The President is Coming!

When I was at the South Street Seaport, I saw a lot of helicopters coming and going from the Wall Street Heliport. So I decided to walk a few blocks down to watch the activities. As I was walking I saw two heavy lift helicopters over Brooklyn, flying in formation. "Hmmmm, I thought - those are the kind of helicopters that accompany the President!" Then I remembered getting an email from the FAA announcing a "Temporary Flight Restriction" in NYC. Oh boy! It IS the President. Then, as the big helicopters came in and landed, I saw in the distance two of the helicopters that carry the president also in formation. There are always two of the aircraft flying together - that way no one would know which aircraft carries the president. Anyhow, all four of them eventually landed, and sat there with their engines running. I waited and waited, and no one got out. After about 10 or 15 minutes the two presidential aircraft took off and then a few minutes later, the heavy lift helos. They headed off in different directions. Where was the president, and how come he didn't get out? When I got home, I looked up the notice, and the flight restriction was for the following day! So this must have been just a dry run. Still, it was pretty exciting and an impressive thing to see, even from a distance through a 300mm telephoto lens. These heavy lift helos, by the way, carry the bulletproof presidential limousines. In the distance in this photograph, you can see one of the "Marine One" helos that carry the President.

Hot Dog

I was walking along 34th street and saw this. The sign just jumped out at me. It is on a street vendor's food cart, and I think what grabbed me, though, was that the person who designed the sign felt the necessity to print the words "Hot Dog" on top of, well, a picture of a hot dog! Whaaaat? Anyhow, I loved the bold color of this.

My Dilemma

We took an hour long ride around the lower part of Manhattan yesterday, and then out to the Statue of Liberty. I haven't been anywhere near the statue in years. I had a 300mm lens with me, so did both full length pictures, and a closeup of just her head. My dilemma is trying to figure out which shot is my favorite. I think the head is more dramatic, but the full length image is more subtle, but much more beautiful. I also love the clouds in the background of the full length shot. She really is a stunning beautiful sculpture. Please click on each one to see it in a larger size, and then let me know which image is your favorite.

Balancing Bridges

Today the four of us took a "field trip" to Manhattan, and went down to the South Street Seaport. There is always so much to see and photograph there and in the surrounding area. Today I was looking up the East River and saw this arrangement - the Brooklyn Bridge appearing to be balanced on the Manhattan Bridge, and then in the distance is the Williamsburg Bridge. Just a graphical arrangement, but a different way for me too look at several bridges at once. Just fun with a camera! Please click on this to see it in greater detail.

Cold War Relic

We drove to Montauk Point today because Vince and Jo Anne have never been there. There was a sea fog that drifted in and gave everything a wonderful mysterious look. This cold war relic is located at the former Montauk Air Force Station, overlooking the Atlantic ocean about a mile west of the Montauk lighthouse. It case you are curious it is the radar antenna for an AN/FPS-35 long range radar. It was used to scan the skies out to 200 miles for airborne objects. It was in operation during the cold war, from 1960 to 1980. I photographed this about 20 years ago when I did my photo essay on "The Ruins of War." But today in the fog it had a whole new look to it - mysterious and spooky, looming over a dark landscape.

Winnie's Violin Recital

Vince and Joanne have been visiting for several days now, and we invited Kathy & Vince's cousin Jerry, and his wife Winnie to have Easter dinner with us. Winnie mentioned she would bring her violin and play for us. We had no idea she played the violin! She started playing when she was ten years old in China. So this was a treat to have her play four pieces for us, as after dinner entertainment. Because she was in our living room, I loved being close enough to watch her concentration and intensity while playing. It made for a lovely afternoon.

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter to everyone! Every year we get an Easter lilly, and every year I photograph it, of course. This year is no different. How to take a different photograph of the same thing is something I think about all the time. I decided that photographing the blossoms from the side was a different way of looking at the flowers. There is something wonderful about these blossoms, that even when they are photographed on a rainy day, they still seem bright and sunny.