Next mayor - maybe?, politically savvy - definitely!

NYC Comptroller John C. Liu

Meet a potential candidate for NYC Mayor (2013). He showed up at an assignment I had in the Bronx, a ribbon cutting, something quite trivial in the larger scope of NYC activities. But this one was in a Hispanic neighborhood, sure to be covered by the local media, especially Hispanic media.

And that's why I noticed that in all my group shots, he was looking into the lens of the photographer from "La Voz". That's where he needs to make his presence known - the Hispanic community. Politicians need to be smart and he is. Besides, he's an alumni of the same HS I went to - Bronx HS of Science.

But I'm afraid there's some dirty laundry in his closet. Most politicians have some so it may not be a hindrance in his upcoming campaign?

One thing I know for sure. He sure is photogenic.

It's all about relationships

"What reinforces the content of a photograph is the sense of rhythm - the relationship between shapes and values"  Henri Cartier-Bresson

There's rhythm here - quite fast, high cadence. All the shapes are similar and finally a commonality of values, that of the overpowering desire to win!

And it tells a story with a plot and an ending:

To the victor goes the spoils!

It pays to live in NYC

You're looking at the insides of the (MET) Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan on Fifth Avenue.    Where else can you jump on a bus or train (in my case from door to door) and see lots and lots of beautiful stuff and treat yourself to free excellent guided tours by superbly qualified docents who don't get rattled when you ask a lot of questions (by people like me)

Today was an experiment in trying to catch as much light as possible with the lowest ISO numbers as possible. Well, I must say that "fast glass" does the trick. In my case a 24 - 70mm, f/2.8 lens. Big and heavy, but beautifully built. Nikon makes the best lenses is what many grizzled veteran photogs tell me.  I got turned onto Nikon by my cousin who was a WWII war correspondent who regaled me with war stories where he usually extolled the durability of Nikons (Canons weren't even around then)

If you know where to go, beauty is in abundant supply. But I'm biased to the "Big Apple" Enjoy my Facebook album at : A morning at the MET

less is more or more is less?

Megapixels, megapixels - they sell cameras, right? The more, the better. But I don't think so. The simplicity of the antennae on top of the Empire State Building or the complexity of gothic architecture on St. Patrick's cathedral?

It seems that less pixels on the large FX sensors absorb more light and display truer colors even if the total package has less resolution.

Is life like this too? Quality not quantity. I'm going to sign off now. Less words equal less boredom and makes it easier to avoid attention deficit.

Made by Nature or made by man?

Here's the question which might sound silly to some. You get a new lens for your camera. What is the first photograph you take with it? An object in nature of a manmade object?

From my new job shooting for a newspaper, I learned quickly that photo editors aren't interested in Nature scenes but trashier people, unless of course that piece of nature is news.

What appeals to our human nature? Are we hardwired to respond to the natural landscape or are we more intrigued with manmade objects if we find them to be aesthetically appealing?

Which one of these two do you prefer? Why?

Looking for a model - catching the moment

I'm thinking of trying my hand at shooting beautiful women for portraiture studies with various NYC backdrops. There's something about catching someone who's beautiful in their best light. It's both an art and a technical exercise mixed into one.

This person above was a model who was on a tour I took through Europe. She was with her boyfriend who was a professional photographer and was doing an impromptu shoot on a boat crossing Lake Lucerne in Switzerland. I caught her looking this way while she was posing for him. It makes me wonder what possibilities there are if I had access to beautiful women to shoot?

There's beauty all around us. The posters were in the Swaroski factory outlet in Innsbruck, Austria and the other two from Venice, Italy. I want to catch those moments.

Why do we love our pets so much?

I'm looking at you looking at me and wondering why you're not taking me home? I would if I had a house but I don't plus I have 5 cats. Try to balance that equation.

Look into those doleful eyes, those floppy ears, that wet nose and try to envision his unconditional love that most pets give to their owners. It's a powerful thing, this unconditional love. It has spiritual overtones. It speaks of the nobility of the animal kingdom when compared to the social bonds of the human one.

The comfort and surety a pet, especially a dog, provides is something for us to contemplate. We humans have holes in our lives, some larger than others. Pets can fill these voids. Maybe that's why we love them so?

My wife and I have adopted you virtually until you find a real home. Don't worry dude, I'll be back.