During my trip to the Bluegrass Region of Kentucky, I visited the Lexington Public Library. My research indicated that this library offered some interesting architectural images. The library's rotunda offers the world's largest ceiling clock as well as a five-story Foucault pendulum.

When I first entered the library, it looked nothing like I had envisioned. It was interesting, but not that much different from our local library here in Orland Park. There was a rather high ceiling, but I could not find a ceiling clock or pendulum. After a brief conversation with a librarian, I learned that I was at the wrong branch. I was at the Tates Creek branch and I needed to be at the Central library location!

The rotunda of the Central library is impressive. Anticipating that security would soon tell me to stop shooting, I quickly set up my tripod and began capturing images of the ceiling clock. These photographs take some time and patience. Most require multiple exposures so that I can later blend them together to create a high dynamic range (HDR) image. Individual exposures may require as long as 30 seconds. And, occasionally I have to wait for curious visitors who are looking down from the railings to get bored and leave the scene.

I was able to capture this photograph before being approached by security:

World's largest ceiling clockWorld's largest ceiling clock in the rotunda of the Lexington Public Central Library at 140 E Main Street in Lexington, Kentucky on October 29, 2013. This photograph consists of seven exposures blended together using HDR EFex Pro2 software to create a high dynamic range (HDR) image.

As I was preparing to shoot some images of the pendulum, a security guard approached me. He said that he assumed I had clearance to take photographs, but needed to see my permit. I explained that I was visiting from out of town and didn't have a permit. I went on to explain that I recently captured images of the Seattle and Salt Lake City public libraries and was only hoping to add Lexington to that collection. I emphasized that I had no intention of including any patrons in the photographs.

He told me that he would see what he could do. He asked me not to take any more pictures until he bounced the situation off of the facility manager. Fifteen minutes later, and with my parking meter time counting down, I was beginning to lose patience. After all, the chances of the facility manager letting me take photographs with the tripod were remote. A few minutes later, the security guard came into view and was walking towards me. I lifted my hand up and rotated my thumb up and down--trying to get an early indication of whether I was going to have a photo shoot or not. To my surprise, his thumb was up! He told me that I was free to shoot throughout the library for as long as I wanted, so long as I didn't include patrons or employees in the frames. He said that if I was approached by anyone else, to tell them that I had permission to shoot and that they could check with security.

I spent another hour shooting at the library. During my first ten minutes of shooting, I was approached by three more employees who told me that photography wasn't permitted in the library! I told them that my photo shoot was cleared through security. I captured some pictures of the pendulum and some images of the rotunda from the fifth floor. It wasn't easy, but I tried my best not to include anybody in the shots.

Foucault pendulumFoucault pendulum, designed by Lexington sculptor Adalin Wichman, in the rotunda of the Lexington Public Central Library at 140 E Main Street in Lexington, Kentucky on October 29, 2013 Library rotundaRotunda of the Lexington Public Central Library at 140 E Main Street in Lexington, Kentucky on October 29, 2013. This photograph consists of three exposures blended together to create a high dynamic range (HDR) image.