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A hodgepodge collection of subjects from the commonplace to the unusual...
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This was the view outside my bedroom window on February 10th 2010, when I woke up to what seemed like the 100th snow storm of the year.
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This was the view outside my bedroom window on February 10th 2010, when I woke up to what seemed like the 100th snow storm of the year.

backyardwinterStaten Island

  • On this 1st day of the new year, I found myself having to go into the city to take care of several things I could only do on a day off from work. But first I wanted to stop off at the nursing home up the hill and bring something to mom. I almost always walk to the ferry and after several years found a route that not only avoided going up that hill, (I like visiting mom in the evenings coming back from the city so I can walk DOWN the hill instead) but pretty much avoids all the hills between here and the ferry terminal, which are numerous. Before leaving the house I stuffed my camera and a couple of lenses in my backpack per chance a nice photo opportunity presented itself on the ferry boat ride to or from the city.<br /> <br /> As I walked up the cursed hill I had to pass by the abandoned hospital. Back then the huge side gate was broken or just never closed, I can't remember which, and that allowed people from miles around to dump all sorts of unsightly garbage there, which would take the city weeks and weeks to clean up each time. It was such an eternal eyesore that I purposely avoided looking at it whenever I walked by, and today was no different. However despite my rushing up the hill to put a hastily finish to another climb up Mt. Pain in the Butt, I spotted something out of the corner of my left eye that was different than anything I'd seen there before. Stopping my speedy gate and walking slowly back down the hill a few steps I looked closely at the newest load of refuse on the snow covered ground. It was a collection of old discarded toys. Some of them seemed to look vacantly through me almost in pain and depression to find themselves there. It really looked to me like a burial ground for yesterdays toys. It was such a sight I came back right after visiting mom to take a picture of it, before any new trash got dumped on top of them.<br /> <br /> A stone wall just out of view to the side of the baby dolls right foot blocked my getting the angle I wanted of this "toy graveyard", and made me want to move them all 6 inches to the left to get the best impact for this shot. But they all looked almost alive and in shock that never again would they feel a humans touch, from some child happy to get them even as a hand me down, and that their fate had come to this. The sad image made this scene almost sacred somehow, and I couldn't bring myself to touch them. So I left them where they lay and recorded this scene as a testament that it is possible for those things created without a soul, to yet die of loneliness.
  • This was the view outside my bedroom window on February 10th 2010, when I woke up to what seemed like the 100th snow storm of the year.
  • DSC_1747 2nd feb blizzard of 2010
  • dsc_ 2947 the Charles D McAllister
  • DSC_3685 Macy's flying flower show banner
  • DSC_3739 flower show banner
  • DSC_6099 nice boat
  • Luxury liners from a couple of cruise lines dock at this spot to receive some much needed work between trips. This time I found the work they were doing on this particular ships port side interesting.
  • I love the numerous size and shapes of tug boats that navigate our lakes and seas, and the utterly endless variety of behemoth flotilla's they push and pull to their many destinations.
  • DSC_1766 late day sailing excursion
  • I find the Jersey Light Rail stations very interesting subjects to photograph. Here the Exchange Place station looks kind of picturesque at night in the rain.
  • Of the several things I wanted to do photography wise this day, one thing I hoped to do was test out my old manual 35mm f1.4 nikkor. It was one of 2 lenses that still had some degradation from moisture like the 2 telephoto lenses I sent to Focal Point Inc. to be cleaned, but not nearly as bad. Testing it out in my backyard last fall proved promising, and I wanted to try it out again in the field under various lighting conditions to test it further. So after cleaning these last two lenses myself, I wanted to see if they were still good as before, and thereby save me the expense off shipping them out to be professionally restored. But as the day went by the opportunity to use it in a shot never came. When I arrived at this spot - my designated place to improve on my panning skills, I was sure I would never get to use my old 35mm, as it takes a really superb photographer to pan a moving subject and still get it razor sharp using a manually focusing lens. I was using my auto focus lenses and I was still having all sorts of problems getting a sharp image.<br /> <br /> Fate intervened, as this young man, spotting me photographing him doubled back after passing by, to see how the picture came out. Happy with the images, he asked me to take some more shots of him for his personal use, which I happily did. When the background became too distracting behind him because I was no longer panning the camera for these shots, I reached in my bag and pulled out the lens with the widest maximum aperture I had, which turned out to be my 35mm, great!! Looking at the shots in the camera I was certain I had a good image for him. Few things test a lens like shooting it wide open, and at f2, that's pretty close.<br /> <br /> After 20 years of inactivity, and fungus damage, turns out she can still take a razor sharp shot, YESSSS!! One more lens to add back into my arsenal. It's great to reach into my bag and feel it in there again.
  • DSC_5399 front row seats
  • DSC_5816 pleasure cruising on the Bay
  • A grey hazzy day in the city created just the monotone scenic look I've been longing to capture behind a colorful passing tug. This tug wasn't all that colorful as I wanted, but it worked. Now all I'm waiting for is a foggy day shot of a tug, with a wide sweeping NYC background as a great mood setting backdrop.
  • DSC_6885 crossing paths
  • Now THAT'S a heavy duty skateboard.
  • This spot is great for a couple of eventual shots I plan to get under different lighting conditions - stay tuned.
  • I was meeting up with friends for dinner later in the day, and after taking care of the usual household chores first, I still had several hours before I was to meet them uptown. So I grabbed my camera and a few lenses and decided to take some pictures along the way. I found myself here again at Battery Park City, and decided to grab something to eat from the many tempting outdoor grills. After buying a grilled sandwich and strawberry milkshake I walked over to this section of tables under the trees, set aside for the patrons of the numerous eateries that run here along the Hudson. It is a very pleasant spot to stop and eat, even more so when the fountains here are flowing. Just before leaving I stopped to turn and grab a picture of this nice summer spot.
  • I've often walked by this spot in the daytime and admired it's potential when the mid-day sun wasn't casting it in shadows. So as I was lucky enough to have my camera with me on this clear night, I finally had my first opportunity to see potential actualized.

  • Hershy

    on March 5, 2011

    Great view K!

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