I woke up early last Tuesday for some "magic hour" photography as the sun came up over Los Angeles. After a two minute google search, I settled on the Griffith Observatory Park just north of downtown, and wasn't disappointed. Here's a couple shots... enjoy!
Another sunny day in California
But California is all about the beach, so I thought I'd do my own "footprint" photo.
With a mouse in the house, it was up to our fearless heroes to bring him in. Lucky for us, Chad was quick on the draw!
Act 2: The Great Escape
After safely capturing our intruder, a slight lack of concentration created an opportunity for a daring escape. Or as Chad would put it, "Jason, what were you thinking?!"
Act 3: Regroup
The heroes track the mouse to the closet and plan for a second attempt, this time in the closet. Carefully note the teamwork and positive encouragement within our fearless gang.
Act 4, Scene 2: On the move
The moment is here - will our quick handed friends be able to capture the furry villain? Stay tuned!
Act 5: The Final Move
They've battled over carpet, behind couches, and in the closet. Time is running out and it all comes down to this!
With our mouse STILL in the house, stay tuned for the Sequel...
Not to turn the blog into cheesy family home movies, but here's what happens when everyone (including my two nephews Rees, 4, and Cole, 2) has too much pie! We call it, "Hot Wheel Trick Shot Dance Party." Enjoy!
Turkey Bowl survivors. In the middle are two Euro veterans: WR Joey Stein (white shirt) and myself. The real goal is having a great time with people like this!
A long-standing American tradition on Thanksgiving is the "Turkey Bowl." This annual male-bonding ritual springs up on fields across the nation, and features weekend warriors battling for bragging rights. I was invited to play with my brother in Fresno, and was lucky enough to be joined by Danube Dragon receiver Joey Stein, who I had gotten to know from playing against him in Austria. Joey is originally from Fresno and has a great attitude that is necessary for playing ball overseas. He currently is completing his Master's degree at Chico State.
It was a great chance to throw the ball around and share some laughs, but as fate would have it we were all drafted onto different teams. I did my best to make some plays, but we unfortunately lost when Joey took a hitch 50 yards for a TD. Here's a (controversial) highlight of one of Europe's best imports making some Americans miss:
Now for the real game of the day - eating 10,000+ calories!
We wrapped our incredible time in New York on Saturday night with a trip to the top of Rockefeller Center. The views were spectacular from the 67th floor observation tower as the city stretched for what seemed like forever beneath us. I then jumped on a Virgin America flight across the country the next morning, and must pause to say that flying Virgin was awesome: free wifi, satellite TV, chill people... I will DEFINITELY fly them again if I have a choice.
I landed in LA around 3, and thus had a little time to kill before the sun went down. I grabbed a smoothie and headed to the nearest beach - ironically called MANHATTAN BEACH! What are the chances that I flew from one Manhattan to another? I flipped my iPod to Alanis Morissette and shot surfers at dusk, marking a fantastic end to a week that is quickly running out of superlatives. Enjoy the shots!
Photography Tip: Not every picture needs to be completely "still." When I was walking through New York, I noticed how many cabs would fly by us, and I thought about how to capture on film. A technique to do this is to "drag the shutter." If you have a digital SLR camera that allows you to adjust your shutter speed, set it anywhere between 1/2 to 1/30 of a second, and then as a car goes by you, follow it with your lens, attempting to keep the moving object in the same place in your frame. As you pan while the shutter is open, the object (car) will stay relatively clear while the objects in the background (buildings) will become a blur. This creates the feeling of motion the old fashion way. And you thought everything I did was in Photoshop...
Nowhere else in the world does such a wide variety of urban life exist than in New York. It is the true melting pot of the United States, much more than one would ever experience in Nebraska or Spokane. On Thursday we spent the entire day exploring the city, without a true "destination" in mind other than to get a true glimpse of the soul of the city. These pictures tell an 8-hour adventure, enjoy!
CENTRAL PARK
FALL LEAVES ON COBBLESTONE: Central Park 9:21am
THE MALL, Central Park 9:43am
FALL WALKER, Central Park 10:06 am
Central Park is an oasis of green in the otherwise monochrome urban jungle. In my opinion the most photo friendly spot is the southeast corner, along a stretch called "The Mall." It is slightly more quiet than the busier paths that bustle with joggers, bikers, and horse-drawn carriages, and makes a beautiful photo in ANY season.
THROUGH THE CITY
SUBWAY, 11:02am
The subway is the great equalizer in New York, where people from all walks of life come together. Or should I say cram? We found the subway network to be efficient and a great chance to people watch, from a homeless guy blasting his stereo to an accountant trying to hit on two French girls. Always great reality TV.
