Learn from the Best

Steve McCurry. When I take pictures, I strive to take at least one that is half as good as any one of his. Granted, he has help and better equipment and lights for it and is an extrovert able to take pictures of strangers.. but that is not an excuse I use for myself. Instead I try to be as critical as possible with every picture I dare show in public. I do love the wonderful comments people have to say and am thankful. I just know I can do better. There is not one photo I have taken that is hands down amazing. Composition, framing, color, focus, background, key light, fill light, back light, subject, grain, artifacts, negative space... I go bonkers because there's always something not perfect, at least to my eye. The main thing I try to keep in mind nowadays before I click, is to have the patience for timing rather than flustering over whether or not I will get the shot at all.

Those eyes belong to one of Steve McCurry's most famous photos which can be viewed in his Portrait gallery. Another favorite is in the India gallery, with the train.

www.stevemccurry.com

Time Flies

I have no idea where I put the past 7 months. Once I start trying to remember what I did last weekend, the next one is today. Not even any new pictures of recent. I have, however, become saddened looking in detail at what exactly my payout to loans will be. Deferment for Economic Hardship, here I am.

January 20, 2009

Inauguration Day. There's enough being said on the news and from words floating in the wind that it just about covers how important today is.

Digging through old photos is like getting a 2nd chance at that moment. I usually snap at whatever interests me in that exact moment, but my opinion of the photo later that day may change so I don't think twice about it. Every now and then, I sift through them, usually because a theme pops into my head, letting me revisit photos that would have otherwise just sat idly, never to be seen.


This was taken at Chelsea Market, which I highly recommend the ice cream sandwich at Ronnybrook Milk Bar. You pick your cookie type and they scoop your choice of ice cream on top. A bit overpriced at $3.75, as much of the rest of their menu is, but what else is new from Manhattan?

The Return

My Macbook Pro's screen was blank, took 2 weeks to get an appointment with Apple and have them fix it, while my PC had a virus. I was pissed at Apple for the laptop dying 6 months after the 1yr warranty expired for a known issue (searching online I found many who had and have the same problem) but they redeemed themselves because it was nVidia's fault, not Apple's. Then the stupid Apple-guy-who-couldn't-remember-I-was-next-and-skipped-me-twice tried to charge me $325 when the receipt said $0. Genius bar my ass


Getting on at Prince St, I somehow never noticed these in the wall... It's always nice to see art when you're not looking for it to lift your spirits. Except those ugly waterfalls a few months ago. That wasn't art, that was a waste of money and tree killers. If you want a REAL waterfall, I suggest these locations near NYC.

Movie Theaters

Let The Right One In
Be aware those with ADD- it is a slow paced movie. Not your typical Hollywood film that has to have a climax. This story is just that, a story between the main characters just living their lives. Oh, and there's vampires. I do not know what the hype about Twilight is, but this one has it beat no contest.

My first time watching a movie at the Angelika and as different as it is, I am slightly disappointed. Maybe some people like hearing the projector while watching a movie, or sitting in a long narrow theater that is not too inclined, and paying the same price as any other Manhattan cineplex. I don't. If it had the feel of Village East Cinema, I would cut it some slack, but instead it reminds me of the cheap theater closest to where I grew up. You know, the one with lots of kids, can sneak into other movies and your shoes come out with a brand new bottom. What I can say positively about this place, which does matter immensely, is the company. Even as you walk past the line forming to buy tickets outside (there are 3 machines to buy by credit card inside, by the way) you can already see that the people going to this theater are the respectable kind. During the whole movie, I did not hear anybody talk or any phones go off. I don't even remember anybody getting up to go to the bathroom. And as cliche as it can get, there was clapping when the movie ended.

Daily Logos

I like this idea. It's creative, free, and helpful to others.

Good Eats

Photography is a hobby of mine that I love to death. If I don't have my camera every waking hour with me, I could miss THAT shot. That one shot that supersedes every shot I have taken before it. Alas, life is not always about a picture. Sure, I will be able to show others what I saw in that instant, but then it would be like missing out on the actual event. Watching the Times Square ball drop on the tube is not the same as going out in the cold with hundreds and thousands of strangers to savor 1 second out of 31,536,000. Once in a while, it feels that if I take that picture, I enjoy it only half as much if I just watch with my own eyes.

That being said, I tried a new restaurant today and have no photo of it.


Sapporo East - Manhattan - 10th ST and 1st AVE

I Like.

Other places call the dish Dynamite, but theirs has avocados in it and it is SO good. Of course, I had to try the ramen (their Tokyo one,) which reminded me very much of RaiRaiKen's shoyu ramen (deserves its own separate review.) The curry dishes are almost on par with Go Go Curry, so if you're into curry, definitely try it here. Sushi is a little above average. Worth going to since it has a little bit of everything for anybody wanting Japanese.


Almost forgot- HAPPY NEW YEAR
A brand new year of winging it