Tag Archives: project365

Beauty of a Rainy Day…

23 Mar

Yesterday it was kind of wet and crappy out.   At around four o’clock, I decided to get over it and I headed outside to run a few errands.  As I walked down my block, I looked up (I look everywhere now when I walk… a pleasant side effect of studying photography), and up above me in the trees I saw a beautiful sight.  There were little water droplets hanging everywhere post rain and the light was reflecting off the little droplets, creating this lovely twinkly effect in the branches.  Excited, I snapped a few pictures with my 50mm lens – here is one of those:

Twinkly Branches

I took a bunch of these pictures, but none of them captured the beauty and magic that I saw in real life.   I tried to blur the background out more so  it wouldn’t be a distraction – but here, even with a setting of f/1.4, I still find the background fairly distracting. Don’t you?  Then I remembered I had my 100mm macro lens with me, so swapped lenses and got closer to the droplets.  And voila… I kind of love the way this one turned out.  What do you think?

Photo 346 out of 365 – “Drip”

"Drip" - Settings: ISO 800, f/4.5, 1/60 sec, 100mm macro lens

Nineteen photos to go!

 

 

Happy Friday!

18 Mar

Photo 342 out of 365 – “Nighttime Drive”

"Taxi Driver" - Settings: ISO 1600, f/1.4, 1/80 sec, 50mm lens

I took this last night on the cab ride home from that AMAZING photography workshop with Dave Black.  Every time we stopped at a red light, the driver was highlighted by this nice red glow.  I kept trying to get it without being noticed.  This is my favorite one.  It was pretty contrasty without any editing at all in Lightroom, but I wanted to enhance the contrast a bit, so I upped the black a little and upped the exposure a little as well.  I liked the sort of abstract/comic-booky feel, so I added in a little grain because I thought it worked with that look.    I didn’t enhance the colors at all… which is surprising to me, because they are so crazy!  Right?

Anyway, happy Friday all!  I’m heading out to go get the most out of this blissful seventy-degree day!

Today’s Inspiration: Springtime & Dave Black…

17 Mar

Oh hello wonderful sixty degrees!  I’m so glad to see you again.  It’s been a while and you’ve been greatly missed!  I can feel it outside… spring is definitely on it’s way.  Everyone seems a little happier.  There is a new energy in the air – a feeling of excitement – an end to hibernation.  I remember when the winter was first approaching and I was wondering how the hell I’d manage to take pictures every day for four months in the bitter cold and snow – everything grey and dead.  It seemed so unappealing – so bleak.  But with twenty-four photos to go in my 365 project and the winter coming to an end, I’m thinking this project will go out with a bang!  I’m feeling a little reinvigorated!!

Speaking of reinvigoration … I just got home from a photography workshop at Adorama tonight that completely blew my mind!! The photographer is Dave Black.  He’s most well-known for his incredible sports photography, but he has also recently started working with this technique called light painting, which he taught us about tonight.  It is different from the technique I’ve seen before (also called light painting), where you actually draw with light with a slow shudder speed to create lines and shapes with the light.  It is sort of complicated to describe – so you should read about it on his website.  The shots are incredible!!  They look like a blend between photography and painting.  Here is an example:

Light Painting by Dave Black (daveblackphotography.com)

Anyway, I can’t wait to try it this weekend!!  Totally inspired!  I got chills during his slideshow – the photos were so magical.

Here’s my photo from yesterday:

Photo 341 out of 365 – “Susan”

"Susan" - Settings: ISO 1600, f/2.5, 1/60 sec, 50mm lens

This is my dear friend Susan over lunch at Baby Bo’s yesterday.  The photo is a little blown out – but I sort of like it like that.  It makes her look so warm and slightly angelic.  Hi Susan!  :)

Now once again it’s ten o’clock and I’m ready to couch flop!

