Sunday May 15, 2011

WARREN CONNECTICUT – This was another in a seemingly endless string of rainy, foggy days. This is actually a continuation of the months of very heavy precipitation that we had during out long, hard winter. In reality the rain is a blessing. Steven Solomon’s book Water suggests that we’re on the verge of a global crisis where in many parts of the world the supply of clean water will not meet the needs of expanding population. The North Eastern United States is one of the regions of the world with a water surplus and enough rain to permit agriculture with little irrigation. Of course in Connecticut “agriculture” means digging massive stones out of the earth and fighting frost in May and October . . .

This is Lake Waramaug from the Hopkins Inn taken with my Leica M9 and the Bokeh King.

Lake Waramaug
Lake Waramaug

Earlier in the day I caught this with my M9 and a 135mm APO Telyt lens.

Spring Rain
Spring Rain

On this day last year: Trump Bar.

AT&T Building

Saturday May 14, 2011

WARREN CONNECTICUT – Our wildflower cultivation in Connecticut seems to be limited to dandelions, at least this season. I set my Leica up on a tripod with my 24mm Summilux lens framing a field of dandelions from about 2 feet away to the horizon. I then took 7 exposures focusing at various distances, and combined the images in Helicon Focus, “focus stacking” software. The combined images are sharp from the close forground all of the way to the tree line 150 meters away.

Dandelions
Dandelions

On this day one year ago: Another pedestrian image. Raises the question of why am I doing this. There are good streaks and bad streaks.

AT&T Building

Friday May 13, 2011

NEW YORK NEW YORK – We had a break in a long stretch of rainy weather and I had a break in a long stretch of around the clock meetings, so I walked up to the Conservatory Garden at 105th Street and Fifth Avenue. I’ve been here before with a camera. Gardens in bloom in the spring, while appealing to a photographer, haven’t really brought me to any artistic insights – I should probably stop doing this. But anyway, here’s the view of construction at Mount Sinai Medical Center from the Conservatory Garden taken with my Leica M9 and a 35mm Summicron v. IV lens (the Bokeh King).

Conservatory Garden
Conservatory Garden

On this day last year: great midtown light on the Seagrams Building.

Seagram Building

Wednesday May 11, 2011

PRINCETON NEW JERSEY and NEW YORK – I started the day with a series of meetings; moved back to my office where I caught a window washer out of my window; then on to Princeton where I spoke at the Princeton Photography Club – a serious group of people and a lot of fun.

This is from the Princeton campus. Not much going on here creatively (I was rushed) but at least is shows off my Alpa TC, 36mm Schneider lens and 60 meg Hasselblad back.

Princeton
Princeton

As noted above here’s a window washer and the Chrysler building captured with my Leica M9 and a 28 mm Summicron lens.

Chrysler Building
Chrysler Building

On this day last year: one of my many “Hello Kitty” images.

Hello Kitty

Monday May 9, 2011

NEW YORK NEW YORK – The James Beard Foundation Awards were held at Lincoln Center this evening. I caught my image for the day on my way to a rehearsal (I’m the chairman of the organization). Here’s what we say about the awards on our website:

Deemed “the Oscars of the food world,” by Time magazine, the James Beard Foundation Awards are the country’s most coveted honor for chefs; food and beverage professionals; broadcast media, journalists, and authors working on food; and restaurant architects and designers.

Jos Andres of miniBar in Washington DC won the outstanding chef award and spoke movingly on the experience of being an immigrant in America.

Captured with my Leica M9 and a 28mm Summicron lens:

Lincoln Center
Lincoln Center

On this day last year: Spring sunrise.

Spring Sunrise

Sunday May 8, 2011

WARREN CONNECTICUT – I walked around our Warren property this morning with my Alpa TC, a 36mm Schneider lens and a 60 meg Hasselblad back. Finally, I mean finally its really spring here. The shadow of the tree in the first image has an anthropomorphic quality that I really like

Warren Connecticut
Warren Connecticut
Warren birches
Warren birches

On this day last year: a Tiepolo sunset. For all of my fussing about not doing sunsets one of my favorites from last year.

Tiepolo sunset