I could spend forever in sunflower fields. Sunflowers evoke such a sense of happiness. What better way to spend an afternoon in Provence. Quite hysterically, a couple on a motorbike slows down, the woman riding on the back takes out her camera phone and clicks without stopping and they zoom off.
One only lives once, or so many say. That has yet to be proven. So why not enjoy it? Last year in Venice, Italy around midnight, several of bottles of wine after dinner and piggyback races through the alleyways, I was dared to do the splits on a little dry spot in the flooded San Marco piazza. Don't ever dare me, ESPECIALLY after that much wine! Ok, who am I kidding, I'd have done it anyway. Albeit somewhat unsteady photo below from Liz Sullivan to which kudos are given for hand holding a small point and shoot under such zany conditions. Anyway, the splits kind of became my unique trademark on travels. So here we are in Rockefeller Plaza in NYC. Do this at age 41 without stretching - I dare you! Take hold of life and grab it by the horns and do something out of the ordinary I say. Be spontaneous and have fun! NYC photos courtesy of Jana Koubek.
Playing with shutter speeds can be great fun! Anywhere from 1/20th of a second to 20 can produce a wide variety of effects. While with a new friend, Peggy, in New York we hit Grand Central Station to illustrate different looks produced by zooming, camera rotation and just letting the shutter open to capture the essence of the hustle and bustle of this historic landmark.
The heart of New York City. Hundreds pound the pavement daily of this center of the city filling it to the hilt with atmosphere, character and better acoustics than many concert halls. The undending drama envelopes you as all you need to do is just sit and watch it happen. Seldom will you encounter a spot synergized with the energy and spirit of Times Square.
April on the Boardwalk, Brighton Beach and Coney Island. Locals have been a part of this iconic area, one man I photographed, since he was 6 years old. Alas, Coney Island will be taken down and condos built. We have to ask ourselves sometimes what is really progress... Now fences and very large dogs are the habitants. A last look at American history.
Ladder 6 in Chinatown, NY has been dubbed the Station of Miracles as firefighters caught in a stairwell of the Twin Towers collapsed while aiding a woman who had difficulty moving, now referred to as their guardian angel. Somehow the stairwell section remained intact, thus protecting all inside. I had the privilege to visit the station and meet 2 of the station's current team members, Bryan Scimeme and Richard Sere. Both humbly commented they'd been there "just 4 years" when asked and were kind enough to endure several shutter blasts and take the ribbing of house members jeering from the sidelines. Take care guys!
