Tuesday November 20, 2012

MUSTIQUE – I thought that I’d use today to get the cliches off of my chest. It’s not as bad as it could be because I’m down here in the hot tropical light with a camera that only shoots black and white, the Leica Monchrom. So let’s start today’s post with some trees and rocks. Yes, we have them in the Caribbean and they can be the subject of uninspiring photos here as easily as they can in Connecticut. First the trees then the rocks.

It was a challenge shooting the tree. I wanted the palm, the greenery framing it and the shadow – the widest lens i had with my on the trip (a 24mm) wasn’t nearly wide enough so I took six overlapping frames and hoped for the best stitching them. “Hoped for the best” because stitching wide angle images often doesn’t work – I have three different stitching software packages. Photoshop failed at this but PTGui Pro nailed it.

Tree
Tree

Now for the rocks.

Rocks
Rocks

Another tree. This from a spot outside of the Cotton House where someone must have put a some house plants in the ground a few years back – they’ve grown into a monster clump the size of a city bus. Some detail, and on reflection, my favorite from today.

Another tree
Another tree

This one lets us throw some clouds into the mix:

Shoreline
Shoreline

And what landscape portfolio would be complete without a cactus (this one is competing for may favor as the favorite of the day):

Cactus
Cactus

And finally, Maria leaving a store called the “Purple House” in black and white:

Purple house

On this day last year: Aunt Dorothee.

Aunt Dorothe
Aunt Dorothe

Monday November 19, 2012

MUSTIQUE – This private island is our favorite spot in the Caribbean. The only downside is the endless voyage here – it’s a long ways south (which means that the weather is reliable) and a semi-scheduled small plane hop from Barbados. The last of today’s three shots (sorry – I’m having trouble focusing on editing) is at the iconic Basil’s Bar. Iconic in the sense that it lends a “Cheeseburger in Paradise” vibe to an otherwise staid bastion of . . . well yo fill in the blank.

Callaloo
Callaloo
Alexander
Alexander
Bill
Bill

On this day one year ago: decommissioned church.

Decommissioned church
Decommissioned church

Sunday November 18, 2012

MUSTIQUE, ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES – We made it here after a long day of travel. My rule of thumb in the Caribbean is that any place that’s worthwhile requires a trip in a small plane and a hair raising landing and doesn’t have a golf course or casino. Mustique certainly qualifies. Once again I’m shooting paradise in black and white – way against the grain. Actually oddball. Here’s a mini-gallery shot with my Leica Monochrom. I typically shoot a lot on arrival at a new place and then have trouble editing in time to post here.

Maria swims some laps
Maria swims some laps
Calaloo
Calaloo
Bathroom
Bathroom
View
View
Alexander
Alexander
Lillian
Lillian
Sunset
Sunset

On this day one year ago: 96th Street.

November 18, 2011
Papaya Metro

Friday November 16, 2012

NEW YORK NEW YORK – Tonight is the annual James Beard Foundation Gala. Nice evening at the Four Seasons Restaurant. Since I’m no longer Chairman I have the freedom the just enjoy the event. An interesting table – my photo opportunities for the evening came in the kitchen and at our table. Taken with my Leica Monochrom and 50mm Noctilux lens.

Kitchen at the Four Seasons Restaurant
Kitchen at the Four Seasons Restaurant
James Beard Gala
James Beard Gala
James Beard Gala
James Beard Gala
James Beard Gala
James Beard Gala

On this day last year: Boston Harbor.

Boston Harbor
Boston Harbor

Thursday November 15, 2012

NEW YORK NEW YORK – Walking through the reception area in our offices I spotted a lovely composition made by the sun and shadows on a piece of art and furniture. I ran for my camera, took a couple of shots studying the composition and called it my image for the day. One of the better images recently, so I guess it is possible to get into the moment when I’m busy if there is actually something to see. When I uploaded the images to process them I was surprised to find that a random exposure that I took in the morning just to see if the camera was working was actually kind of interesting. This is in the category of “purse art” – images taken at random the way a mobile phone sometimes dials from a purse – that I have explored before. Both images with my 1958 dual range summicron (a completely charming lens) and my Leica Monochrom.

Picture
Picture
Tilt
Tilt

On this date last year: Photo object.

Photo object
Photo object

Wednesday November 14, 2012

NEW YORK NEW YORK – Like this time last year I’m crazy busy. Very hard to get into the moment from a visual standpoint. Hard to hang out waiting for the light to be just right. So I grabbed a shot of a building on my way to the subway. It’s actually two frames stitched – I use the ability to hand hold and stitch as a “zoom” to shoot wider than the lens on the camera, in this case a 1958 dual range summicron on my Leica Monochrom.

Not so interesting
Not so interesting

On this day last year: Four Seasons Restaurant bar.

The Four Seasons
The Four Seasons

Tuesday November 13, 2012

BOSTON MASSACHUSETTS – My monthly trip to Boston is jam-packed this month. Ugly weather. I decided not to go out to shoot, so I shot a four frame stitch out my hotel window using my laptop case to try to suppress reflections in the glass of the window, which doesn’t open. Nice looking construction site. Taken with my Leica Monochrom and 50mm dual range summicron lens.

Construction site
Construction site

On this day one year ago: Morso

Gil
Bil