Archive

miss sunshine

7248953262 2258bc706a o miss sunshine



hug and a warm blanket (or towel)

7161182886 c7335903d2 o hug and a warm blanket (or towel)
This cloudy, damp weather is traveling deep into my bones. Cruising through my photo library I saw this photo that warmed me up.



how not to hold your camera

6987645790 88901edf24 o how not to hold your camera
I’m all about live and let live. But I offer this one tiny piece of advice for the aspiring photographer. For all those thousands of dollars you put into your camera and long lens, it might be a good idea to invest in a camera strap, no matter how cool you might think you look without it.



sporting a certain look

7133730153 e047a8787e o sporting a certain look



space. the final frontier.

6972857236 87d95f02a4 o space. the final frontier.
In honor of the space shuttle’s last flight. (From the archives, my bro imitating a landing on the moon in his own backyard.)



q-tip and a kennedy

7116426429 58ae1414ba o q tip and a kennedy
Yes, a boring posed shot but whatever.



colorful girl

7096582803 52cd0a1b2c o colorful girl



serving wine

7094164921 eb20b408f6 o serving wine



trapped in midtown

6944798438 a4fc44443c o trapped in midtown



bubbly and bows

7088274893 6aa87a8a8c o bubbly and bows



legs

6937796726 fecc9ddb17 o legs



persistent with the pigeons

7071294759 a649943e52 o persistent with the pigeons
My pursuit of capturing the perfect picture of a pigeon continues. I’ll pat myself on the back for taking this with a cell phone and getting some awesome wing placement but the garbage cans kinda mess it all up.



room with a little view

6922877724 94fb02f533 o room with a little view
This was taken from the penthouse of the Gramercy Park Hotel, a gem of a place which hosted a Montblanc reception this morning (who knew they did more than pens?). For more photos of trendy people and jewelry, go to http://guestofaguest.com/new-york/galleries/2012/april/montblanc-press-preview/



I guess you can take my picture

6915660038 10db406ff1 o I guess you can take my picture



bun bun



a fly on the wall

7050604657 fcc6e1fbe6 o a fly on the wall



standing out in the crowd

6899797146 57b0a40eb7 o standing out in the crowd
one from the archives…



pigeon investigation, part two

6878303012 b126dd678e o pigeon investigation, part two



pious pursuit of pigeons

6872558424 3e650c3c11 o pious pursuit of pigeons
Yes, I was in Rome, at the Vatican and what was I doing? Chasing pigeons.



girls just wanna have fun

6864964282 35315a949c o girls just wanna have fun
And fun they had at the Audrey Grace Pop-Up party put on by the talented Small Girls. See more photos on the Guest of a Guest website http://guestofaguest.com/new-york/galleries/2012/march/audrey-grace-pop-up-boutique/!



it’s time for summer whites

7009032935 cc94267c1d o its time for summer whites



lil pup

6859803608 26bb4204bc o lil pup



no choke… this was delicious.

6856988116 6e58dac80b o no choke... this was delicious.
Deep friend artichoke in Rome – highly recommended.



Romeward bound

6831413524 2342728d1e o Romeward bound



picking cactus spines out of a water bottle

6964854029 cae9283b07 o picking cactus spines out of a water bottle
against a stunning back drop, in Tucson, AZ with my bro.



on the right looking for light

6964853661 5757cd9b55 o on the right looking for light
photo by rob ploger



adventures in event photography

6955938573 7f73b5b000 o adventures in event photography



picture purrfect

6800581946 fb7bf58d92 o picture purrfect
On my way out from a shoot last night, I set my camera on the table to put my jacket on and was quite startled to realize the cat on the table was real – it was sitting so perfectly still. I slowly reached my hand out to press the shutter without looking thru the viewfinder and was pleasantly surprised how well the reflections lined up on the table top.



shadows and flowers

6938947653 7aca079647 o shadows and flowers



through the water cooler

6878387595 6e30a9b272 o through the water cooler



it must be love

6872094899 7ce3aee747 o it must be love



owning it

6802020411 9b624c885b o owning it



a parisienne projection

6839171591 7103d64238 o a parisienne projection



shooting with shades

6802019931 444d62bef2 o shooting with shades
the cool way to take a picture.



winter.

6792633547 23457bda06 o winter.



scene on the streets of jersey

6778838319 38fb488307 o scene on the streets of jersey



below bar

6767341135 aa9706dc7b o below bar
and not because of overconsumption. I was just looking for new ways to shoot an event.



I think I ate too much pizza last night.

6762260177 a4c2c77c5a o I think I ate too much pizza last night.



on the move

6757622779 10e45698ac o on the move



posted without comment

6730957975 a7f5a8ac2e o posted without comment



won’t you join us for breakfast?

6730955435 7eaf3cbce5 o wont you join us for breakfast?



time for a coffee break

6720280241 f376ac19cb o time for a coffee break



birds of a feather

6715175525 2bc7d5271e o birds of a feather
How lucky I was to be able to photograph my dear friends Erin and Brian. Their happiness is infectious (I literally jumped up and down when I heard of their engagement). While it was a blast to capture their energy and excitement, I also liked those quieter, unguarded moments.



royal subjects

6689904177 8248d75f82 o royal subjects
At a gallery opening last night I was quite taken by the photographs as well as some of the attendees, and thought the two went well together. If you get a chance, see the show at Danziger Gallery in Chelsea – it is a wonderful collection.



scene from the train

6680610865 d52950c15e o scene from the train



skylark in hibernation

6668219037 aa01a0a288 o skylark in hibernation
Another photo from my recent trip to Wildwood, NJ. For more go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/ploger/sets/72157628707259853/



time for a perky little puppy. just because.

6643445029 a614c83519 o time for a perky little puppy. just because.



wildwood in winter

6636871265 d6115028d6 o wildwood in winter
My friend Christina and I decided to go on a photo adventure in Wildwood, NJ. The locals thought there was nothing there for us to photograph but we thought otherwise.



coney character

6629093647 f95a0cc626 o coney character



a smoke then a swim

6616877781 b18350c836 o a smoke then a swim
at this year’s annual polar bear swim at Coney Island.



alternative water fountain

6603491671 5332cdd162 o alternative water fountain



tis the season

6583244803 341bf0a7ea o tis the season



dreaming of a white christmas

6521332775 7c80fb6738 o dreaming of a white christmas



social climber

6521331405 369a9ba1ae o social climber



more reflections on reflections

6516664721 8e89b00c5e o more reflections on reflections
from the world of Bergdorf.



buck up

6512454875 931b7542e2 o buck up



blonde ambition

6508690101 3c21561b4f o blonde ambition
At another beautiful party with beautiful people.



in the sky with diamonds

6479303235 aa12e7987b o in the sky with diamonds



find the chipmunk

6466761901 acb251e64a o find the chipmunk
(My sad attempt at trying to photograph a chipmunk.)



it’s getting dark way too early

6466765091 0722ce43a3 o its getting dark way too early



take a walk on the wild side

6450481781 ef56a69d50 o take a walk on the wild side
On a whim, my dear friend Lori and I decided to stroll on over to Salon 94 to catch an exhibit by Marilyn Minter. Her large images of shoes and babies splashing in gold and silver paint are gorgeously grotesque. Glad we went.



it’s a wonder

6426135151 34d3001487 o its a wonder
that I even got this shot. lucky.



no floor models sold here…

6420576657 463417ed58 o no floor models sold here...
but I would take a previously owned, well-worn kitty any day.



kitty love bordering on kitty fight

6384535599 893751abed o kitty love bordering on kitty fight



now it’s a party

6377331363 ae440ee5ac o now its a party
After a slow start to an event I was asked to photograph, these two came to the rescue.



tasty treat

6367341137 2fca439fd3 o tasty treat
I believe this is the first photo I’ve posted to my blog taken with my new iPhone. It’s very delicious.



in a fog

6355198169 0d24b6f913 o in a fog
Maybe it’s the cold weather but my camera feels extra heavy these days. Perhaps watching the documentary “Bill Cunningham’s New York” will inspire and feed my creativity…



“what do you mean my hair looks funny?”

6315767182 1ff7cf4cd8 o what do you mean my hair looks funny?



up close and personal

6310520612 d34d702991 o up close and personal



if you got it…

6307347086 5019e7fa9e o if you got it...



love is black and white

6302802562 fffa144ef9 o love is black and white



herbie has it

6288997132 6b96d86071 o herbie has it
I’m not big on shooting concerts but when it’s Herbie Hancock, I’m alright with that.



hair apparent

6280265959 46cda4f0a2 o hair apparent
Beautiful models, great lighting and gorgeous hair – my dream job.



shoe guard

6276808734 2183455e73 o shoe guard



far flung fall fun

6250934707 3ea122f82b o far flung fall fun
Nice tung twister. A good apple was hard to find yesterday, but our persistence paid off (no apples were harmed in the making of this photo… maybe).



resolute in red

6238747854 a367797bf8 o resolute in red
Probably one of the last photos I will take with my trusty original iPhone.



scene in new york

6235115896 7149f1aeea o scene in new york
View from the High Line.



playful reflections

6205378837 ffc3845f08 o playful reflections
Thanks to everyone who came to the Jersey City Artists’ Studio Tour this weekend! And a huge thanks to the lovely Laura for hosting!



directing dog

6176120354 69b37b8230 o directing dog
Once again, in an attempt to get this cute pup’s attention, I take the photo with my hand in the way. I’ll have enough of these photos for a series someday…



rainbow rump

6176120668 e79efa2935 o rainbow rump
A splash of color for a cloudy day.



I’ll be your mirror

6172309173 dea7905bd3 o Ill be your mirror
A friend of mine recently reminded me of a film about photographer Bill Cunningham. In response to those who feel fashion is a frivolity that should be done away with, Bill says, “Fashion is the armor to survive the reality of everyday life.” It’s one of my favorite quotes of his, and as an event photographer, I love nothing more than to walk into a party where individualism is expressed by the clothing people wear.



back to the future

6127219118 cd7224dc0c o back to the future
While I wait for my computer (and photo library) to ‘freshen’ up with upgrades I thought I’d post an iphone photo from a recent foray into my mom’s closet. More posts should be on the way soon…



summer is running away

6153777394 5c91f518fe o summer is running away



by far, the cutest accessory at fashion week

6150398237 9c60f30b91 o by far, the cutest accessory at fashion week



fashion forward

6149129912 b84f53b8f7 o fashion forward
Not many girls can pull off this look, and how grateful I was to come across this lovely girl waiting for the Anna Sui show at fashion week before all the other paparazzi got a hold of her.



badass and beautiful

6145526856 aea81b5e88 o badass and beautiful
What I like in a flower girl.



taking off

6127218728 42b1b29ce3 o taking off
A decade ago your flight plans changed. And while you can’t return, you have landed safely in your Wendy-san’s heart. (Dad and Rob, launching an X-wing fighter during our California days).



morning light via the blackberry and the sun

6127219444 6e9ff61ca8 o morning light via the blackberry and the sun



while you are sleeping

6100139963 136a1fd5ed o while you are sleeping
What kitties do at night.



standstill

6104590363 251f4e4678 o standstill



party fail

6104590145 caab266d71 o party fail
The other night I was asked to shoot the arrival of Kim Kardashian (and new hubby) walking into their 2nd post wedding party. The fans, my fellow photographers and I waited for their arrival. And waited. Three hours later, I left and got a beer. No one got the shot.



kitty love

6100685100 6148a72207 o kitty love



the calm after the storm

6096437841 bf764dbb33 o the calm after the storm
A relaxing day spent courtside at Arthur Ashe stadium.



hurricane blues and greens

6090211820 273b6367b2 o hurricane blues and greens



storm watch

6078039330 4d0a4026e7 o storm watch
It was getting a little dull around here without any more exploding transformers or earthquakes.



patio abstract

6077499075 e23dca0694 o patio abstract



serenity in the skies

6073442563 b76a525bff o serenity in the skies
spectacular display from the nation’s capitol where things have been a little ‘shaky.’



street surfin’

6057723956 da36973f4b o street surfin
More rain is in the forecast!



photo fail

6054168550 87afcbe350 o photo fail
I temporarily lost my photo-taking abilities (and my sobriety) on our wine tour through the North Fork a couple weekends ago.



raining cats and a doggie

6045935575 abc4db93bc o raining cats and a doggie



cloudy with a chance of smoke

6046484618 ea390e6016 o cloudy with a chance of smoke
Exciting times in the hood, yesterday. In the middle of a torrential rain storm, the main transformer underneath our street basically exploded and burned for hours. Good excuse to go see a movie and eat out.



a blast from the past…

6026751936 fbf77a1293 o a blast from the past...
taken only last week.



demure with daisies

6002697751 1c104c7120 o demure with daisies



fleeting and fabulous

5994271582 5c8fee00b3 o fleeting and fabulous



me, again

5988746804 96e6803f78 o me, again
When I am fresh out of subjects, and it’s just my iPhone and me, well, it’s time for a little narcissism.



catching whit

5982417243 d9369338b9 o catching whit
There are many facets to a person – particularly someone as multi-talented as Whitney. But how does a photographer capture, in one photo, the truest essence of a person, without imparting one’s own influence on the subject? A facial expression can change in a millisecond – completely altering the mood of the photo. And something about posed photos more often than not, look fake – particularly for the ‘industry standard’ head shot. Of course the lighting, environment and framing all have to jive too. Maybe this isn’t The One shot but I see a lot in this that says Whitney.



so bad, so good

5977649699 6b3785cc83 o so bad, so good
I know the streets of New York would destroy these shoes (and probably my feet) but, alas, these sinful heels ‘somehow’ found their way into my heart and onto my feet.



fighting the heat effectively

5971782538 51e0c43f68 o fighting the heat effectively



hot stuff!

5971783046 94c4bc3903 o hot stuff!
Congrats to Paul and Marcos for winning 3rd place in the Most Popular category for their Zia Dog – a hot dog on a buttered corn tortilla, topped with corn salsa, roasted pork, honey and highly prized new mexican chili flown in specially for the event from the Salazar Ranch in New Mexico.



cute but deadly

5958297421 ec38aa3096 o cute but deadly
Ernie’s paw.



graphically speaking

5958857366 52d54b7ce0 o graphically speaking
I sometimes wonder how much my experience in graphic design affects my photography. I like this quote by photographer Albert Watson who says, “There is a lot of similarity between graphics and photography because both disciplines tend to work with, and within a rectangle.” (or square, in this bathroom still life)



summer is flying by

5954673353 c0e55eee7d o summer is flying by
much like this puppy.



where there’s heat, there’s fire

5952313116 9526317106 o where theres heat, theres fire



glow in the dark

5940917378 978a275ea5 o glow in the dark
Not the most interesting party photo but it was fun to let the cell phone illuminate this lovely girl’s face rather than my flash at last night’s Casa La Femme party.



pretty in pink and bubbles

5910468936 d3f0f29a45 o pretty in pink and bubbles



sitting sweetly in the shade

5916902000 3771f55d02 o sitting sweetly in the shade



a tough subject

5927104326 1a5abee886 o a tough subject
You’d think it’d be easy photographing the wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube man. It’s not.



maiden in the shade

5926543417 2cd2988489 o maiden in the shade
Hats were a good call during this outdoor concert last Saturday. For more photos of hipsters in the heat (in heat?) go to http://guestofaguest.com/nightlife/best-2k/best-20-i-ever-spent-jelly-topman-kick-off-rock-beach



peeping pups

5916902410 5c8fb61ef6 o peeping pups



cat days of summer

5910468584 1af93f0e6e o cat days of summer



a man and his cat

5909910419 00541fe9aa o a man and his cat
I dig this portrait of Patrick and his kitty, Clementine, forging ahead with their relationship.



miriam as muse

5905149360 2b181d81c6 o miriam as muse



what I see first thing in the morning

5891520156 1b001cb572 o what I see first thing in the morning



why does he keep calling me?

5888460391 475e57418a o why does he keep calling me?



bunny wants a drink

best use of eyeshadow at the Pride parade

5877066951 40660a6e40 o best use of eyeshadow at the Pride parade



pole dancing

5877067833 52662745a1 o pole dancing



the rainbow glows from the empire state

5870019526 39c4bdf6c5 o the rainbow glows from the empire state



a little something from the animal kingdom

5866183617 ff95f0e0ac o a little something from the animal kingdom



posting, just because.

5863062397 7fa1a13db1 o posting, just because.



crossing from one side to the other

5860109392 f9e5e94538 o crossing from one side to the other
and doing it in style. From City Hall, to Shake Shack to the Lamb’s Club – Tricia and Scottbabe know how it’s done. Congrats to a most handsome and loving couple.



tiger tamer

5853636364 6c4ae47cc9 o tiger tamer



the little mermaid

5850972130 85ee4a79a4 o the little mermaid
The Mermaid Parade seems to double in size (the number of photographers triple) every year but that hasn’t kept me away. It is a wonderful thing to see – big or little.



cloud spotting from the train

5842395119 b9078608c4 o cloud spotting from the train



when in manhattan…

5833554703 605ac4eca1 o when in manhattan...



down time at a shoot

5830077269 2276de894f o down time at a shoot



pointing in the right direction

5822532926 42158ff86f o pointing in the right direction



how the cards fall

5814671001 5344d2bb7b o how the cards fall



say cheese

5804619167 b4592dbcbb o say cheese



putting on a show

5804619591 722db31d77 o putting on a show
The other night I went to an art opening where the attendees were more fascinating than the art hanging on the walls.



old and the beautiful

5790576367 9b7c8b113b o old and the beautiful
I spotted a beautiful butterfly the other day and it reminded me of this photo I took a few years ago at Coney Island.



a rare opportunity

5790577311 3a4848de5a o a rare opportunity
For a change, I was the party-goer and not the photographer. Paris and friends were debuting her new show on Oxygen, er something. I was just happy with my free drink and stunning views of Manhattan from the top of the Gansevoort Hotel. For more bad iPhone photos of Wendy’s night off, go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/ploger/sets/72157626743974481/



looking for spring

5782415997 14ed0d2839 o looking for spring
Feels like we’ve jumped straight in to summer.



on the small screen

5782969786 cd5a43cedf o on the small screen
Just following up with my previous post – I found that Woodlene’s photo translates well, even on this very tiny screen shot of my photo blog bookmarked on my iPhone.



the sun shines on woodlene

5768781183 0c7857fbb0 o the sun shines on woodlene
Thanks to the beautiful Woodlene and her super hubby, Joseph, for an awesome shoot today!



soaking in the sun

5758201897 86965c3400 o soaking in the sun



strange bird

5740209201 752d295c55 o strange bird



is that the sun I see?

5737188209 5404247017 o is that the sun I see?



an umbrella: c’est necessaire

5726725841 4cd2951b49 o an umbrella: cest necessaire



an american in paris

5722819790 2fbb196ba6 o an american in paris



paris in spring

5717306000 513c0bde72 o paris in spring



paris calling

5690255203 241641defb o paris calling
I must answer.



Kristen, Chelsea and… me?

5686741991 38205e8ffc o Kristen, Chelsea and... me?
I feel right at home shooting on the street but the red carpet, well, not really my thing. Kind of hard to pass on an opportunity like this, tho. And the gathering was for a really great cause. Friendfactor, an organization which supports the rights of lesbian, gay, bi and trans, are asking folks to set up a Friend-setter page on their website, http://www.friendfactor.org/ to help raise awareness.



cheese

5680434869 32d9dd7dde o cheese



night at the museum

5670248728 79f4a19c9f o night at the museum
I arrived at last evening’s event at the Natural History Museum a little tired and uninspired. Three hours later, I had blown through one of my memory cards (which I rarely do) and walked away feeling energized and very satisfied. That is what photography does to me. For more photos from last night’s Natural History Museum’s dance party, check out http://guestofaguest.com/events/guests-put-on-their-wildest-hats-leopard-print-for-the-american-museum-of-natural-history-dance.



coupling

5657821461 1723bd89e1 o coupling



pretty and not famous

5657820821 1cd3bfbf86 o pretty and not famous
It was another night of attempting to take the perfect picture of celebs like De Niro and Brody – eye contact and full body shot. Ha. Imagine vertically- and equipment challenged blonde (me) standing on a tiny stool behind a mob of seasoned red carpet shooters. So, this woman gets out of her limo/suv and one of the (dude) photogs is like, “Who is she?” and another responded, “Who cares. She’s hot.” Can’t really argue with that. For more attempted celeb shots of Naomi Watts, Zach Braff, etc., check out Guest of a Guest at http://guestofaguest.com/tribeca-film-festival/celebs-put-on-their-best-for-chanel-tribeca-film-festival-dinner .



legs crossing

5640180197 e70f70e5cb o legs crossing



up close and impersonal

5643447349 2cbdaa011e o up close and impersonal
Sure it’s cool to see famous peeps in the flesh but the thrill lasts for about a second particularly when surrounded by 20+ photographers all vying for the same shot. For more celeb shots from the Tribeca Film Festival last evening, check out http://guestofaguest.com/galleries/2011/4/tribeca-film-festival-karl-lagerfeld-rachel-bilson/468241/



on the street

5640179743 666fc1b65c o on the street
Water towers – another NY fixation.



looking back

5634980794 2edd4662be o looking back
I’ve been reading a lot on the history of NYC and this photo I took a few months back sort of has that blast from the past look.



great idea

5632327181 6e77db1d35 o great idea
poor execution on this self portrait. I wanted it to work so badly. If you look closely, that little rectangle is my iPhone (on my lap) reflected on the mirrored ceiling of a hotel lobby.



not quite rosey

5623015116 7756444247 o not quite rosey
Spring keeps taking one step forward and two back.



photographing beauty

5612578313 138cfa3367 o photographing beauty
Last evening I saw and photographed a lot of beautiful people but perhaps the most beautiful sight of all was Bill Cunningham riding off to the next event on his bike. To get a closer look at a most inspirational and kind soul go see the documentary Bill Cunningham New York http://www.zeitgeistfilms.com/billcunninghamnewyork/trailer.html. Go. Or Netflix it.



sammie sweetheart

5607166710 b74e7181e8 o sammie sweetheart



two girls and a guy (safe for work)

5598366862 970954b083 o two girls and a guy (safe for work)



girls

5598340930 46382a1315 o girls



hope

5596612572 7ed579dc6a o hope
I think Frances wants warmer weather too.



finding shelter

5580425900 9bc614bef9 o finding shelter
I agree with my friend, Diane, who says she’d like to throw her winter coat in the garbage.



pretty, kind-of-drunk girl (and my hand)

5583454692 ac3448f06a o pretty, kind of drunk girl (and my hand)
Another note to self: make sure when I’m trying to get someone’s attention my hand isn’t in the frame of the photo.



pillow fight

5582867951 ca49de8d72 o pillow fight
Note to self: Don’t place yourself in the middle of a pillow fight with an expensive camera. Or pricey glasses. Both came out miraculously unscathed. But I’ll be plucking feathers for a very long time.



no joke

5580425682 3963659e15 o no joke
This flower is real – colors and everything (spotted at the New York Botanical Garden’s orchid show).



boys on film

5576450637 0b3d99fe1a o boys on film
Yesterday I photographed beautiful flowers at the Botanical Gardens and Duran Duran. Not a bad day. For more Duran Duran and fun party pics check out the Guest of a Guest website.



double take

5565870933 c856bfbf89 o double take
Just something I’m looking out for these days – a combination of interior and exterior shots. Unfortunately I only had my iPhone (and it’s the original – soooo old!) but I think I will have to revisit this site and take another look at this abandoned space in midtown through a better lens.



keeping some distance

5561347175 778c537818 o keeping some distance
I often hear that a photographer should always get closer to the subject, both physically and psychologically. The results are typically more interesting and engaging. While I agree and strive to do just that, I am also a firm believer in some breathing room, depending on the image one wants to create. Space around the subject can be just as important to the story and/or mood of the image. Just as in graphic design, white or negative space can be an integral and effective part to what takes place inside the frame.



a doggie

5566449202 452c9cf578 o a doggie



flushing things out

5561934210 5a23776465 o flushing things out
This cold weather belongs in the can.



a quiet moment

5559642754 d91ec06583 o a quiet moment



another mousy down

5552916085 6862a9ecf6 o another mousy down



cool cloud formation or spaceship?

5549580473 810b987314 o cool cloud formation or spaceship?



taking a hard look

5546989560 051352d925 o taking a hard look
Never before have I looked so critically at my work. I’m not as satisfied with my images as I used to be. It is clearer to me now what makes an image successful, and I wonder if I can make my images better. If not, it’s a little scary because I have to ask myself if this art will fulfill me. Ultimately, I think I will come out ahead – photography still feeds me so I will keep moving forward. (Thanks to Andrea, left, and Johanna for working w me last Saturday. Photography allows me to meet amazing people like the two of them, so why would I ever want to stop?)



birds of a feather

5537487479 4b2ba17d1e o birds of a feather



face lift

5535451115 fc5ff59519 o face lift
Yes, a bit narcissistic with the self portraiture, but I love how these iPhone apps hide the lines.



the other side of the world

5532063816 6a42be60ca o the other side of the world
Thinking of one of the most beautiful countries I’ve been to.



shoes

5529229141 77028a2124 o shoes
an obsession.



enduring

5525623307 c4abffd7ff o enduring
This photo stands out for me for many reasons. There’s a lot that’s off about it – her expression, my shadow, maybe the framing is all a little uncomfortable. The end of the day is nearing, she’s alone with her best friend and lover. It has a timeless quality – raw beauty in a tough climate (actually she’s just enduring a serious hangover).



mmmm donuts

5520361480 7f7ca97646 o mmmm donuts
at Dough in Brooklyn.



doing the do

5517780683 64807672c9 o doing the do
I’m not splitting hairs by saying they win the cutest-couple-attending-an-art-opening award.



reflections on one workshop

5514933526 04d7742738 o reflections on one workshop
Taking pictures of dogs, reflections and particularly babies, very bad. Meeting some amazing students who taught me just as much as the instructor, most valuable. What I learned from myself, be who you want to be and take the pictures that make you happy.



waiting for my flight…

5478465211 067e0917fc o waiting for my flight...



dumpster diver

5470681981 9109061f4d o dumpster diver



lighting up in good light

5471272720 8fa3d6e343 o lighting up in good light



waiting in line

5466204164 665f65fcea o waiting in line



brush with fame

5450545759 5061e5043a o brush with fame
So, I had a camera, and a famous person was within close proximity – Karolina Kurkova, a well-known model in the industry (gawd, she’s more gorgeous in real life, if that’s possible). There were like 30 tall men with cameras in front of me catching the posed shots. Being vertically challenged, I just held my camera above my head and tried to get something different.



sophisticated lady

5456428126 da92d8a632 o sophisticated lady



the money shot

5454491916 e30254d911 o the money shot



if you have an itch…

5451155458 fe0e0529e4 o if you have an itch...



mercedes benz fashion week, ny, 2011

5446139519 500a1c5d5d o mercedes benz fashion week, ny, 2011
the photo doesn’t really need a title since it shows all that info anyway – kind of a lucky shot.



and now for something completely different

5443982382 7e42d72505 o and now for something completely different
Not something one would normally expect to see in a suburb of Phoenix, but definitely a treat to meet Clyde, the camel.



so far away

5419780256 060b3033a2 o so far away
This marks my 1,000th blog post!!!!! Perfect time to take a short break. Tomorrow I’m off again – this time to the southwest where many good photo ops are to be had (although my heart shall remain in Brooklyn).



caught

5419107151 fdc89ff119 o caught
while freshening up my street photography skills.



change in latitude

5412551538 5447110a80 o change in latitude



as my great aunt was known to say, Isn’t this goddamn snow beautiful?

