On the train

Just a few images from my train ride from NYC to DC.  A little bit of experimentation with editing - happy coincidence, really.  I had to up the heck out of the blacks (pardon the technical talk) for the under-the-bridge shot and then wanted to see what those settings would have on the rest of the images.  Not bad, I thought.  And yes, these were shot from a very quickly moving train. people waiting harrison station amtrak diptych images from train ride nyc to dc blue sky black foreground smoke stack on the way to washington dc

NYC Day 2

Today was really a lovely day.  I woke up fairly early because that is how I generally roll.  Headed up to the continental breakfast upstairs but didn't see a single coworker, despite there being maybe 40 in this hotel.  No matter, I trotted off quickly to B&H to peruse the camera gear because I am a masochist and know I can't afford any of it.  But I thought maybe I could find a funky camera strap or something.  Instead, I picked up a hot shoe sync for my studio lights.  Very helpful staff there, as always. After that, I used my Yelp app (love love love love LOVE Yelp) to find a cozy little coffee shop to have a small latte, skipped through H&M (I was big on the X&Y stores!) and picked up a super-cute "boyfriend" jacket, and then took an informative, if overly dramatic, tour of Grand Central Station and the surrounding area.  Very much a good time. Right now I'm killing time and relaxing before a big, long work event that I will have to photograph and pay attention to for far far longer than is advisable.  I hear the food is excellent, though, and that always makes me happy. You've heard the story, now see the photos.  Not a big photo day, really - I was mostly enjoying walking around without a camera dangling from my arm. grand central station nyc Our very engaging and dramatic tour guide.  "New York is slammin'," he said without a hint of irony. tour guide nyc Chrysler Building details: chrysler building photos maps manhattan chandelier and guy on a phone street photography nyc Pardon this one.  It's just for David. concha y toro Also, the latest in my series of hotel self-portraits.  I already have one from this hotel in New York but it never hurts to have others. black and white self-portrait in new york hotel

New York City at night

I'm back in NYC again for another work function.  This time I'm all by my lonesome in the hotel room, but just about everyone in the union has come up to see our prez get some industry award.  As always, I love New York.  I've said it before but I'll say it again here - I believe New York City is the most interesting place in America.  If you can't find something exciting to see and do in NYC, you can go ahead and define yourself as a stick in the mud. Plans for today include walking tour of Grand Central Station (hopefully lots of photos to come), likely sushi for lunch, possibly some light camera-bag shopping in Chinatown and also possibly Ground Zero.  I've never been to the financial district at all.  It's lovely walking weather and I do enjoy walking. Last night a group of my coworkers and I took the subway on down to Chinatown for Congee Village, which was excellent.  I can't believe how much we ordered, I can't believe how much of it we ate, and I can't believe how cheap the bill was.  And now, some photos: nyc street photography manhattan street photography - vendor reading newspaper billboard painters and take out nyc new york city subway nyc subway street photography A coworker, on and around the train.  I loved that these two people pushed past her just as she got under the light. shielah diptych - nyc subway