The East Village’s Little India

21 Jan

Photo 285 out of 365 – “Little India’s Restaurant Row”

"Little India's Restaurant Row" - Settings: ISO 1600, f/4, 1/50 sec, 24-105mm lens (24mm)

I took a Pilates class last night and ended up walking home from 24th and Lex.  It was a nice power walk.  My friend Erin gabbed to me on the phone for most of the time while I hoofed it.  Anyway, by the time I got to the East Village, I was having some crazy paneer cravings.  So, I headed over to 6th street and 1st Ave and ordered me some Indian takeout.  Yum.

While my food was being prepared, I went outside to snag some pictures.  This neon madness is on 1st Ave between 5th and 6th street.  It is called “Little India’s Restaurant Row”.  There are some decent spots here – I’ve eaten at a few of them – Brick Lane and Banjara to name a couple, but I believe the best neighborhood in Manhattan for Indian food is “Curry Hill” on Lexington in the upper 20′s.  I was right there!  But the cravings hadn’t kicked in yet.  Ahhh…. next time.

Anyway, it always cracks me up… these guys stand outside these places and call and wave you in as you’re walking by.  They can actually be quite aggressive at times!  I thought I should document it as I walk by fairly frequently and find it to be a funny scene.

 

 

Photo 248 out of 365 – “Ornament”

14 Dec

"Ornament" - Settings: ISO 1600, f/2.8, 1/50 sec, 100mm macro lens

I seem to be in the holiday spirit with my photos lately.  There are just so many shiny pretty things around I can’t help myself!  I actually took this photo yesterday at the Hilton on East 42nd Street.  My girl Faye was in town, staying at the Hilton for work and we got to spend a little time together.  We ate lunch at Calico Jacks – a sort of crappy midtown Mexican place, as it was right across the street from her hotel.  It was quite a trip down memory lane.

When I first moved to the city back in August of 2001, I worked at Calico Jacks as a waitress for about a year.  Every Saturday morning I would wake up and stumble over the three blocks from my apartment in the New York Towers building on 39th street and set up the restaurant for lunch.  The smell of cleaning solution mixed with Friday night’s alcohol and cigarette smoke was not exactly pleasant and would usually make me gag a little.  I’d work from eleven in the morning until around eleven at night, at which point my friends would come meet me and I’d be able to hook them up with free drinks.  It was actually quite fun – even though it was pretty much a big frat party and I was working between two and three jobs at the time.  I always liked being around food and I was stimulated by the hustle and bustle that goes along with working in a restaurant.  In fact, I still think I enjoyed waitressing more than advertising sales.

Anyway, stepping foot in that restaurant yesterday brought me right back… as if I entered a time warp.  Awww… little twenty-two year-old Nell.  I was so excited to be in New York City – wide-eyed and ready for adventure!  It’s amazing that it was almost a decade ago!  Sheesh!  What were you doing ten years ago??

Photo 124 out of 365 – “Passion on Guitar”

12 Aug

"Passion on Guitar" - Settings: ISO 1600, f/2.8, 1/100 sec, 50mm lens

I took this picture last night on the way home from a lovely dinner with my friend Susan.  I decided to walk home from the west village – a good one-to-two mile walk – as it was nice out and Adam was going to be out late.  I figured I might run into something interesting to photograph – as I seem to do nearly every day in this constantly buzzing city.

I usually take Bleecker street all the way across to my place in the East Village, but last night I decided to mix it up and walk along West 3rd instead.  Along my walk I witnessed several interesting things you don’t typically see unless you live in NYC… some drug deals taking place, some funky-looking old dudes walking out of the “Blue Note” jazz club,  a postal woman in uniform walking into a sex/fantasy shop – and then as I passed by MacDougal street, I saw the beautiful Arch at Washington Square Park all lit up from afar.  I decided to take a detour to check out the happenings at ten o’clock on a Wednesday night in Washington Square Park.