5393556882 530e1d9e43 o as my great aunt was known to say, Isnt this goddamn snow beautiful?



how one knows they’re in a post office in brooklyn

5391312566 bd90077ed2 o how one knows theyre in a post office in brooklyn



all that glitters

5388390527 203881816c o all that glitters
is pink.



jumping through the air with the greatest of ease

5383983595 2ca1a33a06 o jumping through the air with the greatest of ease



mid spin

5370653540 db8841fb61 o mid spin
It’s one of those moments I’ve been trying to capture – the head spin – and I lucked out on this one.



aiming high

5370653808 d892e0e8e8 o aiming high



city sidewalks

5364358146 0ba5eddd73 o city sidewalks



head flip

5363747529 3591997783 o head flip



snow daze

5352753875 8611e89640 o snow daze



fractured

5352753389 569488363a o fractured
Self portrait courtesy of the Met.



a toy story

5348876727 c5c3c4272b o a toy story
in central park



I don’t want to see you go

5346197398 8f4021d190 o I dont want to see you go



lone rider

5343312694 f4ac1fa5d7 o lone rider



warm fuzzies on the subway

5334140344 77c4c8fbeb o warm fuzzies on the subway
Sure the trains are often late and/or contain some unsavory smells but as I was riding home last night I actually felt like the subway was my home away from home – me and a variety of folks just hanging out, no judgement, reading their paper or cell phone. It was very comforting.



the hard truth

5327232273 ea185a8c78 o the hard truth



sexy woman on a mission

5321288166 c9704e4820 o sexy woman on a mission



pink

5321287820 37c782c32e o pink



tough girl

5317122946 da123b8169 o tough girl



wet and wild

5313221815 d1297662a9 o wet and wild
Ah, the Polar Bear Swim. A terrific way to bring in the New Year – if one feels so inclined.



thrill of the hunt

5310283952 fb64d29cd0 o thrill of the hunt
Thanks to Miriam’s wonderful suggestion, we took our cameras to the streets (and department stores) of Manhattan satisfying my need to capture life as I see it.



re building

5302946063 c83cda6c8e o re building
I tire of snow talk and prefer to focus on one of my favorite buildings.



storm on deck

5297586534 66a41bf4fc o storm on deck
Last Sunday night, anyway.



a little breezy

5296988803 716c0d5698 o a little breezy



snow white

5294338601 6feddf5951 o snow white
With the blizzard on our heels, we made it home to the kitties just in time. Safe travels for all.



shoppers de light

5287512963 3b0b16f670 o shoppers de light
in Grand Central Terminal



I want warm weather. now.

5285876456 30828a5baf o I want warm weather. now.



iced

5277736920 83052434de o iced
If DC does anything fast it’s to completely shut down with a light snow fall.



dog’s eye view

5263032411 1f6c163c0a o dogs eye view



bundled blonde

5263032179 40c6f5a382 o bundled blonde



nosey

5260670267 4b855c7c02 o nosey



lunch time

5258238146 21aaacf18e o lunch time
UTZ chips, mortadella sub from City Sub (hot and toasty), pickles and a cream soda to wash it down.



ernie again

5249207174 6daa27f2a0 o ernie again



wall flower

5244768750 4528403175 o wall flower
I can identify with the following quote which I think pairs nicely with this photo I took recently… “I am not a reporter. I prefer indefinite situations. My aim is to photograph the simple reality of things with both distance and empathy.” – Thierry Girard, Street Photographer



dudes not working it

5238179107 b4e2aa2f25 o dudes not working it
For my friend Becky.



some holiday cheer

5238354819 045f9549be o some holiday cheer
at chelsea market



new series calling

5226086199 63992801be o new series calling
iPhone photos? Fine art? Why not. Sure, one can’t make over sized prints with them… yet. But who has the space anyway in a NYC apartment? My new series, New York Calling is “on the line” and ready to be viewed. And purchased. If you’re looking for a holiday gift for yourself or a loved one, any of these pics can be yours for the special price of $40 (already matted and ready for a standard frame). www.wendyploger.com



brightening things up with a smile

5226681024 9d71ef3490 o brightening things up with a smile



going out on a ledge

5224530286 690a689fce o going out on a ledge
but I’m guessing someone in our hood had a good time.



incredibly fantastic

5221932234 4caaea75fa o incredibly fantastic
Ben Marra, a very talented dude, has just released his latest comic, “The Incredibly Fantastic Adventures of Maureen Dowd” (a work of satire and fiction) http://benjaminmarra.com/index.html. Imagine this ruler in Ben’s hand as a sword along with some amazing graphics in the background and you have one awesome author’s photo as seen in the back page of his latest masterpiece.



spicing things up

5218736705 7c1f549d38 o spicing things up



in the hot seat

5212186255 bc60ac07d9 o in the hot seat
with a cold drink



somewhere in pa.

5212210169 825fc6ce32 o somewhere in pa.



magical light, photo not so magical

5201675316 c9d51320de o magical light, photo not so magical
It’s subtle, but the light here to me was absolutely gorgeous. I think it was a combination of the early morning sun filtering through the trees of Central Park from one side, and the reflection of the sun off the high rise buildings gently lighting everything else. When I see this kind of light, I’ll just start shooting and hope it translates through the camera.



posted without comment

5198616794 f604302602 o posted without comment



blow out

5192479481 ff1bdb2c79 o blow out
Our original plans for a shoot in Central Park quickly changed due to the cold and wind. But that didn’t stop David and me from finding other creative outlets.



hamming it up with some wine

5190675780 fa66c1111f o hamming it up with some wine
She was not camera shy but camera sly.



pickle pusher

5181852465 43da9e5770 o pickle pusher
Selling pickles is tough, but someone’s gotta do it.



I was walking down the street one day

5179765381 01dd9e0c31 o I was walking down the street one day
Plain ol’ iPhone photo, no filters or tricks, plus one beautiful neighborhood in Brooklyn.



jambon 2

5172861267 01461d7205 o jambon 2



my very own NY iphone photo tour coming soon

5169148203 9812765cd7 o my very own NY iphone photo tour coming soon
So I’m in the middle of prepping a new series for my website that will be photos of NY taken with my iPhone. Yesterday, I see this… http://gawker.com/5687710/an-iphone-photo-tour-of-new-york?skyline=true&s=i Ah, well, someone got there first. Definitely not stopping me, tho.



baby’s got blue eyes

5168000140 97877efed0 o babys got blue eyes



pensive

5149198321 59c48b3c52 o pensive



pigs in blanket

5162149686 8a69b7f8d7 o pigs in blanket
Fette Sau in the fall warms the belly.



passing by

5158791692 2cd75b6560 o passing by
“I believe that the photographer’s job is to cut a frame-sized slice out of the world around him, so faithfully and honestly that if he were to put it back, life and the world would begin to move again without stumble.” – Quote by Raghu Rai, Street Photographer, from the awesome book, Street Photography Now. And how lucky that I live so close to the path of the NYC marathon!



last name Guy, but she is all girl

5156310280 a8d0083f0f o last name Guy, but she is all girl
Thanks to Leah for a great shoot on Saturday!



natural reflection

5149164673 397e8b9cfa o natural reflection
I looked at a lot of concrete today so this is a nice break.



portrait of who

5125800585 1ffff753e1 o portrait of who
I have been thinking a lot about portraits these days – it’s what I love to photograph most. But what makes a portrait mine? Are my portraits more about lighting? Environment? Personality? I feel like the trend now is the straight on serious stare, which I like, but it’s not exactly me. Others may like it because it’s in style. Is the picture about me or the subject or both? It’s definitely a collaboration, and the successful photo likely captures the essence of both parties. But is this a Wendy photo? And what does that even mean? And does it matter? Probably getting in too deep here…



picked off

5139724532 0b4d94ddab o picked off
I just read this morning that the game, Shoot the Freak, a Coney Island staple, has 15 days to leave the park, never to return.



scary! and pink?

5137056722 65dbfa58e3 o scary! and pink?



beacon

5124453413 9caea52da2 o beacon
The Empire State Building never fails to inspire me. And it’s inspiring me to upgrade my camera-uh, I mean, my phone. Best to view this photo at a tiny size.



puddle pundit

5121723194 2654b87d5c o puddle pundit
This puddle says it’s a cloudy day in Manhattan.



fall

5117220247 3c5a367d8e o fall



a leopard ‘spotting’ in nyc

5113771481 8e0caa115c o a leopard spotting in nyc
More from the animal kingdom, the natural history museum and my iPhone.



heart officially melted

5104673895 1dd1c12fcb o heart officially melted



staring contest

5103200258 d105938640 o staring contest
They win.



donut diaries

5100739374 df2e50b272 o donut diaries
Oh Top Pot, how I love thee.



in-flight entertainment

5095631822 7d40176e46 o in flight entertainment



high line highlight

5080831549 db6776e14d o high line highlight
The High Line park is so beautiful on it’s own but what makes the experience more fulfilling is the view afforded by it.



sharp dressed man

5075685664 e8d7eb9ac2 o sharp dressed man



he’s got the look

5071689672 31c815989a o hes got the look
David and my camera became fast friends.



yes

5065061227 df99105fe7 o yes



good taste

5062943756 f957312251 o good taste
I like what this guy has on tv.



sun shower

5060129909 936fe7529e o sun shower



unleash the hound

5058456439 1eb29eeb06 o unleash the hound
Sure the woman in the trench was beautiful, but the dog stole the show during a photo shoot in Grand Central today.



this ship has sailed

5054578858 47fbf9a4d8 o this ship has sailed
And now it’s a restaurant in Philly.



glee

5051048391 dfc83e992e o glee
Thanks to everyone who came out to Jersey City this weekend! And a very special thank you to Laura for allowing me to showcase my photography in her gorgeous home. I couldn’t have asked for a better venue or a more generous and beautiful host.



don’t get caught with your pants down

5034758482 662d5b3442 o dont get caught with your pants down



summer hangs on

5034758572 03cc6fac29 o summer hangs on



the moment presents itself

5029985396 c817b2e8e9 o the moment presents itself
It’s that one amazing photo among hundreds of so-so’s that keeps me hungry for more. And I can never predict when that will happen.



pounding the pavement

5020812638 e5b997304f o pounding the pavement



into the mouths of babes

5015444397 282b6e1290 o into the mouths of babes
A close look at my friend’s dog, Rocket.



back in black

5002304984 47a85964be o back in black
It was a colorful night backstage at Williamsburg Fashion Weekend which made this chiseled dude stand out even more.



doppler 100,000

4998145089 4accfc3aa9 o doppler 100,000
Tornado. In Brooklyn. Well, not confirmed, but winds clocked at 100 mph last night seemed to point towards a significant weather event. Cats and I were under the bed.



a horse of course

4996221606 ddb58e0d41 o a horse of course
An unusual sight in midtown.



street beat

4992798397 e2c47387e4 o street beat
Exercising the ol’ portrait muscles today with aspiring actor, Chris.



rise and shine

4985975767 41cb5e751e o rise and shine
and caffeinate.



the past is present

4980861377 6d98083a51 o the past is present
Today, like any day, is a day of remembrance.



the world is in new york

4964847486 115bdc4635 o the world is in new york
Something I stumbled upon while walking through Williamsburg, Brooklyn, the other night. Just posting for some positive NY publicity after The Onion’s wildly popular (and funny) article…http://www.theonion.com/articles/84-million-new-yorkers-suddenly-realize-new-york-c,18003/



weathering the storm

4953660825 8e7b21ef98 o weathering the storm
Safe travels for all this holiday weekend.



some local color

4949626714 7d90c5c8d3 o some local color
If you dare, look closely on the right hand side of the photo for a little extra exposure.



sunday

4940181594 346e7067e3 o sunday



picture perfect

4932181474 469833951d o picture perfect
It was movie night at the Brooklyn Bridge Park. The weather was ideal, the movie was Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, the view of the Manhattan skyline was sparkling, and my friends, equally so.



end of summer, end of caterpillar

4927762082 057602d573 o end of summer, end of caterpillar
Last week I was completely fascinated by this exotic creature on our tomato plants. I would check on this little guy everyday and actually became emotionally attached to it, although a bit curious as to why it wasn’t doing very much. Turns out, with some help from the internets, these cute little guys kill tomato plants. And the cute little white things on the caterpillar? They are wasp eggs which use the caterpillar as an all-you-can-eat buffet. I am sad but I understand.



what was

4923937163 3c508220e3 o what was
A recent pick up at the local flea market, this photo had me the second I laid eyes on it. It’s a snap shot of my neighborhood in Brooklyn, perhaps taken in the 50s or 60s. The most recognizable aspect is the Williamsburg Bank on the far left. Of course present day Brooklyn would show a skyline filled with buildings. The rest of the photo is just an amazing snap shot of history – from the sunlight on the guy’s back, to the run down building which houses an old fish market. I do believe the image was burned (overexposed) in the dark room in order to enhance the market as it is unusually lighter in that area of the photo. And of course the kid left alone on the sidewalk with an extra stroller makes the photo that much more intriguing. It was worth the $5. Photographer unknown.



start with the end

4920028958 8bcee3d753 o start with the end
Your Monday morning wake-up photo.



therein lies the rub

4910683233 8809b8f3b2 o therein lies the rub
for the next batch of meat at our fav bbq joint, Fette Sau.



summer in the city

4904862135 641fb9d75b o summer in the city
dressing so fine and looking so pretty



continuing down the passage way

4905452956 7f52a177f8 o continuing down the passage way
Even the alleyways in Cooperstown, NY look picturesque. This marks my 900th blog post.



soft self

4898062811 58500fbb81 o soft self



defying age and gravity (temporarily)

4898082697 7ba34f9e36 o defying age and gravity (temporarily)
Happy birthday my love!



you can go with this or you can go with that

4838377386 a0f6f221e0 o you can go with this or you can go with that
I’ve been thinking a lot about editing and how important it is. I’ve been told, and would tend to agree, that a photographer has to be just as good at editing their own work as they are at photography. But it can be an extremely difficult thing to do… and is it better to have someone else edit your work? Someone who has a completely unbiased perspective? I took about 5 pics of this scene above but had to pick one. This routine is common for most of my blog posts. It’s definitely good practice.



reflections of marriage

4881927357 81354bd32b o reflections of marriage
Agnes and Lucas said “tak” (“yes” in english) on a lovely summer day in Manhattan. Congratulations!



on a court far, far away

4876011561 bde4fdac4b o on a court far, far away
A week ago I was in DC watching some awesome tennis at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic, thanks to my friend Jo. Has it really been a week already?



faux palm trees and a blimp

4872149260 0dc7d7f2be o faux palm trees and a blimp
spotted at Governors Island last eve.



the same night in bangkok

4864393648 598ace41ae o the same night in bangkok



one night in bankok

4864393772 5a67fae23e o one night in bankok
from the archives – plus I can’t get that song out of my head



spinning a tale

4861739960 6a1e258a49 o spinning a tale
I was definitely psyched to get this shot – little Rory is a fast moving girl.



silly and not so silly

4858323828 641eca6c64 o silly and not so silly



sidewalk style

4838397212 8cbbe4e7d8 o sidewalk style
Hitting the streets I spotted this lovely lady. I think she falls into the ‘working it’ category, as my friend Becky might say.



doglet

4837764515 46baf635e0 o doglet



courtside

4834563493 5d1c01db3d o courtside
Having found a willing tennis partner in Jane, I’m back on the courts with the east river on one side, the Williamsburg Bridge on another (pictured) and the FDR Drive on a third. So there are some cars around and one kind of feels like they’ve smoked a pack of cigs in the space of two hours but you can’t beat the grand scenery.



adaptation

4828396643 37f0d6ed1e o adaptation
Where there is a will and a disposable grill, there is a way. Sidewalk veggies and a nice pinot grigio made for a pleasant summer meal.



can’t get enough

4820989343 80fde61c39 o cant get enough
of the Empire State Building or this cool iPhone app.



who’s that girl

4814774441 61b8e3e524 o whos that girl



easy on the eyes and the profession

4809154253 89e541dc81 o easy on the eyes and the profession
I had the distinct pleasure of photographing the lovely Laura this weekend. And what I do is called work?



stylish, savvy, sophisticated, sexy…

4793963335 01efec4a50 o stylish, savvy, sophisticated, sexy...
and mad. Mad Men, that is. In one week, it begins again.



kind of hazy

4794595788 0b28fcf706 o kind of hazy
The sun came back out today but it’s hard to tell through such dirty windows.



berry sweet

4793963209 b9f6aa880d o berry sweet
One way to get your daily fruit share.



buddies

4780762514 2591c4aed4 o buddies



summer is gold

4783052811 06f0185ec8 o summer is gold
Another favorite from the Mermaid Parade – expresses nicely how I feel about summer.



I’m on a boat

4780762640 43ff8f40e3 o Im on a boat
Another NY icon photographed yesterday from the Staten Island Ferry on the way to a minor league game. Major fun.



empire state of intoxication…

4777010101 b197236a6e o empire state of intoxication...
after a couple of glasses of wine.



a nyc sunset

4765372774 505761a1b0 o a nyc sunset



phoning it in

4768878816 79381063bf o phoning it in
It’s weird to see 3 digits for NY weather on the iPhone. Tucson, sure. Good day to hang with the AC.



crab wars

4764737375 c996eed28e o crab wars
We won.



happy birthday

4754312349 ed158c39fb o happy birthday
In Philly last weekend a friend pointed out this amazing costume shop, nestled within the birthplace of America’s independence.



a beautiful day in the neighborhood

4752705779 235039ce40 o a beautiful day in the neighborhood
as Mr. Rogers might say



standing in the middle of a situation

4749322447 050ceb9574 o standing in the middle of a situation
My friend Maria checks her cell phone in between two interested parties.



a perfect saturday afternoon

4746142595 74bf355fe4 o a perfect saturday afternoon



getting a tan

4742659816 9e86605f94 o getting a tan



more where that came from

take a walk on the wild side

4731472223 ddcc404cee o take a walk on the wild side



little mermaid

4727882826 42a6616976 o little mermaid



good coverage

4725028804 bf41412d45 o good coverage
I probably had the better view of this mermaid applying suntan lotion but at least she was ‘covered from behind’ by another admirer.



diamond in the rough

4719443054 157be498ea o diamond in the rough
Yesterday at the annual Mermaid Parade, I saw all shapes and sizes, tall, short, young, old and this gem.



same but different

4709351907 baf88cd221 o same but different
Same subject photographed two ways – one with an iPhone, one with my ‘good’ camera. It’s tough to pick a fav but interesting to see them together. I do wonder if photos I take with these fun iPhone apps diminish, or cover up my distinct style as a photographer by distracting the viewer with a lot of special effects I don’t have control over. Something for me to ponder, I guess.



her pleasure, and mine

4706619666 4b9c5c3308 o her pleasure, and mine
So many photos in the art world seem so serious these days. My response? The photo above. Today’s post was inspired by this pleasing collection of photos… http://todayspictures.slate.com/20100616/ (thanks, Paul)



justifying this pairing

4699369287 edd3a7f06a o justifying this pairing
What is it about this pairing that I think makes it work? Well, there are the visual similarities – light/pale yellows against darker backgrounds, the flower is facing the same way the gent is, his hair is kind of ‘flowery’ looking. Beyond that, I see a beautiful flower just past it’s prime, compared to the guy who is alone, pretty and slightly askew in his getup. There is a pensiveness and moment of quiet between the two. So is this pairing ultimately successful? I’m still not sure.



speaking my language

4699369551 5a90aff2cb o speaking my language
Sure, a nice pose and smile are always welcome but what I’m finding equally enjoyable are the simple gestures and language the human body speaks.



profile pics

4690321491 dea630f28b o profile pics
Taking yesterday’s photo 2 steps further.



fur in the frame

4686294395 cb7cebec30 o fur in the frame



easy rider

4661264583 884bb24d00 o easy rider
Another Rolling Thunder participant.



mouse and a moustache

4679015940 cd47ac388f o mouse and a moustache
Coney Island never disappoints.



a butterfly flies in brooklyn

4671796385 4e09635f7b o a butterfly flies in brooklyn



radio city,

4645876004 2e36169dec o radio city,
beautiful city.



ghost rider

4665836301 2f82266fec o ghost rider
Just getting fancy with the iPhone.



good looking guy at wine bar

4661885230 7e317fac0f o good looking guy at wine bar
Paul, thankfully, puts up with my incessant picture-taking.



sunny with a good chance of thunder

4656649221 93d470d7b3 o sunny with a good chance of thunder
It was a hot and humid day as thousands of decorated folks and their motorcycles gathered at the Pentagon for the annual run of Rolling Thunder. As stated by RT’s National Organization, “All are united in the cause to bring full accountability for POWs and MIAs of all wars, reminding the government, the media and the public by our watchwords: “We Will Not Forget.”



pattern of pairs

4647539911 491049e772 o pattern of pairs



oh lovely light

4645876114 cf3272f9c9 o oh lovely light
And pretty kitty.



quite a pair

4643386270 ba712c3605 o quite a pair
Someone suggested I play with photo pairing on a daily basis (thanks Maria) just to further explore my desire to find meaning between my images (see Inside::Out at www.wendyploger.com). Some of you may recognize this particular pair originating from a series I was playing around with a while back pairing food with people. More to come. I hope.



at home with hipsta

4640561744 95b0fc91fa o at home with hipsta
This iPhone app can make any place look extra special.



heroes welcome

4635663722 166fbe5154 o heroes welcome
Congrats to Ben for the launch of his 3rd installment of Night Business – appropriately celebrated with the Naked Heroes.



just passing the time

4627961694 d34a68ae0f o just passing the time



rainbow rider

4625039290 5e6f01b809 o rainbow rider
It’s a perfect day for a bike ride, so why am I sitting in front of my computer? Anyway, I like how colorful the lens flare is on this pic taken in the hood a couple of days ago.



no despair over state of disrepair

4618779347 ee0cb7cd0b o no despair over state of disrepair
Last weekend we took a walk to Admiral’s Row in Brooklyn, where neglected Navy housing, dating back as early as the Civil War, stands behind its prison of barbed wire. Preservationists would like to bring it back to its former glory but engineers say the old structures are past the point of repair. I marvel at the melding of nature, decay and man’s former presence. Like a time capsule preserved in ivy, many secrets will never be told but hints of a past existence still remain. For more photos, go to http://admiralsrow.blogspot.com/.



peekaboo

4615670601 6668da46c6 o peekaboo
One of the more lighthearted photographs featured at this year’s New York Photo Festival.



a flower

4613058962 82f573417f o a flower



going to Bed 2

4603600533 ec7e45e524 o going to Bed 2
My very talented friend, Debbie (www.debbiemiracolo.com), will be showing two of her delicious photographs at the Bed 2 opening tonight at Umbrella Arts in the East Village. Curated by Harvey Stein, come see all the interesting things that happen in or around bed.



brooklyn by design

4601826318 43c1313905 o brooklyn by design
Last Saturday my friend Erin and I braved a windy day in Dumbo to check out Brooklyn Designs featuring a warehouse full of innovative and often environmentally friendly furniture designs. Check out the ever cool Salvaged Grace http://salvagedgrace.com/ for photos and descriptions of the event.



me, mom and gram’s gams

4598924793 b9a3041106 o me, mom and grams gams
Taken a few years ago.



posted a day late, but who cares

4596736599 9e3279f85f o posted a day late, but who cares
How fitting that I should get to photograph Diane and her two beautiful kids on mother’s day. There were so many good pictures I had a tough time deciding which one to post. Let’s start with this one.



bunnies and bubbles

4587084791 967d4b6111 o bunnies and bubbles
Oh boy do I love bunnies, especially in this amazing photo I saw today at the Affordable Art Fair. If only it were a little more affordable. The photo is by Zhou Hongbin of her one bunny who loves to swim, apparently.



more iphone and feline fun

4584151585 67cc12efe2 o more iphone and feline fun
I used an application called Old Camera for this photo of a lazy cat.



food flashback

4581975603 a927ce42ab o food flashback
A distant cousin to the Under-the-Sea jello salad, perhaps?



where in the world is matt?

