You Sit, I wait

While away from me you while away your whiles with a whale of an ale and an eye on the aisle.
You drink your tank, Hank, you slink to the bank, you get thanks for your flank and a grin for your brim.

Taken: 11/21/2010 at Jimmys No 43 in New York, NY. After a night of deft readings, the Hearth Gods crowd let out to the alley and this red fella was just a-waitin' for me to take his picture. There's something so joyful about a folding bike, so huddled in on itself, in the beside-ground alley in front of a Bar.

Skipped a Beat

When you threaten me and mine, I warn you with a loud listen. Or a sharp sniff. This stick is my stick, that stick is my stick too. I can't sing it, but you can imagine it. Furthermore, I'm not always in this "harness," nor am I always so willing to give you the benefit of the doubt. So, were I you, and I'm not you, luckily, I would move on.

Taken: 04/10/2010 in Brooklyn, NY. While humans often come to lament the awful ordeal that is a "Stickup," this gent will only admit that he's not happy with the stick down. Other than that, all's well.

Bountiful

Conceding that at some point two become one is inevitable. At some point, even that which laid out in stone will eventually run together.

Taken: 07/04/2010 by Beacon, NY. To celebrate our nation's birth the tracks decided to lay themselves bare and finally share ties. 

Painted On

Light shows are infrequently noticed, not infrequently played. On the escaping horizon a staircase is the only sign to freedom. An odd impermanence to the paint, a hasty brush glides over the surface preserving some cast city.

Taken: 06/10/2010 in Park Slope Brooklyn, NY. We were to dinner at the back of the house and the sun and I were playing a game of can'tkeepup. I won.

Not Haunted

Still night.

Taken: 02/01/2010 in Ditmas Park, Brooklyn, NY. A mailbox was a valuable rest for this shot. Lesson: don't ignore your government installed street furniture!

Bring Me a Buffalo

Lyopa likes things his way. He doesn't really ask for much, but only because he's already expecting you to know what he wants. If he wants quiet, you give him quiet or he takes it away from you. If he wants food, you give him food or he whines until you give him food.

All hail Lyopa, protector of the peace, keeper of the noise.

Taken: 02/04/2010 in Brooklyn, NY. Lyopa, as is obvious, is emperor of the universe. He requested a portrait in which he is shown as humble, yet powerful. I think the red doesn't overstate.

Come Upon the Dark

The rods and the cones don't get along. Both heavily rely on the other to just "do their jobs." But one might consider the rods to be the overly populous force of union workers that simply deliver low quality results with a surprising vigor. The cones need to stop and look around and take in while the rods are already scouting new ground.

Taken: 08/12/2010 in Montreal, QC. We were riding, hightailing it even, back to the hotel when this outdoor film struck me as rather colourful. A few shots in I realized I needed to grab the entire image that I saw. This is actually a 2 shot panorama. It felt very peaceful and alive in that square.

Brooklyn Bridge

Awed into stillness, into silence. Gazing, frozen, upon frozen history has its benefits. See benefits:

Taken: 01/20/2011 at Brooklyn Bridge Park in Brooklyn, NY. It was 34 degrees, windy and I'd been out for 90 minutes already. I took 4 shots for this panorama, each one lasting about 220 seconds. Lessons learned: good (read: quality carbon fiber) tripods are WORTH IT. Digital timer is worth it but it'll only make you stand out in the cold for long periods of time.

If You Can't Say it With Chocolate

You simply cannot say it at all. The greatest gift to any person drinking chocolate from a wine glass is an eating chocolate nearby, within reach. Like a smoking jacket. A support system. A kite's string, so as not to be run away, so as to be not blown away.

Taken: 08/13/2010 in Montreal, QC, Canada at Juliette Et Chocolat. They wisely serve a side of chocolate with your hot chocolate. The accompanying meal of buckwheat crepes was no less spectacular. If you're ever in Montreal, go there. If you're not ever in Montreal, find a reason.

Burned In Story

Moving in and out of focus is hard if you've no focus. Then you're just moving in the ether. To be passing through the ether is no different from staying in it. On the other hand, light can be a guide. If light can take multiple paths, then so can you.

Taken: 12/07/2010 in Kensington, Brooklyn, NY. This was a 2 minute exposure with a tiny f20 aperture. The light trails above and below are the thoughts of people looking for a way out.

Bust This Joint

Now you see me, now you don't. Now you seem enraged, now you don't. Frivolous whims will not set you free. Instead: plan well, set aside a time and take to the skies.

Taken: 01/31/2010 in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, NY. It was a cold day but a walk was needed to test the birding waters, iced over waters, as it were. This was my first week and my first long shoot with the new camera. The birds were cooperating that day!

Breakdown

Even the car is agape at the wonder of it.

Taken: 01/18/2009 by Paia, Maui, HI. After a day of riding I was treated to some of the best sunsetting ever. Maui is a magical place that feels alien and almost unfairly gorgeous. Even when the winds blew as if to send us on our way, the place was still otherworldly.

Self Praise

Nature gives itself a hand. Sitting in the trough of a flower edge, a fly pauses to admire the scenery, wash its hands of any wrongdoing. Maybe it's dealing itself out?

