On A Cliff by the Sea

I haven't flown my drone in some time so I took it up yesterday and today.  When you are a beginner, the altitude of the drone is limited to 100 feet.  I figured I could take it out of beginner mode, and when I flew up to 200 feet, in my side yard, I was surprised how much of the harbor I could see.  Also, with so many of the trees missing their leaves, I could see more of the homes in Sea Cliff.  It's time I did more flying around here.  Please click on this to see a lot more detail.

"Whiteout"

We went to the city to see two specific things.  The Irish Hunger Memorial - more on that in a later post - and this work of art.  It is called "Whiteout," located in Madison Square Park.  This is a public art project by artist Erwin Redl and is comprised of hundreds of transparent white spheres, each embedded with a white LED light and suspended from a square grid of steel poles and cabling. The white LEDs are animated in large-scale patterns superimposing a virtual movement that looks like waves of light coming and going.  It is fascinating to watch.  One of the things I love about public projects is that people looking at them never fail to turn to a perfect stranger, and comment on how cool an experience it is to be seeing it!

Oculus!

The Oculus is an astounding piece of architecture!  It is the new transit hub at the rebuilt World Trade Center site in downtown Manhattan. Designed by architect Santiago Calatrava, the “Oculus” is a train station, plaza and shopping mall adjacent to the memorial site for the September 11, 2001 terror attacks.  In the background is the new Freedom Tower.  The Oculus is astounding both inside and out.  The architect has said he designed the Oculus to resemble a winged dove.  This is the first time I was able to photograph the building without construction fences in front of it.  But I don't have the best photograph yet.  I need to photograph it when the sun is on it, and it will be a brilliant white inmcolor.  I will get back there when things are just right.  Stay tuned.

In Memoriam

While walking around the Memorial Pools at the World Trade Center Memorial I spotted these roses placed into the cutout of the name of one of the victims.  It was so moving to see not only the roses and an American flag, but a laminated photograph of her.  She is Betty Ann Ong, an American flight attendant who was aboard American Airlines Flight 11 when it was hijacked and flown into the North Tower of the World Trade Center.  Such a powerful thing to come face to face with.

Selfie!

While wandering around the World Trade Center Memorial site, I was looking at people visiting, hoping to find a photograph.  I saw this group of young women who were so cute and having so much fun trying to do a group selfie.  I couldn't resist!

Ephemeral

Well, I think I finally got a REAL photograph!  We took a trip to Manhattan today to see some things, and I will be showing you some really interesting things with future posts on the blog.  We did go through the 9/11 Memorial pools and by One World Trade Center.  Every time I see this monumental tower I take the time to do photographs of it.  Today was no exception.  I did see it in a new way, however  I had not noticed that from some points the entire side of the building appears to end in a point.  This reminded me of  the Great Pyramid of Cheops.  What makes this so interesting is that the building is seen against a sky of broken clouds AND the mirrored front of the wall is reflecting similar clouds.  The whole thing blends together in such a way that you are not sure at first what you are looking at.

This Never Gets Old

This is, of course, the famous Japanese maple tree.  What is always surprising is that the leaves on this tree were still green until about 4 days ago.  I am always amazed at how quickly they go from green to orange and yellow.  I never get tired of going out to explore the tree after the colors have changed.  I try to find a view that I haven't photographed before, and I think that this fills the bill.  The yellow leaves are closest to me, but in the background are orange leaves on higher branches.  I love the contrast in colors.