4578670715 5d4b34bf0c o where in the world is matt?
Walking down Canal Street yesterday, my friend Matt got caught in a swirl of tourists. Can you spot him?



two words:

4561050291 b66abd4dbd o two words:
Sample Sale.



gluttonous

4561050481 11ed794e17 o gluttonous
A little food porn for you – unless you are a vegetable. eater. I was just reminiscing about a recent episode of No Reservations, titled, Food Porn 2 – best watched while eating.



he’s got the look

4555701487 cee9085954 o hes got the look
Sometimes I wonder if there’s a difference between photographing guys and gals. While girls are certainly prettier, dudes have their own appeal and I think they are often more comfortable in their own skin. Chris here, looks straight out of an ad for an expensive cologne or Ralph Lauren ad. And he wasn’t even trying – we were actually marveling at the tree that had burst through the asphalt parking lot (see April 23rd’s post).



rain and birds

4546736174 15f2e4ae03 o rain and birds
Someone, I presume, was expecting both.



life will find a way

4546772478 e9ce525596 o life will find a way



everywhere but here

4543088159 3238cac428 o everywhere but here
Beautiful, resilient and too young. I hope you are on a warm, sunny beach with a mai tai in your hand. You will continue to live on in our hearts and be forever safe.



chest hair

4539849294 635896cb50 o chest hair



and only a few miles from our idyllic hood (see yesterday’s post)…

4535511459 de84f57e5e o and only a few miles from our idyllic hood (see yesterdays post)...
…Times Square, which has it’s own special beauty.



green pastures

4531891311 58f788b9e6 o green pastures
I love our neighborhood – this was taken at Fort Greene park today.



here comes the rain again

4524567794 fbd7cf589c o here comes the rain again



hipsta hello kitteh

4522312166 2c31cbb190 o hipsta hello kitteh
Ok, so yeah, I paid the $1.99 for the iPhone Hipstamatic photo ap. It is cheaper than a Holga, tho (which is also very cheap).



nature can be red hot

4519045418 e8af0f9ed8 o nature can be red hot



striking scene on stage

4512468006 30b3d27c01 o striking scene on stage
Talented musician, Zach, strikes a pose at the end of his gig.



of the cute dog persuasion

4507967781 deff56c177 o of the cute dog persuasion
Phoebe looks quite puppy-like in this pic, having just tackled a stuffed beaver.



street smart

4493977285 0e5a0d7381 o street smart
Last Saturday I attended a talk discussing the work of 31 new and emerging women photographers. The collection was a cross section of styles that are apparently ‘hot’ right now. While I admired and appreciated the work that was up on the walls around us, something was missing. There was not one image from a street photographer. All of the work was staged or had a lot of planning and forethought. So I asked one of the panelists why this was and feared the answer. It’s all been done. Maybe someone will get a lucky shot once in a while, but street photography has run it’s course. Aint that a kick in the head. But that is one person’s opinion. I love the spontaneity of photography and the photos are as unique and new as the person taking them.



shake it up

4494617290 2a716502aa o shake it up
It’s that time – at least here on the west coast. And I mean cocktails, not earthquakes.



good medicine

4481766906 df779ca8d7 o good medicine
This delicious weather makes me feel like riding the waves.



just passing by

4473846130 65ee334eca o just passing by



black and white with some grey

4376170397 dac395b78b o black and white with some grey
I thought I was going to DC (via Baltimore, of course… hence the photo) tomorrow, then I wasn’t, then I was, now I’m not sure. It’s nice when things fall into place, but that can often be oh-so-dull.



whiter shade of pale

4458546318 7c9b9343e8 o whiter shade of pale
In contrast to the ‘dark’ post, I thought I’d try and find it’s opposite. Ernie, of course, looking mighty soft and cute. If you’d like to see one of my first attempts at video, check out http://www.flickr.com/photos/ploger/4458496084/ (the background music was purely accidental).



turning to the dark side

4454293799 3d59b65d3f o turning to the dark side
Unlike my previous blog post, I am discovering that I occasionally take these ultra black and white photos with just a hint of expression or information. Given enough time, this growing collection of images could turn into a new series, which might be kinda interesting. Or maybe, because of the rain, I’m not feeling as ‘sunny’ as I was last weekend (although this pic of Erin and Brian does make me smile).



gap girl

4450410489 cc2d040c21 o gap girl



leaving the inside behind

4443930952 45e4168297 o leaving the inside behind
Today I sought out blue skies and sunshine – even got a tiny sunburn on my nose.



things are looking up

4440946159 bc8367f666 o things are looking up
Sunny and warm today – winter is fast becoming a distant memory.



night at the museum

4438520499 74a5076eb8 o night at the museum
Complete with flying tigers.



fading to grey

4436360552 e7b127b987 o fading to grey
Coney Island continues it’s disappearing act.



in her own (glamorous) world

4427832738 44e9a5af18 o in her own (glamorous) world



speakeasy on the eyes

4425160553 d248834153 o speakeasy on the eyes
I haven’t picked up my camera for a few days so I’m going to liven up this lull with some lovely ladies from the Shanghai Mermaid party I attended a couple of weeks ago.



white way

4419499465 c2c0e42a2a o white way
Playing with overexposure again – not sure what my attraction is to it. Probably just one of those things that enable me to look at my images in a completely new light.



white to warm

4416568207 ab9d2117c8 o white to warm
Hard to believe this was our back deck two weeks ago. And check out how high the snow was stacked on the thin railing. Now there is no trace of snow and temps are flirting with the 60 degree mark. I like snow and all, but I like this warming trend even more.



one nightstand

4412565286 52040ca3a5 o one nightstand
So it’s a dresser. But it was one night/morning at an old hotel in the mountains of NY before a glorious day of skiing.



sun sets at the smithsonian

4406672445 2344d3f467 o sun sets at the smithsonian



delightful dioramas

4404945224 347a855b0f o delightful dioramas
Can’t stay away from cute things for too long.



shanghai’d

4399837898 c0e06b993b o shanghaid
Love this dude from the Shanghai Mermaid party last Saturday.



snow white and a little bit of yellow

4395498531 e3edc042eb o snow white and a little bit of yellow
Another pic from my delightful train ride.



murphy’s law of cameras?

4391086306 12fa0c093f o murphys law of cameras?
So I go down to DC and haul all of my camera equipment because I think it’s going to snow and I want to photograph the Pentagon Memorial in all of it’s snowy glory. It doesn’t snow in DC but rather in NY when I’m not around. Anyway, I mention to my dear friend Elaine, that it seems to me when one doesn’t have their camera with them one misses the amazing photo ops. But when one HAS their camera it’s almost a guarantee that nothing exciting will happen. Well, my trip home from DC proved me wrong. I think I annoyed everyone on the quiet car of the train as I clicked a gazillion photos. I’m such a photo nerd.



cat on cat

4385208277 850f9dbe7b o cat on cat
Ernie admires a picture of himself.



it’s alive (or live)

4382448465 1ffd569386 o its alive (or live)
My photos have a new home! If you haven’t checked it out yet, go to http://www.wendyploger.com/ for more unusual pairings, mermaids and weddings!



wild hare

4376577115 74eb724893 o wild hare
spotted at Target today



my big outing of the day

4371689408 b2bc0d771b o my big outing of the day
was to walk down the stairs, open the front door and drop off the garbage. Spring, where might you be?



design is in the details

4369151794 1405737e06 o design is in the details
One pays attention to the little things like the view across the street from our warm and small NY apartment on a cold, winter day.



blues

4366386428 8f67fac3f7 o blues
Another cold day in Brooklyn.



tender touch

4363437687 83767c7cab o tender touch
There is something about a baby that makes the immediate world a softer place.



the great white

4360718688 92d2e3b859 o the great white
A relatively minor casualty at my mom’s house due to snow.



fun do

4358660576 04a4d28d7e o fun do
The snow hardly stopped us from having an awesome weekend with friends culminating with last night’s fondue party. Thanks Lor and Angela! (photo courtesy of Paul)



like ants

4344174233 1431d10f04 o like ants
Living in NY one usually sees people at close range so it’s nice to step back… or up a bit, for a different perspective.



in a different light

4341510545 523b5aa840 o in a different light
Taken with natural sunlight this time, with emphasis on this kitty’s cute, but deadly paws – at least to any nearby crickets or spiders.



tongue and cheeky

4335371594 a5aea2c710 o tongue and cheeky
I got a new toy for my camera! It’s basically a soft box for my flash, so of course, I had to give it a spin on my in-home models. Not sure if Ernie is a fan, tho. Thanks for the cool gift Rob!



baby it’s cold outside

4332128989 9ea972d283 o baby its cold outside



tomo to tokyo

4322542959 010fcd8976 o tomo to tokyo
My gorgeous friend and talented model is headed back to her home in Japan. This was one of the first pictures I took of her at Coney Island a few years back. Kouun wo o-inori shite imasu. I will miss you Tomo!



no. 2

4322724950 85b36af367 o no. 2
Kind of a lame twins shot, but it’s a little different – I really wanted faces, tho. Anyway, it was one of those times where you have 2 seconds to pull out your camera, turn it on and click the shutter before your window of opportunity closes.



odds

4321988439 4fc7d86da5 o odds
As most know, my thin California skin has never quite adapted to the cold winters of the east, and as such, my outdoor shooting pretty much slows to a crawl. So, it’s back to the archives where I stumbled upon a couple of photos of twins that I took back in warm L.A. some years ago. It was really weird – a coincidence, I believe – that I saw two sets of twins within an hour of each other (maybe there was a convention somewhere). Here’s the first set.



crazy for kalvar

4319563273 75f5b3b4e5 o crazy for kalvar
Sigh. I love this photographer. He says, “I’m not crazy about the term “street photography” to describe what I do, because it’s not necessarily done on the street. The pictures can be taken on a farm, at the zoo, in an office, and so on. Let’s say we consider the general category of “unposed pictures of people” (or sometimes animals or even inanimate objects when they happen to be possessed by human souls), and then the subcategory “with nothing particularly important going on.” If we further narrow it down to the “play” sub-subcategory, we get into the domain I’ve worked in for forty years. That’s what I like to do: play with ordinary reality, using unposed actors who are oblivious to the dramas I’ve placed them in.” -Richard Kalvar (Photo by Richard Kalvar)



train squatting

4316830884 34a8657b25 o train squatting
I spent a total of 8 hours on 4 different trains yesterday but I didn’t mind the chance to sit and relax while I watched the world go by.



coupling

4310891594 c0d332bd66 o coupling
A classic case where my memory of this scene is much stronger than the actual photo. Two couples happened to be making out and whatnot on either side of the pillar across the tracks from me in the subway. Fun to watch, difficult to capture. Probably just as well.



hoarding

4306962335 ab74a2dbf6 o hoarding
Today I watched a program about hoarders – people who collect things to the extent their lives and the lives around them are miserably altered. I was transfixed by this condition wondering how and why this could happen. I don’t think I’m an obsessive collector of ‘things’ (except maybe shoes and glassware) and feel good about keeping a fairly trim apartment. But then I realized I am a major collector of memories – hence my drive to take pictures. Thank goodness for the digital age.



a little zooey

4305187298 2809469cac o a little zooey
I recently received a book of photographs by Garry Winogrand, whose humorous and odd journalistic style speaks to me in many ways. In the book, is a quote by Winogrand in response to the question, “What is Art?” asked by one of his students. Winogrand says, “Art makes you question your conceptions. That’s what puns do. You don’t really laugh at a pun because anything’s funny. You laugh because you realize you’re not getting killed. Basically, a pun upsets you. Language is basic to your existence and a pun calls into question what you believe a word means and you laugh out of relief.” (photo by Garry Winogrand)



artificial light

4285549915 0f9c3f6f69 o artificial light
A sore replacement for the sun, but I’ll take it.



the weekend is here!

4295116779 f027725e51 o the weekend is here!



bow or bust

4290138209 f21b008765 o bow or bust
Kind of a useless shot – but I think it speaks of my tiny craving for the glamorous life.



on the ‘cheep’

4286396048 274af8b4f4 o on the cheep
Yesterday was orientation at the Park Slope Co-op, the largest co-op in the U.S. hovering around the 14,000 member mark. Offering ridiculously cheap, locally produced food, it has a mountain of rules which must be followed or you may find yourself suspended quicker than you can fry an egg. The selection is impressive, but I didn’t see any quail eggs (a favorite snack of mine) like they have at the outdoor markets in Thailand. I’ll make do.



not as cute

4279896528 a5015f5d16 o not as cute



also very cute

4275907766 5cceacff5f o also very cute



cute overload

4272096277 10a87a0f6a o cute overload
After a trip to the dentist, I thought I’d treat myself to some cute things from this awesome Japanese book store in midtown. I can never have enough cute things in my life. Even the word ‘cute’ is cute to me.



beauty in the middle of winter

4269377531 1daa4bca98 o beauty in the middle of winter



nosey

4266210487 65b22c1ab6 o nosey



nose to nose

4263599487 78ab34b066 o nose to nose



disco may not be dead but these deer are

4259566723 c58f43c975 o disco may not be dead but these deer are
These are just a few of the unusual finds at the Brooklyn Flea Market not two minutes from our apartment. Located in the former Williamsburg Savings Bank, it’s one of the coolest locations in our hood, thankfully preserved for the general public to enjoy.



through the woods

4257454448 9501757941 o through the woods
Just your pretty, outdoors-y nature shot.



and now for a special food announcement

4248573361 6a8cc69d86 o and now for a special food announcement
Flatbush Farm and Bar(n) in our hood serves up a mean brunch – and if their dinner is anything like their brunch, I’m there, fork in hand. This was my duck confit with warm lentil salad and two eggs before I completely demolished it.



making a splash

4249373018 517ce63f5f o making a splash
Another shot of some brave “polar bears” quickly running out of Coney Island’s icy waters. Glad I wore my plastic boots.



eye spy

4247172702 f5d6ceaf10 o eye spy
Back to my mysteriously abstract and blurry ways. In part I was inspired by a set of photographs taken in the 60s in France by Tom Palumbo.



standing out in a crowd

4241859741 510946fc6d o standing out in a crowd
How cool that I was able to start the new year with a shot like this. A guy like him does not come around that often. He was definitely prepared to stay dry while the Polar Bears did their thing in the freezing cold ocean at Coney Island on New Year’s day.



wet your whistle

4236141032 35d0a1f966 o wet your whistle
A visual and sound sensation at Pratt to bring in the new year.



time keeps on slippin

4192613353 5da15bc6d3 o time keeps on slippin
What happen to 2009? This year went by so fast.



kitty comes first

4222174871 9e8ac87a9e o kitty comes first



snow white

4222948556 3f13f6b550 o snow white
I once had an instructor tell me that during his own training in photography he took a class where his teacher asked him to take only photographs of white. You can pretty much interpret that any way you like but it sounded like a good exercise to me. I thought I’d try my hand at photographing snow. It’s harder than you’d think as any camera set on automatic will ‘correct’ the abundance of white and turn it gray (it’s hard to explain). The trick is to set your camera on manual and overexpose to make the white of snow more white. I’m dreaming if I think I explained all that properly. And I’m not sure if this is a good example. But it’s fun to play.



christmas kiss

4209020837 6aeb4d4081 o christmas kiss



still a little fuzzy

4206672928 de6cd1cac2 o still a little fuzzy
Maybe its the time of year…



if only

4201296322 e92e303a49 o if only
the snow were sand. But I’m super glad my girls made it (and the old hood does look kinda cool coated in snow)!



the edge of night

4198816626 3208853ff2 o the edge of night
From dream to reality then back to a dream. Our flight to the Bahamas has been canceled – although our return flight is still optimistically booked. This shot was taken a few minutes ago outside our back deck. It doesn’t show the snow but more of an eerie storm glow. Hopefully the next post or two will show blue skies, palm trees and sandy beaches….



times square times a hundred

4194821821 1b63538893 o times square times a hundred
Sure, Times Square is usually electric and energetic, but it was particularly so last evening.



one way to market your dog photography business

4193450676 8ce1b08795 o one way to market your dog photography business



subtleties in shadow

4190076163 2226bcba30 o subtleties in shadow
I know. Flash can be my friend. But not in this photo. My friend Dina looks super cool in this lack of light.



barking up the right tree

4188571384 905ec1f1f4 o barking up the right tree
Hot dogs and champagne. A most delicious pairing – and we had many – at Bark’s champagne and hot dog tasting party last night.



bright lights, big kitty

4179518926 34c941598d o bright lights, big kitty



stopped in their tracks

4176607319 ed738b9273 o stopped in their tracks
When you gotta go, you gotta go.



turning over a new leaf on the same tree

4173858798 b44b757229 o turning over a new leaf on the same tree
A spookier version of the previous blog post.



here comes the rain again

4170407592 d73fed02e9 o here comes the rain again
But Seattle can make it look so good.



living in a cave

4167514394 5d5fd6f563 o living in a cave
It’s a cold, dark Monday. At least I can get work done without feeling like I’m missing a good walk in the sun (or a cartwheel). -photo by my bro, Rob



challenging norms

4164749070 045d16d48c o challenging norms
Do you consider this a bad photo? Ok, so don’t answer that. I can take a picture or two but a lot of times they are too blurry, too dark, etc. Does that make them unsuccessful photos? Often, probably yes. But I think we’ve been taught and trained to think that just because a photo is blurry it’s bad and we write it off. I’m continually drawn to this particular photo despite it’s faults. Our eyes and emotions see things the camera can’t so why not play with the camera and accept it’s limitations…and mine (smiley face goes here).



cutie waiting for the q train

4160828255 8b5c1682a6 o cutie waiting for the q train



polar bear is king

4157956641 e2a8d90b9f o polar bear is king
More from the world of windows.



windows of wondrous worlds

4155929215 ee0b82b158 o windows of wondrous worlds
Winter in New York City has it’s perks.



just a big, brown, furry puppy

4153889471 783641a073 o just a big, brown, furry puppy



transparent schedule

4150717181 189e814830 o transparent schedule
Because it keeps getting darker earlier, does that mean happy hour starts sooner?



sunny side up

4148522950 0342cbd114 o sunny side up
The light frames Saga and her breakfast beautifully.



there once was a boy (or two) in Nantucket…

4145825468 dcf1ea0e9c o there once was a boy (or two) in Nantucket...
…and a few other friends who all enjoyed a fun and windy Thanksgiving together. A big thanks to Elliott and Petra!



incredible, edible eggs

4131256075 8a0a55c34d o incredible, edible eggs
And a Top Chef sighting (Robin) at Cafe Campagne in Seattle.



not so distant past

4129475151 91b5c6b665 o not so distant past
The cold and rain of Seattle felt especially beautiful paired with the warmth of friends.



trying to look up

4115244721 bae7c0f10c o trying to look up
Ah, the curse of a street photographer – how does one accurately define one’s work in 20 images or less when one has taken thousands of photographs of thousands of subjects? This scene in Bryant Park yesterday reminded me that within the confines of galleries and websites the sky is the limit, and I should not be deterred.



turned to stone

4008078577 b0c5eab503 o turned to stone
This sculpture in the Louvre reminds me of the cats in winter – how they like to snuggle under the covers and put their icy cold paws on your warm skin.



great gotham

4098617973 ae4783fe65 o great gotham
The skies have cleared and the sun shines on NY once again.



furry feline face

4098714879 bb49e241eb o furry feline face



so close I can taste it

4098780247 410c75fcff o so close I can taste it
Friday, 4:22 p.m.



going into the closet

4099330944 49dbb1ffda o going into the closet
Cold weather means lots of trips to the closet. Organization is key. (Photo by Paul)



sweet csa

4095859111 7c6ed59577 o sweet csa
We only have a few apples and a couple of squash left from this year’s local farm share.



decorated dog

4093079764 0bc1695c9d o decorated dog



talk to chuck about your money problems…

4078345835 bbb2d6a40d o talk to chuck about your money problems...
…or just take a nap.



take a picture. it will last longer.

4079105454 5529fa50b6 o take a picture. it will last longer.



portrait of a puppy

4075435340 3bdf4bd7f6 o portrait of a puppy
I took my new 85 1.8 lens out for a spin yesterday. Considered ideal for portraits, it distorts very little and has a short depth of field.



urban wedding

4070886126 ecfc2c1051 o urban wedding
I saw two brides on Halloween but this one was most striking against the backdrop of the trees and road by the entrance of Prospect Park.



back in black

4065687591 8ca7e930bf o back in black
Time for hot toddies and warm socks.



welcomed guest

4060135502 f6c484f6ce o welcomed guest
on a typical subway ride



falling for yellow

4056792764 1242cfa2d9 o falling for yellow
Amongst the grey and and concrete of Manhattan today, I was stopped in my tracks by this gorgeous splash of yellow – my favorite color in the whole world.



all is quiet

4054704214 f1189c7ae9 o all is quiet
I need to take more pictures and make some noise.



pretty lady with funny hat

4050401917 3d153f8645 o pretty lady with funny hat
Organizing older photos I came across this favorite…



in a small apt in brooklyn…

4048462922 9f7fe83369 o in a small apt in brooklyn...
…kitties seem larger than they really are.



nothing has turned into something

4044308730 9ab207d98c o nothing has turned into something



photo blog and home shopping network

4041572846 5caaf878fb o photo blog and home shopping network
Anyone want to buy these lovely, patent, french heels? Rare. Never worn. And yes, very comfortable. European size 39.5 (8.5)



style on the sly

4035904130 66ce6d6521 o style on the sly
I was totally diggin’ this woman’s ultra sophisticated style but I was scared she would catch me taking her picture.



candy stripper

4033162654 cfa0cd2dd5 o candy stripper
Actually just a party goer in freezing cold Liverpool who forgot her pants.



danish delight

4028259562 3d9c386bc9 o danish delight
I haven’t posted a food pic in a while… The aebleskiver is delicious and hardly nutritious.



good day for soup but I don’t think she’s sharing

4023991367 5299e7bfd0 o good day for soup but I dont think shes sharing



yesterday seems so far away

4021480386 670f3f2249 o yesterday seems so far away
From 70 degrees to 40 degrees, wine country to wet country.



the education in wine continues

4006720848 df8708ebc6 o the education in wine continues
First France, now it’s off to the land of Pinot Noirs in Southern California. It’s rough.



dissecting a look

4002481859 f2ec8e3084 o dissecting a look
Presence. It’s one of those qualities that is so elusive and cool. I’m pretty sure Tony, here, knew I was taking his picture so there is a slight hint of awareness, but he also has that impressive manor that is mostly unguarded, open, striking and approachable.



remaining morsels of summer

3999394757 6d400c2e80 o remaining morsels of summer



she’s got legs and dog knows how to use them

3995742593 5919f74078 o shes got legs and dog knows how to use them



fan of fans

3992415189 c77d52d6cc o fan of fans
Through a certain chain of events, Paul and I ended up at the Yankee’s game last night. While it was fun to watch the players, the fans in front of us were just as entertaining.



still running like the wind

3987767041 3ec7e92427 o still running like the wind
This marks my 701st blog post. Do I have burnout? Nah. Pictures are still my thing.



no respect for privacy

3983377279 b804bd292f o no respect for privacy
As a photographer you are always looking for that one amazing shot. Of course, when the opportunity presents itself I often wonder… Am I offending someone – or their religion? Am I going to get into serious trouble? I had a few of those moments while in Israel.



on a train to nowhere…

3972049079 c87c9ed0dd o on a train to nowhere...
At least that was my experience on the NYC subway today.



time for bed

3972072157 15296362d9 o time for bed
Back from two weeks in London, Paris and Tel Aviv, I should give up trying to figure out what time or what day it is and take a cat nap.



waiting for the bus…

3920245734 8b2c66cf71 o waiting for the bus...
Actually, the train and plane to our next adventure.



creature comforts

3918097724 738b4ca113 o creature comforts



rain and remembering

3913742084 b002dbf578 o rain and remembering



I’ll miss you NY

3906937192 cd18e6da6e o Ill miss you NY
But I’ll be back soon.



not in the mood to share…

3901025889 641633afb2 o not in the mood to share...
… when peaches are in season.



reflecting on love

3891735100 c45ddd63db o reflecting on love
Five years ago, Scott and Tricia met for a first date at a local restaurant. Today they returned to remember where their love began. Congratulations to a fun and wonderful couple, who together, make a mean cocktail.



a feat we got a fish

3889113576 740fc21a70 o a feat we got a fish



so many different pictures

3884979721 ef49cebd53 o so many different pictures
And one beautiful bride.



flights of fancy

3882085607 01be9e2e16 o flights of fancy



getting ready

3880201554 5e2ed4fc7b o getting ready
There are so many things I’ve been thinking about in preparation for my new website. It is clearer to me that while I’m following and stretching my artistic vision, my attempt to fit in to an easily defined category is proving very difficult. Street photographer. Portrait photographer. Wedding. Journalistic style. Fine art. Those are the common, everyday descriptions, and while all true, they don’t define my personal style in an elegant, unique and succinct way.

