I didn't Fall off the Roof

I didn't fall off the roof, and I did not make this picture up! I was up on top of the roof and took my gloves off to pick up some nails, and one glove rolled down the roof away from me. I reached for it and the other did likewise. They rolled down off the dormer, fell on to the main house roof, then rolled off that on to the back room roof and then fell to the ground, out of my sight. Imagine my surprise when I came down to retrieve them, and found them this way! I couldn't believe it! I swear to you I did not move them! This is exactly how I found them, and I couldn't believe it. There is something kind of spooky about this shot. Not sure what it is - maybe some sense that a person is buried under all this rubbish from tearing off the old roofs. In any case, I think it is one of the coolest photos I have posted in a while.

Perseus

This is a beautiful statue in a stunning location. It is in a large atrium lit by daylight coming in through a glass ceiling. What makes it more dramatic is that you approach it from the side, from darker galleries, so you first see it through a darkened archway. I thought that added to the image, but then decided it was distracting, and I cropped it out. I love the silhouettes of the two men looking at the statue. This is "Perseus with the head of Medusa" by Antonio Canova, and it was carved in Rome between 1804-1806. Oh, I was on the roof all day, so didn't have a chance to shoot anything.

How Much Is It?

This photo is just about color. It was late in the day, in the shadows of the buildings on 33rd street. I was passing by and was taken by the incredibly bright orange, contrasted with the brilliant blue. So I stopped and shot it. The people in the street are blue as well, because they are only lit by the blue light of the sky overhead - there is none of the warmer light of the direct sun. Want to hear a funny story? I was traveling with someone once, and saw a store that said it was a "dollar store." I had never heard of one of those, and I forget what I said exactly, but I think it was something like: "Why do they call it a dollar store?" "Because," the answer came, "everything in there costs a dollar!" Duh!

Heavy Metal

Try and guess what this is a picture of. Right. Those are metal dresses that the mannequins are wearing! It was part of an exhibit about the history of fashion, at the museum I went to last week. They never sold these dresses - they were conceptual constructions done by two brothers whose work normally was making avant-garde musical instruments. These were made specifically for a film. It is pretty striking to see these in person - and realize how a metal dress makes no sense at all!

The Mysterious Box is Finished

How long ago was it that I showed you the sides of a mysterious wooden box, sitting on my table saw? Well, I have finally finished it. It is made from Poplar. I wanted to make it from Philippine Mahogany, also known as Luan. But they told me at the lumber company that Luan is no longer exported from the Philippines. So it is made from Poplar. The corners are all mitered, and so there is no end grain showing. It has three coats of spar varnish on it, carefully sanded between coats, and all brass hardware. But what is it FOR?


It's an eyepiece case! Something to carry and protect my telescope eyepieces for observing. It gets cold each night while observing, and if the eyepieces are not protected from the night air, they become covered in condensation. There is no reason for an eyepiece case to be a beautiful piece of furniture - a plastic 3x5 card file would work as well, which is what I used before I built this. There is something wonderful about having both my telescopes and my eyepiece cases being beautiful to look at as well as being functional. It makes life richer.

Memorial Day Parade

I walked along the parade route yesterday, looking for photographs, both of the people in the parade, and the spectators along the parade route. For some reason I was taken with this young boy, dressed in red, holding an American flag. I am not sure, but it just felt like an interesting picture - I think it has to do with the light in this picture, and his expression has something to do with it. I know I already posted one photograph yesterday - the portrait of the bomber pilot. It felt as if that picture by itself didn't represent the parade itself. It was the story with the portrait that made the picture so interesting. So that's my excuse for posting a second picture from Memorial day.

32 Missions

This is Michael. I met him today at the Sea Cliff Memorial Day parade, just by chance. He was a B-17 bomber pilot in the Second World War, and flew 32 missions, many over Germany, including the Shweinfurt raids. The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress is a four-engine heavy bomber which was used to attack strategic enemy targets like ports, shipyards, factories, oil facilities, and ball-bearing works in Germany and France. So many of these aircraft never returned from their bombing raids. The crews were so very young - most were only in their late teens or early twenties. Many would be reported missing after only a few missions, while others might survive only to be killed on their final mission. Michael was only 26 when he first became an aircraft commander, and in charge of the 10 man crew. After surviving 32 missions, he was given a "Lucky Bastard Award" and it now hangs on his living room wall. How do we begin to thank him and all the other veterans, in all the wars, so many of whom made the supreme sacrifice for our country.