Got a dime?
Times Square. It all happens here. I have posted on the ‘naked cowboy.’ This was different. Dressed in orange and green, the official colors of the day, this young girl did not seem to have a supervising adult in sight. I wouldn’t want my kid standing there alone with a guitar case full of money. Couldn’t sing but she was cute. And she was raking in the cash.
Behind the scenes
It’s a spring day, ‘global’ warmed, but still a spring day in New York, where it has rained or even snowed on past St Patrick’s Day parades. Toward the 5 o’clock hour when the sun has gone behind the buildings, it can be downright chilly, especially if you’re confined and waiting to march.
St Patrick’s Cathedral
In front of St Patrick’s Cathedral. This parade was long! It started around 11AM and was still going at 5PM. There were too many bagpipes to count. And I understand how there are so many ‘Ancient’ Orders of Hibernians. I mean, who picks these groups and the order of marchers? I got to where my perfect vantage on 53rd Street was no longer an advantage. So off to see the wizard … kidding. In front of the cathedral … naturally. There were the church officials thanking and greeting the ‘connected’ among the marchers. I don’t recognize them. Someone may correct me. Not just politicians… it’s an old fashions meet and greet.
Redheaded Irish Kid
What says Irish more than this adorable kid? She was having a good time and waved at me as she went by. Thank you.
Flags
Marching in a parade is not marching unless you have a flag. Some have more than others. It’s not necessary to wrap yourself in the flag. But it can’t hurt.
Standing at the Rail
As I glanced across the avenue to check the spectators here’s this girl. What struck me is how she looks as though, she’s not being restrained by the barrier. I check on the spectators because they are a constant source of candids.
Marine Precision
I’m ok with the uniformed groups. The police, fire, sanitation, and even parks departments all had representative groups. Mostly they march in a gaggle loosely spaced. The same uniform makes the group cohesive but hardly disciplined. Then the military comes and is serious and precise. Well, almost precise. Hey buddy, it’s, “your right.”
Tricorner Hat
Kids are universally great subjects. This parade marcher didn’t look particularly Irish. But the costume and the expression deserve a mention. Someone told me that some of the marching groups came in from overseas. This kid looks Italian. Hey, the Vatican is there.
Flag
Patriotic. The sun wasn’t direct but reflecting from building such that the soldier was highlighted. The flag was rightfully the star. Just the right moment and the right framing.
You have got to be kidding
Compliments of the day to you.
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Black SUV
There were many black cars plying 5th Avenue before the parade. I looked inside to see who didn’t want to be seen and was surprised to see the windows rolled down slightly. There were video cameras discreetly mounted and pointing outward taking images of the crowd. Homeland Security was at work gathering crowd intel? Are they looking to see who’s Irish? And the crowd constantly changes so what will it really say to help security. No overhead police helicopters. The area is a no fly zone.
Bagpipes
The St Patrick’s Day parade has bagpipes in all sizes and shapes, well the pipers at least. And almost every group was playing a different tune. But they all blend together in a riot of colorful kilts. I am amazed at how many folks play the instrument. No floats, no beauty queens, and no commercial advertising. The organizers control things tightly except size of the pipers.
St Patrick’s Day
Well, St Patrick’s Day is big around here. And it is largely centered on St Patrick’s Cathedral where dignitaries and high officials of the church preside over a sprawling very long parade that includes marching bands and organizations with ties to Ireland however vague. And bagpipes…. On the sidelines everyone wears green. Some folks wear more green than others. And someone tell me, what’s with the mustaches?
Roller Girl
I might be accused of stalking. I was driving cross-town to the East side to catch the Midtown tunnel to Long Island early one weekend morning. Here was this girl rollerblading along speeding faster than the traffic lights. I picked up my camera. It’s always in my bag in the passenger seat. And, I fired off one shot through the windshield. I was stopped at the light. Subconsciously I panned the camera. It produced a perfect action shot in motion. It was the only frame I had the opportunity to take. The next moment the girl sensing someone was watching, glanced back and then soon entered a building to her right. I can’t help thinking that in that instant she knew I had taken her picture and had been ‘creeped’ out by it. What I wonder is that if you don’t want your picture taken, why dress that way in public. You are sure to attract attention. Look all you want but don’t photo? I think, but can’t be certain, that I was interested in the motion and blur.
Bear Mountain
Michael was one of David’s best childhood friends. We were in Bear Mountain hiking around in the fall. Just a couple of friends spending quality time with no agenda or worries, it was a special moment.
Julia Hands
We were skiing in Vermont and staying in a rental home with three other families. I was wandering around outside on the last day just before we packed to go. Usually it the other way around as the kids would be out playing in the snow until the last moment when we have to return home in the car. Somehow, I managed to get a camera and take this shot before she turned from the window.
Wildflower Field
Here’s another find my wife brought me to see. She drives the Montauk highway often in the summer. Just a few miles from home, in a direction that I usually don’t travel, she brought me to this wonderful field of wild flowers. I gorged on feast of color. What’s interesting to me is that I passed this area every summer afterward and never saw this field in bloom again. So my question is, that if these were wildflowers, doesn’t it mean they come back every year, like it or not? Wild right?
Day Lilies Rainbow
So someone, my wife I think, was watering the day lilies. These are also native to Long Island and need very little care. You do need to occasionally supplement the rainwater. It was wonderful to have a rainbow. And one that I could reproduce! I don’t see them often enough to have an opinion on how best to shoot one. Just glad to be here…
Beach Clouds
Dune Road runs along parallel to the beach. We would ride our bikes – bicycle, not Harley Davidson, and the road would stretch infinitely from east to west. An occasional car would pass. But this is another summer memory of my adult life. By the way, the naysayers who decry photos in bright sun at noon – fie on you. No polarizer here, it’s just an impossible clear blue summer sky.
Beach Lady
There are images of summer during my adult life. We would spend a good deal of time at the beach. I sat in the shade. Or, I built sand castle after sand castle with the kids. The Atlantic water was pretty cold. Or my old bones, were accustomed to a warmer clime. This mom and her child recall those many days.
Ferris Wheel
This shot was taken in the days before digital. Now it’s hard to miss. (See post for 9/13/11.) You have auto ISO and VR and ability to instantly know you have an image. In the old days, I would shoot with my best guess. The meter couldn’t really help. You would get some ambient light and the lights of the ride. But how to balance the two light sources? Bracket your shots. I’m glad I wasn’t a professional. I took this one shot. Just one. If it came out – ok. And the blur, who could have predicted it until the film came back from developing? Yes, there are better and easier ways to insure that a good shot was taken. I’m just amazed that I got shots like this and took such a casual joy in succeeding with so little film and effort.
Central Park
In the spring for a short period, the blossoming trees are in full regalia. It only lasts for a short time until the rather plain trees take on their leafy green mantle for the summer. But for that brief time in the spring Central Park rocks.
Birthday Cake
This is one example, and not even the most creative, of the many cakes my wife has baked over the years. She has made a 3D Barbie, 3D teddy bear, 3-4 tier wedding style birthday cake, and so forth. I promise to get these pictures for her and someday I’ll actually do it. But here in this example is her take off on my daughter’s drawing. Everyone’s artistic in the family.
Vesuvio Bakery
A classic in Greenwich Village, Vesuvio Bakery has been around for as long as I have visited. It’s not too often you see the baker outside. On this day we were eating in a sidewalk café across the street. The baker came out and spoke with a woman for quite some time.
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