I posted this photo (adorable ring bearer getting ready for his big task) in order to compare this one to the last (bride and groom on tram). I’m not sure what others think, but to me, this photo is cute, telling the story in a straightforward manner – a more traditional wedding photo, easily defined and expected. The tram photo is not traditional and doesn’t fit into the typical wedding photo mold. Both are clearly wedding photos but the latter is my truer love, and that is what I’m about… whatever ‘that’ is.



letting her hair down

3875083579 6f043bcfc9 o letting her hair down
In the most sweetest of gestures, the groom helps his bride take down her lovely hair while riding on the Roosevelt Island Tram back to Manhattan.



age of innocence

3868143937 b6b3c63999 o age of innocence
I’m just a proud mamma gushing over her fuzzy boy, Ernie (again). Here he is just a week or two after I adopted him. So tiny, he could have been a snack for the bird in my previous post.



bye bye birdie

3865157188 6733c1f9fa o bye bye birdie
I’m hardly a nature photographer but that doesn’t mean I can’t try and take pictures of it.



not so easy being green

3862530351 88b0d57d6a o not so easy being green
or being photographed.



super cute

3859773774 1b55461d9e o super cute



super bad

3859680146 7c5e456465 o super bad
We all want to take really good pictures all the time. But. That just isn’t reality for most of us. I’m wondering if it’s possible to take a really bad photo that is so bad (bad lighting, composition, color, mood, etc.) it’s actually kinda good. As a rule I never delete any of my photos. I’ve been keeping this one in my back pocket as a so-bad-it’s-good photo. I think, well, I know I have plenty others but I’ll save them for another time.



dishing out veggies

3846277754 a8f28a688d o dishing out veggies
Today was my day to volunteer for the local CSA. Knee deep in beets, celery and eggplant, I was still able to sneak a few pics.



city kitty on the prowl

3842880465 f90a15b60a o city kitty on the prowl



taking a wider angle

3837408709 47afa1ed1c o taking a wider angle
Yesterday I thought I’d take my 20mm, wide angle lens for a spin. While I absolutely love how much I can capture in the frame of a photo, I missed a golden opportunity to zoom in on this adorable girl’s face with my usual lens. So it goes.



still standing tall after all these years

3828937606 2e31f78b87 o still standing tall after all these years
Parachute drop. Coney Island. Beautiful day or night.



overexposed

3834168354 8c9b8b38cc o overexposed
Here is a more artsy shot of Paul, taken a few years back. The film was ‘ruined’ by airport security in London but I fancy the results.



a man and a multipurpose mower

3828948478 cd5000352a o a man and a multipurpose mower



waiting to use the loo

3824081067 c9e9cb5a99 o waiting to use the loo



funny by accident

3820835829 4667c2aab4 o funny by accident
This shot is kinda funny but nothing compared to this… http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/32405618/ns/today-today_participate/



delicate flower caught in traffic

3818266481 9fdfb2a1da o delicate flower caught in traffic



silly spectacle(s)

3798486695 9526cfc4e3 o silly spectacle(s)
hmmmm. I wonder if I haven’t posted this pic before… Well, anyway, I like it enough for a repeat post.



bee in the middle

3805426396 87b2c335cd o bee in the middle



nose and toes

3801200367 ca97839f3b o nose and toes



back in the game

3798084343 dbc533fb52 o back in the game
I’m excited to have my computer back – almost as excited as Ernie is chasing this ball of paper (shown right).



hold the phone

3681668403 2811f66500 o hold the phone
After a dropped computer and subsequent hard drive crash I am still trying to recover all my faculties (and my photos).



listen closely

3769476251 dc1621d4cf o listen closely
Some bunny loves you.



at the whim of the wind

3780950715 50c562afe4 o at the whim of the wind
Last week, while I was at Stone Barns, I was lucky enough to capture a couple of shots of the elusive butterfly (there aren’t many in the city, for sure). I’m also in the process of redesigning my website (woohoo!) and thinking more critically of my particular ‘brand’ and how I should market myself as a photographer. A friend asked me the other day, “What made you decide to use the butterfly as your logo?” I think I gave a pretty lame answer, if one at all, because I had never really thought about it. I guess, in part, it reminds me of my childhood – I grew up with a yellow painted room with butterfly wallpaper trim. To take it further, a butterfly to me, is small, delicate and colorful, the head turner of the bug world, yet it’s always at the whim of the wind. My photos are generally colorful (perhaps more figuratively than literally) with a delicate sensitivity, and while they are also spontaneous, they incorporate my sharp calculation of the world around me. Anyway, I’m sticking with this beautiful bug and hopefully the wind will carry it my way more often.



armed and not very dangerous

3777284977 dc59fc28c1 o armed and not very dangerous
One sees a lot of interesting things on a daily basis in the city, but this woman and her gorgeous mosaic stopped me in my tracks. Thank goodness I had my iPhone. Gawd, do I love New York.



tagged

3774460199 87c5b35854 o tagged
Not in a facebook kind of way but in an animal on a farm kind of way.



a man between sexes

3770219747 14c855a4b6 o a man between sexes
Someone had some fun with the subway signage at the Essex Station. The man in the middle is hardly amused.



waiting in line…

3768175410 5bb21b856b o waiting in line...
… offered two rewards – a lovely stare from a child and a delicious scoop of gelato.



social networking

3763257285 a92438850f o social networking
Today I attended a seminar called Facebook vs. Face to Face, which discussed the benefits of both online social networking and the old fashioned talking-to-someone-in-the-same-room method, in hopes of expanding a budding photography career. Generally conservative in any kind of social networking, I am trying to embrace this new way of communicating via Facebook, Twitter, et al. In certain circles, it’s almost considered rude if one does not share what they ate for breakfast. Do people really care if I’m flabbergasted about how many ingredients there are in a chicken nugget? Granted, this might not directly help my photography career, but I guess it’s a way of starting or continuing a dialogue with my name attached to it. I would love for my photos to speak for themselves, but sometimes a status update from the photographer provides food for thought.



down and dirty

3759946510 bd7d33d922 o down and dirty
Saturday evening came to a head with beers and burlesque after a relatively calm and quiet day.



waiting for the sun

3750616920 c52267ac4e o waiting for the sun
I’m guessing no one is on the beach on a rainy day like today.



a nyc sunset

3747709730 f6d725c1d8 o a nyc sunset



my cutie cousins

3744369300 2690d9f884 o my cutie cousins



what goes up

3739673397 0f49ea092a o what goes up
The earth’s gravitational pull was still in effect, even in the moon bounce. Rocket cars, live music and ping pong were among some of the other attractions at this year’s PlogerPalooza. Calling it all fun would be a huge understatement.



from one hot to another

3729894535 e6c7d01773 o from one hot to another
This weather is reminding me of our time in Bangkok earlier this year. A spicy hot (and delicious) meal would take your mind off the other heat.



badonkadonk

3727160344 d8c51f6a56 o badonkadonk
another shot from the phone



more from the animal kingdom

3725105522 4cd7af12a0 o more from the animal kingdom
brought to you by iphone



wide-eyed and preciously pug

3721363699 dbd1e67aa8 o wide eyed and preciously pug



solitude and celebration

3714949057 081de3602b o solitude and celebration
Congratulations to Misaki (pictured right) for her first solo photo show, Solitude Sanctuary! Her beautifully silent images contrasted nicely with all the wonderful friends who came out in support tonight.



tickled by ivory tickling

3710401210 43da319cfc o tickled by ivory tickling

Classically trained, this pianist keeps a number of pianos stored around town and depending on the subway stop he picks on a particular evening, he somehow moves it to a platform of his choice. I could miss many trains listening to his music.



tis the season for rooftop dining

3705452888 140fc0b755 o tis the season for rooftop dining



I second that emotion

3702453210 5dae00515f o I second that emotion
A very fun pic – reminds me of another recent post.



how does your garden grow?

3699414013 16af7588fb o how does your garden grow?



icy hot

3694856613 6b3ec19175 o icy hot
Sammy decided it was time to take a cat nap in front of an episode of Ice Road Truckers.



time to go home

3692995986 3985e9f093 o time to go home
The doors are closing on a pretty good 4th of July weekend.



amazing feet

3684092081 a0038365ef o amazing feet
I checked out the new High Line park the other day and was very impressed with how the architecture melded old New York with new New York, nature with city life.



life of the party

3682481522 4d2a2d47eb o life of the party
This lady (and her free style dancing) made last night’s silent auction a little less quiet.



nice threads!

3678382599 43a6e2f59d o nice threads!
Hats (and heads?) off to Marcos and Gabriel for creating BoroThreads – a totally cool online shop selling NY based tshirt, hoodie and bag designs (I personally love the original dutch-spelled Manhattan and Brooklyn t’s). And I was lucky to be able to photograph the creators wearing a selection of these hip threads. Check it all out at http://www.borothreads.com/ and http://www.borothreadsguys.com/.



wheel of fortune

3674575467 0be2242225 o wheel of fortune
My collection of Wonder Wheel photos grows.



blurring the lines

3672812149 4a9856d8d5 o blurring the lines
I sometimes tire of hyper-focused images and occasionally I’m refreshed by an out of focus shot. Along the same lines, I sometimes go without my glasses (or ‘spectacles’ as my dad would occasionally say) just to take a break from the usual. So this shot was an accident, but a happy one for me. There is something to be seen and appreciated even in an imperfect world. Deep, no?



ladies liberty

3661845448 11862bf2a0 o ladies liberty
New York City and I welcomed mom for a visit last week, and we roamed the city freely.



kitties

3658082993 4b3059b7ea o kitties



it’s a wonder

3653335375 dfd7159730 o its a wonder



blue

3648337009 6700edde31 o blue



beauty

3644234843 1a9fb28a0f o beauty
Despite the stinky weather, throngs of photographers, including myself, descended on today’s Mermaid Parade at Coney Island. Through the rain shined many a pretty face.



a sign of the (weather) times

3642731670 e36a01a78e o a sign of the (weather) times
Fingers crossed the weather holds for a fun shoot at the Mermaid Parade tomorrow…



fun and dumb

3639355106 7553f337f9 o fun and dumb
Yes, I just had minor surgery on my shoulder but did that stop me from playing on the bars at the playground? Nope. (photo by Jess)



new york, my love, I’m home

3636166733 741a576844 o new york, my love, Im home



my muffin

3619895117 7c1eaef1d1 o my muffin



another strange face

3617853275 bae2088bcf o another strange face



strange but true

3615165183 58c4748392 o strange but true
So I’m probably going to get in trouble for posting this but I had to do it. This scene is just too funny. It kind of reminds me of a post from a long time ago titled ‘Angry Pig‘ . . .



going up

3611040285 724a4003b3 o going up
A camera always makes things more interesting when one is stuck with nothing to do.



mint julep anyone?

3609697576 8680550ec7 o mint julep anyone?
Finally, the weather allowed a few nice days on our back deck.



guy smiley

3601521292 f05c950c11 o guy smiley
This little puppy looks very happy.



aint it grand?

3600865795 f73d298655 o aint it grand?
If you happen to be in New Orleans, check out “Forever Hold Your Peace” an exhibit of select wedding photographs – including this one I took in Grand Central.



break

3599726454 443ba1468d o break
Time to unwind and play some pool.



crop shot

3593425144 dbe9f9d35e o crop shot

Yes, I know this would not pass muster with some folks for obvious reasons, but I love this shot. It completely captures the personality of this fine and funny guy.



around the corner

3578867260 58a94a588b o around the corner
Apologies for my absence. I’m in Providence, R.I., where I find myself photographing buses and banquets. New York is not too far but I feel a million miles away.



not a kitty

3578069935 b247b16c2b o not a kitty



rolling rolling rolling

3577180670 2888c29020 rolling rolling rolling
A dude rolling his moustache at Rolling Thunder.



yet another cat and window

3570042141 012eb2c0fa o yet another cat and window



getting a tan

3570858610 78697c8ce1 o getting a tan
My mom’s cat, Callie, always finds the best spot in the house.



motorcycle bling

3563339897 77feedd2b4 o motorcycle bling



early beauty

3563361141 5626e33253 o early beauty



calm after the storm

3561674924 f2095793bd o calm after the storm
Today was a heavy camera-use day. Rolling Thunder, an event that brings together thousands of motorcycle riders in hopes of raising awareness for Vietnam and other vets, certainly had the ‘wow’ factor. I had planned to post a photo of one of the amazing riders but somehow I needed to step away and post a rather ordinary shot — maybe because it just simply soothes my soul.



she’s got legs

3461671118 d1de40bd1b o shes got legs
Finally – I think it’s officially shorts weather.



3549986978 ced80407d8 o



meetings can be fun

3547621220 5167d46f72 o meetings can be fun
Thanks to Harvey today for helping me navigate some unfamiliar waters with sensitivity and smarts. Tomorrow I look forward to another gathering of talented photographic minds in hopes of a future show.



quick sniff

3542993465 aa06e2dfb6 o quick sniff
of my favorite flower, the peony, before its season ends



go ahead and jump

3540573150 48b8305c63 o go ahead and jump
This weekend I attended a number of lectures and galleries in search of inspiration and a little push. While it can be daunting at times to be reminded of all the other photographers out there fighting for the attention of galleries and clients I also see that all that is stopping me is myself. (As a side note, I often revisit this series of nude photos I took a couple of years ago, searching for that elusive photo that shows just more than the human form. Finally, I found one that has an ounce of meaningful expression. Even though it was always there in my library, today was the day I discovered it.)



girls at a pizza place

3533605019 de1b35ec5a o girls at a pizza place



missing food

3523623570 cf5aa458d8 o missing food



flurry of blurry

3525699293 69cd652732 o flurry of blurry
Rather than looking up at all the cool architecture above me in Grand Central Terminal today, I decided to focus downward at all the legs and feet hurriedly going to their respective destinations.



mother’s day

3521585281 3d653f1045 o mothers day



standing around

3516735304 1ca68392c7 o standing around
Another shot I took while waiting for a train.



subway stories

3512577849 5fa34c761a o subway stories
This may look like a fairly ordinary shot of folks waiting for the next train. But not two minutes before these innocent people took a seat, Paul and I watched a chick pull down her panties and wiz right next to the trash can. Lovely, no?



yes, I floss

3509391572 f0c5d2c04b o yes, I floss
Despite what I think is good dental hygiene, I’m still spending way too much time in the dentist’s chair.



a seriously cool dude

3505291676 a8c254cf25 o a seriously cool dude



5 borough “walking” tour

3498722921 d3fe459ae4 o 5 borough walking tour
We attempted the 42 mile ride but the tour was fraught with rain, flat tires and too many bottlenecks. The bagel break at the beginning of the course was probably the best part.



cherry blossoms

3495327789 dc919ca76a o cherry blossoms



my little dumpling

3491656629 b3ea3be3c8 o my little dumpling
Not Paul, although he is a special guy, but the delicious packets of fried goodness from Vanessa’s in Chinatown.



breathless

3489828554 7e010c9b8d o breathless
A somewhat uninspired photo of the Brooklyn Bridge but I was so out of breath/out of shape trying to keep up with Paul on my bike as we crossed. I ‘highly’ recommend a trip on foot (or bicycle) as the views are quite stunning.



up close and personal

3486280446 1b00337f72 o up close and personal



from the Lyon’s mouth

3481513083 4471ccb85d o from the Lyons mouth
In the never-ending search for the meaning and truth of my photography, I came across this quote that struck a chord: “I wanted to change the world and preserve humanity… But in the process I changed myself and preserved my own.”
Danny Lyon, Photographer, from his new book, Memories of Myself.



the after party

3477822985 15efb8780f o the after party



transitioning

3472928223 963ec8c111 o transitioning
to the outside.



treasures in mom’s garage

3468644287 54e16ffd66 o treasures in moms garage
I finally claimed my deck furniture. Next I’d like to rescue the ’67 VW.



a foggy night in fort greene

3467206528 74c25d673d o a foggy night in fort greene
and two guys acting casual.



we’re getting there

3463126589 ba80164ae4 o were getting there
Ever closer to deck weather.



elevated train ride

3461772346 8793009f60 o elevated train ride



analyzing expression

3448070927 d30e2a2640 o analyzing expression
I’ve taken classes where we’ve spent at least an hour talking about a single photograph (and sometimes not even a complex one) but lo and behold, one can say many things about it. Of late, I’ve become more fascinated with a person’s expression. An expression can change within a millisecond and interpreting the captured moment becomes crucial whether in editing or admiring. This particular photo of my brother is a good example because I see or interpret a high level of complex emotion, making the photograph more interesting to me. First, it’s important to separate my feelings from the exact moment I took the photograph, if others are to see it. I’m able to discern a genuine acknowledgment of the photographer’s presence, serious, and perhaps unmoved with a hint of question and furrowed brow. Yet there is an ever so slight humor in the eyes and mouth. I use photography as a way to express myself. Understanding expression hopefully makes my photography stronger.



buds for everyone

3450909568 1b3a400775 o buds for everyone
But particularly for my friend Debbie.



let the sun shine in

3448944872 edfecab2e0 o let the sun shine in
Today we had sunshine and I’m feeling a bit more creative. (photo by bro Rob)



a sign to stay off the roads

3446393144 a2e4a125d6 o a sign to stay off the roads
It was slow going on the way back to Fort Greene yesterday.



an eggselent easter

3443079244 884d212360 o an eggselent easter
with Paul’s family (and can you spot me in the photo?)



the kitchen is open

3431909149 a21b56007b o the kitchen is open
and its smelling good.



old landmark

3429373196 796fb989a3 o old landmark
The Target located right behind it has now become the new landmark in Fort Greene.



day one…

3425238806 2c903ec153 o day one...
…in the new apartment. Ernie wanted nothing to do with anything.



shot in the dark

3313577155 d1d547b2e8 o shot in the dark
A simple picture but taken quickly in manual mode, no flash, on the roof of someone else’s car.



everything in its place

3304686366 69745727f0 o everything in its place
Slowly but surely the apartment is coming together. While we probably won’t attain the visual perfection of the Japanese, I hope that our place is cozy, clean and welcoming.



climbing the walls

3314837430 ecb12085ba o climbing the walls
The kitties are still adjusting to their new surroundings but are less timid than a few days ago.



moving, yet standing still

3389267837 c7f0c9a6c8 o moving, yet standing still
No internet until Wednesday. Maybe I should read a book or contemplate the meaning of life.



waiting for the rain and the cable guy

3398157421 7b71a23652 o waiting for the rain and the cable guy
Hopefully the cable comes first.



again with the moving

3400053896 e7bc226f25 o again with the moving
After our stints in the east and west villages we are now crossing over to Brooklyn. Tomorrow. Sammy, the kitty, would rather just be there already.



sight for sore eyes

3394753935 f8c1822965 o sight for sore eyes
Coming out of the PATH station the other day I was shocked to see how much progress had been made at the World Trade Center site.



moon landing

3394224190 cb112a0b48 o moon landing



for reals

3385588861 e368d16a21 o for reals
Although I occasionally make some minor adjustments to my photos these days, this one has not been retouched. The cactus is really this purple.



cool, not-so-cool, dull

3386411766 190bc2fd72 o cool, not so cool, dull
Jury’s out on this photo. I like it but it doesn’t do that much for me. I had to satisfy my need to take some beauty shots, tho.



shy bunny

3383301466 1319b0e643 o shy bunny



antisocial bunnies

3379452187 d7aec7f54d o antisocial bunnies



not so far away

3377792728 a34856d38d o not so far away

As of late, my posts have not been as frequent as I’ve liked. Bear (boar?) with me as I plan on getting back to a more regular schedule. And yes, I was so close to these javelina that I could smell them. One is not far from the wildlife at my bro’s house.



prickly, dry, harsh and beautiful

3370559461 1c8a57249e o prickly, dry, harsh and beautiful



new-irk

3347175165 bd8d86b29d o new irk
Home to the airport then home again. “Delays due to congestion,” so I had the option of sleeping in Chicago, Dallas or home tonight. I’ll try this again tomorrow. And hopefully I’ll have some brighter pics to post once I finally arrive at my intended destination in the great southwest. (A very nice person on the tram this afternoon offered to take my picture so I tried to look pensive and annoyed. I think it worked out.)



getting ready for another fresh start

3344460277 fe19e49f45 o getting ready for another fresh start



monday

3342445255 438695c614 o monday



no strings attached

3339435908 b819ede13b o no strings attached



little doggie, big picture

3335984514 9a429e8d42 o little doggie, big picture
This pic of Jumbo, my friend’s totally cute doggie, has a bit of a Juergen Teller feel about it with its slightly blown out exposure and straightforward gaze of the subject.



another picture in picture

3314673118 a82a3d424f o another picture in picture
Kamala, I miss you.



mexican hat dance

3328280033 7469390a82 o mexican hat dance
Cabin fever sets in as my bro and I try and show each other the cool stuff we have while video conferencing.



snow day

3323823720 5733410001 o snow day



fun to look at but…

3320267953 97a42a6401 o fun to look at but...
Skittles vodka? Colt 45? I know times are tough but c’mon. Clearly Paul has expressed his opinion on the whole thing.



hibernation

3316782754 e5508f8093 o hibernation



medicine

3313861841 8e8e4e257a o medicine

Cold, harsh winters call for warm and decadent cocktails. Thanks, Marcos, for the introduction.



inside looking out… again

3310151371 cb6fc2f19e o inside looking out... again

but from the comfort of home (not my home but a most lovely home none-the-less).



inside looking out

3304670926 761c9bffb9 o inside looking out

Taken from the inside of our mosquito-ridden van on the way home from one of our adventures in Phuket.



konichiwa!

3305597092 1cd78b03d5 o konichiwa!



oscar, buddha

3301208469 6452bed52c o oscar, buddha

Both gold and respected, representing a higher place.



chow down

3279099776 706d425b7b o chow down

At a Chinese restaurant in Bangkok, Paul and I were surrounded by mirrors — a little distracting but fun to play with while digesting.



taking a quick break from the orient

3293641331 07f2254940 o taking a quick break from the orient

at the National Gallery of Art with mom to see Pompeii: The Roman Villa. This is the last pic I took before getting “busted” by security.



jump in

3284192307 489ef8b9b5 o jump in
Have pool, have camera, have Paul, take pictures!



girls of thailand…

3284181317 5051e12f03 o girls of thailand...

…or are they boys?



one night in bangkok…

3282134426 d24743f8a5 o one night in bangkok...

…like every other night, was hot, exotic and polluted. And the skyline was full of these creepy, abandoned ghost towers.



pawsing for reflection

3279140384 1970bb9006 o pawsing for reflection



cuteness and technology abounds

3273703754 f33f31f110 o cuteness and technology abounds

in Japan.



and I’m back

3271215464 0ec95fc3f9 o and Im back
from the other side of the earth…



out-of-office reply

3216092223 17e54e08dd o out of office reply

Jetting off to the motherland of all things Hello Kitty, and checking out the finer techniques of massage in Thailand (not to mention taking a bunch of new pics for the blog). Back in about two weeks…



lacking curb appeal

3218900295 bfc5f640e5 o lacking curb appeal

But I found these properties on a busy street in Queens, quite fascinating. There are even columns flanking the front door of the far house. Could be hot property again, someday — close to amazing ethnic restaurants, literally in the shadow of the elevated train line, etc. Time does strange things.



night light

3216819102 0441e6cf35 o night light

Snow and darkness — a common sight. But this does seem a little odd what with the bushes and seafood sign — part Tikki Room, part Brooklyn in winter.



fruit

3213437023 b41d4f43f2 o fruit

Look at those oranges. Taken by guest photographer Ryan.



human booger…

3211101343 3dc24752f0 o human booger...

…played by my bro who just told me that the putt putt course this Easter Island look-a-like was at just closed down. I’m soooo upset I have to blow my nose.



hello, goat. say hi to your mother for me.

3203737283 506e0694df o hello, goat. say hi to your mother for me.



a chicken

3202357942 aa836ecb10 o a chicken



true blue

3200371196 766864f448 o true blue

The clouds broke and we saw that the sky is still beautiful blue.



look into my eyes

3197975082 6f576a51e7 o look into my eyes



rad abstract

3195173177 58f15f172e o rad abstract

Photo taken by guest photographer (and talented writer) Paul Smalera.



more comfort food

3180666832 94bc9d6706 o more comfort food



dream cream

3188910450 92cfd9f780 o dream creamBrought to you by Russ & Daughters. Go there.



sleeping

3185609066 f4190405ca o sleeping

As cold and rainy as it was, there was also a peaceful and quiet calm while walking through the cemetery of St. Paul’s Chapel next to the World Trade Center site.



right about now

3182996494 94aec9f504 o right about now

The beaches of Phuket are calling my name.



as the world turns

3173532711 f51eff6802 o as the world turns

On a cold, dull, winter evening, my attention, yet again, turns to the cat. And the cat’s attention is clearly not turned towards me.



the aftermath

3166467769 c7e4184bc6 o the aftermath



start of a party

3163234167 2d99df2bf4 o start of a party



happy new year

3160515082 8225da6a96 o happy new year



aberration

3151427390 60d4e8cf8d o aberration

A mysterious cat gets in the way of my moon shot.



shoot for the moon

3145065693 6554bb3ec9 o shoot for the moon

I was actually trying to photograph a full moon but only succeeded in capturing the view outside our kitchen window. In New York, one can feel small, but one can also feel kind of safe to see a sight like this.



nothing like a good stretch

3142203192 ee8cf725a5 o nothing like a good stretch



holiday table-scape

3140277788 799daa6528 o holiday table scape



splash of color

3132535916 5a54368fe1 o splash of color

Maybe not so good to have a greenish bride and groom, but for some reason, I find this kind of beautiful.



an example of snuggling

3129461968 72feff26a1 o an example of snuggling



ice capades

3099170508 f76067eed8 o ice capades

‘Tis the season to ice skate (and snuggle).



flash in the pants

3118698851 bc3baa4063 o flash in the pants



moonlight

3111801719 9f71b0f61b o moonlight

To escape the harsh cold and moonlit sky on the outside, we went inside to a friend’s party where it was just as beautifully illuminated.



ghost

3101996054 0b160649fa o ghost

From the archives, taken at a boneyard in Tucson, AZ. I just needed to see some bright, blue sky.



flash of light

3103823388 6057268627 o flash of light

Walking in Soho the other day I noticed a gorgeous pocket of colorful, pink, fast-moving clouds. I quickly fumbled with my gloves, grabbed my G9, adjusted to the appropriate settings but was too late. At least I remember it was pretty.



leggo my eggle

3103982458 36251e8841 o leggo my eggle

I took a portrait class about a year ago and the teacher said a lot of my work resembled that of William Eggleston’s — a photographer known for his mastery of taking pictures of the ordinary. At the time, I was not as impressed with the importance of Eggleston’s work and had troubles identifying my work with his. I have since been more receptive and eager to learn about other noted photographers and today felt ready to revisit Eggleston’s work on display at the Whitney Museum of American Art. Eggleston says, “I had this notion of what I called a democratic way of looking around: that nothing was more important or less important.” Every detail, no matter how insignificant takes on meaning. It’s taken me a while to get to this point but I’m glad I see the resemblance, but at the same time, the differences are even more pronounced — a sign that my work says Wendy, not William.



fairly common sight around here

3101209141 210d19ab3b o fairly common sight around here



camera and some cookies

3099175414 248a329bcd o camera and some cookies



in the photo, in the photographer

3094545522 3f6da695a7 o in the photo, in the photographer

This picture is overexposed. There is a guy in the reflection looking like he could be holding the white purse, but he’s probably watching me take the photo. There is an apartment building with windows that kind of remind me of the previous waffle pic I posted. There is this kind of rectangular thingy that is on the boobs of the mannequin with the purple dress. I like that the only color in the photo is on the dresses. The mannequin on the left looks like she might be pushing the bicycle. What is in the window is very different than what’s outside. These were some of the thoughts that ran through my head as I was looking for something interesting and different to post. I’ve described the photo, but I haven’t described the photographer — or the reasons why I took the photo. Tonight I attended a ‘conversation’ between two famous contemporary photographers, Catherine Opie (who currently has a show at the Guggenheim) and Gregory Crewdson, who were both able to speak intelligently about their work on a far deeper level. I’m learning that in order to get noticed in today’s world of photography you have to be able to describe your work in a way that is different than everyone else. It is a very difficult thing to do, in part, because you’re basically turning yourself inside out. Perhaps I picked this photo today because I’m not into borders right now and there’s mystery and girlishness beyond the glass.



the white stuff

3090422209 faaa7076bb o the white stuff

We had a light dusting of snow last night.



another “shot” from the country

3077986818 ac70d4429d o another shot from the country

More precisely, above the mantle at a Cracker Barrel somewhere in the middle of Pennsylvania.



mmmm buildings

3083468106 5c4c73529b o mmmm buildings

Still on my architectural kick, I had to snap this shot of the Empire State Building from the ice skating rink at Bryant Park (before I got in trouble and had to put my camera away).



kitty with the healthy gums

3080177503 3f3e74839c o kitty with the healthy gums



comfort food

3077086431 517456ff04 o comfort food

Eggs and grits with cheese was just what the doctor ordered for a worried mommy (meowmmy). Ernie, who was with a real doctor at the same time, was getting 4 tiny teeth pulled. Poor little guy.



hibernation

3072147181 e8c4cb2ec1 o hibernation

A dormant roller coaster in Erie, Pa.



color by Mood

3068623443 446713a4e5 o color by Mood

This week I went to Mood fabric store for my artist date. Whenever my mom took me to the fabric store as a kid, I would stare at all the different kinds of buttons. Mood (a Project Runway haunt) provided me a very nice selection. I also wanted to inject some color into my blog before I go back to my usual darker ‘moods’.



double dip

3066642527 b795905dbf o double dip

Action shot from Thanksgiving.



nice puddle

3059235343 191cae2f86 o nice puddle

During the winter I’m usually so cold I don’t want to lift my head to look up and so I end up staring at miles of dirty sidewalks until spring comes.



going with the grain

3056919961 782b07d593 o going with the grain

I paid the price for both the alcohol and the use of a higher ISO to get the shot and a nice buzz.



second look

3053736890 46f73355dd o second look

Stretching my photoshop muscles I worked a little bit yesterday to enhance this photo (deleted an unsightly trash can, lessoned the brightness of the flash in the foreground, highlighted the whites of her dress and skyline, among other things).



as time goes by

3049876217 5193127487 o as time goes by

Yesterday was street cleaning day. Had to move the car. That hour and a half lasts forever.



mother and child

3046680499 d2e5467dc0 o mother and child

A favorite of mine from today’s shoot.



on the lighter side

3040281216 70a9b3b904 o on the lighter side



in the darkness

3036302680 68429afca4 o in the darkness

I wish I had brighter shots to post but most of my pics lately have been taken under darker conditions. Is it because of impending winter or is it a reflection of an inner darkness?



smoke and a pancake?

