Friday, January 30, 2015

Visiting the Ice Castles of New Hampshire


One neat place to visit while traveling in the northeast is to one of the ice castles built up in New Hampshire and Vermont.  Initially I wasn't sure what to expect - yeah I get it  - a bunch of ice and cold slippery ground.  So as the sun set and the temperature dropped the lights came on and the ice took on a magical lighted appeal.  I didn't have a tripod with me so my images were shot around ISO 640-1600, mostly with the XF23mm lens at night and many with the XF10-24 at dusk.





























I am an employee of FUJIFILM North America Corporation.
The statements, comments and opinions expressed here represent my own, personal views and are not endorsed by, or affiliated in any way with, FUJIFILM North America Corporation or its affiliates.
bremler@fujifilm.com 

Monday, January 26, 2015

Third Section of the High Line Park

The hottest park in NYC is arguably the High Line.  Situated along Tenth Ave from about 12th street to 34th Street, this elevated park has led to an absolute explosion in real estate values as well as new luxury housing popping up like mushrooms in a rich dark manure.

One cold early morning I took a walk from 34th St outside the south end of the Javits Center down the line to see what the latest construction looked like.  The scenic views of many buildings and apartments will be in constant change as these high rises take to the area.  
The images below are listed in a south to north order.




 http://www.thehighline.org

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Line_(New_York_City)


New buildings are popping on on the east and west side of the park corridor which is pretty narrow in many areas.




For those not used to NYC prices here are the ads on the windows at eye level.  A 1,700 sq ft 2 BR apt will run you approximately $3,800,000.  Constant streams of people walking by day and night at no charge - make new friends every day!







Dotted down the line you can see the older buildings dwarfed by the new ones.




HISTORY

A revitalized piece of New York City’s past

1934
As part of the West Side Improvement Project, the High Line opens to trains. It runs from 34th Street to St John’s Park Terminal, at Spring Street. It is designed to go through the center of blocks, rather than over the avenue, carrying goods to and from Manhattan’s largest industrial district.
1980s
Following decades-long growth in the interstate trucking industry, the last train runs on the High Line in 1980, pulling three carloads of frozen turkeys. A group of property owners lobbies for demolition while Peter Obletz, a Chelsea resident, activist, and railroad enthusiast, challenges demolition efforts in court.
1999
Friends of the High Line is founded by Joshua David and Robert Hammond, residents of the High Line neighborhood, to advocate for the High Line’s preservation and reuse as public open space.
2002-2003
The planning framework for the High Line’s preservation and reuse begins. A study done by Friends of the High Line finds that the High Line project is economically rational, and leads to an open ideas competition, Designing the High Line.
March-September 2004
Friends of the High Line and the Ciy of New York conduct a process to select a design team for the High Line. The selected team is James Corner Field Operations, a landscape architecture firm, Diller Scofidio + Renfro, and Piet Oudolf, planting designer.
2005-2006
The City accepts ownership of the High Line which is donated by CSX Transportation, Inc. in November 2005; Groundbreaking is celebrated in April 2006.
June 9, 2009
Section 1 (Gansevoort Street to West 20th Street) opens to the public.
June 8, 2011
Section 2 (West 20th Street to West 30th Street) opens to the public.
April-September 2012
The New York City Planning Commission approves a zoning text amendment for High Line at the Rail Yards. Groundbreaking is celebrated on the High Line at the Rail Yards September 20, 2012.
September 21, 2014
The third and northernmost section on the park, the High Line at the Rail Yards, opens to the public. Friends of the High Line celebrates 15 years of successful advocacy to preserve the entire structure.


 Buildings will cover this view in a few months as the foundations are laid overlooking the rail yard.

















This is the end of the line at 34th Street looking north to the Javits Center.  You can see the view below looking west to New Jersey.



I am an employee of FUJIFILM North America Corporation.
The statements, comments and opinions expressed here represent my own, personal views and are not endorsed by, or affiliated in any way with, FUJIFILM North America Corporation or its affiliates.
bremler@fujifilm.com 

A Quick Look at the 1972 Hasselblad 500C/M

Just a few snaps of the awesome and durable 500C/M.