That is where I stumbled upon my photographic subject of the evening…  his name is Benji Kaplan and he was sitting right underneath the arch playing beautiful Brazilian music on his guitar.  He was all alone – with just his guitar, his backpack beside him, his white contribution bucket in front of him and a pile of CDs.  I immediately wanted to take his picture because the lighting was beautiful.  But I waited a minute and decided to just listen to his music first for a little while.  I loved it.  So I bought a CD for five dollars.  Then, I asked him if I could take his picture.  Of course – my contribution to him and to his art, made me feel that much more comfortable taking his photo – so I took a bunch.  And i just hung out there for about fifteen or twenty minutes, taking pictures and enjoying his music.  We talked a bit too and I wrote down my blog name for him… maybe he’s reading it now.  Then, I walked the rest of the way home, feeling satisfied that I’d gotten a photo of the day that I’d be proud of in the morning.

Oh – and the album I bought is called Paixao no Violao, which translates to “Passion on Guitar”.

Photo 122 out of 365 – “Man in a Feather Cap”

10 Aug

"Man in a Feather Cap" - Settings: ISO 200, f/4.0, 1/200 sec, 50mm lens

I saw this guy strut his stuff down third avenue in Murray Hill yesterday afternoon.  Not your typical Murray Hiller – that’s for sure.  I was inside a restaurant having a drink with my friend Jen, when we saw this guy walk by the restaurant window.  I hadn’t taken my photo of the day yet so of course, I ran out the door to catch up with him.  He was totally cool and happily allowed me to photograph him – and I’m so irritated, because I totally took his name and email address into my phone and told him I’d email him the photos.  Meanwhile, I’ve gone through my phone contacts twice now and can’t find it!!  I must have entered it in wrong or something.

To prevent this from happening in the future, I have two very important things to add to my to-do list.

  1. Buy a little moleskin pad to keep in my camera bag at all times, so I can write down people’s names & email addresses and not lose them!!
  2. Make myself kick-ass, gorgeous and professional-looking business cards STAT!

I am definitely getting more comfortable asking people if I can photograph them, and with a business card in hand, I think I’ll feel that much more legit and will thus be able to be that much more ballsy about who I approach with my camera.  For example, looking back at my portraits, I realize I’ve barely taken any photos of women!  I am obviously much less intimidated asking men if I can photograph them.  I guess that’s because I’m a woman and I feel like I can turn on the charm a little bit with male subjects.  With other women, I’m afraid to even approach, but I think with a solid business card, I’ll feel much less intimidated.  Adam promised to help me with that so I’m going to try to have those designed by the end of this weekend!

Photo 121 out of 365 – “Gun Sunday”

9 Aug

"Gun Sunday" - Settings: ISO 100, f/8.0, 1/160 sec, 50mm lens

After our scrumptious pig roast party, a few of us stayed overnight out in CT so that we could go shooting at the firing range the next day for Brette’s birthday.  I had been to a firing range several years ago and shot a .22 rifle – but yesterday I had the opportunity to shoot some heavy duty guns!

The guns from left to right are:

  • Smith & Wesson Model 66 .357 Magnum
  • Ruger RedHawk .44 Magnum
  • Smith & Wesson Model 36 (Chief’s Special) .38 Special

Man… I felt like such a badass!!!  Some of these babies definitely pack a punch when you shoot them – but I really did enjoy myself.  I remember when I was a little girl and we’d go to visit my grandparents in Buffalo, NY.  There was this place called Johnny’s Showtime that my grandfather would always take me to.  They had all kinds of games, mini golf, a ball pit and a shooting gallery.  The shooting gallery was my favorite!  Have you ever been to one of those?  Where you aim at the little targets, and when you hit each one, it makes something happen… like the little mechanical cat runs around in a circle… or the little bird comes out of the cuckoo clock to sing?  Now – twenty-five years later, here I am, shooting Smith & Wessons on a Sunday afternoon.  Definitely not my typical weekend… shooting guns and eating pigs… but I loved every minute.  Who am I?

Photo 120 out of 365 – “Guns, Friends & Pig”

9 Aug

"Guns, Friends & Pig" - Settings: ISO 800, f/4.0, 1/80 sec, 50mm lens

Please forgive me if this photo is offensive in any way… I’m specifically thinking of my sweet vegetarian sister-in-law who is probably completely grossed out by this – sorry Robin!  But, for all of you pork lovers… this little piggy is probably as fascinating and beautiful to you as it is to me.   Granted… the head bugs me out a bit – but I’m getting over it.