Taken: 08/22/2010 at Compost For Brooklyn in Kensington, Brooklyn, NY. The compost garden provides a lovely array of critters to photograph when all the plants are blooming. This was taken with my Opteka 10x adapter, which is an excellent bit of glass for macro use on a regular lens. Cheap, effective and easy to use. It takes time to get the technique down, but so much fun.

Tall Tales

There is some majesty in the cathedral roof overhead. This one towers and joins over the road. Densely webbed at apex and in shadow, the trees give the illusion that they have something to say, if only they could lean over far enough to say it. But the words get tangled in branches and bramble.

Taken: Springtime in Ditmas Park, Brooklyn, NY. The trees over Argyle and Westminster lean over and when they're barren they form such a gorgeous roof that it's hard not to ride down the road and stare up. This day we were walking. I was out with my Zenit and a roll of 100 (400 is for heathens)--there's a very particular feel, flavor to film. My only wish for this photo is that there were no cars. Alas, Photoshop only works on visible pixels, not emotions. Besides, this was bred in a darkroom.

Putting on a Show

Two geese warm up an audience that isn't afraid to get its feet wet. The real show, they promise, is just around the corner. Just beyond the curb. A curious passerby might wonder where they hide all the stage props. A smart one will just enjoy the show.

Taken: 04/03/2010 in Waltham, MA not too far from the old Watch Factory. While some learn their hand at their native tongue, others raucous about with their time. There were more fowl on the day, and even a turtle. This bench, was so asking to be photographed--even more than the geese.

Don't Cross Me

In Brooklyn there's a way to cross anything. Over the Gowanus we lay draw bridges. It's one thing to cross Gowanus, but another to be permanent about it.

Taken: 06/02/2010 in Gowanus, Brooklyn, NY . The day was very hot, and there was even a tuba player practicing on the end of this bridge. The picture makes the place look almost livable, pleasant. I need to go back and do it right.

Package This

The world ain't so big. My prognosis ain't bleak. You don't scare me with your flames.

Taken: 04/30/2010 at Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, NY. An ant picks his way across the hot stone. Unaware of its institution. The black beneath matches the black within. The explosions are of no concern. The world is only as big as he can traverse in a thought.

I Fought The Law

But the law won--by miring me in paperwork for 30 years until I gave up.
We hedged our bets, but in the end it all went blue on us. Those who know, know. Those who don't, just remember that the light at the end of the tunnel just might be coming after you!
--BT and HHH (the middle H is silent) sincerely apologize to the public for all of their crimes.

Taken: 10/06/2010 in Brooklyn, NY. The light coming from the street illuminated our stuffed animals in a very interesting way, but for this shot I decided to use a spotlight for dramatic gradient. The regular nightshot is still good, but has a very different feel. Here, the two dastardly criminals stand caught in the light, frozen with fear and curious about that thing that's suspended above their heads (it's the jury flying in on a communal broomstick).

Wear Them Stilettos Proud

When you're beaming, or being beamed on, stand up tall and be proud. Even if no one is looking. Especially if no one is looking.

Taken: 10/20/2010 at Compost For Brooklyn in Kensington, Brooklyn, NY. Shot upward from the ground, these sunflowers reached for the sky and seemed to go on forever. Well, if you're a snail. The illumination is from a streetlamp and a very bright moon. The 8 second exposure finally paid off when the breeze died down.

This is My Flower!

You could try messing with my flower, but I will take it personally. Step away and no one will get hurt.

Taken: 08/10/2010 at the Chateau Ramezay Museum Garden in Montreal, Canada. The garden was home to many different flying critters.

Calloused/Different

Singed is not in my vocabulary. My curls are not singed. They are afire.

Taken: 08/28/2010 in Prospect Park in Brooklyn, NY, by the lake. The flower was gobsmackingly purple and everything around it was just not. The b/w effect was used to illustrate the point--not to artificially dial up the picture--to more clearly convey what I saw.

Heron Gets What Heron Sees

The Heron Oversight Committee is here to make sure of everything, all the time, everywhere.


Taken: 09/03/2010 at Cold Spring Harbor, Long Island, NY. The heron was about 100 yards away perched very carefully and gracefully on a branch. He paid us no mind and let us be.

Can't See

Swallows move swiftly through the raindrops hunting the little gnats and flies that soak the air above our heads. They dart quickly and effortlessly. I can't see what they're eating, but I can see that they're happy for the meal.

Taken: 08/23/2010 in Prospect Park in Brooklyn, NY. It was dusk and the swallows were out hunting for gnats and things. They were very quick and changed course without hesitation. This was my first shooting with the 70-200 2.8L and it proved itself immediately. Nothing else would have captured these little guys (well maybe an equally fast prime...).

The Various Supports and Comforts of Man

Taken: 06/29/2010 in Kensington in Brooklyn, NY. It was a very warm night and I was waiting around to meet my wife at the train. While waiting I had time to lean the bike and enjoy the backlighting of the school under repairs. I was testing out my new Sigma 30mm 1.4 and I was more than satisfied with the results.

Purple Flower

When upon a flower in a garden, one must ask oneself: is it purple enough?

Taken: 10/03/2010 at Compost For Brooklyn in Kensington, Brooklyn, NY. This little flower bud measures about 1cm across and was just such a pleasure to look at. The center of the flower contained what looked like a forest of alien trees.