3031428524 1976c39e4f o smoke and a pancake?

More like a smoke and a Mr. Softee milkshake for the newly married couple, sitting here on the steps of the New York Public Library.



blown out

3023673188 2ba5e05b56 o blown out

I can’t look at a camera right now. (this is actually a self portrait)



enough of color

3023727736 308ffa7faa o enough of color

I’m back in black.



do I dream in color?

3020431391 bb3bae8a35 o do I dream in color?

I love color. Most people do. But it is definitely not my strength when it comes to my photography as I tend towards more monochromatic tones — black and white being my truest love. I guess my subconscious was craving a bit more of the rainbow even though my focus was on the little white church in the middle of this scene in NYC.



heaven on earth, or odd things

3017788118 f11d748618 o heaven on earth, or odd things
I see some strange things in the city. But there are different kinds of strange out in the country.



fuzzy

3014168928 22e1cfb21d o fuzzy

Mike and Annemarie took Manhattan yesterday. A truly beautiful couple, now in marriage, I was honored to help capture their love and the love of family and friends. Today, while I’m feeling a little fuzzy, it is a good kind of tired. (photo by paul)



mountain view

3000355212 1b70aae5df o mountain view

We felt close to the clouds up in the Shenandoah mountains.



president elect

3005660629 7e13812290 o president elect

They just keep getting younger…



call of the wild

3002865530 ac21d7088b o call of the wild

Last week was a much-needed trip to Shenandoah, Va. New York was very far away.



halloween hangover

2992830382 64d82caa22 o halloween hangover

I had yet to see a NY parade… until last Friday. It was a doozy.



I see you

2992840706 cf4d7e368d o I see you



happy halloween

2990293466 9e70aaeeda o happy halloween

Hopefully this is a scary enough picture. It’s sometimes hard for me to overcome my cute, and sometimes sweet sensibilities.



something seasonal

2959700823 695d245ce1 o something seasonal



living history

2975210166 a55c8b2a7f o living history

Yesterday I went to the Museum of the City of New York to fulfill another artist date. With my growing fascination of New York’s history (also in the midst of reading The Fountainhead) I am much more aware of the buildings that surround me on my daily walks through the city.



to Manhattan, head east

2972062660 e143a8ccf6 o to Manhattan, head east
From the photo archives.



schooling

2968767734 58e2f46022 o schooling

After a day of classes and trade show gawking at this year’s PhotoPlus Expo I became a bit bleary-eyed. The shiniest part of the day was having dinner with my favorite college professor, Sue Bloom, whom I hadn’t seen in like, a lot of years.



a prettier section of the east village

2956236398 ee55e52401 o a prettier section of the east village

Except for the leaves on the ground, it almost looks spring-like.



high light of my day

2960525402 23d4f6fa1e o high light of my day

When times are tough, go and support your local salon.



part of a non-nutritious lunch

2952794370 c3dcc43f42 o part of a non nutritious lunch

I have started the Artist Way, which includes a series of exercises that will hopefully make me more creative. One of the lessons is to have an artist date with yourself once a week. It can be anything that you want but it should have a very personal meaning. This past week, I went to 7-Eleven for a Slurpee and and ice cream sandwich (I had to make due with a Pop Tart in lieu of the ice cream). When I was growing up, it was a weekly ritual for me to walk to the local 7-Eleven with my hard-earned allowance. I was hoping to recapture those days and to some extent I did but I also took home a slightly upset stomach. All very worth it, upset tummy and all.



so close, yet so far

2951854057 dc7b966072 o so close, yet so far



somewhere else

2950156564 bbbd036884 o somewhere else
Colder weather and shorter days make me feel a little bit sleepy.



i got nothin’



ring envy

2945381135 964ec93ec5 o ring envy



hear me roar

2942130357 7c47272e0b o hear me roar

Yes, I’m still experiencing some weird computer problems which is most annoying. Fortunately, I was able to walk away from them and observe a bunch of photography at the Art Director’s Club’s annual show. I’m all photo’d out now, so I thought I’d post an illustration on my blog instead of a photo. But now that I look back on this pic I drew a long, long time ago, it is fairly photo-real. Probably a sign of my future in photography.



remnants of a good time

2937653201 c96cb61f42 o remnants of a good time

A last minute trip came together perfectly. Yesterday a group of us waited in long lines to ride some of the most exciting roller coasters I’ve ever been on. I almost lost my glasses on more than one occasion and can barely comb thru my wind-blown hair, but what a blast. No pictures to show, unfortunately, just remnants of memories.



lift off

2932413050 21e7122444 o lift off



fractured meanings

2928074014 62066a0a6b o fractured meanings
So, blogs. About a year and a half ago, I was encouraged to design a website to showcase my portfolio. A blog soon followed, but it was for me, family and friends — a tool to keep my photography fresh. As the world of blogs evolve, they are becoming a greater selling tool for photographers (I highly recommend this interview with Ryan Schick, as it further illuminates the influence of blogs in the photo editing world, plus I want to kiss some ass). Will this change the way I view my own blog? Well, I do want to earn a living. But, while a lot of people could care less about my cats and what I think of the weather, I hope that my work still stands out as unique and can be enjoyed by all. Very tricky thing to do.



easy on the eyes

2924668680 dc7f69eb96 o easy on the eyes

While I experience frustrating technical difficulties with my workflow, I need something soothing to look at.



human love

2915835446 a16532b307 o human love



puppy love

2915830278 fb6bd36e1a o puppy love



ah, the life

2909341293 3b8392814e o ah, the life

Until they become a gourmet dinner at Blue Hill.



a rare giant squirrel

2899266480 cb6758bbd1 o a rare giant squirrel



here comes another bride

2898413129 0564df83e6 o here comes another bride



timing is everything

2899274324 f7dc054c4e o timing is everything
After 6 plus hours of celebrating the marriage of Jeff and Erika, our abilities to capture a serious, tender moment faded.



fax cat

2891535246 174326eba4 o fax cat

The bus was late last evening but at least I had my camera to help pass some time.



end of summer

2887624663 a5c47b0f7a o end of summer



hope springs eternal… and links

2883062479 b5bffbe582 o hope springs eternal... and links

My friend Marcos’s interview with me came at a really good time — http://www.marcossalazar.com/. Sometimes I feel I have a long way to go with my art, but I need to step back once in a while and acknowledge the things I have accomplished. You might recognize some of these images from previous blog posts but here is the complete collection that appears in the documentary, “A Nation Remembers — The Story of the Pentagon Memorial” http://www.flickr.com/photos/ploger/sets/72157607456987698/ which will air on national television sometime next year and can also be purchased here — http://www.45northcommunications.com/.



i dunno

2882880809 8f84a52997 o i dunno

Today was one of those days where I didn’t know what to post. Nothing really jumped out at me. Looking through my images I sometimes feel there is no common thread, although apparently, I do have a certain style. When I submit to contests, I’m never sure what to send in. Trying to categorize, or fit a few of my images into a group is proving quite difficult. I guess I’ve had a couple of long-term projects with a certain trajectory, but my best work seems to come in fits and spurts. How does a ‘street’ photographer package that into something that is popularly accepted? I feel like a soggy kitty.



soggy, sour kitty

2880436551 bcc08ca254 o soggy, sour kitty

So I didn’t have my ‘real’ camera walking down a west village street the other day, but iPhone to the rescue.



deer caught in the headlights

2876018731 40bf038246 o deer caught in the headlights

Actually a squirrel caught by my flash.



smoke em if you got em…

2868060597 6e07d3e867 o smoke em if you got em...
in a boat on the Potomac if you got that too…



little lamb lunching

2867281514 da40f16a30 o little lamb lunching

I was also able to lunch with my sheep friends (and human friends) at Stone Barns, 30 miles up the Hudson.



along the same lines…

2859680109 076a356fc7 o along the same lines...



america

2861076913 993ca47284 o america



arrival

2857476092 856e519198 o arrival

At the end of this journey stands a most elegant memorial. From the ashes of an event so horrible and hateful to a renewal of soundness and life, this place is like no other — as individual as the people who died on 9/11/2001. My heartfelt and most sincerest thank you to all who contributed.



shaken not stirred

2843452813 bc381e08f5 o shaken not stirred

Paul and I attended a swanky event last eve., posing as the press, of course. Free drinks, celebrity sightings, a spectacular view of the financial district and this intense bartender made the evening more than worthwhile.



building, grass, sky

2835456470 f8d6ab0e71 o building, grass, sky

Just your run of the mill scenic shot taken near the IKEA in Red Hook.



clearing skies

2831682479 dd5b4070d7 o clearing skies
Hurricane Hanna did her thing, and while some of us got soaked and lost shoes in torrents of rain we are now looking forward to a peaceful, dry Sunday.



Sam

 Sam



and now for something cute and fuzzy

2828373428 16a5948eba o and now for something cute and fuzzy



glimpse

2829903608 f2a92f6233 o glimpse



lots of little things

2824846179 d124efcaff o lots of little things

At first glance this photo has no real drama. But, the interest is definitely in the details. Every time I look at this picture I see something new.



burger bliss

2819705599 69c961c292 o burger bliss

About 5 minutes of pure bliss and 6 hours of after shocks.



thirsty

2813425293 2ac427390b o thirsty

The DC area finally got some much needed relief in the form of rain. While it interfered with my photo plans, I wasn’t going to whine about it too much.



subway rider

2800583782 73e274bb5c o subway rider



the country

2803231633 5057290921 o the country



the city

2795836435 0dfd155a26 o the city



in the spotlight

2793145781 9af00b56e1 o in the spotlight

A rare, but, if I might add, effective use of flash used on super star Frances.



looking around

2787469154 7d2752a24a o looking around

Not much going on in the middle of this photograph, but top and bottom reveal a little more interest.



picture this

2785175516 7e456197e3 o picture this

Sometimes having the camera annoys me because I can get lost in a moment and then think, “oh, I need to take a picture of this” and my special moment is lost in getting my camera and fixing my settings, etc. But then I get home and look at the results and find I have that special little moment forever.



parking space

2782584260 56a874a2e5 o parking space



on the rail again

2778438379 97cb3e821f o on the rail again

Train or the Turnpike? I choose train. Gave my brain a rest from reality and got a lot of reading done on my trip home today.



little airplane…

2773358708 6062f7b738 o little airplane...
big weekend of sailing.



happy birthday paul!

2769431462 71f1966a38 o happy birthday paul!



motion of the ocean

2766140495 38b9877ed8 o motion of the ocean

Today was our first day of sailing lessons. We learned about luffing, beating and jibing. I also learned I’m still swaying even though I type this from terra firma.



cooling off

2762984501 bd8ab3f4b0 o cooling off

After spending some of the afternoon in the steamy NYC subway system, I needed to look at something that would cool me off — not that I want winter back or anything.



look left

2760349047 b626a772ca o look left
Just a random people shot taken on the IKEA ferry back to Manhattan last Saturday.



storm chasers

2757188437 58a4d194b6 o storm chasers

Riding through tornado country in Ohio, my friend Jess and I suddenly became very nervous when we spotted this suspicious formation of clouds. Glad I had my camera and glad I’m here to talk about it icon smile storm chasers .



empire state building and me

2753943501 e81a5a53e0 o empire state building and me



street-wise

2750926248 021295a512 o street wise

Some fancy duds on this lovely little lady. I love New York.



just plain cute

2744588404 ca44578a7e o just plain cute



digestion

2741474313 3616bf0be8 o digestion

Ivan, clearly, was done with his breakfast.



take off

2739549529 b72cb1c6d2 o take off

I was in flight again today, this time returning from a very nice visit with my dear friend in Dayton, OH.



yellow is gold

2729645786 f06ac8dccd o yellow is gold

We were in Boston this weekend attending an opening at a gallery in which one of my photos was featured. Taking a break from the cramped gallery space, I spotted this Bulgarian beauty just outside, wearing my favorite color.



2719965943 f58eb857ec o



cruisin’ for a bruisin’

2720725476 154fe82b26 o cruisin for a bruisin

In the back of a cab the other night, I noticed that the low evening light really accentuated the hues of my lovely bruise. I think this sucker is going to be around awhile. Maybe I should give it a name. The cause of this monstrosity was…



random restaurant patron

2716370367 0890f031c2 o random restaurant patron
Sometimes I wonder if I’m being too sly and underhanded sneaking photos of people without them knowing. But I like to think of it as simply capturing an honest moment. And yes, it is slightly blurry, but something I’m working on icon smile random restaurant patron .



beer here

2710861475 f1f263da5b o beer here

This is probably the view if one has had too much to drink. Fortunately just my camera was that low to the bar.



a good egg

2700884305 85572d2434 o a good egg



down in the hole

2699787176 60e371fc68 o down in the hole

For those of you that watch The Wire, this is probably a familiar sight. From the view of my train, I saw with my own eyes that these corners in Baltimore really do exist — and this particular one is for the taking. Mos def.



cool pool

2696845516 487729cd4a o cool pool

Yes, another pool shot, but I’m loving the late afternoon/early evening light.



beating the heat

2693890930 051026f290 o beating the heat



colorful callie

2690914806 78ec34942d o colorful callie

My mom’s kitty feeling cozy in her tissue paper bed.



remains of the day

2686223485 5c9e756ef1 o remains of the day

On a more temperate night last week, we rode our bikes up the Hudson and stopped at one of my favorite landmarks, or should I say watermarks. Float Bridge No. 4, built in 1911, transferred rail cars to barges. “One of the most significant marine structures remaining in the city… showed less inclination to dump boxcars into the river.”



extremes

2682344735 a8a445ac05 o extremes

From the overly air conditioned car of my train, I gazed at the hot, hazy scenery outside my window.



bad kitty

2633548089 25a00ea557 o bad kitty

Kitty’s claws got trimmed today.



good doggie

2671788275 4c5d8ab450 o good doggie



dahlia who?

2669239960 b03e0c69f4 o dahlia who?

This little one has many names — fizzy, Ava Grace, monkey, dude, Dahlia (her real name, but only when she says). Here she makes her debut as the Little Mermaid.



little cows

2666433450 edcfe74f8c o little cows

One of the cute sights we saw in Connecticut over the weekend.



fly away

2657945467 cdb5aac8d6 o fly away

I could go on and on with these Tucson beauty shots, but I should probably get back to earth with some other subjects.



sighting

2652835823 49aba5a5d2 o sighting

One of many amazing sights from my brother’s backyard.



singing in the rain

2649510403 36ff294949 o singing in the rain

As some may know, I’m a weather nut. Needless to say I was completely enthralled with the show the skies put on for me in Tucson.



patriotic pants

2647036138 316c93e8af o patriotic pants

This 4th of July weekend was spent at my brother’s house in Tucson. I have always wanted to experience the extreme heat of the desert during summer but temps only hovered around the high 90s. Good enough for me and thank goodness for swimming pools.



open door

2633448519 d65a6c4b23 o open door

Just another day walking through the west village.



chin up

2631627797 53c3e572f9 o chin up

Yes, I’m having a fine time with this 14mm lens. Ernie wanted to check it out too and took a big sniff.



high five, er four

2628959804 a8f95dfcce o high five, er four

My dear friend Pamela has let me borrow her camera before I actually take the plunge and buy a 5D for myself. It’s a good sign that this camera is the one for me when I capture a shot like this.



homage to harvey

2624741511 82e3cd8a6b o homage to harvey

When I first really ‘looked’ at this picture I took (the moment I clicked the shutter, I wasn’t sure exactly what I had captured) it totally reminded me of a photo one of my instructors took in Italy (and is now on the cover of his book, Movimento). While I can only aspire to be as talented as Mr. Stein, it was fun for me to capture a sliver of a moment similar to his.



port of call

2617927117 f0f1619e76 o port of call

Last night a bunch of us hit up an outdoor concert at the South Street Seaport. I was so enthralled with the setting and the people, I barely moved two feet from my seat.



the problem with video conferencing

2614152262 13f134c791 o the problem with video conferencing
Photo by Rob



flair and flare

2611683138 7a56acf3bb o flair and flare

Daniel, with the locks of love, doesn’t necessarily blend in to his surroundings — especially sporting this extra stylish getup while on Friday afternoon’s boat ride along the Potomac River.



same guy, slightly more flattering picture

2607692249 55581d00b7 o same guy, slightly more flattering picture

This photo was taken a few years ago, but as you can see in a more recent photo posted in March, I attempted to recreate its look.



happy birthday rob!

2604703152 8fae1eef5f o happy birthday rob!



food and shelter

2602885520 e625842416 o food and shelter

We capped our long journey home from Annapolis at the Corner Bistro, our friendly neighborhood pub where we devoured a rejuvenating meal of burgers and beers.



tech talk

2593616546 cfc0e0788f o tech talk

My brother and I decided to try video conferencing. Of course, we had to take pictures of the event.



so foul and fair a day I have not seen. -Macbeth

2590488356 fb69d80160 o so foul and fair a day I have not seen.  Macbeth

Actually, yesterday was quite fair with hardly any foul except a few minor criticisms of a Polish version of Macbeth, viewed in a gorgeous open air theater under the shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge.



station stop

2578080537 a5dbd805d2 o station stop

There are times when I know I should take a picture, but if I’m in a hurry, slightly distracted or just plain lazy, I often miss a golden opportunity. The other day, I managed to pause, pull out the camera and photograph the activity surrounding me. Probably one of the most photographed stations in the U.S., I joined the masses and felt the thrill of capturing beautiful Grand Central Terminal and its travelers.



laundry…

2581235510 98737d0008 o laundry...

… and a clean kitty, who often escapes to the bottom of my laundry basket.



musée d’art

2578903744 d82a007e77 o musée dart

Well, actually a café up in Westchester where my friend Debbie’s work is beautifully displayed. The artist (pictured), my friend Pamela and I shared lunch and a relaxing afternoon together talking shop and taking in the gorgeous surroundings.



congrats to the graduate

2567381497 bc86d56c93 o congrats to the graduate

Last Saturday I had the distinct honor (and about 2 minutes) to photograph my friend’s daughter right before her graduation party.



and back to color

2570237381 a4b019f6c7 o and back to color



subway station in sepia

2568228300 d7e0275c54 o subway station in sepia

Someone had set my G9 camera to shoot in sepia which turned out to be a refreshing switch from my usual color. Definitely a long exposure judging by the blurry figure in the foreground.



muffins

2564581573 872e0e7f52 o muffins

These little ones were having a grand time at my friend Elaine’s daughter’s graduation party last weekend, as was everyone else in attendance.



visitor

2557628973 d033b32873 o visitor

Last night I dreamt that my dad and I visited the memorial together. To get there we took an elevator from a very high floor of a tall building. It was a fast and fun ride down. When we stepped off the elevator, we were surrounded by shimmering pools of water broken up by patches of grass and stainless steel benches emerging from the ground. My dad then left, but I wasn’t alone.



watching the world go by

2548217581 a4242a0e61 o watching the world go by

It was so nice the other night to sit at Union Square and take in city life.



looking back

2551922106 4fb8fdf70e o looking back

Last evening I shared drinks with an old friend at the Paramount Hotel in midtown Manhattan. The last time I was there was a few years ago when my dreams of moving to Manhattan were about to become reality. I took this photo back then, and while our room was smaller than a large closet, I could’ve cared less because of what lay outside.



in the spotlight

2534138323 cfebaf4438 o in the spotlight



no toy is safe

2546324544 f9f5170769 o no toy is safe



hand over fist

2541095549 81d4bf2b68 o hand over fist

More from the archives but fun to revisit this subject of hands in nature.



along the same vein

2538288053 d2f3896c12 o along the same vein



climbing a rock

2534157515 895cb0993d o climbing a rock

I love photography, but I spend a lot of time indoors in front of a computer editing and marketing the work I’ve done. Maybe, at some point I’ll be at a higher place, but I might as well enjoy the climb.



sight sea-ing

2531323847 ef48251e3b o sight sea ing



fine dining

2528133056 e379838eb1 o fine dining

Pretty view, pretty restaurant, generally pretty people, and pretty food could all be found last Saturday evening at the Old Hickory Steakhouse in National Harbor, MD.



sleepy, but aware

2524998290 5fbe486a0b o sleepy, but aware

Our last stop before heading back to NY was a visit with Paul’s brother’s family.



hair-brained idea

2513874678 ab94d24c01 o hair brained idea

I decided to use the fringe on an old lamp as hair on one of my classmates while in Cape May to help pass some time.



fountain of youth

2512998537 8380d04bf6 o fountain of youth

It’s rare to come across someone as giving and photogenic as this guy.



classy, yet not

2510965539 cc68882a62 o classy, yet not

During our tour around Wildwood, NJ, we saw a lot of fancy cars and blue metal palm trees.



rain has returned

2509734738 97c146de44 o rain has returned



weekend of indulgences

2506430128 b8c7b5921c o weekend of indulgences

It all began last Friday afternoon — a NY celebration of bdays and best friends. Monday afternoon finds me tired and hungover in an empty apartment, but with many delicious memories.



outstanding in the field

2499731210 d3a56cba7e o outstanding in the field



splish splash

2494983453 99e6c606cf o splish splash

Wandering around Wildwood, NJ, during the off-season one will find an abundance of empty swimming pools. Diana, my model du jour, and I made the best of the situation.



bunny behind

2492816834 72f5f1f412 o bunny behind



birth of a blog

2488916913 615ae15bed o birth of a blog

Today marks my 365th post — one year’s worth of pictures.



a real bunny

2485833985 795b1cd17c o a real bunny



walk, don’t walk

2479888822 bed74e3b56 o walk, dont walk

While the weather held out for our photo workshop yesterday in Cape May, NJ, we weren’t as lucky today.



more flowers… and a bunny!

2476847165 ce8a2d41f8 o more flowers... and a bunny!



another posy

2198265883 faa3e40e3b o another posy



scent and sensibility

2467627875 ba244f5db1 o scent and sensibility

Nothing too adventurous about this photo, but to me, the Peony is IT. Today, in the morning light, I was enthralled by my purchase of peonies. The longest used flowers in ornamental culture, they are delicate, rare, seasonal, and soaked with an alluring scent.



almost monday again

2466826538 0d893471a6 o almost monday again

It was a busy and productive weekend, at least for some of us…



ice scream for warmer weather

2462953966 f84df1de7e o ice scream for warmer weather

These cold rainy days are getting real old. The first warm, sunny day I’m taking a leisurely walk to get my favorite dark chocolate ice cream down on Bleecker St.



thursday

2457810385 1b78f54955 o thursday



technicolor

2454641049 1c962d650e o technicolor

This is a favorite from the archives. The rainbow color on the windows is real — I think a combination of mist and sun reflected on the glass. I did, however, enhance the color slightly in Photoshop for emphasis.



tuesday

2452700858 f8aa43a8fa o tuesday



monday

2449476339 a10265e85e o monday



dining utensils

2444771774 1e71629cdb o dining utensils

My bro gives my mom a quick lesson in the use of chopsticks at a favorite dim sum restaurant.



smaleras

2441069131 09ea6b2578 o smaleras



night life

2439097954 0412ea51d4 o night life



travel essentials

2437333718 d6d5fffde5 o travel essentials

Sunglasses, iPhone (w/headphones), purse, camera and furry tote bag.



living room of memories

2435183352 cdaac66a0c o living room of memories



personal portrait

2430693079 b17db370ec o personal portrait
This past weekend I was on the road again, visiting friends who allowed me to photograph them in their homes for a project I’m working on. It was raining outside of Abe’s house and available light was difficult to come by but I think I captured a moment in the life of a man who lost his wife on 9/11.



amazing feat

2423053615 783b9caf86 o amazing feat

As some may know, I’m not a big fan of (human) feet but I have been learning how to embrace them ever so slightly. They have to be pretty nice looking feet to be posted on my blog, however, and these are some of the nicest.



sleepy head

2421829178 c304697886 o sleepy head



warming trend

2416485147 a950ea7018 o warming trend



what lies beneath

2414174443 9b944236cd o what lies beneath



la piscine dans l’hotel

2410669155 a2eb8db0f8 o la piscine dans lhotel

Slightly jet-lagged, I felt like I was in another world at the Holiday Inn in St. Louis last week. The smell of chlorine and humid air trapped by the ceiling added to my overall displacement. I secretly wished my room faced this indoor playroom, but you can’t have it all. (I’m not exactly sure why I typed the title of this entry in french, but I suspect its because piscine is one of my favorite words ever.)



from the flames

2408312272 2ab2a0a86c o from the flames

At approximately 8:30 a.m. yesterday morning in a factory in Missouri, the last 4 benches of the 184 total for the Pentagon Memorial were formed. Poured from 3,000 degree molten ferralium (titanium equivalent) the hardened benches will be polished and shipped to their final destination in Arlington, Virginia.



we were illuminated

2402772143 b1f967e58c o we were illuminated

Always good times with my thirsty friends, Deb and Dina. The table we sat at was illuminated which was a bit annoying but I like the results in this photo.



elaine

2401849688 eff59da8e8 o elaine

What a wonderful thing to be able to photograph my dear friend Elaine and her beautiful kids.



anticipation

2396036319 6b5df38951 o anticipation

Paul’s niece, Frances, about to embark on a super taste sensation.



desperate or creative

2393009337 6df7ed20b7 o desperate or creative

Always looking for people and things to photograph I seem to have hit a slow spot. So I turn to myself in a dirty public restroom. At least my nose, which I’ve never been a huge fan of, is conveniently hidden.



seeing the light

2384637178 93890c0f02 o seeing the light

Just one of those moments when I notice a special kind of light.



it’s dinner time

2383788533 70d7e593df o its dinner time

A pleasant treat awaited me at my mom’s house last week… her home made enchiladas.



another landscape of sorts

2381040767 71199887b3 o another landscape of sorts



what was

2378026606 cb2c42e242 o what was

As I learn more and more about the history of NYC and the surrounding area, I always try and imagine what it would have been like a mere 200 years ago. From historical accounts, the area was teeming with wild life and there was this amazing, unmistakable floral scent. Oysters a foot long could be plucked out of the water. I know it will never be the same, but I hope that our ugly human tracks can be covered with nature once again.



beach boy

2375694074 82b1e4805e o beach boy



midair mousie

2365745611 f4c3f24bb2 o midair mousie



ernie and bunnies

2364020307 5ee991e43e o ernie and bunnies
Ernie was so relaxed, he didn’t realize he was slipping off my lap. This pic was a tad difficult to take, but thanks to the simplicity of the iPhone, I was able to capture the moment.



yay for rob!

