2014

Ricky, I try to use the lower ISO possible. When I am shooting on a tripod I shoot at 100 ISO. For this image, I would tried to capture this image I would have used the same setting you used.

Kent, being a novice and still learning, I chose the lowest ISO so there would be (i think), no chance at all for any noise/graininess. I had my tripod for sure, so didn't mind waiting the 20 seconds for the exposure. I'm open to knowing what others might have done. Mostly, I wanted this tack sharp, so went with my highest f-stop.

Love the way you captured the detail and texture. Gives me an idea for photographing the water tower here in Chicago. Thanks for the history lesson, too. I noticed you used an unexpectedly low ISO. I'm curious to know why since you must have a reason.

great shot - it's so clear and beautiful with the dark sky and great story behind "The Yellow Rose of Texas"!

Thanks for the notes - that's a great story.

I knew for the deadline for this challenge I would be in San Antonio and would be able to make it to the Alamo. I'm 4th generation Texan, and the Alamo is our most iconic and historic symbol. The official death toll ranges from 169-257, but regardless the number, not a single Texan survived the 1836 siege. Thirteen days later, near San Jacinto, TX, General Sam Houston defeated the Mexican General Santa Anna and his army in a surprise attack. Texas won it's independence and became a sovereign nation.

This photo was taken with my wide-angle lens very close to the face of the Alamo. In this shot, a blurred Texas flag waves atop the illuminated tower of the legendary Emily Morgan Hotel..

Who is Emily Morgan? And why compose this shot with the hotel? First, because it was an interesting addition to the composition. But also, because Texas may just have won it's independence in 1836 due to Emily Morgan's cunning. Here's the story for those interested:

Thirteen days following the fall of the Alamo, the final battle took place. Folklore states that the Mexicans’ slow response to the Texans’ charge in San Jacinto was due to General Santa Anna being otherwise occupied and "entertained" during his siesta by Emily D. West, a twenty-year old black (mulatto) indentured servant who had been captured along with other members of her household by the Mexican forces on April 16, 1836.

Emily was indentured to Colonel James Morgan, and custom at the time dictated that indentured servants take the surname of their master, hence the reason she is more widely known as “Emily Morgan.” Though there is no official account of a woman in Santa Anna’s tent at the time. A journal entry written in 1842 by British traveler William Bollaert planted the seeds of Emily’s legend: “The Battle of San Jacinto was probably lost to the Mexicans, owing to the influence of a mulatto girl belonging to Colonel Morgan, who was closeted in the tent with General Santana (sic), at the time cry was made, ‘The enemy! They come! They Come!’ She delayed Santana so long that order could not be restored readily again.”

While the loss of the battle is officially attributed to the overall carelessness of General Santa Anna, the folk legend of Emily Morgan’s role in the battle began to grow, with portrayals of Emily ranging from a sweet young girl who distracted the general with a simple dance to a cunning and clever vixen who drugged the Mexican army’s leader as he slept.
Not much is known about Emily Morgan’s life after the end of the Texas Revolution. Her legend, however, continued to grow, and it is widely held that she was the inspiration for the much-loved song, “The Yellow Rose of Texas,” written shortly after the war.