December 13, 2009
“I Can Do It, Too”
It’s been a long time since I posted anything to my blog, but it doesn’t mean I gave up on the Project 365. First, I’ve been really busy. My parents were here for the holidays and I already wish I spent more quality time with them. Blogging would have taken more time than I had to spare. Second, I got a new monitor for Christmas, a monitor that I need to calibrate. It will be done by the week-end, at which time I will have much more pleasure developing my photos… and finally catch up with what I shot over the previous couple of weeks.
This one was taken on our first evening at the Grand Summit Resort Hotel at Mount Snow, in Vermont. As usual, Jasmine was not to be left behind on the fun. I fell asleep early that evening so this is the best I got. To make up for a lack of a better photo, I got a little creative on the post processing. Don’t worry, the next ones will be much more interesting. I’ll see you in a couple more days… in the meantime, I wish you all a very happy new year 2010!
December 12, 2009
“Help-Portrait, Behind The Scenes”
Finally. After almost three months organizing the NYC event, it happened. The last few days before Help-Portrait were totally insane. So many emails and phone calls to answer, it really became a full time job. Between staffing locations, working with the media and making sure everyone had a well defined role, I didn’t get much time to rest. Then Saturday came, the culmination of so many efforts from such a great group of volunteers. In New York City alone, we had 138 volunteers at 8 locations, some of them in Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan and the Bronx.
I was at CCM Wallerstein, in the Bronx. I don’t know how I could sum up the day… it was really great. Great to see people motivated to give their time, talent and expertise for a good cause. Great to see the smiles they put on the faces of the people who had their portraits taken. CNN and CBS covered the event. I actually recommend you watch the stories they made of the day. I took this photograph as CBS’s reporter Manuel Gallegus was delivering his line. In the back, Heraldo Gabriel is taking portraits.
Most importantly, this will not be just a one-time event. While Help-Portrait will probably happen each year from now on, many volunteers have been expressing a strong interest to reiterate its spirit on a more regular basis, which is wonderful. Count me in.
CNN’s coverage: http://edition.cnn.com/2009/US/12/14/photo.shoot.help.portrait/
CBS’s coverage: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=5975791n
Daily News article: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2009/12/06/2009-12-06_fotogs_shoot_picmeup_pix_for_citys_poor.html
December 11, 2009
“Ready For Christmas”
The more I look at this photo the more it looks surreal to me. The colors of the lights and walls are so at odd with one another that they look unnatural, heavily Photoshopped… Well, they aren’t. The house pretty much looks like that. As I was capturing this shot, the family dog sensed my nearby presence, jumped to the window and started barking frantically at me. Needless to say, I didn’t overstay my welcome. The situation itself was quite comical and I’m grateful for the dog to have included himself in the photograph. You really never know what will happen when you set yourself on doing some street photography.
December 10, 2009
“Santa’s Hot Air Balloon”
The reindeer must have gone on strike. With no one to pull the sleigh, Santa had to find another means of transportation. I wonder if it would actually take off if you cut the ropes. The lighting wasn’t great but I thought it’d be an interesting peak at some of the displays one can find by strolling the streets around here at night.
December 9, 2009
“The Red Door”
I guess I like photographing doors. Who knew? So many variations and differences between them, it makes for interesting shots. Especially at night, when the lighting hits them in very unique ways. This is another example of my working on polishing my skills at low speed hand-held shots. It also really makes me wish there was a 50mm with image stabilization out there.
December 8, 2009
“Doorknob Reflection”
I’m back. We spent a week in Vermont with my parents, a very relaxing time with no cellular connectivity and limited internet. This is where I realize that I’m a little burnt out. A week is nowhere near what I’d need at this time to be away from it all. But I’m back, and I have quite a few photos to blog about… right now it seems a little overwhelming, so please bear with me as I do so. It might take me a few days as there are other imperatives I need to take care of.
This one was somewhat of a self-portrait, not that you can really see much. I was sitting in the inside stairwell, taking a shot of the old and weathered wooden entrance door.
December 7, 2009
“Lawn And Leaf Bags”
I ever so slightly missed the focus on that one. There was so little available light that I both pushed my camera and my own limits. I guess I failed. Mind you, I took a few and that’s the best one. It happens. I still think the subject alone is worth it. That’s the first time I’m seeing those bags: biodegradable and all, nice. If only everybody used them.
December 6, 2009
“Do Not Enter”
My parents are here for the holidays, so I’ve been doing some night exploring with my dad these past few days, going a little further than I would if I was alone. Those signs were so well lit, they really contrasted with the street in the background. I thought it fit well together, giving more power to a very simple message: “Do Not Enter”. Would you want to? This shot is also a testimony of the public service zeal, or lack thereof. It’s not a bad neighborhood by any means, but it seems that nobody cares about weeds taking over.
December 5, 2009
“First Snow”
I love snow, and winter in general. For me, it’s synonym of winter sports and majestic landscapes, both of which I always look forward to. When December comes, I’m usually waiting for it to start falling. Today was a huge milestone: I turned thirty. The first snow fall of the year was one of the best present I could get. It didn’t last, but at least I got to take this shot, just a few houses down ours.
December 4, 2009
“Colored Windows”
This was another one of my back-up spots. A darker, creepier part of our neighborhood. Very few lights, a challenge without a tripod. On the opposite side is the house we’ve suspected to be abandoned for a long time. It’s strange how some streets just give you a bad feeling sometimes…