2362082910 9653893677 o yay for rob!

Somewhat similar in nature to my previous blog post and just as fun to photograph. I realize he’s without arms, but I love the dust coming off his shoes and the light reflecting off his hat.



yay for ernie!

2356944334 6601bfa864 o yay for ernie!



a moment

2353211522 9cb71861d0 o a moment



behind the veil

2348155064 e309347a84 o behind the veil

Taken from my table on the second floor of Merkato 55 last night in the west village.



the good life

2347056884 71726ca43a o the good life
Last night we went to Fette Sau to “pig” out on some amazing bbq. Once our food coma set in, I pulled out the camera. Lately, I’ve been shooting from the hip (avoiding looking through the viewfinder) and it seems that people react differently to the camera. I like the look on Josh’s face (pictured, right) — he looks genuinely content.



me too!

2335968559 452f93bc37 o me too!

Ernie usually gets all the limelight but its about time Sammy Sam got some too.



not austria or virginia

2340625563 96e3890361 o not austria or virginia

But sausages. Vienna Sausages (said to contain riboflavin). Dedicated to my friend Kelly.



helen’s granddaughter

2336063949 9f94d76804 o helens granddaughter



helen

2334391926 e0782766e6 o helen
The lovely lady is my grandmother. My mom and I recently went through a collection of old photographs, and this one is my favorite. What modern camera can take a picture like this? And, at the time this was taken, photographs were usually posed whereas this image capture was more spontaneous. There is hint of a farm house in the background, and I love the figure(s) on the right.



phoning it in

2331236558 7679e6b129 o phoning it in
Always on the lookout for bright, shiny objects, I spotted this little heart of glitter in the middle of a pocket of filth on the sidewalk. As I was taking a closer look at it, someone stopped next to me thinking I had dropped something, but when I tried to explain I thought this would make a cool picture, they quickly turned on their heels and walked away. (Taken by my iPhone).



sunshine and cat are back…

2326560127 98c715dcc9 o sunshine and cat are back...
Taking advantage of the soft afternoon light I shot this slightly overexposed photograph (intentionally) just a few minutes ago. Making the bed is never really an option when the cats have fresh-out-of-the-dryer sheets to play in.



Spring is welcome anytime

2324986644 5ec9bcfe73 o Spring is welcome anytime

This was taken a couple of Fridays ago as our plane was being de-iced. Miraculously we took off (and landed) with ease, but a bright warm sunny day is the stuff of dreams right now.



fine craftsmanship

2311971379 903ddcc8cd o fine craftsmanship
This gorgeous cocktail table (or coffee table, depending on your preference) is almost done. Courtesy of my bro, this priceless bday gift will soon find its way into my living room.



and god created cactus

2319097652 87a65ed7e1 o and god created cactus
Photo courtesy of Rob Ploger.



I was kidding about the ‘one more shadow’ thing…

2315174249 52c39a2b46 o I was kidding about the one more shadow thing...
I picked up my black and white film from the lab yesterday (one of the rare labs left that still develop b/w film). I took about 600-700 digital color photos during my last trip to AZ but only two rolls of 36 with black and white film (I’ll talk about editing in a future post). Because I know that b/w film is a little more precious these days, I was being a bit more careful with my shots, but was surprised that my percentage of good photos increased compared with the digital. I’m not sure if this pic is one of my favorites, but I thought it would be interesting to compare with the previous blog post. In addition I was sort of attempting to recreate a photo I took of my bro a couple of years ago (another future blog post) with the black and white. While I think the photograph is somewhat successful, I also think I could use a new scanner if I want to get rid of the muddiness and sharp contrast that is typically absent in a darkroom print. Anyway, I could go on but I’m a bit chatty this evening, so I think I’ll sign off since this is a “photo” blog after all.



and yet one more shadow shot

2311974403 abe1cb4d87 o and yet one more shadow shot



more on shadow

2309402542 53083e741d o more on shadow

In keeping with yesterday’s post, here is another shadow shot. BTW, taking pictures with a heavy camera while riding a horse is a little on the difficult side. I’m just glad my horse, Notch, kept her cool.



kitties and bunnies

2306166254 5dca12f3f4 o kitties and bunnies

My brother’s cat, June, found a yummy crumb on the table. Her shadow looks kind of like a bunny. I like bunnies.



fun with focus

2302644441 8b83ce94be o fun with focus

Fuzzy portrait of my brother, Rob.



catch a whiff of this

2301658788 6ba9f0f412 o catch a whiff of this

The Lazy K Bar Guest Ranch in Tucson, AZ, has many unusual smells particularly for a city dweller like me.



from 70 to 30

2298918684 74cf578776 o from 70 to 30

It’s back to the cold after a warm vacation out west.



on the move again

2282689758 01d678c982 o on the move again Phoenix to Tucson today, on a bus (not running).



airborne

2281907233 93b25ee438 o airborne
Leaving the snow behind, I find myself in the southwest again to visit friends and my bro (pictured).



into the sunset

2282685966 8104e3b8da o into the sunset

Generally, it was a crappy ride down to DC until I witnessed this amazing sky.



ride home

2280301688 88db17b886 o ride home
The trip home is always long, but I just made the train and spent minimal time out in the blustery cold.



john and paul

2229370992 efe8d735cb o john and paul



neighborhood joint

2270122874 e884f447d5 o neighborhood joint
Weekends usually mean at least one breakfast at Le BonBonniere, a scruffy diner in the west village. This “temple of grease” attracts movie stars and average folks like ourselves.



love

2266763717 51b1074612 o love



cat and kertesz

2264639925 cf9d813290 o cat and kertesz



sleeping in distant lands

2262413346 516137c3b2 o sleeping in distant lands
Our room at the Sagebrush Inn, Taos, N.M.



tough guy…

2259334516 48fec44a80 o tough guy...
…and the people who dared to photograph him. This guy and his buds were at Coney Island to watch the Polar Bears do their thing.



food, sort of

2255468236 0187a2bdce o food, sort of
I haven’t posted a food shot in a while. As much as I have been avoiding all ‘fast’ food I will make the occasional exception. This was my lunch on xmas day. It tasted about as good as it looked, which isn’t saying much.



more from the range

2251771796 1ea9b5a165 o more from the range



on target

2249310428 3b6cf4f128 o on target
A trip to the West Side Rifle Range, hidden in the middle of Manhattan, was like visiting another world.



show time

2244756612 76e560bf31 o show time
Tonight will be the opening night of a gallery show featuring a variety of work from up and coming artists, including five (5!) works of my own. Come to the HPGRP gallery to see!



fans

2244058365 5bcb69193b o fans

Not an artsy shot but relevant. I spotted this cute couple the night before the big game.



a grand terminal

2242831524 e3f0c8f57b o a grand terminal

Today my photo group took a tour of Grand Central Terminal (if you call it a station you’d actually be referring to its original name pre 1913 or the current post office nearby). We learned lots of interesting historical facts. Back in the late 1950s, in order to bring in revenue to a struggling depot and in response to the space race with Russia, Grand Central erected an American missile in the main concourse. The missile was a few feet taller than the ceiling, so a tiny black hole was cut to make it fit. You can still see the hole in the midst of the (backwards) constellations and even our tour guide could not explain why the hole was never filled in. This photo doesn’t show the hole but is only representative of just one corner of the ceiling.



had my cake and ate it too

2239489132 a61072f849 o had my cake and ate it too
Another bday for the record books. I was trying to think of something deep and meaningful to write for this post — how bdays are great but suck, etc. I’m over it. Simply put, I had my gin (with one olive), cards and notes from all my loving friends and family, and that was just right. Dinner at Babbo was icing on the bday cake.



dirt

2234251023 d20b72e562 o dirt



before the massacre

2232333325 011088b9fe o before the massacre



desperate times

2228742761 1db4390023 o desperate times
Little kitty, here, dismembered his red mousy toy. So it was off to the pet store to find a red (aren’t cats supposed to be color blind?), real fur, mousy that rattled, or else. I had turned into the dog owner in the movie Best In Show that had to have the Busy Bee. The pet store owner thought I was nuts.



frozen

2227320104 78fb1a4d63 o frozen

As I am attracted to all things clear, this frozen grate on the grounds of the Saint Francis Cathedral in New Mexico captured my attention.



natural filter

2221232671 9919084bb6 o natural filter

Photographing while inside of a moving car does not particularly yield good photographs. Undaunted, I clicked away, using the condensation on my passenger window as a filter.



it happened

2222027968 d69ddbb536 o it happened

I went to Wal-Mart for the first time ever and Nazar captured the moment perfectly.



spin cycle

2219930526 1f45438932 o spin cycle
This is probably one of the pics that I shot literally from my hip. I love how there is tension around the bottom of the photo. Technically its bad to ‘see’ any sign of the photographer in a shot but what the heck. All the things that are wrong seem right to me in this image.



respectfully creepy

2218293540 09aa9c70ef o respectfully creepy
This statue outside the Saint Francis Cathedral in Santa Fe, NM had an eerie light around it. Other religious icons in and around the church also had an air of creepiness. Is it intentional or is it just how I see it?



lure of the west

2214676667 5a221960d3 o lure of the west
Yikes. I never intended to go so long without a blog post. Apologies. Maybe it had something to do with being completely transfixed by the New Mexico scenery over the past few days…



en route

2199025304 8117f38785 o en route

After a long day of travels our group has all convened in Taos, N.M.



the white place

2197797677 478b2294b2 o the white place
In keeping with my southwest theme, this is a pic from an excursion to Plaza Blanca, or as Georgia O’Keeffe dubbed it, “the White Place.” A little off the beaten path, the sandstone cliffs and bleached rock formations feel otherworldly. Over exposing the shot emphasizes its natural brightness (I meant to do that icon wink the white place .



snow-capped cactus

2195504581 ee5cf7c7d7 o snow capped cactus
I have winter on the brain. This photo, courtesy of guest photographer Rob Ploger, was taken last year after a rare snowfall in Tucson.



sacked

2193911646 9ac986bfb6 o sacked

After a rousing game of touch football on Saturday this is how I felt on Sunday.



new mexican state of mind

2189774587 89b9f39720 o new mexican state of mind

This coming week we’re off to Taos, NM to do a little skiing. I hope this old bag-o-bones is up to the task. I took this pic over a year ago in Taos and I’m very much looking forward to photographing under the amazing light of New Mexico again.



super-sized

2185351159 88ee87ef12 o super sized

I think Paul is a lot taller than I thought.



frozen

2183205739 bbe39495ed o frozen
Last weekend, Paul and I escaped the city — destination, historic Tarrytown. We stayed at the site of the oldest american conference center — Tarrytown House Estate. We had views of the Hudson and were greeted by this lonely statue at the base of our hotel building.



blessing america

2180960580 b4a3bf47a4 o blessing america



diner

2177732387 c72326fb9a o diner
This was taken with my new camera, a Canon PowerShot G9. While it doesn’t quite take the pictures that my workhorse SLR can, it has a ton of handy features, but mostly it gives my shoulders and back a break because of it’s small size and portability. Thank goodness.



beige

2171688307 3d4bafa439 o beige



oceanic ogling

2167591778 0788108b02 o oceanic ogling

I arrived at Coney Island about an hour before the polar bears did their thing. The rain had just stopped and I saw the opportunity for some gorgeous scenic shots by the water. In my rain boots, I trudged down to the water and did my thing with the camera.



stylish polar bear

2164220096 6faaa19a6a o stylish polar bear

This lovely lady is inhaling a few last drags of her cigarette before disrobing and taking the plunge. I love how you can kind of see the bleak ocean reflected in her sunglasses and the touch of smoke emanating from her lips.



random polar bear before the big dip

2160136478 9ac1542e42 o random polar bear before the big dip



heading for shore

2155639533 df7ab921cf o heading for shore

For the first day of 2008 I was determined to go watch the polar bears at Coney Island. They are a lively bunch who run into the ocean, supposedly for their health. Needless to say, with temperatures hovering around 40 degrees, I saw a lot of pink skin.



happy new year!

2152544995 473529a566 o happy new year!



winter

2149629579 47a4950100 o winter



view from the press box

2146738033 c7935a4757 o view from the press box
The other day, Paul and I took an hour-long tour of Yankee’s stadium which included this unique view of the ball field from the press box.



sit and spin, or a variation thereof

2144119928 ba2c29499c o sit and spin, or a variation thereof

Little Frances is showing off her new Sit and Spin (now with music!).



holiday cheer

2141251502 e6e1e9860b o holiday cheer



toys!

2132471854 9e95eb8023 o toys!



tradition in food

2132479054 531b58726d o tradition in food
As with a lot of families, there are foods that stick around year after year for better or for worse… eggnog, fruitcake, jello salad, holiday wreath cake, pickled cream herring, my uncle’s special scrambled eggs, etc. I was just reading an article about the English history and tradition of Christmas pudding. While it never really caught on in America, another tradition that originally came from France through the English was pumpkin pie. From France?? Anyway, while my own cooking goes in and out of style, I always try and make a batch of bourbon balls to celebrate the season (from a recipe my friend Melina gave me almost a decade ago).



snack time

2107144165 23335d0a2c o snack time

No houseplant is safe here.



big apple

2126819941 91f6d24a04 o big apple
This was taken on opening night for the new Apple store conveniently/dangerously located in our neighborhood. I thought I’d be able to get my free tshirt and leave, but I couldn’t even get within 20 feet of the door. This post brought to you by my Apple iphone, of course.



medium frame of mind

2125334144 31e3e6387e o medium frame of mind
I’ve been studying and photographing the world through a 35 mm, rectangular frame. After being told by a portfolio reviewer in New Orleans and an instructor at ICP that my ‘eye’ might be better expressed through a medium format/square frame I’m considering making the leap. It’s not like changing brands of soap and it will require money, time and effort on my part. But, if I can ultimately take a better picture, then it’s all worth it. This was one of my very first attempts taken at Topkapi Palace, Istanbul, a couple of years back.



fleeing the scene

2122847508 63155781ab o fleeing the scene
I tried to show Ernie some photos of himself but obviously he could have cared less.



dining in

2119894768 6a3f63b561 o dining in

Vegetable soup was on the menu this evening (and grilled cheese), but let’s just focus on the fact that we avoided the evil takeout menu and enjoyed a home cooked meal in Manhattan.



sunnier days

2117294416 df7bb61093 o sunnier days
Today was windy, rainy and icy, and I was in a class room learning about how my two book ideas have already been taken. On the bright side, I walked away from class feeling excited about my collection of Coney Island and Ernie pics, and with the help and encouragement of students and teacher, will continue to pursue what I love.



made with love

2110569773 e0d8e167ce o made with love

A couple of nights ago, we headed over to the east village for some Ethiopian cuisine. Here is a shot of the owner of Meskel and I must say his cooking is as bright and colorful as his smile.



pet project

2107135143 451c63785c o pet project
This cold weather is rough on wanna-be photographers. And as I type this, I hear sleet pounding the windows. So I turn my focus inward and keep shooting the other animate objects that reside in this warm apartment.



paul and the wonder wheel

2103747711 b7b2829cb1 o paul and the wonder wheel



strange relationships

2101975866 5b9b2083bc o strange relationships

Kind of like pigeons, styrofoam often makes it into some of my shots.



it is what you think it is

2099573328 f0e9e0459e o it is what you think it is
Yes, it’s a self portrait (among other ‘things’). So, as I was editing some work, I noticed that shiny objects can be very revealing (that’s me in the reflection).



looking down to look up

2096530596 39e98ea985 o looking down to look up

At first I was kind of grossed out by this milky water at the foot of the stairs to the St. Louis Cathedral on the edge of Jackson Square, New Orleans. But the reflection and overall tone of the image is subtle and soft.



napoleon house

2093494009 fbc3ed2d33 o napoleon house

A 200 hundred year old landmark that suspends time is one of my favorite places for a sazerac and a muffuletta.



somewhere in the french quarter

2091558837 132d86664f o somewhere in the french quarter



1608

2088991903 19257cd318 o 1608
As we drove closer to the now rebuilt levy in the 9th Ward, we noticed an increase in empty lots as well as stairways leading to nothing.



I am coming home. I will rebuild.

2087508106 cba62560ef o I am coming home. I will rebuild.

This was a fairly typical scene as we drove through the ravaged area of the 9th ward in New Orleans. No more people. No more neighborhoods. House, after abandoned house — all empty shells, most spray painted with codes designating their destiny to be bulldozed or saved.



quiet between two cities

2085790284 1968242ae7 o quiet between two cities
This is a lot of what I saw between New Orleans and New York today. The sky offered up some soothing scenes.



winds of change

2035777938 9bbfe627c8 o winds of change

I’m not sure what to say about this photo, so ‘winds of change’ will have to do.



pensive paul

2075181496 33f3be22dc o pensive paul



shapes and flowers

2074374567 44f3d50943 o shapes and flowers
Another pic of the beautiful model from my nude class a number of months back.



don’t act like I told ya

2072640754 2d911e1473 o dont act like I told ya
From singing at the top of your lungs in a dark, nondescript numbered room with a phone to order your booze, to eating caviar and drinking the finest champagne with a commanding view from the Time Warner building, we enjoyed the weekend from one extreme to the other. Karaoke and Per Se are a great way to experience the nightlife in NY.



two kitties

2070180096 4c9346bbfe o two kitties



per our desire for good food (and wine)

2066189723 ab724ab317 o per our desire for good food (and wine)

Last night was the night. We had waited two long months but it finally arrived. Our reservations at Per Se were cashed in (and I mean cashed) and we were transported to another world of taste. Food and wine pairings have never been more pleasurable.



my boy

2060733812 e9f528097f o my boy

Pensive and pigeon-toed.



thanksgiving

2057529222 bb876b4026 o thanksgiving

I’m not sure who took this picture yesterday, but I kind of like it in its nondescript sort of way. A terrific combination of football, friends, turkey and pumpkin pie made for a very satisfying thanksgiving.



a rose is a rose

2052956397 107b474fec o a rose is a rose

They are a bit tired and destined for le garbage but they’re still roses. My reflection in the mirror of me is blurry, but its still me.



little sunshine

2050417583 a34ca6c41d o little sunshine

This past weekend we spent some precious time with little Frances, Paul’s niece, who can light up anyone’s day.



mixed cat

2047669317 84166c2a49 o mixed cat

My family hasn’t had much luck with purebred cats. They are more prone to health issues due to the intense and controlled breeding processes purebreds go through. Callie, my mom’s current cat is a siamese mix — healthy, a good mouse hunter and one of a kind.



trapeze artist

2045477486 75f9e5fbac o trapeze artist
A squirrel-proof bird feeder is a tough thing to find. As we were eating our breakfast, this little guy took a flying leap to his (hers?).



cloud over katz’s

1848796856 7d46684b8c o cloud over katzs

I took this photo about a year ago for my roll-a-day class (actually on my way to class). When I was in the east village yesterday I noticed that the building that was under construction then is now complete. I hope that all this “progress” doesn’t encroach on what makes this neighborhood so full of character.



pho what ails you

2021666437 697f9c9d92 o pho what ails you
Whenever I’m feeling under the weather a good bowl of Pho usually does the trick. This delicious Vietnamese national soup is a combination of heady broth, chewy rice noodles, sweet spices and scintillating herbs and can be further boosted in flavor with the addition of thin slices of beef tendon, tripe, brisket and the like. Koreatown, on 32nd St. is where you can find the best.



street cleaning ballet

2005725496 00fd35fd55 o street cleaning ballet

The main characters in this dance are the street cleaners, those unfortunate enough to have a car in the city and the parking police — all set in a typical NY neighborhood. Twice a week, I get in my car not 2 minutes before 11:00 a.m. when the street cleaning is to begin. I pull out of my space and drive around the neighborhood for at least half an hour or until I see the wet brush marks of a street cleaning truck alongside an empty curb. Along with the dozens of other cars circling around we begin to pull in, grabbing the prime spots. Then we wait. Books, magazines, cell phones, beach chairs (I’ve seen it) — anything to kill the time in or around our vehicles until 12:30 p.m. (they will ticket you if you are not in your car before the street cleaning time is up). Three days later it begins all over again. This was my view from the car for about an hour and a half.



forgotten cart

1987529324 60c942b88d o forgotten cart

During my hard-core black and white days, I took this shot in Tucson, Arizona. It was a photo that at one point was included in my repertoire but has since lost favor. As my photo library grows by leaps and bounds some images stick around and some, unfortunately, get edited out.



lazy sunday…

1954968196 3f98832e1f o lazy sunday...

lazy post. But it’s my boy, Ernie, who I never tire of unless he wakes me up at 5 a.m.



cookie lane

1955037272 9d4cb24324 o cookie lane

Today is the perfect day to stay in and bake cookies.



whiskers

1936055483 15efe72d86 o whiskers

And again, I had another successful photo shoot with my cat. I really need to get out more.



mom and her kitty

1922778188 58a883e112 o mom and her kitty

Mom needed a photo of her and her cat Callie to put on this year’s holiday stationary. I was happy to oblige.



nyc’s finest

1874777584 062b5c3484 o nycs finest
Another shot from the NYC Marathon.



pet part

1888988987 dbd303ad83 o pet part

More from my cat Ernie.



congratulations!

1874881108 57337bfc66 o congratulations!

