NEW YORK NEW YORK – I found myself in the Flatiron District stocking up at Paragon and Photo Care for our forthcoming trip to Switzerland, and stopped for lunch in the lovely public space next to the Flatiron Building. Taken with my Alpa TC, 80 meg Phase Once back and 48mm Schneider lens.
On this day one year ago: Honor. A new boutique.
NEW YORK NEW YORK – A truly splendid day for photography. I went out into the world with my Sony Nex-7 and 24mm Summicron. First to my final landscape class at ICP were I had a chance to shoot the class’s work. Then some quality outdoor urban time eating a sandwich in the plaza at 43rd Street and 6th Avenue. Then home to dress for dinner, in this case dress was white tie and tails, with some college classmates. Terrific chance to catch guys wearing penguin suits. Finally walking home at 10:30 I stopped to review the day’s images, and there were’t any. Wow. Colossal stupidity. Brobdingnagian blunder. I left home without a CF card in the camera. I captured nothing. The viewfinder had a warning but I didn’t notice it. This is the second time since I started this project that I’ve done this. Emphasizes the importance of basics. Load film in the camera. I always take an exposure before I leave home to check the camera, but not today.
What to do? Here I am on Madison Avenue at 10:30 with no picture for the day. Wait. My iPhone. It only has 10% charge left but that’s enough. I got one image through the window of EAT. That’s it, my image for the day.
On this day one year ago: Alum.
NEW YORK NEW YORK – I get several calls a week that are “purse dials”. Probably my daughter. I’m a speed dial on her iPhone – as she bounces through life the phone in her purse is accidentally activated and directed to dial my number. When I pick it up I hear random background noise.
Today my iPhone did the equivalent only it took a pictures. I had been experimenting with an app that simulates various cameras – in this case I had set it to be a Hasselblad. It turns out that it gives you an images that replicates what you see in the viewfinder (which hs a distinctive cross in the middle) as opposed to what comes out on film (which has two distinctive notches in the corners). Somehow the iPhone took a picture aimed at nothing in particular. I was struck by the strength of the iPhone’s composition and the textures it caught. It’s not a bad photographer. I have no idea what this is.
On this day last year: walking the dog. The dog’s eye view.
BOSTON MASSACHUSETTS – My second day in this ancient Commonweath. I took a walk along the harbor with my Sony Nex-7 and Leica 24mm Summilux but didn’t come up with much. There were a few tired looking pedestrians and C+ light. The second image below proves that I was out there. The best shot of the day may have been in my hotel room – the first image below. Some days it just doesn’t pay to get out of bed.
On this day last year: Hostas..
CAMBRIDGE MASSACHUSETTS – I arrive early for a dinner meeting here and managed to take a walk along the Charles on this perfect early Summer day. Both images taken with my Sony Nex-7 and 24mm Leica Summilux lens – the second was taken at f1.4 with a .9 neutral density filter.
On this day last year: West Cornwall. A sweet little town with an Alice’s Restaurant vibe.
WARREN CONNECTICUT – A big day on the inner foodie front. I’ve mastered pizza on the Big Green Egg. Thin crust, crisp, scorched on the bottom but not burned. Like Naples. Italy. It’s been a process getting here. We blew out the OEM felt gasket on the Green Egg two weeks ago trying to make Pizza with Patrizia Chen. Last weekend we tried it without a gasket but found that the leakage interfered with maintaining very low temperatures for smoking. So this weekend I installed a serious furnace gasket designed for very high temperature use. I little bit of research online suggested that the pizza stone should be elevated about two inches so I put it on a large flat plan. Here’s the result taken with my Leica M9 and 24mm Summilux lens. With some more practice handling the dough I might even be able to manage a round pizza – this one seems to be shaped like South America.
On this day last year: Bill Jackson.
WARREN CONNECTICUT – We took our new old boat out for a sunset cruise on Lake Waramaug. The spotlight on this think is irresistible – I’m going to have to break it off to eliminate the temptation to include it in every image taken from the boat. Take with my Leica M9 and 24mm Summilux.
On this day one year ago: Peonies.