WALKER, Chelsea Art District 12:02pm
WINDOW WASHERS, SoHo District 12:37pm
AFTERNOON SIDEWALK, Broadway & Spring 1:51 pm
This is my 70's record cover-photo, or perhaps for a Rolling Stone feature on The Eagles. I purposely let the picture slightly out of focus to convey the perspective of fighting your way through a sea of people with the sun in your eye.
LITTLE ITALY, 3:05pm
This waiter (I'm guessing: Giuseppe) was classic! He would serenade passersby in a deep baritone, singing, "Bella! Bella!" at any woman that would draw near. I asked to take his picture, but he told me he was working, so instead I just stood on the corner and took it all in. It literally felt like I was back in Rome's Piazza Navona.
CHINATOWN FRUIT, 3:31 pm
Directly adjacent to Little Italy lies Chinatown, where you can find a huge bazaar (that is sometimes also bizarre) filled with purses, clothes, perfumes, and food. A side alley caught my eye where a group of vendors were selling fruit you probably won't find in Safeway.
BROOKLYN BRICK, 4:21pm
Crossing the Brooklyn Bridge created a surprising change in atmosphere from the financial district in Manhattan. It felt a little more "roomy."
STATUE OF LIBERTY, 4:32pm
Sunset over New Jersey - my first glimpse ever of the Statue of Liberty!
BROOKLYN BRIDGE
CABLES, 4:46pm
PINK SKIES, 4:49pm
Manhattan, 5:03pm
A perfect way to end the day, with a view back towards Lower Manhattan. I must say that New York has made a definite impression on me, much more than my last visit that only lasted 3 days during the dead of winter. The people, industry, and culture here are so vibrant, and the constant interaction with people reminded me of a European city.
After dark, we walked to Ground Zero where construction pushes forward 24 hours a day on the new World Trade Center. It was a sobering reminder of all that happened, almost surreal that there is now this huge hole in the city. Yet I came away with hope, directly from the people of this great place.
So I'm in New York, kickin' it with my friend Dana Lapan an she takes us to a bar full of Wildcats. (no, not cougars. Sorry Keith). And so they are going CRAZY with every play. Here's a little sample of NYC's finest!
Having been in New York for three days now, I've had the opportunity to see a fair amount of this vast and deeply fascinating city. It amazes me how so much can happen so close, yet feel worlds apart - from Central Park to Times Square, subterranean subways to towering skyscrapers. We've elected to walk as much as possible, providing me the opportunity to snap a few pics. Well, OK, I probably would have done that anyways :-) But still, it amazes me that we've seen so many major landmarks, and I've still yet to lay eyes on the Brooklyn Bridge, Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, or even the set of The View. I guess that's why we have tomorrow!
Perhaps it was our visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art (aka "The Met") but I am getting a little more professional and "artsy" with my photos. Take a look!
With the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver fast approaching, I have been thinking more and more about everything that I see as a form of competition. Not just sports - imagine the top culinary chefs facing off, car manufacturers revving up, and the politicians... well, let's just leave politics out of this. With this premise in mind, I bring you the hypothetical "Architecture Olympics."
Our arrival in New York reminded me of what America is good at architecturally, with its bright lights and towering buildings probably offering the best chance for America to grab a medal. Call it our Michael Phelps of prefabrication. Yet my travels to over 23 European nations has convinced me that the Old World still may still hold the edge. Here's my breakdown of Europe's top architecture, by nation.
Honorable Mention
FRANCE
Paris - it's iconic, but you know what Lloyd Christmas said about the French.
BELGIUM
Bruges - not just the site of a Colin Farrell movie
SLOVENIA
Bratislava is a definite darkhorse
DISQUALIFIED DUE TO ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES: Holland, Russia
BRONZE MEDAL: Switzerland
The Swan is real... I'm serious.
When you look at Switzerland, you want to go over and touch it to make sure its real. You consider having your dinner served on the ground - it's that clean. Oh yeah, and the lakes have swans, because, well... why not. Add in the Alps as a backdrop and cowbells for your soundtrack, and you pretty much have the picture. Or was it just the chocolate in my hand that influenced my vote?
Lakefront Luzern
SILVER MEDAL: Austria
Innsbruck's colorful buildings stand out against the snow
They may have won the gold at the 2009 European Football Championships, but the silver in building beauty goes to Austria. Vienna might be the most underrated architectural city in Europe. Salzburg is alive with the sound of music. And my last hometown of Innsbruck makes the Tiroleans' swell with pride. In a word with many slashes, Austria is quaint/beautiful/cute/cool.
Salzburg
There's a reason that the word Alm has no English translation.
GOLD MEDAL: Italy
Positano
No one does iconic architecture better than the country that gave us the Coliseum, Leaning Tower, and the Vatican. And like the wine, it seems to get better with time. Just taking a glance at these masterpieces provides the same calming effect as a glass of Chianti. Here's a few of my favorite shots from the Gold Medalist in the 2009 Architecture Olympics, Italy.
