This week I "met" a unique couple who stand in my hometown of Woodstock and just give the peace sign to passers-by.
They just hang out and do their thing.  There are stories of him with varying tales as - Grandpa Woodstock.
I thought their message and their look were worthy of sharing.  Who's beard do you like more?

It is done!!
Today I was able to return the lost camera to the family who dropped it while visiting here for a wedding.
This is how it was able to happen -

A photog friend recognized the minister in the rehearsal photos.
She contacted him and he gave her the info on the bride.
The bride was away on honeymoon until last Sunday - meanwhile lots of you helped with suggestions on the venue etc - and when she came back she confirmed she knew the people in the photos and the owners were relatives.
The bride's father-in-law lives in NJ about 3 miles from my office.  So after a bunch of emails with the bride I got the address in Metuchen and dropped the camera off there today.  The owners of the camera are indeed from Europe so the camera will be sent over to them soon.

Here's a shot from this morning with the father-in-law, the camera, and some photos I printed from the camera of the owners.

Neat how the internet can work as easy as that!

Thanks to ALL who offered their help and contributed to the effort!

Recently I shared emails about a bike theft and subway garbage.  This week I saw a neat follow up to both so thought I would share my thoughts.

In one photo I couldn't help but feel bad - yet chuckle - when I saw someone who obviously took great care to lock up their bike with 2 locks - but they forgot to lock the frame obviously.

The other photo has a real story about garbage.  Last week I noticed that underground, people were tossing their garbage anywhere - where above-ground people are taking much more care to balance their garbage in an overflowing can (I assume there are many factors to study with this).  I happened to catch the can as a guy passed by with his subway metrocard flying by - so I chose this frame for the added connection.

PS- Haven't found the camera owner yet - but still working on it.

Some of you may have been around for my "found camera" story about 5 yrs ago.  The short was that I found a camera in a cab on New Year's Eve and through this email (and of course Karen's forwarding of it) I was able to return the camera to the owner with their holiday pics.

Well yesterday I found another camera.  This time lying on the street in front of my building when I walked out at 5:30p on 12th St.  It probably fell out when the couple exited a cab.

So here's what I think we should try to do - find the owners!  I can't tell where they live - but they have about 450 pictures on their disk (from Nov 08 to May '09) - and they've been traveling.  There is a wedding on the camera - and it sorta looks like the wedding was in Central Park - Saturday May 9th - near the reservoir.    The photos attached are the wedding and then the older couple who's camera i think it is.  They've been to Chicago, Europe, Iowa (I think), Buffalo (Sean confirm?), Niagra Falls - NYC etc etc.

See if you can find anyone familiar at the wedding or such - here are the 450 pics.  The wedding is towards the end - since they begin in Europe and move to USA and wedding towards the end.  Worth a shot to make someone's day!!
http://www.brandonremler.com/foundcamera/

I'm always amazed at all the things that happen underground in NYC.  Of course the subway is a great place to wander and see another side of life. 

Last night as I made my way up to Port Authority to go bowling at Gate 230 (you have to be careful - Gate 233 goes to Erie then Houston) - I noticed an area where you can look over the tracks - so I took a peek to see if the trains were rolling in.  Of course what I saw instead was a bunch of garbage and it made me think why can't people wait a few seconds and put it in the trash can.

Sure enough when I got to Gate 230 - there they are - 2 - trash cans waiting for anybody to fill them.   I've never understood the urge to litter. 

The other night as I walked along 34th Street I decided I'd try and take (make if you prefer) a picture of the Empire State Building.  I had just left a photo/art fair and the streets were crowded as usual in the area.  As I pointed my camera up a passerby who was walking behind me said "you can't shoot the top of the building - it won't come out".  Now I of course being a new yorker - didn't turn around or break my stride - I just mumbled - "thanks - got it" and went on my way of taking the photo.

So here's the shot I made from the street.  ISO800 - with good dynamic range from the FinePix F200EXR.  I was planning to take the bus home - so that's the type of sign in the shot.

So many choices each week - but to go along with May 1st here is a colorful shot of some tulips in Central Park.

This week had some highs and lows.  The temp swung about 30 degrees and thus I have 2 shots to share which show the differences in the weather.

One shot is a view in Central Park on a spring day.  So many folks to check out there.

The other is a moment where I stopped on Fifth Ave when I saw a lost glove on the ground.  I grabbed my camera turned it on and shot - and at that moment the woman walked by with what looks like a gold rolex daytona (knock-off), and the guy is just lifting his foot off the sidewalk.  One of those decisive moments surrounding the lost glove.

Happy Friday!  We are finally cracking the 70 degree point today.  Should be a nice one!

With the warm weather the flowers and trees all are blooming.  The other day walking down Fifth Ave I noticed this magnolia highlighted against the dark building (with a little fill flash as well).

I shot this with my favorite Digital Velvia setting on the Fujifilm S100FS.
More shots on the FB page if you want to see the latest.

New York City is certainly a rich place for cultural events!  There is a never-ending choice of things to occupy the mind and body.

This week was the "World's Largest Pillow Fight".  It was held on Wall St - go figure huh.

The police were great sports and let it go for about an hour, and by then most were tuckered out or their pillows deflated.  If you'd like to see another 27 pix of so you can check my facebook page.  Gosh I didn't want to say that - but I guess i did.

A couple weeks ago I lamented about the "demise" of Polaroid with the table of old cameras picture.  Those days are almost history - but there is hope!

This week as I went down to the subway I snapped this Instax photo and thought I'd share a non-digital moment for the picture of the week.

The Instax 200 is Fujifilm's new instant film system.  Plenty of folks are loving it as the new 'roid rage.  All the fun of instant photography is still available!

Hope you have a good weekend!

Brandon

web link for the product - fyi -
http://www.fujifilmusa.com/products/professional_photography/film/fujifilm_instant_films/instax/index.html