The Therapist is In!

This is what I see each day, when I am in the kitchen, and when Kathy is at work seeing clients.  I don't think twice about it because it is so common.  She keeps a sound machine running, so it is not possible for me to hear clients, or clients to hear me, unless I crash some pans together when making supper!  Today I realized that this is a photograph, because it is a document of our lives at the present time.  Sometimes it is hard to recognize the commonplace in life because it is so familiar.  Being able to see that is what makes great documentary photographers.

What to do at a Museum

OK, so I am not making fun here, because I take photographs of paintings in museums all the time.  I like to be able to bring the paintings home with me as a reminder, and sometimes to study them.  Although it is a completely different experience to view paintings in person, than it is to look at them in photographs or books.  Anyhow, I was standing looking at this painting, and in the ten minutes I was there, at least ten people came up with either cellphones or cameras to photograph the painting.  Confession: I had already photographed the painting by itself with my camera!  Another confession: I was watching the painting for ten minutes because I was trying to get a photograph like this!

Painting at the Met

When I spent the day at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, I came upon this scene and was so surprised.  I don't think I have ever seen anyone copying a painting in this museum before.  I do know that it is a practice for may students to be allowed to copy paintings, and I have seen it in other museums, but not here.  I noticed that the painter was wearing ear buds while painting.  If he had not been, I would have asked if he was a student, and asked what school he was from.  But I didn't.  When I was shooting, I tried several different views.  When editing, I decided that seeing the white cloth on the varnished floor was the most dramatic image.  But I have included a closer shot so you can see how the artist is doing.  Be sure and click on the pictures to see more detail.

Sunset in Central Park

Walking a few feet further from the location of yesterday's photograph, and looking over the wall on Fifth avenue, I saw this scene at the lake in Central Park.  I love the beautiful atmospheric effects in the sky and the background.  One other thing that makes this photo, in my estimation, is the couple sitting on the bench by the water, and the two pedestrians walking along the water's edge.  Be sure and click on the photo to see these small details.

Dinner in Manhattan

A little further south on Fifth avenue I came to the memorial for Richard Morris Hunt.  I always look at the sculptures, but then I was amazed to notice this woman sitting in the memorial, apparently eating her dinner.  It really caught me by surprise, so I hurried to take a few photographs before she noticed me there.  Eventually she looked over for a second or two, then looked back at her dinner.  After I took the photographs, I walked over to her and said how much fun it was to find her in the memorial, and I said it made a nice photo, and thanks for being there.  I had never taken the time to find out who Richard Morris Hunt was.  He was an amazing architect who sculpted the face of New York City, it is said, including designs for the facade and Great Hall of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty, and many Fifth Avenue mansions now lost to the wrecking ball.  Wow!  Look what you can learn from Wikipedia (and my blog!)

Street Food

I was walking the twenty-three blocks from the Metropolitan Museum of Art down to the subway at 59th street at the end of my day in the city.  I was also hungry.  As I walk down 5th Avenue, I continue to look for photographs and I am never disappointed.  I saw this food vendor and his customers from some distance away and got the camera ready.  I love the sense of life on the street in this photograph. After taking the photo I walked by, and that's when I got the aroma of something that was delicious!  But I had a train to catch, and couldn't stop and take the time to eat.

Waiting at the Depot

I went down to the depot today, to wait for a train to New York City.  I found these two other citizens waiting for the same train.  We didn't talk at all, I just watched them wait.  It was pretty exciting.  So then I got my camera out and took four frames.  Quite a day for me!