Month: June 2011

Wednesday June 22, 2011

Post author By Woody
Post date Thursday June 30, 2011

NEW YORK NEW YORK – Our friends Varya Gornostaeva and her husband, Sergei Parkhomenko, were in town from Moscow so we had a small dinner party for them in our kitchen. Varya has terrific English and Sergei very good French (as does Maria) so we had enough languages in common to communicate well. This is Sergei captured with my Leica M9 – this is less annoying than it looks because it was at the end of the meal and still mid-afternoon in Moscow.

On this day one year ago: A passport photo for Maria. This very clearly demonstrates that I really could make a living at photography, doing passport photos.

Tags Food and wine, New York, Parties

Landscape Urban

Tuesday June 21, 2011

Post author By Woody
Post date Wednesday June 29, 2011

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – I’m experimenting with equipment again. This time with a 72mm Schneider Digitar on my Alpa TC. I’ve been shooting primarily with a 35mm Schneider with the camera. 72mm is the “normal” focal length for this camera. The question is whether it’s possible to hand hold this combination – the longer focal length requires shorter shutter speeds and the 60 meg digital back needs a lot of light and punishes minor errors in technique.

I took a walk on the High Line and things worked out very well. I brought back a dozen or so keepers and very few technical disasters. Here’s a view from the High Line:

On this day one year ago; East Village.

Tags High Line, New York, Parks

Family and friends

Monday June 20, 2011

Post author By Woody
Post date Tuesday June 28, 2011

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – Our friend Steve Rubin gave a “retirement” party for Phyllis Grann. Here’s an earnest discussion at the party, cpatured with my Leica M9 and a 50mm Summilux lens.

On this day one year ago: at Bar Boulud,

Tags New York, Parties

Family and friends

Sunday June 19, 2011

WASHINGTON CONNECTICUT – Well here it is, Fathers Day again. This is a stupid ersatz “holiday” made up by greeting card publishers, but my public position on it is that it’s the most important holiday on the calendar. At least that’s what I tell my children.

Alexander and I celebrated by playing a round of golf. When asked if I play I can truthfully say “no”, but I do own a set of clubs and maintain a golf membership at our local club in Connecticut. Anyway, here’s Alexander doing what he does best on the golf course, which is pounding the hell out of the ball off the tee – he outdrives me by about the length of Central Park.

On this day one year ago: a shot (which no one much liked) of a perennial boarder in Connecticut.

Tags Connecticut, Sporting events, Washington CT

Landscape Small town

Saturday June 18, 2011

WEST CORNWALL CONNECTICUT – We had dinner at the Wandering Moose cafe here in West Cornwall. Alexander, my son, observed that West Cornwall feels more like New York state than Connecticut – it has a slightly funky Adirondack vibe. This with my Leica M9 and a 28mm Summicron lens. Local businesses consist of the Wandering Moose Cafe, a simple place that we rather like, Ian Ingersoll, a brilliant cabinet maker who specializes in Shaker-inspired designs, and RSVP, a restaurant that offers French bistro food – Zagat gives the food a 28 but that’s nowhere near correct – we’ve been fairly underwhelmed there.

On this day last year: Out my window.

Tags Connecticut, Restaurant

-Woody's Picks Landscape

Friday June 17, 2011

NEW PRESTON CONNECTICUT – I’ve developed a rule of thumb for landscape photography. There are rare moments when the light is absolutely magical. It may be the “golden hour” or the moment when the sun breaks through after a storm. Some days and places are better than others, but really great magic light moments are fairly rare. Here’s my rule of thumb: If you experience a magic light moment stop whatever you are doing and photograph whatever is at hand with whatever equipment you have available. Even if the subject is mundane the light transforms it – perhaps turning it into a serious statement.

After endless rain we finally had a few moments of late afternoon sun creating a brief magic moment. Fortunately I had my Alpa TC and 60 meg back in the car and managed to find a place to stop in New Preston.

On this day last year: Seagrams Building.

Tags Connecticut, New Preston

Landscape Transportation Travel

Thursday June 16, 2011

Post author By Woody
Post date Thursday June 23, 2011

BREWSTER, NEW YORK – We drove up to Connecticut tonight (a Thursday!), something that we almost never to. Here’w a rest stop on 684 in Brewster New York, captures with my Leica M9 and 28mm Summicron lens. Three frames stitched.

On this day one year ago: Sunrise over Boston Harbor.

Tags Night, Night phography