Vulcan Statue in Birmingham, Alabama

Located in Birmingham, Alabama, the Vulcan statue is the largest cast iron statue in the world. Symbolic of the city's roots in the iron and steel industry, it was originally built as Birmingham's entry into the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis, Missouri. After a few decades of uncertainty and mixed uses, the Vulcan statue eventually found a permanent home at the top of Red Mountain, an urban park overlooking downtown Birmingham, in 1936 (dedicated in 1939).

The Vulcan statue sits at the top of a 126 foot pedestal where visitors can view the surrounding area from an open air observation platform. It was also a great precursor for exploring Birmingham's historic Sloss Furnaces the following day. The Vulcan statue derives its name from the God of fire, metalworking, and the forge in Ancient Roman mythology. 

Vulcan statue buns of steel (or cast iron technically).

Exploring Downtown Seattle, Washington

From the scenic waterfront to the amazing restaurants and iconic attractions, there's no place quite like Seattle, Washington. It's an amazing city to get lost in, to explore, and one that continues to look fresh even after multiple visits. While shooting my Pacific Northwest series over the years, I've found no shortage of inspiration while wandering these streets. 

No visit would truly be complete without staples like Pike Place Market, the Space Needle, or the EMP Museum. However, there's also a lot of really cool hotels, interesting places to eat, and minor stops along the way to make your trip even more unique. These are just some of the memorable visuals from one such visit. I'm always adding more here.