Weekly Email 11-26-10

The experience of seeing the Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons blown up on the upper west side is a unique NYC experience.  The throngs of people really make it hard to enjoy it - regardless - we all show up and push through the masses.  Kids getting lost - strollers clogging up the curb, tourists getting annoyed, folks getting claustrophobic - it's a winning combo!
It reminds me of the nature scenes where the penguins all march in a circle to stay warm through the winter.  The crowds are penned in from 77th St to 81st St with no exits from the area around the Museum of Natural History.
Here are some views of the scene.  Next year enter at 82nd St and do a quick walk on 81st and turn around!

Thanksgiving Meal Before and After

There's something special about eating today.  We all know we had too much - but it sure is fun.

Bathroom Shopping

As I travel to many different wedding and event places it is interesting to see how they all deck out the bathroom.  One recent stop at the Westmount had quite the impressive basket of goodies.   They sure are prepared for any mishap or interest.

Look Both Ways

There's an old photo saying which says when you think you have the best picture in front of you - turn around and look behind you.  One way I saw this come into play is in the simple issue of how light effects the way we see the world.  This scene of a table on Broadway is taken looking south towards the sun and north away from the sun.  That 180 degree switch led to the dynamic change in color!  Something to keep in mind when you are out wandering the world.

Weekly Email 11-19-10

This week I got one last glimpse at some amazing fall colors.  While shooting a bride with Neal we had this tree as an amazing background.  The light was perfect and the images are amazing.  Here I am of course highlighting the tree - but you can also see Maria's reaction when she saw how great she looks!

iPhone HDR is a Force to be Reckoned with

The first image is the HDR of a high contrast scene this week.  The camera really did a nice job to smooth out the highlights and shadows and give a well balanced untouched image.

The Day of My Birth

Today is a good day for me to reflect on life.  So far so good I say!  Half way done and the second half is looking good.
I decided to pull a shot from the archive since I was such a stylish kid back then.  Me hanging with the folks in Central Park's Sheep's Meadow.  Circa 1969 or so is my guess.

Midtown NYC

I always love getting new vantage points in NYC.  There are so many various building structures to admire and study.  Here's a view from 54th street and Seventh Ave.

Weekly Email 11-12-10

This week at a performance art dinner and show I noticed a rather large building constructed off to the side of the seating area.  After dinner folks were urged to go into the house for one of the desserts.  The building was covered with cotton candy inside.  Pretty neat concept.  When I got there this guy was actually posing for a photo so he makes it into the pic of the week by chance.

Imagine if you were 8 and you found this place.

NYC and Dogs

I know one of the reasons I couldn't own a dog in NYC is the daily routine of picking up after them.  Just not my thing.

Off to Iraq

Last night the cousins had dinner to wish our best to Ian who is heading off to Iraq soon.  Odd to say good bye for a year and we all hope things go well for him and his troops in that troubled area.

RED Performa Event

Over the weekend I went to a real neat event - the Performa night with a red theme for Soviet Russia.

http://performa-arts.org/blog/the-red-party-saturday-november-6/
The folks who attended were in full red spirit and here are a few choice shots.

Weekly Email 11-5-10

As we know NYC has a diverse make-up and you never know what you are going to find around the next corner.

I love the take off of the cereal killers.  Lucky Charms, Rice Krispies, Honey Nut Cheerios and perhaps another?  It kind of fit with the halloween theme of the week and among the tons of photos - this guy's eyes really stood out.

Bowling in a Warehouse

I love the diversity of NYC.  Where else can you happen upon a bar with an imported set of 40 yr old bowling lanes from Ohio?

Vote 2010

The voting process in NY is a tad cumbersome.  Reading tiny font on two sides of a crowded legal sheet of paper is an interesting process to behold.  I made it through but I suspect later there will be lines at the stations.

Halloween New Orleans Style

New Orleans is truly a unique place.  Walking the streets you see all types!