The mental and physical strength it takes to run 26 miles is staggering. Congratulations to my friend Tulani (she’s the one wearing the flashy foil blanket — given to the runners for warmth, not fashion) for participating in the 2007 New York City Marathon. We (Tulani’s sister, mom, cousin, Paul and I) were all honored to be in the presence of a true athlete.



shedding light on annie

1844456460 1d880fac4d o shedding light on annie
A few days ago I went to the Annie Leibovitz exhibit in DC. Up until then, I had seen the occasional magazine cover or spread, heard the random opinion of her work and witnessed a whole lot of hype for this photographer. I always find it interesting to see the work of famous photographers that is rarely in the public eye. Ansel Adams, while only known for his landscapes had a fabulous eye for people. In Ms. Leibovitz’s case, the exhibit showed the stripped down portraits of famous people, yet intertwined were images of her personal life as well as some of her quiet and sometimes bleak, oversized landscapes. Seeing all of these photos together, she is now more real to me.



enlightening

1831245100 1e3e7355d4 o enlightening
As we were winding our way towards the Annie Leibovitz exhibit housed at the Corcoran Gallery in Washington DC, my mom and I experienced this mesmerizing light show. In the center of the light-filled circular room was this statue, bathed in colorful lights just like the surrounding walls. Along with the soothing psychedelic music, I could have lingered there for hours.



fraction capture

1807630937 6ae5ea0dbb o fraction capture

There is definitely a pattern where my close-up portraits are concerned. The subject is pushed so close to the edge of the frame. I’m not sure why I do this, but why fight it. Maybe its because it leaves a little mystery to the viewer and you don’t necessarily have to see the whole face to get a good enough sense of a person. Or maybe I’m just fascinated with people’s hair, as that is what usually ends up centered on the page icon smile fraction capture .



lone pierogi

1803484289 0ba96bda1f o lone pierogi

This Polish dumpling was soon to be joined with at least a hundred more. It was definitely the start of something good thanks to Paul’s mom who graciously shared her special recipe with all of us.



wear ‘em if you got ‘em

1799358740 538f9b1df7 o wear em if you got em

It’s time to pull out the cold-weather clothes. This dynamic couple was spotted on our walk around the west village yesterday.



easy on the eyes

1791020074 3bdaabf31c o easy on the eyes



not a photo

1766158724 1534047f7c o not a photo

I know. This is a photo blog, not an illustration blog. After submitting a collection of my work to a design competition today, I can barely look at a photograph now. This is the original illustration I drew that resulted in my w-stop logo.



food as art

1751965598 bf1d97fee8 o food as art

I don’t know if this is artistic, but it meets my food aesthetic standards. Classic pairings — blue cheese, walnuts, pomegranate, endive — and so simple. Anyway, it was also lunch on a photographer’s budget.



music as art

1733776641 89c5b9ea6d o music as art

The craftmanship on some of these instruments on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art is mind-blowing. Even the ends of the keys are adorned with hand-carved (I would imagine) decoration.



watch dog

1717986566 aa04ff0dd0 o watch dog



crop talk

1697252402 1d11e3137f o crop talk

Today our photo group got together to discuss and critique each other’s work. One of the topics that kept coming up was cropping. As a sometimes curmudgeon purist, I believe all the cropping that needs to happen is when you press the shutter on your camera, at the exact moment you approve of the area you want to capture. Everything that is contained in that frame is integral to the meaning of the whole photo. Cropping it further, changes the meaning completely — which, as someone pointed out today, is perfectly ok. I also like thinking without borders, as well, and have secretly cropped further at least one or two images in my life — but not this photo of my friend Jo. Although, now that I think about it, maybe a touch can be taken off the left side icon smile crop talk .



subway is the way

1446057126 acce49a7a0 o subway is the way

Sometimes referred to as the Iron Horse, New York’s subway system is convenient, inexpensive and full of character and characters. This shot, however, is one that advertisers might use in commercials — no people, sunny and clean (except for the artful graffiti on the windows). Kind of like those car commercials that show a fast car on an empty road which we all know, rarely happens in the real world. BTW, if you look closely, you might notice the parachute jump at Coney Island through the window.



on exhibit

1660803180 6b9ff1dd2a o on exhibit

Today, I’m embarrassed to say, was the first time I have been to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I think I was a little nervous by how overwhelmed I’d be. It was big and crowded and amazing. This photo was a small moment of respite, fittingly, in the Japanese wing.



portrait of a dude

1639755014 7f688c9e07 o portrait of a dude

While at the PhotoPlus Expo yesterday, along with my friends Pamela and Debbie, we talked about how our photographs seem to age or change over time. Pictures that we may have taken months or years ago can sometimes look entirely different than how we remembered them. I have overlooked many a picture, only to discover them in a completely new light. I guess ultimately that is attributed to the changes and growth of the photographer and the distance you are from the actual event of taking the picture. I never gave this photo a second glance a year and a half ago, but now it really appeals to me.



end of the rainbow

1621950073 489a470e27 o end of the rainbow

Definitely not your fine dining experience — hopefully the trucks and tower are more than 300 feet away from the Pot O Gold. The trip home from Pennsylvania last Sunday was a long one but it was nice to have my camera with me to photograph some of the countryside.



through the looking glass

1603535671 2f73a3a52b o through the looking glass

This photo I took of Tomo did not make the cut. The lighting, the framing, the pose, all way off. Definitely the photographer’s fault. But, there is one thing that isn’t my fault. Check out the store employee in the background. I have a feeling a lot of photographers use this particular store front as a back drop and obviously this man objects.



females

1593166135 54fdfbdf13 o females

This was kind of a lucky shot as I was attempting to capture cool pics of Melanie but the focus was also on the sexy lady on her shirt.



croaking croquet

1584213656 2f0ffdcdcf o croaking croquet

So this photo may look pretty cool, but when you think about it, you might start to wonder what people were doing playing croquet — in the dark (this was taken with an extremely long exposure). I’m not sure I know the answer either. But it was fun for at least a few minutes.



recorded on film

1554878253 d877d4d4e0 o recorded on film

As dependent as I have become on my digital camera, I still like to remind myself that film still captures something that digital cannot. Having a cute and charming subject, like Jess’s baby Ivan, in the frame doesn’t hurt either.



celebrity sighting

1509751129 78cff23ee1 o celebrity sighting

Well, at least I think she kind of looks like Drew Barrymore. It’s entirely possible here in the west village. With the lighting and high grain, Erika pulls it off nicely.



jambon: ham, also refers to the leg

1545658726 df1af00a8c o jambon: ham, also refers to the leg

I recently purchased a stand to hold my light reflectors. It is yet another piece of equipment that at least helps me to look like I know what I’m doing when I take pictures. Once I wore out my welcome photographing Paul, I moved on to the cat to see if there were new ways I could light and photograph him.



no bull

1536678659 f5ad83d08c o no bull

Actually, the sign really says “post no bill” but I like how Tomo hides the letters enough so it looks like it says something else. While most of the shots I took of her were posed, I like that this is unplanned and more natural.



fun assignment

1525647677 68d0ac90c0 o fun assignment

Yesterday my job was to shoot some ‘commercial’ photos for Tomo’s portfolio. While creativitiy is typically held at bay for commercial shots, I very much enjoyed capturing a sunny and beautiful girl in her element.



clear things

1517517311 5f431380c7 o clear things

I have always had this fixation with all things clear — glass, lucite, water, etc. Once I bought a clear plastic trash can because it looked so pretty on the shelf, but it wasn’t so effective in hiding my garbage. Anyway, you can guess that I absolutely love the old glass door knobs in my apartment and thought I’d try and capture their beauty on film (or memory card).



a day in the life

1510684346 16e182c439 o a day in the life

When your bedroom is also your office, one gets creative with all the flat surfaces available to work with. Here, I have to share my space with one cat who doesn’t seem to mind as I edit my working prints into something more cohesive.



cute couple

1499093200 66ba28b4cc o cute couple

Don’t know them, just took their picture.



guest photographer

1490197669 466ec08442 o guest photographer

My good friends just came back from a trip to Alaska and captured some amazing shots of this glacier. Notice the pockets of bluish-aqua water in between the crevasses and frozen in the ice. Thanks to Rob for letting me post this shot!



by iphone

1484257721 0085136021 o by iphone

After a rousing game of tennis a few weeks ago, I was alert enough to still capture this scene near the east river tennis courts with my phone. It looks so peaceful and quiet in the picture, but I’m standing on a walkway over the FDR Drive/highway and the bridge is rarely silent.



creepy sommelier

1477519028 975c00ce76 o creepy sommelier

Sommeliers can sometimes carry an air of snobbery about them (or maybe we’re just jealous that we don’t get to talk about wine for a living). I wasn’t about to question this guy’s taste for wine for fear he would hurt me.



it’s a plane

1470176047 2c9f56631b o its a plane

I’m not sure whether I was framing this shot just to be different (likely), or I wanted to capture that itty bitty plane in the upper right (not likely, but a happy accident). The concrete ice cream cone with accompanying mermaid tail is another in a bunch of odd sites at Coney Island.



lunch date

1464936689 08dc8e71cd o lunch date

Paul and I had a chance to catch up with friends while we were in D.C. this past weekend at one of our favorite mexican restaurants. Here, Paul (left) is bringing everyone up to speed with his NY stories, but I think Mike is wondering why Paul didn’t try and run a comb through his hair.



exiting the subway

1445206353 80215794d2 o exiting the subway 

Leaving the subway that lands you at Coney Island, you will see some old pictures that have been enlarged and colorized. I like the juxtaposition of old and new transportation methods shown here. BTW, this post is brought to you by my iPhone as the power at my mom’s house has gone out.



aging gracefully

1445170143 fc97b0224a o aging gracefully

Here is another tiny section of Coney Island that is showing its age. The image on this storefront security gate is quite fetching despite (because of?) the peeling paint.



and number 3

1444691702 e0cedc24a7 o and number 3

Unintentionally, I captured lovely butterfly number 3, and a very lovely face to boot.



butterfly, part deux

1440454816 c3679914ec o butterfly, part deux

This one is kind of tricky, but if you look closely, the butterfly will reveal itself. And it was a good excuse to try and catch these leisurely men in action.



favorite things

1435155122 84da2ac3b6 o favorite things

No, that isn’t a spec of dirt on your monitor. It is a butterfly (or purfly as I called it as a child) that I was lucky enough to capture flying next to my favorite roller coaster, the Cyclone. Yes, it was another day for me at Coney Island, this time with my fellow photographers, wandering the now closed park (except on weekends). There were a bunch of these pretty bugs flying around and we must have been quite a sight (or maybe it was just me), swinging our cameras all around trying to photograph them.



pretty woman

1430517062 e839c4c6f0 o pretty woman

Our second night in Vegas, we all sat down to contemplate how we were going to put away 16 oz. steaks and goose fat potatoes at Strip House. I must say that the decor in the restaurant was conducive to our appetites and the lighting very flattering on my friend Doreen.



good morning mousies

1425012062 5795d93f7b o good morning mousies

As I removed the pillows to make the bed I was surprised to see two of my cat Ernie’s little mousies. Those are his favorite toys because they make a rattling noise, which is why I think, in my sleepy haze, I shoved them under the pillow the night before.



model, lisette

1418362765 f0c6426cc8 o model, lisette

Today I went over to the Aperture Gallery to see “Lisette Model and Her Successors.” There was a lot of imagery that I really could relate to, and in an attempt to try and define my own style I noticed a couple of quotes that seemed to speak to me. Model said, “Don’t click the shutter until the experience makes you feel embarassed” and “Exploitation is not my aim, revelation is.” Generally, I’ve played it pretty safe on my blog but I think I need to hold back less and push myself more in an attempt to find some vague boundaries to my art. I took this photo on one of my recent excursions to Coney Island and think it fits into this post quite nicely.



burger beacon

1414726904 397e27e64a o burger beacon

This is the real reason to come to Vegas. In-n-Out. Actually, we didn’t quite make it on this trip which, while heart breaking, is probably better for our hearts.



build ‘em big

1410574264 3753cc3875 o build em big

Beyond the beautiful fountain display at the Bellagio are numerous cranes building what will eventually be City Center — the largest something ‘r other in Vegas and even the world.



for the love of a bug

1323764172 a6f267b5ca o for the love of a bug

Here’s another shot from the 62nd Bug Out a few weeks back. In addition to the drag races, people from all over would come to show off their pride and joy (notice the mirror to reflect how beautiful the under side of this Volkswagon is).



spectator sport

1390170436 aa09d99126 o spectator sport

I often struggle for words in my blog posts. This is one of them.



looking up

1381015938 43fc9e7531 o looking up

Tomorrow. Vegas. These guys here are enjoying the show at Fremont Street.



focus

1384672398 c2e58be0e6 o focus

Again, I post another blurry picture. I think I’m experiencing a lack of focus where my photography is concerned. I’m not sure whether I’m genuinely uninspired or just need a break. Even pictures of Ernie aren’t doing it for me. I also just attended an afternoon seminar on the business of photography, and while I learned a thing or two, my camera seems extra heavy. Well, I’ll just let it run its course and hopefully an interesting picture will find me if I don’t find it first.



around and around

1375351227 944652d598 o around and around

I just read an article in the NY Times about the possibility of preserving and restoring the carousel at Coney Island. If I understand the article correctly, the horses you see here, carved in Brooklyn pre 1930′s have been disasembled and are already in storage. A debate continues to be played out by developers and city officials who want to preserve the amusement district. Lets hope history prevails.



pause

1254522148 c147588487 o pause

Sitting next to us in a country restaurant in the Catskills was this old dusty piano. I hope at the very least it’s brought back to life for special occasions.



thinking of you

1360755229 d65f9f8d59 o thinking of you



in excess

1355910393 1830c5ff85 o in excess

Next weekend we’re off to Vegas. Even though the city would like to promote itself as family friendly, it is still a playground for adults. Up until a few years ago, I had never been. This will be my 5th time with plans to go again before the end of the year. This photo was taken at one of the Wynn’s decadent buffets last year.



tennis twilight

1352049755 463551aa49 o tennis twilight

Donning my new tennis shoes, I sat down to watch the final match of this year’s US Open from the comfort of my living room — this image borrowed from my evening at Flushing Meadows a week and a half ago. Roger Federer, who makes tennis look elegant and effortless is a champion once again.



progress

1347663481 c80880e518 o progress

Yesterday I had the opportunity to tour the construction site of the Pentagon Memorial. After years of viewing artist renderings, blue prints and using my imagination, I was able to finally see and touch a place that will, in another year, be like no other.



value

1338999316 2bf8b6fc80 o value

So, on my wall hangs a picture that appeared in my first New York art show. The kind director at the hpgrp gallery accepted two of my pieces that sat amongst a number of other artists for the tail end of the gallery’s $99 Art Fair. While this is just a start in my pursuit of fine art recognition, I am happy to see a monetary value placed on my photographs. The price tag shall remain.



big red

1334099516 d7f4cf9207 o big red

From the moment I woke up this morning, I was looking forward to lunch. BLT and chips were on the menu, although this tomato would have been just fine solo.



game time

1323922906 9d4692233e o game time

It was a perfect evening for tennis and wanna-be photographers like me. With the exception of the drunk woman behind us yelling ‘Go Blake’ every 10 seconds, the men’s U.S. Open match we watched was very exciting, with James Blake eventually winning in 5 sets. I was trying to be sneaky and photograph people in the audience without them noticing. Guess I need to try harder.



day at the races

1315741654 a43c445d76 o day at the races

Finally, after all these years, I made it to the 62nd Bug Out held at the Old Dominion Raceway in Manassas, Virginia. My cousin Beth takes the wheel of this impressive Karmann Ghia (built from the inside out from my other cousin Dave) in preparation for the upcoming drag race. The Plogers were out in force, leaving quite an impression on all the other competitors at the track.



top model

1253675323 b05fc7341a o top model

Another over exposed picture (for my growing collection), but the model is not. Fortunately, Ryan took time out of his ‘real’ job to help me out with mine. He made the restaurant I had to photograph look really fun and good — his photo eventually appearing on the pages of the New York Press.



babe

1285540709 089c91b8b9 o babe

I took an all-too-short vacation to Dayton to visit with my friend Jessica and her new baby boy, Ivan. I was smitten from the start.



juicy, sweet imperfection

1253683225 b5e478fa67 o juicy, sweet imperfection

Just plain, or with my favorite combination of bacon, mayo, lettuce and bread. These are the real deal. None of this perfectly shaped and uniformly red mealy crap you get at the grocery store any other time of the year.



heat of the night

1253544193 da2f7c263a o heat of the night

A couple of beers, good friends and a camera gave me this shot (taken on the rooftop of a friend’s party last Saturday).



head in the clouds

1234171334 e1d4addd4b o head in the clouds

At least they are spectacularly beautiful ones.



after the rain

1233380675 1b3171f819 o after the rain



sweet kippy

1222765266 6d6c994a3c o sweet kippy

Many years ago, we found her, skinny and thirsty — or more precisely, she found us. Plump and healthy she was lovingly described as Rubenesque. While she had the sweetest disposition a cat could have, she was also the toughest cat I’ve ever known. May the sun shine on you forever.



a little off

1206154861 faf4dec170 o a little off

Paul and I don’t really have any good pictures of the two of us. We still don’t. This self portrait we took during our hike in the Catskills this weekend has some definite issues. On the bright side (so-to-speak) this pic kind of fits in with my whole over exposure phase that I’m currently going through. Maybe I won’t delete this one.



and finally, for you goat lovers

1195725953 7843edf00c o and finally, for you goat lovers



and for you pig lovers…

1185663491 81086884bd o and for you pig lovers...

A stop to a farm on our way home from the Catskills was in order. We picked up some dairy and meat products and said hi to the pigs (from a distance).



for you dog lovers…

1174174351 75ad991ef0 o for you dog lovers...

and even if you’re not, I’d say it is impossible for anyone to resist this ridiculously cute saint bernard puppy. Paul and I took a vacation away from our cats and away from the city over the weekend up in the Catskills (maybe it should have been called Puppyskills) and had the pleasure of meeting little (soon-to-be-big) Ozzy.



more from the Bistro

1150068128 8044683899 o more from the Bistro

There’s no pussy-footing around at the Corner Bistro. Get the Bistro burger, complete with a mound of Bacon (spelled with a capital B), cheese, ketchup, lettuce, etc.



the bistro

1150095162 c87939a4ce o the bistro

Continuing Paul’s bday celebration yesterday, we migrated over to our favorite burger spot, the Corner Bistro.



sneaky fur producers

1140483623 a216bee37d o sneaky fur producers

In an attempt to save space, we placed baskets under the bed to store our clothing. The cats believe we’ve installed 6 new comfy beds for them.



rail rot

1129060594 f97ad6f41f o rail rot

My mom shared with me this odd scene that she had noticed on some of her walks around her neighborhood. She wanted me to take a picture of it for her but I didn’t have my camera at the time (and I kind of dropped a hint that she could just as easily take a picture of it herself). Anyway, I was also intrigued by this creepy railing that just sort of ends in midair, so on my drive out of town, I hopped out of the car and stole a shot.



window seat

1110637621 3c4de3bbaa o window seat

As a sometimes keen observer of the world, I can look out the window of an airplane for many, many hours. Amazing how one can be so high above the earth with the help of some aluminum parts and a little engineering.



jersey

1098998505 1a12fb8919 o jersey

New York was just a short train ride away, but walking down the street in this small town in Jersey made me feel worlds away.



night lights

1089020462 273c32e131 o night lights

Coney Island takes on a whole new feel at night. I like this shot because a security vehicle was off to the right illuminating the people in the foreground, which gives the picture a little extra dimension.



kitchen is open

1074917884 6ed0da1ef3 o kitchen is open

So this might not excite you so much, but I just had two of my copper pots retinned (over time, and if not treated properly, the tin lining in copper pans can weaken and fall off creating a potentially poisonous cooking hazard). I shipped the lusterless pans off to a specialty shop in Colorado and within a few weeks they came back all sparkly and new.



back to cat

1064097141 b1dd82736f o back to cat



tv dinner

1055065501 63298f11a5 o tv dinner

Paul made a trio of gazpacho, avocado and cucumber soups for dinner the other evening. I was so impressed, as was the guy on tv.



something completely different

1044393218 2981227c68 o something completely different

I couldn’t wait to post this picture. My brother, a builder of all things beautiful and unique, decided one day to construct a replica of Stonehenge using Twinkies (my favorite fake food snack) based on a haiku that his friend, Jim, composed.



toes

1033057804 c97e48f17f o toes

This was a lighter moment during my ‘nude’ workshop over this past weekend. I had my model (also a dancer) spread her toes (because I loved her feet) which made her laugh. I took 500-plus photos altogether and am happy with the results. I thank the two beautiful and accommodating models for all of their hard work. They made it look easy, but continually jumping (among other things), just so us amateurs could get the shot was an impressive feat (feet?).



apple’s illumination

1021175637 480515806f o apples illumination

I think there are two things that are interesting about this photo taken last evening. The first would be the glow of the computer screen lighting up Paul’s face during the last natural light of the day, and the second would be the framing of the shot (I find I’m directed way to the right of the picture where I rest for a couple of seconds then slowly make my way back past the wine bottle and mirror). Otherwise, the pic is a little on the dull side.



nudey class

1007505626 169b8804ab o nudey class

Yesterday was the first day of a 3 day intensive course on photographing nudes — something I’ve been wanting to do and finally have the opportunity. It is a lovely thing but I feel like it’s all been done before. I want to put the two beautiful girls we have as models in a completely different setting, but it is nice to have the 10-20 minutes each to shoot each day.



poser

996314887 b515c30118 o poser

Ernie looks almost like a person here. It reminds me of an Olan Mills photo where you can almost here the photographer directing the cat to tilt his head slightly and lower his chin. I must say the natural light in this room of our apartment is dreamy.



storefront story

980760151 770b6caf15 o storefront story

I had been eyeing this window display for a number of months now, but finally, I had my camera and grabbed the picture. It is kind of crazy to think how many window displays are in NY and how each (sleek or tacky) tries to tell the story of what is inside the store its representing.



fans

974344163 d89360c2f9 o fans

Sitting behind us at the game last night were a team of Japanese kids supporting their man Hideki Matsui. Matsui gave them a real show by hitting two homeruns leading the Yankees to a 16-3 win against the White Sox.



puppy love

958108158 bcac9f9084 o puppy love

After a week of not picking up the camera (so bad), I finally found a subject that inspired me. As I entered the home of the host of our first photo group yesterday, I was greeted by countless doggies. This was one of Jimmy’s cuties.



summertime

829459120 4bc6f6a107 o summertime

I don’t care how hot it gets. I would take a summer day over a winter one, especially if it means having a perfectly grilled hamburger while lounging on the grass.



lights still shine

859118806 d00a21d566 o lights still shine

Detail of Coney Island.



rose

930127278 cbba5ed532 o rose

Something pretty to look at.



shapes and shadows

917331028 9780b41db7 o shapes and shadows

The silhouette, a technique I have rarely attempted in photography, at least intentionally, can be effective if done right. Again, Coney Island provided the perfect back drop, so with a few adjustments on my manual setting, this is what the camera saw.



natural but not

906232736 2d36df9c5e o natural but not

Finally, after about a year and a half of living here in NY, I made it to the American Museum of Natural History. It’s said that the museum’s dioramas are the most renowned anywhere because of their attention to detail of animals in their habitats. One afternoon is hardly enough time to see all that the museum has to offer so I’m sure I’ll be back again soon to frolic with the animals.



wonder wheel

896084958 d179379b11 o wonder wheel

The Wonder Wheel at Coney Island offers spectacular views but it is also cool to have a closer look at the old ferris wheel’s construction while one is riding it.



beautiful trash

885615946 a6a0d12f9e o beautiful trash

I admit, I have fallen for the park that was once the playground of the world. Is it because the Cyclone is made entirely of wood and not steel? Or is it the wistfulness one feels on a cold weekday in spring where the only people around are the homeless seeking shelter under the boardwalk and a handful of Russians walking the vast beach? Maybe because, in some ways, it’s a haven for those who don’t want to conform to today’s way of life. Or maybe it’s because I know that everything that is Coney Island now won’t be there in a year. Every picture I have taken and will take is my way of preserving a place that has managed to shrug off change.



new meaning to the words ‘thrill ride’

873287331 269182a13b o new meaning to the words thrill ride

So many pictures have been taken of this ride, but this one beats them all. There is only one Coney Island and only one roller coaster that can elicit this kind of reaction. Once again, this hidden gem of an amusement park did not disappoint.



phone photo

863849495 6772a558e6 o phone photo

My collection of cameras is growing — although I was hoping that the iphone could at least take a halfway decent photo. I’m not complaining as this little expensive piece of technology, that I have been drooling over for the past few months, does so many other impressive things.



nose knows

858265959 7d20d88c13 o nose knows

This pig trash can at Coney Island will gladly eat your garbage.



bling

846299992 d3beb77e38 o bling

My jewelry stash came in handy for this part of the shoot with Tomo. Hopefullly this photo of ‘fake’ bling will translate into real bling for her. I was flattered to hear that she will be using this pic, among others for her upcoming casting calls. Good luck Tomo!



eye on us

846140923 57cf793645 o eye on us

My friend Jessica recently reminded me of a photo I have from our bitchin’ trip to London a few years back. Who knows what we’re looking at here but it’s definitely not the camera which is pointed at our pod on the London Eye. So we paid a few bucks for the cheesy tourist photo, but for me, it was worth every euro.



a family after my own heart

837617319 ab7f5e6e3b o a family after my own heart

I like my cereal, so imagine my excitement when I looked on top of the refrigerator at my cousin’s house. There was more cereal there than I could fit into my Manhattan kitchen. Right on!



musically inclined

828569729 159c0fe390 o musically inclined

My uncle, shown here, and my cousin Dave, both picked up the guitar and shared their talents with all of us at Plogerpalooza.



for kim

820330395 1b0b774917 o for kim

This was definitely the place to be yesterday. Paul and I drove down to Virginia to participate in the ever-growing, ever-popular Plogerpalooza. Aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, mom, horse shoes, ping pong, potato ‘contraption’ (protecting the innocent), food, beer—all perfect ingredients to make this exceptionally beautiful day in Woodbridge, Va. a blast.



remains of the day

808434590 c531a0d0b5 o remains of the day

We’ve been spending a lot of time by the Hudson river (as Paul said it was an unexpected benefit to moving to the west village). There is a new, beautifully landscaped boardwalk where lovers can hold hands and families, musicians and dancers play. But this photo taken about a month ago, captures a completely different feeling with the old pier in the foreground and the New Jersey skyline beginning to light up after the sun has set.



back to nature

800239576 77fd6612dd o back to nature

Coming up on a year ago, I was hiking through Tent Rock in New Mexico. It is truly amazing to walk through this canyon of natural erosion where the sun rarely shines but the slight moisture in the air has an amazing cooling and soothing effect, providing shelter from the dry, hot sun of the desert.



laundry and more

788254493 b2912e88d0 o laundry and more

It was a trip to the vet today with Ernie. True to kitty form, he did not make it easy, his caterwauls echoed throughout the stairwell of the apartment building. People on the street stared with the look in their eyes that I was an unfit mother. So hopefully, with a change in his diet and a couple of pills he will be back to normal. Hopefully.



another day

776871026 05b4b034be o another day

Who knows how long this guy has to stand here and watch people go by. I think he, scooby doo and the playboy bunny are more interesting than the game itself (located on a sidestreet of Coney Island).



gas from the past

648701466 b82ab655ba o gas from the past

My neighborhood smells better and is generally cleaner than our old neighborhood in the east village, but I love this little remnant of the past just a couple of blocks down the street from us.



summer

758578658 0f68be7c12 o summer

Here is something from the archives. As it really begins to heat up in the city, I often think of this picture which just screams summer time in so many ways.



movers and shakers

751326985 2c5e9f25ce o movers and shakers

Even during somewhat animated conversation, Nazar (center) manages to fool the camera by staying still long enough for the extended exposure.



she wore a yellow ribbon

727830148 5210de560b o she wore a yellow ribbon

I don’t exactly see a yellow ribbon, but there is definitely something going on with the color yellow here. She has taken my favorite color to new heights, right down to her fingernails.



protecting the innocent

726756381 46bebb4c36 o protecting the innocent

This construction worker-turned-sun-worshiper certainly lives a dual life. I spoke with this guy (and, of course took some pretty great close-ups) and wanted to know his motivation. I think he just genuinely loves his body but in a very modest sort of way (believe it or not) — unlike the macho muscle men showing off at the children’s playground further down the beach. Probably in most other countries a site like this is nothing new, but here in America, some eyebrows might be raised. Each to their own, I always say.



happy birthday america

716367033 d4b6a0ea08 o happy birthday america

Yesterday, I think I was anticipating America’s birthday. Without realizing it, I ate my way through the day with an all-American diet. In the morning I had my bowl of cornflakes, then in between shooting many interesting people and things at Coney Island, I had lemonade, cotton candy, a caramel apple, and a Nathan’s hotdog. Back in the west village I continued with a fat, juicy burger, fries, local beer and topped it all with a homemade nestle toll house cookie. Today I think I’ll have sushi.



study in cat

705578891 ba972cca4f o study in cat

Ernie: slightly bottom heavy, toes turned inward — pigeon-like, acute sense of hearing enabled by independently swivelling ears, permanent wink, insanely cute.



picnic in the park

696414085 f5fe606652 o picnic in the park

What a great day for a picnic yesterday. We had everything, including overpriced lobster rolls, wine, eclairs, and of course, Hello Kitty dishware.



