Incredible Photos of Houston
 

I've noticed how many people underrate houston's skyline...(in this forum and others). So here are some incredible photos of Houston via flickr:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/101/2...13e06461_o.jpg
flickr deneyterrio

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1232/...d8672477_o.jpg
flickr P3t3rT

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/80/22...11da7cdc_o.jpg
flickr OneEighteen

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1200/...1462607f_b.jpg
flickr emmiegrn

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/96/21...4245e034_o.jpg
flickr OneEighteen

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3250/...050029f6_o.jpg
flickr sabotai

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3142/...ebe58d96_b.jpg
flickr eflon

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2416/...52ab5b7e_b.jpg
flickr telwink

feel free to post others if you feel they are Incredible! ;)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/52/14...a0cde7d0_b.jpg
flickr AlphaTangoBravo / Adam Baker

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2205/...447ecf85_b.jpg
flickr diveofficer

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2284/...2cedef97_b.jpg
flickr mlsnp

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2095/...ef5dd878_b.jpg
flickr deji 01

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3260/...078fa143_o.jpg
flickr P3t3rT

:omg: You are so right! Those are some incredible shots of Houston. And I think this is the first time I have seen a photo of all of its buildings in context in relationship to each other. Wow!

I have never underrated Houston's skyline though. With all your buildings that are over 500 feet tall, you've been third behind New York and Chicago for over 20 years now! But look out! Miami is hot on your heels! :tup: :cheers:

Excellent pics. :)

And NewAtlantaMaimi is right... Miami is catching up... :(

I think Houston's bad reputation overwhelmingly stems from this old photo:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/54/11...aaec77_b_d.jpg
Source from the book The City Assembled by Spiro Kostof

It's like a bad mug shot that dogs a celebrity for years or a photo of a politician in a comprimising situation.

Yeah, I dont know that people under rate the Houston skyline. It is definitely impressive, after NYC & Chicago its in the second tier with 6 or 7 other cities....

Houston's skyline is more than second tier. With the number of buildings that it has that are over 500 feet tall, it has had a lock on third behind New York and Chicago for over 20 years now. :tup: :cheers:

Los Angeles had a boom in the late 80s and early 90s, which gave it the tallest building west of Chicago, but it wasn't enough to give it the third biggest skyline in the country such as Houston had. :cool:

Miami just recently had a boom that was so incredible that what has made it to construction thus far gives Miami a third place ranking behind New York and Chicago with buildings in the 400 feet tall and up height range. In the 500 feet tall and up height range, Houston is still third, but we are not done here in Miami. The city has several more buildings planned including three supertalls with interest in further developing Miami still very strong. The planned twin Empire World towers at 1,010 feet I feature in my avatar. They were originally proposed at 1,200 feet, but the FAA said "No way!" with Miami International Airport in the middle of the city. Houston will need another big boom to stay third behind New York and Chicago in the 500 feet tall and up range. :yes:

The Second Tier
 

This is how I would define the second tier. Before computers, I used the World Almanac and Book of Facts as my reference for the heights of buildings in North American cities. For many years, the World Almanac would list buildings 400 feet tall and up with of course New York and Chicago being the notable exceptions. For New York, they never counted anything below 500 feet tall. But in 2008, for the purposes of space (with the exception of New York and Chicago of course), there are 7 North American cities for which the World Almanac will only count from 450 feet tall and up. These are the cities that might now be considered second tier: Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Miami, San Francisco, and Toronto. Using their list starting at 450 feet tall and adding up the heights of all the buildings, Miami edges out Houston for third in the U.S. Toronto, Canada would be third if it were actually in the U.S.:cool:

Some of the Houston photographers (or photogroups) on Flickr are absolutely incredible (including the ones who post on here). The color, clarity and angles are out of this world.

You came up with a good crop of 'em too, Latennisguy.

Miami seems to be mounting a run of it's own. We must keep pace in order to secure our position.

These are some nice pics.

The Houston Skyline
 

Houston's skyline is incredibly dynamic though, instantly recognizable, and I love seeing photographs of it like these. The last time I went to San Francisco, flying back to Miami, we flew directly over downtown Houston. It was so clear I could easily make out the skyline from what must have been 35,000 feet. It was awesome! We didn't start our descent into South Florida until we were well over the Gulf of Mexico.

Sure if you are talking skyline from a distance. I'd put Miami number 3 right now. Then you get into Houston, LA, Dallas, Atlanta's coming on, Philly? maybe, San Francisco, Boston, Seattle. (all good skylines btw)
On the other hand if you are talking about density of buildings/people & vibrancy along with height than San Fran is easily #3.

In the 70s, San Francisco actually was 3rd behind New York and Chicago in terms of sheer number of tall buildings until Houston moved it out in in 80s with so many buildings over 500 feet tall. San Francisco's density and vibrancy is indisputable. I would say it is second only to New York in that regard.

