Image by Kevin Cole
(Image licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic)
In 2004 long time business owner Kevin Cole retired to the small fishing town of Morro Bay, California, to enjoy his childhood passion for photography. Since going digital, Kevin has used professional Canon equipment to create a dazzling collection of images, covering everything from wildlife and the great outdoors to people, structures and everyday events. These beautifully rendered pictures are just a tiny taster of Kevin’s work.
Image by Kevin Cole
(Image licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic)
Little more than two concrete walls rising from the dirt, the structure above was a gas station and restaurant at Cadiz Summit. Tourist cabins once stood alongside for drivers travelling along Route 66. Long gone now, these walls have become a blank canvas for graffiti artists. John Flannagan’s grandfather, James, used to own the gas station, and John is busy compiling a nostalgic reference for anyone who may have experienced Cadiz Summit. (The top image shows the old gas station in the living ghost town of Chloride, Arizona’s oldest mining town.)
Image by Kevin Cole
(Image licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic)
Kevin has photographed numerous historic buildings across California and beyond. The Santa Barbara County Courthouse was completed in 1929 and is still in use today. The image above shows the Mural Room on the second floor of the historic courthouse. HDR processing adds an extra sparkle.
Image by Kevin Cole
(Image licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic)
The historic La Posada de Albuquerque Hotel (above & below) has been transformed into the pre-eminent boutique hotel after a $30 million renovation and is now named Hotel Andaluz. While the building more than speaks for itself, Kevin’s processing once again enhances the forms and draws out the various colours in all their vividness.
Image by Kevin Cole
(Image licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic)
Kevin welcomes positive feedback as well as constructive criticism, and aims to create a vibrant network of Flickr contacts who enjoy his pictures and vice versa. His advise to fellow photographers is: “Don’t forget to take that picture of what you don’t see.”
Image by Kevin Cole
(Image licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic)
Kevin captured this brightly lit Art Deco building in his home town of Morro Bay. It almost has the look of an old cinema/movie theatre, but is probably a good old fashioned diner. Love Art Deco? You’ll find more in our Visual Exploration of Long Lost Cinemas.
Image by Kevin Cole
(Image licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic)
This picture of the old 41 Cafe illustrates perfectly how a rundown and seemingly uninspired building can be brought to life through the wonders of digital photography. Click here and scroll down to see a picture of Kevin setting up this shot. A white pickup truck in the background has been edited out to give the abandoned cafe a more solitary feel.
Image by Kevin Cole
(Image licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic)
The Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco is a monumental – literally – structure that cannot fail to impress and entrall. Built in 1915 for the Panama-Pacific Exposition (the first World’s Fair), the grand structure is currently undergoing restoration work. This photo, dominated by the massive rotunda, was captured at sunrise. Don’t miss our full article about the Palace of Fine Arts.
Image by Kevin Cole
(Image licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic)
There’s something oddly romantic about neglected boats lying near the sea. Perhaps it’s because they spur the imagination (in some of us, at least) into dreaming of travel on the high seas, or maybe it’s nothing more than the idea that they’re no longer needed in the modern age. Wherever this particular location is, it bears a striking resemblance to the old boat yard at Low Newton by the Sea, when looking toward the beach… To see more of Kevin Cole’s work, visit his Flickr set and check out his personal website.
Related Articles:
45 Captivating Images of England’s North Country
Abandoned Places Brought to Life Through HDR Photography
24 Fantastic Urban and Landscape Photographs in HDR
The Awesome Wonder of Infrared Photography
Partner Sites