunity to explain the reasons why I took these photographs, in hopes that it will give some insight into what the average person looks for when photographing this amazing city.  Photograph by Linda Vogel This photograph features a distance view of the buildings I was most interested in. I have a particular affinity for the Colony Hotel which can be seen just down the street. The composition's effect is to get a taste of the nature side, historical side, and modern every-day-life side of Ocean Drive during the day.  Photograph by Linda Vogel As the light begins to dim the neon signs and decorations become more prominent. I would be worried that if it were any darker, without my tripod I would be unable to photograph these neons sharply. My unsteady hand is not the desired tool of a photographer. This does not mean I am uninterested in trying... it just means I know (and have proof) that my photos will not turn out as I had hoped.  Photograph by Linda Vogel This is the grass and beach side of Ocean Drive. It was interesting to compare the straight tall palm trees with this sprawling tree on the right. It's as if someone broke a large tree down the center ad tried to put it back together by sticking the individual pieces anywhre in the ground. I love that both sides of Ocean Drive are beautfiul. It creats a more full effect; as if you are trapped in a majestic setting.  Photograph by Linda Vogel This is another view of the Art Deco hotels. The Park Central Hotel on the far left is the most impressive of the lot, in my opinion. I had a very good photograph of it that was lost. But this shot showcases what would seem to be clashing designs. Although each hotel is very different from the next the cohesion of Ocean Drive comes from the disunion; all battling for most unique. |
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