It’s a Pixel Party: Get snap happy with us at Faberge: A Brilliant Vision on Sunday evening!

Published by Caroline on February 7, 2013 at 4:32 pm in HMNS Happenings

What, what, what are we doing?

We’re hosting a Pixel Party — the next generation of photography soirees from HMNS. When? THIS Sunday, Feb. 10, in our utterly photogenic new exhibit Faberge: A Brilliant Vision.

Pixel Parties work like this: All Photographers are welcome to bring their cameras — even the ones housed in their smartphones — and check out our new Fabergé exhibit in a crowd-free, after-hours environment.

Post your masterpieces online in our Flickr group, on Instagram, on Twitter, or wherever you choose to share your work, and one of your shots might be featured in our weekly newsletter!

Photogs must have one of the following to participate:

(1) An active Flickr, Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook account

(2) A dedicated Facebook Fan Page for your photography

(3) An active photography portfolio online

All photographers must register by 5 p.m. on Friday, February 8 to participate. No late registrations will be accepted. Email webeditor@hmns.org with your name and a link to your online photo-sharing accounts, and you’ll receive an email confirmation giving you the go-ahead to attend.

Pixel Party is from 6 to 8 p.m. and is free to attend. Gourmet grilled cheese from Golden Grill will also be on-hand on the patio, but you guys have to pay for that.

September Flickr Photo of the Month: Baby Alligators!

Published by Erin B on September 26, 2011 at 11:15 am in Science

_DSC8853_R1_C1BM-LR by Mark L 2010.
Shared with permission.

There are some amazing photographers that wander the halls of HMNS – as well as our satellite facilities in the Sugar Land area. When we’re lucky, they share what they capture in our HMNS Flickr pool. Each month, we highlight one of these photos here on the blog.

This month, we’re featuring a photo from Mark L 2010, taken in Brazos Bend State Park – home to the Museum’s George Observatory. Spending the day there wildlife spotting is a perfect lead in to stargazing at the Observatory on a Saturday night. And as you can see – the animals are really cool!

Here’s what Mark had to say about his photo:

On Labor Day, 2011, we visited Brazos Bend State Park to take a look around and shoot a few photos. Just beyond the shore line of 40 Acre Lake against the fishing pier we saw a dozen or so baby alligators. The duck weed coated them completely, making an interesting sight.

Maybe more striking was the fact that as they were sleeping in the sun they were laying on one another much like you would expect of puppies. It was just a nice view of young wild life. We all wish our area could break out of the grip of this destructive drought, but it is surprising how beauty remains available in this park. Thanks to all who participate in making it available to the rest of us.

Inspired? Most of the Museum’s permanent galleries are open for photography, and we’d love for you to share your shots with us on Flickr, Facebook or Twitter. Check out the HMNS photo policy for guidelines.

Flickr Photo of the Month: Fiddle! [June 2011]

Published by Erin B on June 13, 2011 at 2:03 pm in Education

Texas! The Exhibition by photine on Flickr

There are some amazing photographers that wander the halls of HMNS – as well as the areas surrounding the Museum in Hermann Park. When we’re lucky, they share what they capture in our HMNS Flickr pool. Each month, we highlight one of these photos here on the blog.

This month, we’re featuring a photo from Laurie Ballesteros, known as photine on Flickr, who is a regular attendee of the Museum’s Flickr meetups. This photo is from the meetup we held in our current Texas! The Exhibition which features hundreds of fascinating artifacts from Texas’ long and rich history – from the first people who set foot in the state through the Spindletop era.

I loved this photo because it features an artifact that highlights an aspect of a very famous Texan’s character that we tend to forget. But I’ll let Laurie tell it:

My favorite part of Texas history is the Texas Revolution. The characters, stories and battles are bigger than life and I have traveled to several of the battle sites around the states to walk in their footsteps.

I was especially interested in this part of the Texas! exhibit and took my time looking at all the artifacts. As a musician I could not pass up Davy Crockett’s fiddle. It is obviously well used and I love to imagine the tunes floating up from this instrument in the hands of a Texas legend.

You can see more of Laurie’s lovely photos of the Texas exhibition on her blog. Many thanks to Laurie for allowing us to share her image here!

Inspired? Most of the Museum’s permanent galleries are open for photography, and we’d love for you to share your shots with us on Flickr, Facebook or Twitter. Check out the HMNS photo policy for guidelines.

Texas! The Exhibition is a temporary exhibit, and photography is restricted outside of special Flickr meetup opportunities. Follow our posts in the HMNS Flickr pool for announcements about upcoming events.

Flickr Photo of the Month: Pirate Treasure [Jan. 2011]

Published by Erin B on January 11, 2011 at 3:30 pm in Anthropology

Pirate Treasure by mombeau2007 on Flickr
Posted here with permission.

There are some amazing photographers that wander the halls of HMNS, and when we’re lucky, they share what they capture in our HMNS Flickr pool. Each month, we share one of these photos here on the blog.

Debi (mombeau2007 on Flickr) took this photo during our recent Flickr meetup* in the Real Pirates exhibit. From the photographer:

I really enjoy the museum shoots and the challenge of getting shots within the displays. The whole “Night at the Museum” feel is wonderful. It is amazing that so many of us have the same subject matter to work with and yet come up with such variety in our results.

Shooting the coins in the treasure chest was a wonderful shot, but to get some of the texture of the coins while trying to contend with the ever present reflections was quite a challenge. I could almost feel these just by looking at the photo.

Inspired? Most of the Museum’s galleries are open for photography, and we’d love for you to share your shots with us on Flickr, Facebook or Twitter. Check out the HMNS photo policy for guidelines.

Want to see – and touch! – this real pirate treasure for yourself? Only a few more weeks to discover the wreck of the pirate ship Whydah – the only authenticated pirate wreck ever discovered – in Real Pirates at HMNS!

*The photo policy for each temporary exhibition HMNS hosts is determined by the lender; photography is prohibited in the Real Pirates exhibition during general hours. When possible, the Museum seeks permission to host one-time-per-temporary-exhibit, after-hours Flickr meetups; check out our Flickr group Discussions page for updates on upcoming events.