BUSY STREETS IN MANHATTAN

Original post from March 2013

I prefer to shoot on a tripod as often as I can.  Manhattan is not an easy place to do this.  It was a particularly busy night in front of Radio City Music Hall last October and there wasn’t much sidewalk to spare.  To make this image, I set two legs of my tripod on the edge of the curb and the other between two parked cars that were nearly kissing bumpers.

The real challenge of making this photograph was getting the timing just right.  I wanted to show people and cars in blurred movement with this iconic building in the background.  I had this image in my head way before I showed up: all I had to do was execute.

One of the “secrets” of photography is to take several images.  This is especially true when timing of subjects within your image is critical.

For this scene I set up my tripod, dialed in my settings and began shooting.  I took about 15 images total but this is the one that best matched my original vision.  This might seem excessive to some but the goal is to get the shot – it doesn’t cost anything if you are using a digital camera and even if you are shooting film, take multiple shots.

Remember, your goal is to make the photography you intend to make.  Don’t worry about having a couple extra files on your memory card or the cost of film processing.  Regret of not taking more images is a much higher price to pay.

THE SECRET MEETING ROOM

Original post from May 2013

Well, it’s not really a secret room if the door is unlocked and open. I have always wanted to find a secret room though: ideally behind a bookcase that slides to one side when you pull on a book or a candlestick…

Anyway, this room is in the Wren Building on the campus of William & Mary. It is the oldest academic building in continuous use in the US. In the 11 years I have lived in Williamsburg, I only visited the Wren Building twice. Last Friday morning was my third.

Some of the Founding Fathers that spent time in Williamsburg may have held meetings in this room. I wouldn’t consider myself a history buff but I think it is pretty cool living in such a historically rich area.

AN ISLAND OF MANY CONTRASTS

Original post from June 2013

Iceland is an island of many contrasts.  The most obvious would be the volcanic activity that produces an abundance of energy and the glaciers that shape the landscape.  Iceland’s contrasting nature especially struck me on our first day.  The way the land has come together in this image reminds me of those contrasts we encountered.

HALLGRÍMSKIRKJA

Original post from June 2013

One of the most prominent features of Reykjavik is the church named Hallgrímskirkja.  It is home to the Lutheran Parish in the city and was named after Icelandic poet & clergyman Hallgrímur Pétursson.  The church was commissioned in 1937 and completed in 1986.  The statue in the church square is of Leif Ericson.  It was a gift to Iceland from the United States in 1930 to commemorate the 1000th anniversary of the Icelandic parliament.

It was very handy to use as a means of navigating throughout the city because you can see the top of the tower from most streets.

One of the best ways to get oriented in Reykjavik is to go to the top of the Hallgrímskirkja.  This gives you 365 degree views of the city.  

I really enjoyed Reykjavik.  We were fortunate to have great weather the day and a half we were there.  Icelanders take great pride in their city and making visitors feel welcome.

THE SUN VOYAGER

Original post from July 2013

As you probably know, some of the first settlers in Iceland were Vikings that migrated west across the Atlantic Ocean.  I found it fascinating that many Icelanders can trace their lineage back many generations.  It is a source of great pride to be able to chronicle their ancestral history.  One of the first things that the owner of Happy Campers told us on the ride from the airport to his office was that his family was among the first generation of families that lived in Reykjavík (around the middle of the 18th century).  He was honored to say that his family was one of the first city dwellers.

In any culture, art can be used to pay homage to the past.  In my previous post, I mentioned that the statue of Leif Ericson commemorated the 1000 year anniversary of the Icelandic Parliament.  This sculpture was commissioned to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the city of Reykjavík.  Sculptor Jón Gunnar titled it Sólfar or Sun Voyager.  It is commonly interpreted as a Viking ship but this was not the artist’s intention as I later learned.  He meant it to represent hope, progress and prosperity.  Jón Gunnar died of Leukemia about a year before completion.

Sólfar is located on the waterside area about a ¼ mile from Harpa in downtown Reykjavik .  I think it is a beautiful sculpture and it garnered a lot of attention from photographers this particular night.  By the way, this image was made at about 11:30pm.