Saturday morning we left NYC bright and early for a train ride out to Redding, CT.  Our dear friends Harry & Becki live out in Redding in a beautiful, idyllic home in the woods.  In fact, Harry (the voiceover God) is a lead actor in Adam’s film Hello Lonesome, and his house was the setting for a third of the film.  At the 92YTribeca screening of Hello Lonesome, we got to talking and Harry & Becki decided they wanted to throw a pig roast party at their home in honor of our other dear friend (and casting director for Hello Lonesome) Brette’s birthday party.  So this past Saturday was the day.

When we arrived around one o’clock, the pig was already on the spit roasting away.  I was totally fascinated.  I’d never seen a whole pig being cooked before.   I was torn between feelings of horror, hunger, awe and pure curiosity.   The smell was smoky and enticing… the skin was getting all browned and crackly… but that head!!!  eek.  After showing off his piggy, Harry put the cover back on the grill-type-contraption and we amused ourselves for the next several hours before dinner was served.

I helped out in the kitchen by preparing my new favorite summer salad – the watermelon, feta, arugula salad from Ina Garten that I made for the Fourth of July and for Faye’s bridal shower.  Three times going now… that salad is a hit for sure!  When I was done prepping the salad ingredients, it was time for a little shooting!  Harry is a skilled hunter and marksman and has some targets set up in the woods of his back yard.  Several of us were interested in shooting, so he gave us each a lesson on proper gun handling, aiming and shooting.  It was a blast!

By around six-thirty, it was time for the feast to begin!  I’m telling you… I have never enjoyed pork so much in my life!  Maybe it was the slow-roasting cooking method, maybe it was Harry’s custom rub he used or his specialty homemade BBQ sauce,  or maybe it was because we were eating outside in a beautiful yard, surrounded by trees in the company of some of our very favorite people.  Whatever it was… it was a fun-filled, magical mid-August day that I’ll never forget!

Photo 119 out of 365 – “Mini”

9 Aug

"Mini" - Settings: ISO 1600, f/5.6, 1/50 sec, 50mm lens

This was the photo I was supposed to post on Saturday.  I went away for the weekend and thought I’d be able to post from Adam’s computer, but was wrong… so I’ll have to do a little catch-up today!

Anyway, one of my favorite exercises from my photography class at the International Center of Photography was the “ten step project”.  Our assignment, was to walk outside our door and take a picture.  Then take ten steps and take another picture. Then take ten more steps… and take another picture.  And so on and so on.  The point of this assignment was to start seeing the world around you in a different way.  There are opportunities for beautiful and interesting photos everywhere you look – you just have to look more closely and force yourself to see things differently.

Adam worked from home on Friday and the two of us were busy bees all day – working away at our computers (study hall!!). Meanwhile, at around 7:30 in the evening, I realized it was getting dark out and we hadn’t left the house all day and I hadn’t taken any photos!  Adam needed to pick something up at Duane Reade anyway, so we went out for a little walk around the neighborhood.  While Adam got what he needed in the store, I stayed outside and snapped away.  Literally in the the forty-or-so foot vicinity of the Duane Reade, I took twenty-six photos of different things…. the Mini Cooper, the garbage on the sidewalk, some graffiti on Duane Reade’s wall, a couple taxi cabs whizzing by, the fire escape on a building across the street and some construction equipment left from earlier in the day.

It reminded me of that ten step project.  But now my brain has been totally trained.  This 365 project has been instrumental in changing the way I look at the world around me.  What was once a conscious effort on my part, to look more deeply and to be more aware of everything I see around me, has now pretty much become my default state.   If you’re interested in getting more into photography… as I know a bunch of you are because you’ve told me… you should try out this ten step project for yourselves!  It’s a fun and challenging exercise – and if you do it, please let me know!  I’d love to hear about your experience!

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