Houston's skyline is more dispersed throughout the city, but its sheer number of tall buildings is indisputable. Miami is not 3rd based on what has already topped out though. Statistically, according to the World Alamanac and the Almanac of Architecture and Design in terms of tall buildings, Miami's number three ranking is based on what has made it to construction that has not gone vertical enough yet to even be visible on the skyline. For some of our buildings under construction, they are still doing foundation work. With the number of Miami's buildings that have actually topped out, Houston is still third behind New York and Chicago until Miami's buildings all actually reach their height specifications. We have a few that didn't and are not actually as tall as listed.

This one is so vivid, I love it.

Yes, that one makes great wall paper!

Sweet shots!!!!

let's continue with some more incredible photos of Houston:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3062/...d36fa060_b.jpg
flickr misnp

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2382/...22688919_b.jpg
flickr Valentinian

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2120/...55dba909_b.jpg
flickr Can I Take Your Picture

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2141/...4403fe41_b.jpg
flickr Can I Take Your Picture

some of these are unbelievable.

I like the mix of claddings.

Agree on SF. And these types of photos are great.
Having spent time in both cities recently, Miami seems way in front, maybe its because you can see all the beach front highrises as well, but Houstons dt seems a bit more dense.
SF is having a pretty good boom as well, and if some of the proposed buildings get built it will be even more impressive.

If that first pic doesn't scream 3rd largest US skyline, then I don't know what does!

It didn't even include several other major skylines in Houston, & the Med Center skyline is barely visible behind the massive Williams Tower...WOW!!!

Other good locations to capture a lot of Houston's skylines all grouped together is coming north on 288 towards DT & over the 610 bridge on the east side by the ship channel.

All very amazing views if you want to get that "continuous" skyline effect like NYC & Chicago have.

Thanks for posting! These are amazing views.

let's continue with some more:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2296/...2b7b4f69_b.jpg
flickr Dave in Houston (Fanj)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2253/...c0159dd0_b.jpg
flickr Dave in Houston (Fanj)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/146/3...0b7900bd_o.jpg
flickr jade001

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/223/4...e282333f_b.jpg
flickr jade001

Great pics. Keep 'em coming.

Huzzah and shazam!!

Holy crap. What a gorgeous city.

Nice pics. I made them my new wallpaper.

Nice photos. Houston's skyline is pretty impressive indeed.

thanks for the positive comments...i'll keep on searching and sharing. :) Here's a few more:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2048/...5d66a585_b.jpg
flickr can i take your picture

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3281/...d70fec9e_b.jpg
flickr bilbao58

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2224/...b3bccbda_b.jpg
flickr bilbao58

A lot of Houston's skyscrapers were built in the 70s and 80s when plain, over-simplified shapes were the rage. I have to say I find the skyline kind of dull.

To me, it's a great skyline depending on the angle. But...I think Austin's new downtown skyline is destined to be better than Houston's in just a few years, due to the more innovative designs.

Another to keep this thread going...

Flickr: Emerimat

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/150/3...cd3dd356_o.jpg

http://www.flickr.com/photos/6032767...71573/sizes/o/

^^^Thats a great arieal shot there!!!!!

I love that view...you can see the cluster of old buildings in the original downtown, and then all the newer ones. You can also see where the new park is next to the convention center (can also see Toyota Center).

And Minute Maid park, too.

:previous: thanks for the contribution Hizzy. Here's some more that I found "Incredible"

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/l...os/htown61.jpg
photobucket britt125_photos

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...ondowntown.jpg
photobucket gilmar_09

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x...townsunset.jpg
photobucket oraleadios

Houston's Uptown
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o...wntwonhous.jpg
photobucket mlgaetjens

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a38...t/IMG_2642.jpg
photobucket Gold Street

Damn, that aerial is nice! Love the different angle.

And, where was that last picture taken?

one last one today

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i3...9782f7d1_b.jpg
photobucket Tobynine9

what i love about houston's skyline is that you have mostly "average" looking buildings which draws the eye towards the overall skyline rather than a bunch of iconic buildings competing for attention.

:rolleyes:

Opinions are like...well I'm sure you've heard the rest...

finally...all of houston:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2031/...24f6c47f_b.jpg
flickr mr3wan

^^^^Nice....just imagine all those scrapers in downtown, but this is what makes Houston unique in a sense that scrapers can be found all over the city!!!!

Here's a couple more:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2043/...be0b4e4b_b.jpg
flickr joelwillis

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/105/2...1bcbd287_b.jpg
flickr cam17

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/19/11...96b5efc7_b.jpg
flickr Magnun45

another one:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2004/...b0ab933a_b.jpg
flickr apollonian

I like Cam17's pic of part of the ship channel. Nice.

Here are a few aerials of Houston from user shmat on Flickr.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/55/13...9da0e096_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/51/13...659ebdfc_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/54/13...4024647f_o.jpg

That'd be some wicked shit to see an HPD or news station helicopter land on the unused helipad a top the Chase Tower.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/54/13...4024647f_o.jpg

I likey

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1053/...acfd69c6_b.jpg
flickr crossmage

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2007/...6d53ef8f_b.jpg
flickr telwink

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2175/...707624c4_b.jpg
flickr telwink

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2129/...a1b1ba09_b.jpg
flickr telwink