best seat outside the house

684556860 c6266c2ca5 o best seat outside the house

Despite the summer haze, this fearless worker has quite a spectacular view of Manhattan. I’d rather enjoy it from the comfort of my friend Pam’s beautiful home.



head (and hair) shot

673410599 e5b4b88268 o head (and hair) shot

Obviously, when you have hair like this it is necessary to do some cool things with it. Technically, the photo could use a little work, but Tomo strikes the right pose.



in the shadows

661073370 d6985ff8d2 o in the shadows

Yesterday was another shoot with the talented Tomo. This photo will probably not end up in her portfolio as it is not the glamor headshot she is looking for, but I dig it’s mysterious minimalism.



reaching out

640569710 e7f2f46975 o reaching out

Looks like Kippy wants to shake my hand or needs a leg up.



seeing things

633811228 a42194a6a5 o seeing things

The last assignment we had for our natural portrait class was to take two photographs of a person — one where the person is in it and one where they’re not. This was my interpretation.



other side of the fence

623203798 ccd2cd3ec9 o other side of the fence

I glanced upon this cute family unit (father and son both wearing plaid) while dining at a Union Square restaurant this past weekend.



time for lunch

602478416 b0a6135b42 o time for lunch



day dream

590270312 d7e41307aa o day dream

Paul’s family. On the same path but each in their own world.



speaking of manufactured landscapes

581051829 dbaf0ced34 o speaking of manufactured landscapes

Last evening I watched Manufactured Landscapes, a film by Edward Bourtynsky. It is a combination of ‘artistic’ stills and film which document the impact that humanity (mainly in China) has on the earth’s surface. While Bourtynsky makes a lame attempt at not making a political statement, it is quite a collection of overcast imagery that makes you say wow, there are a lot of people on this earth doing what they do to accommodate a growing population. This is my take on Times Square, a happier type of manufactured landscape, if you will.



what you don’t normally see

537259930 92a85af13b o what you dont normally see

This shot was taken during a lighting seminar earlier this year. None of us really knew what we were doing, except the model, and it kind of shows.



beer here

570049725 68cf325340 o beer here

This beer garden we went to last Saturday had all the ingredients for a good time — including this arm wrestling match which broke out just as I was digesting my kielbasa. The historic Bohemian Hall is the last of its kind. Let’s hope it stays open for years to come.



sunset at the jersey shore

564702528 52d89fc685 o sunset at the jersey shore

Another Father’s Day for the record books.



true blue

560675301 d2d9a018de o true blue

At the Yankee’s game yesterday, it came to our attention that the guy sitting in front of us really loved his team, judging purely by his choice in underwear.



tiny teacup, big impact

556859919 4a7de807c2 o tiny teacup, big impact

I made a purchase yesterday (shocker) — although this is one I won’t donate to Good Will in a year, let alone 50. Wandering through The Affordable Art Fair, as its called, I came upon an artist that really excited me. He combines his love of old wood frames with an incredible vision of everyday objects, like this teacup. The photo itself is not more than an inch across encouraging the viewer to step closer and stop for a minute to admire the simplicity and beauty of a work that looks like it could be 100 years old. Thank you to the artist, Jefferson Hayman and the gallery that had the vision to display his work.



pretty and pink

552407442 2d11b9835d o pretty and pink

This is a shot taken from my “roll-a-day” class last semester. When the assignment is to photograph a roll of film (or the digital equivalent) per day for 60 days straight, you are bound to get a few keepers.



leg up

548053952 8118e45810 o leg up

My next homework assignment is to find a scene where the person(s) you are photographing have some sort of strange relationship with the background or other surrounding object(s). I happened upon this odd scenario and it seems to fit the bill. Also, how often do you see someone using a phone booth anymore?



eyes have it

543994621 fc7cc78b77 o eyes have it

This was an informal photo I took of my friend Jo after taking pics of her for my photo assignment — which, I might add, was a hands down success. The photos fooled everyone in my class, even the teacher. They couldn’t tell the real Marilyn Monroe from the stand-in.



room with a view

542454171 e0d2827d26 o room with a view

My mom still thinks New York is a dangerous, dirty place (well, maybe it is a little dirty). But the other day, she asked me if I could see any part of the sky from my apartment. Indeed I can, and there are even a couple of trees (lower right) for that “in the country” feel.



grabbing crab

540706798 eaf2379987 o grabbing crab

There is nothing like a crab feast with friends on a sunny day by the river. The crab here would care to differ, judging by the leg he got a hold of from another crab right before becoming my lunch.



about light

539172887 c7a73d9440 o about light

Distracted from the purpose of my homework assignment, I was struck by the beauty of the light shining around my friend, Jo, who was patiently sitting in her hot garage, waiting for me to photograph her. My assignment was to imitate a famous portrait (I picked one of Marilyn Monroe), which is a lot harder than you’d think, but a very good lesson.



one night in Turkey

537271910 5e1e135fda o one night in Turkey

This is another photo I’ve always had an affinity for despite a luke warm enthusiasm from others. It was taken during a week of celebration for our friends Nazar and Doreen. In this particular instance, it might be my emotions and memories of Istanbul that cloud my judgement on whether this is considered a successful photograph or not. But, whatever. I still like it.



some salmon

534548190 53cedd3222 o some salmon

On assignment, I shot about 60 photos of this plate of salmon and asparagus for a restaurant review to print in a local paper. Can you hear the enthusiasm in my voice? This will not be the money shot, but I like that the framing is off, yet the food still looks somewhat appealing.



hot night in the old town

533236787 ebb3380072 o hot night in the old town

This girl was spotted crossing the West Side Highway last Saturday evening. She was dressed to impress, but you get the idea.



wild horses

532159562 7e75b95b15 o wild horses

Our friend Mike gave Paul and me this very thoughtful housewarming gift. It is basically two ceramic horse heads attached to a rhinoceros’s body — probably one of the more vile creatures I’ve laid eyes on. Thanks, Mike, from the bottoms of our hearts. Enjoy it on display in this photo, because it is no longer prominently displayed anywhere.



change

530909366 819bb5bb71 o change

It felt like forever. Like it would never go away. These terrific men, taking pride in delivering the best in Polish charcuterie. Smoked meats, home made sausages of all kinds. Service the way it should be for something so central to any home cooked meal. Kurowycky Meat Products has closed its doors after 52 years. I took this last fall while picking up some of their specialties, comfortable in the knowledge that I could always come back.



climbing the ladder

527748038 3c9de9d922 o climbing the ladder

In a desperate attempt to complete my homework assignment for my portrait class, I was fortunate to have a willing participant. I told my friend, Mike, to do some odd things, but I really like this shot of him climbing the fire escape on a lovely evening in the west village.



on the street

525351983 4d5e74033f o on the street

I’ve been taking a lot of walks through the meatpacking district. It is one of those places that is both old and new, as evidenced by the cobblestone and asphalt road.



some building

524918181 1666be9e82 o some building

I think we all know what this is a picture of. Hopefully no one has taken a photo quite like this (intentionally) of the Empire State Building before.



nice lips

523150324 b789a101d2 o nice lips

No, I didn’t take a photo of someone’s lips with a macro lens. Rather, I took this picture of this section of a larger-than-life poster found on 14th St. (it’s an ad for a neighboring clothing store). The shadow and seam give it away.



at the beach but not

521500275 f3e3722981 o at the beach but not

This photo made the cut, but it wasn’t a favorite. Now that it’s been a few weeks and I’m more removed from the actual shoot itself, it has new life. Because of the film I used, the background almost looks fake, or very flat, drawing attention to her hair and face. The model took direction well and helped me pull off what I had envisioned — a distant look is on her face, perhaps thinking of a past she left behind.



lens flare good

519950769 a6ce8819fe o lens flare good

In some photography classes it is taught that lens flare is a bad thing and should be avoided at all costs (it’s the effect that happens when the lens reflects light in such a way that spots appear in the photo). People spend tons of money on big shields for their lenses. I like the effect (and I’m cheap), especially for images like this one. Without the spots of light, the photo of this church on 14th Street wouldn’t be as interesting.



cheek this out

518015664 b757e4c679 o cheek this out

She belongs to a girlfriend of mine whom I visited, among others, while I was down south this past weekend. The cheeks on little Rory are one of a kind.



to the motherland

514135593 32af41bde7 o to the motherland

I didn’t really pay attention to this photo when I took it last December, but now, after aging a few months, it looks different for some reason. I like the connection, or lack thereof between Paul’s sister and the painting from Poland on his parent’s wall in New Jersey. (Paul, his sister and folks are currently taking the trip of a lifetime. They started in Poland, where his parents are originally from, then Paris and London.)



grass is greener

512135325 4096dc048e o grass is greener

All I can say is this girl needs a tan.



pink

510793066 6603cb1221 o pink



positive reflections

509433251 601bf7e036 o positive reflections

Everyone has seen/done the whole window reflection thing so it often seems like a tired study. Yet, I will still take the occasional photo and this one I took yesterday, might be somewhat successful. It’s not deep in meaning or anything, but the buildings, sky and ultimately the guy in the restaurant (I think replacing a light bulb, or something) makes for an interesting enough photo.



dude photographed at ICP

507961788 a1909dcab6 o dude photographed at ICP

I’m taking another portrait class starting tonight, but to get me in the mood…. This photo was taken in the lobby of the International Center of Photography during a lighting workshop I took earlier this year. I used a technique called dragging the shutter, which means flash was used but I kept the shutter on my camera open a bit longer so that the background would be illuminated as well (you can also tell by the blurriness of the nice man sitting behind the desk). Lesson for the day.



kippy

503352845 afdceb22da o kippy

The Kipster, Kipparooni, Tip Tip, Kippy Kip, Tippy, Fluffy, Fuzzy, Sunshine Girl. Many names, one amazing cat.



doing the meringue

504550705 ccb2df725a o doing the meringue

While in California, I asked a friend if I could take home some lemons from their neighbor’s tree. Ask and you shall receive. I was at long last able to satisfy my craving for a lemon meringue pie (I’m ashamed I didn’t make the crust, but it was all good).



one more

503359016 74d45fab00 o one more

I finally got my black and whites developed of the Coney Island shoot. This is one of those pictures I keep coming back to.



a fan

502201842 7387c10738 o a fan

Here is someone who follows my blog very closely.



part of a nutritious diet

500763148 b7771df756 o part of a nutritious diet

As some of you may know, a gin martini (certainly not vodka) and popcorn is my dinner of choice when dining alone. I would have made my own popcorn (oil popped with garlic powder, salt, butter and paprika) but my copper pan needs re-tinning. So I had to settle for microwave. It’s complicated. BTW, if you know anything about re-tinning a copper pan, please let me know.



into obscurity

499526149 d20f2cefb8 o into obscurity

I feel like everytime I leave Coney Island on the subway, it will never be the same again. Maybe because it’s true. The ferris wheel, shown here in the background, along with every other ride, game and show (with the exception of the Cyclone, which I hear will be spared) will likely all be gone in a year. To see more photos of this once-upon-a-time playground of the world, go to http://www.w-stop.com/zenphoto/coneyisland/.



close up

497907262 211bd93c17 o close up

The blue slide we found at a children’s playground at Coney Island makes a stunning backdrop for Tomo. Someone asked if I had Photoshopped that color in. If possible, I rarely use Photoshop on my photos before posting. I prefer to keep them in their purest form because it shows exactly what I framed at the moment I took the picture, mistakes and all.



beauty and the beach

496271067 7a396148e0 o beauty and the beach

This is dress number two for Tomo during Friday’s test shoot. I just like how hazy and kind of barren and dirty everything is and then you have this beauty who is oblivious to the world around her.



coney island ride

494389915 3e2aeb0b57 o coney island ride

I had another test shoot today, this time at Coney Island. My model, having had to put up with a lot of nut jobs on the boardwalk, cold winds and blowing sand, was a willing participant. We worked quickly, racing from one site to the next. All and all, a fun ride.



sausage king

493008735 511aa293c0 o sausage king

The guy on the left wants to be the sausage king of the world (to read more about this guy and his sausages, check out www.smalera.com soon for a short review). Lucky for the photographer and the restaurant reviewer, we were allowed to sample an absurd amount of sausages and mustards at this growing (fattening?) chain of restaurants.



face forward

491934356 5077cc0cf4 o face forward

The previous pics of Jessica, the musician, have been a little more obscure. This one gives you a more direct view. I took this photo towards the end of the shoot, taking advantage of my old film camera (which I still believe takes superior pics over digital).



sick and tired

489880868 7922dd8343 o sick and tired

I must say the apartment was strangely quiet this morning. What happened to the rattling cough and moans of fatigue? Could this be the day that we put away all the cough syrups? It just may be, and what a wonderful day it would be.



musician on the rise

488280024 72222acb7b o musician on the rise

This is one of the first photos I took of Jessica at Fort Tryon Park last Saturday. While we did a lot of the standard poses, this one shows a more personal and delicate side.



the grand finale

486628000 8eb3a213f6 o the grand finale

Jessica, Will, Gizmo (their dog) and I made a great team at Jessica’s photo shoot yesterday. We ran around chasing the right light and ended the day at this beautiful set of archways at Fort Tryon Park. We lacked a stylist, hair and makeup team, but I think sometimes the less people involved the better the shoot goes. Sure the garbage can could stand to be Photoshopped out, but for now, this gives you an idea of the setting we had to work with. More photos of yesterday’s shoot to come.



next stop, cloisters

485212519 ad4033a075 o next stop, cloisters

Later today I’ll be heading up to 190th Street to photograph an up and coming musician. The Cloisters and Fort Tryon Park, located on a soaring, wooded site in upper Manhattan, will be a beautiful setting for this shoot.



who’s looking at who

483859686 41d554c2d5 o whos looking at who

I think it was the color palette of the scene in front of me that initially inspired this photo. Lots of the people depicted in this large French painting are looking at the viewer as we’re looking back at them. The security guard was also looking at us viewers as I got in trouble for taking this photo (for some reason I could take pictures of every other painting in the Getty Museum in L.A., just not this one).



wild west

482638554 303cbc32c6 o wild west

During our whirlwind tour of L.A., Paul and I stopped at the La Brea Tar Pit museum. The actual tar pits were not as impressive as this scene depicting a sabertoothed cat (tiger is incorrect) attacking a sloth. Of course it involved a kitty so I had to take a picture.



the right way to start the day

481375134 579dd7a842 o the right way to start the day

Pann’s, a diner in L.A., is known for it’s architecture, chicken wings and waffles. First, you rip off a lucious bite of crispy, juicy chicken, then dip it in the melted butter and syrup. Alternate bites with the waffle and a side of grits. Top it all off with coffee and freshly squeezed o.j.



me

480055305 37bcaa7e6f o me

Ah, nothing like the Santa Ana winds. I’m feeling quite happy back in my home state of Calif.



seagull

475197208 518f9882f6 o seagull

Oooooh, look at the seagull!! Oh yeah, and there is Alcatraz.



gehry and me

474563036 8df896d569 o gehry and me

I couldn’t resist touching one of the sides of the Experience Music Project building located in Seattle, designed by Frank Gehry. It’s so shiny and organic. I felt lucky to be close to such greatness.



tile work

474591791 595088f25d o tile work

I’m taking a break from the west coast today. This tile store in soho definitely caught my attention the other night — particularly since there was a kitty involved. The store’s displays were all covered in this intricate tile work. Very striking.



golden gate, er something

472579174 6476ea3c6e o golden gate, er something

I was looking at the backs of too many tourists heads out on the deck of the tour boat (bummer being short sometimes) so I decided to seek shelter down below where I could see a unique view of the Golden Gate Bridge.



back in our not-so-recent past…

471299969 8d88c35cc5 o back in our not so recent past...

Yes, this is a picture of buffalo standing over (eating?) a dead american indian. This is a piece of history found at the maritime museum in San Francisco. The museum is filled with old mechanical games popular at fairs in the early and mid part of the 20th century. If you think today’s games are violent and graphic, visit this place and you’ll be surprised at the, shall we say, lack of sensitivity portrayed in some of these ‘playful’ outlets.



slow day at the ball park

470715672 75bc25a44b o slow day at the ball park

Paul and I were in San Francisco all of one hour before we hit up the Giants game in progress. While it looks like the game was not a real thrill ride, it did turn out to be a big win for the local team.



butterfly cabinet

464633101 4bd03224e1 o butterfly cabinet

After a bad furniture experience with West Elm, I am more intent on purchasing furniture that is real and has stood the test of time. I wandered into a Chinese antique store the other day and came upon this piece. It is a cabinet crafted around the 1920′s in southern China, and was originally purchased as a wedding dowry. The butterfly hardware is what sealed the deal for me. This photo isn’t textbook perfect by any means, but like the handmade cabinet, it is genuine.



forever young

464099704 25b0ba8d1f o forever young

Happy Birthday to Ryan who doesn’t look a day past 19.



toes

462919741 99b7f48106 o toes

Ernie’s toes (and belly).



mane event

461485409 282ad63a02 o mane event

I couldn’t take my eyes off that beautiful, long hair while crossing the street near Union Square, and I wasn’t the only one.



queen of beers

460654357 369d9ede9c o queen of beers

Jo proudly wears the crown that she so well deserves. Our usual Wednesday evening outings were disrupted when I moved to New York. When she comes up to visit we try and make up for lost time.



a sign of good things to come

459475652 6e259d2d37 o a sign of good things to come



product shot

457859089 43ac874f97 o product shot

This was taken during a lighting workshop—a quick lesson on product shots. I don’t have any other reason for posting this except that I just like shoes.



spring? sometime?

456563991 86804e51dc o spring? sometime?

It’s another cold, rainy, winter-like day in April. This photo was taken a few days ago while I was driving on the Jersey Turnpike. A risky move at 80 miles an hour. These are the clouds responsible for the flurries I had to drive through.



special connection

455380362 a99799285e o special connection

Like her, Lori’s dogs are extremely vivacious and playful. It’s always a good time when I visit my old roommate from college, and it was particularly fun making friends with her pups.



up and running

454007210 0ba440cdfc o up and running

My general rule is no cute baby pictures—there are enough people in the world doing that, and to me, that just isn’t reality. So, here is Frances, who just found her legs and is incredibly mobile—and yes, very, very cute. When it comes to my boyfriend Paul’s neice, it is hard for one to resist taking cute baby pictures.



waffles and snow

452432537 21e31f387e o waffles and snow

I was in Maryland over Easter weekend. What was good was seeing my mom and my friends, eating waffles and drinking exceptional wine. Bad? It snowed.



end of semester

447220609 81ef719545 o end of semester

My last environmental portrait class was yesterday. Generally it was a good class—it made me think in different ways, but I’m not sure I liked the results. This photo was taken during a flash demonstration last Saturday in a makeup class. I think the flash bulb went off one too many times judging by the look on everyone’s face. Good luck to all the full-time students as they make their final push to graduate.



again, cat

446066709 5002675c79 o again, cat



lovely lady

444952193 fd25350c01 o lovely lady

This lovely lady is one of my favorite people I met while living in the east village. She and her husband own the Ethiopian restaurant that is located downstairs from our old apartment. They moved to New York from Ethiopia about 16 years ago, and just recently decided to share their native recipes. Thankfully.



tough guy

443608543 d00a59642e o tough guy

I took this photo last Saturday for another assignment for our environmental portrait class. We had to draw students’ names from a hat, then depending on who we picked, we had to photograph them reflecting a dark side of their personality and then a lighter side (darker side shown here—hopefully that’s obvious). Thanks to Steven, whose lighter side far outweighs his darker.



glorious pigeon

441644342 479ec13151 o glorious pigeon

This often overlooked and annoying bird has made its way into a number of my photos. I’ve decided not to fight it, but rather embrace it (there are 4 photos with pigeons in the Boneyard series on my website, http://www.w-stop.com/zenphoto/boneyard/). I took this particular photo on a spring-like day in the park across from my new apartment.



bad advertising

441624406 0f6bbe9ebd o bad advertising

I don’t know about you, but this is one of the creepiest window displays I’ve seen in a long time. I was on my way to a photo shoot when those vacant eyes stared me down. I’m all about taking the fun and pretty picture, but I couldn’t pass this one up. I have a feeling the store owner doesn’t realize that seeing this might make a person run — not into the shop but far, far away. The kid looks possessed and those hands… Yikes.



where is ernie?

440066766 afb665fe5e o where is ernie?



photos to come

I always forget what a pain it is to move. In this case it is definitely worth it—big kitchen (by NY standards), lots of light, etc. I find myself at Starbucks with a scorching hot tea catching up on email, etc. (also running away from the mountain of boxes and packing paper) until we get internet service this weekend. Stay tuned. More photos will be posted.



supervisor

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Our cat Sammy is enjoying a moment of peace before the movers come tomorrow.



racing the rain

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One more for the blog. This was towards the end of the fashion shoot last Friday and the first few rain drops were beginning to fall — the sky creating a dramatic backdrop. Not so good when you’re hanging up your sheets to dry (hypothetically speaking, of course). The instructions for this particular shoot from our teacher was to have a minimum of 4 different looks, or outfits. I have posted only 3 samples but will have a more complete series up on my website after some final edits.



more laundry

432380693 fbd09f69b2 o more laundry

Another photo from the laundry series.



laundry “shoot”

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The conditions were perfect today for my “modern girl doing laundry the old fashioned way” fashion shoot. Great model, great assistant, ideal weather — so much fun! I had no idea how this would all turn out as I had never planned anything like this before. Do I have the right clothes pins, unwrinkled sheets, is it going to rain, are the clothes going to fit my model, do I have a back up memory card, is the idea really lame, etc. So many details and walls to climb (literally), but so worth it.



blue eye

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This is turning into a blog for cat lovers. I’ll try and keep the pics of the kitties to a minimum, but they are what I see most of the day.



all in the name of art

429313660 87674f9045 o all in the name of art

The things I make Paul do… This morning I got him up at 8:45 a.m. and dragged him up to our rooftop to take a couple of test shots for my upcoming photo shoot. A willing participant, but the pained look on his face tells the real story.



new neighbor

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As I was taking measurements of our new apartment yesterday, I suddenly had the sense that I was being watched. I think our kitties will like our new apartment too–especially with such a good looking feline across the way.



shadows

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I took this photo only to show the shadows of the small shelf. One can see the beauty of the curves of the wood crafted by my father a number of years ago.



pup pup

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The sun came out yesterday, and despite the snow-flooded streets, New Yorkers (and their pets) were enjoying Saint Patrick’s Day.



location

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I took this photo a couple of months ago, and even though it didn’t seem like much at the time, it sort of stuck with me. In my search for locations for some test fashion shoots I’m currently working on, this place might come in handy.



dangerous skies

423216467 42c0ef5e9e o dangerous skies

Today’s storm in NY kind of reminds me of the one I witnessed in Taos, New Mexico (shown here), last year. Both are dark and dangerous, but the storm in New Mexico produced rain and hail that lasted about 10 minutes, whereas the one in NY is expected to last over 24 hours. I love this weather stuff.



food porn

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It didn’t take much creativity to frame this shot – the subject matter just speaks for itself. This photo is another in a series for my environmental portrait class. Again, from the kitchen of the Ethiopian restaurant downstairs.



rob

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Here is a photo I took of my bro a few weeks ago in Arizona. He truly looks like he is in his element in the Tucson desert.



water closet

421056539 6ab6710886 o water closet

This bathroom gives new (old?) meaning to the words, ‘water closet’. It is actually in the main stairwell of an apartment building, rather than in the apartment unit itself. It belongs to the tenant that resides on that particular floor but it feels odd to exit the front door of his unit and enter, what looks like a closet, in the hallway next to the main stairwell.



warmest place in the house

418909274 bcdecb8538 o warmest place in the house

I went to pick up my jacket and realized Ernie had curled up in the hood. Cute as a button, but more cat hair on my clothes.



injera

417530819 1fac12d05f o injera

Injera, sometimes described as an oversized sour pancake, serves as the base for Ethiopian cuisine. I was lucky enough to observe (and photograph) the kitchen and owner of Meskel.



in harlem

415905204 1268c73903 o in harlem

Yesterday I made my way up to Harlem to photograph Charle’s Chicken (I recommend the fried chicken and collards) and met this guy. He said he was shy about having his picture taken but proved otherwise when he followed me and my camera all the way to the subway. I realize this particular picture is way overexposed, but I think that is why I like it.



fleeting glimpse

414669603 790380ba0e o fleeting glimpse

This is a small taste of my evening yesterday. I was assigned to photograph an Irish pub, Blaggard’s, for a local newspaper but got caught up in conversation with the two blurry images you see here (the conversation was blurry too, for many reasons). If you look carefully, you can see their faces more clearly. I usually get free food at these gigs, but I was not so lucky this time around. One Guiness was on the house, though. Some people sitting on the other side of me asked the bartender for frozen drinks. In an Irish Pub???? Shame.



haisam

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This is a photo from a series taken for my environmental portrait class. The gent in the pic was very easy going and had a cool apartment – making my assignment a breeze. This particular photo probably won’t make the final cut, but it was one that I was kind of partial to. The slight distortion is caused by a convex mirror.



angry pig

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The photographer of this bizzare photo is unknown. I wish I could take credit for this picture. The absurdity of it just makes me smile every time I look at it. This cartoon pig looks so freaky with it’s disjointed arms and angry expression. At least the kids around it don’t seem too alarmed.



ernie

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Our cat Ernie.



friday night

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View from the couch.



backyard

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Taken last year in New Mexico.



the stars come out at night

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Halloween. New Orleans. Taken a few years ago with a film camera way before digital was a glimmer in my eye.



climbing walls

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Mike is at ease just before he scales another verticle plane. This is another photo taken in a rock-climbing series for my environmental portrait class.



about the food

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The first of many food shots to come. This is the best flan I’ve had–fresh from a restaurant called Chavella’s in Brooklyn. Definitely worth the hike from the East Village.



the other side of the lens

403722808 1e47d95442 the other side of the lens

When I looked out the porch window this morning, I was surprised to see a little camera perched on the sill of our neighbors across the way, pointed in our general direction (center of pic). Maybe I should be more careful when I pick my nose…



rock climbing

403713463 6d5b25a1db rock climbing

I didn’t want to do it. But I did it and I kind of liked it. This photo is part of a series I’m working on for my environmental portrait class at ICP.



samantha

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hotel room

 hotel room