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Day 7 – New York City Skyline

I love dining outside with a view of the New York City skyline and I always enjoy experiencing new restaurants because you never know what to expect. Does the food, ambiance, and service live up to expectation or does something fall short? I have learned to adapt and to never take others’ opinions too seriously – you could be missing out on a great find because the recommendation came from someone that was having a bad day!

Dinner with a View of the NYC Skyline

Anyhow… The restaurant is called Chart House in Weekhawken, New Jersey. I’ll say this right off the bat… the view of the New York City skyline is breathtaking from this restaurant! We were lucky to have made reservations a few weeks in advance so a window seat for two was waiting for us. Onto the quick review… Attention to detail, impeccable. Martinis, delicious. Food, service, ambiance… great. I distinctly remember the clam chowder and macadamia encrusted mahi as favorites.

If you’re visiting Chart House for a special occasion, do make sure you tell them when you reserve a table because they will add finishing touches and polish to your dining experience. Final verdict, this restaurant is top notch and highly recommended, if not for the view alone!

New York City Skyline

I had a few moments after dinner to capture the New York City Skyline with festive Memorial Day colors; the Empire State Building is adorned with patriotic red, white, and blue to symbolize the American soldiers that lost lives during the Civil war.

I always shoot my photos in RAW format so I can tweak settings after the fact. The files are larger than JPEG, but it has been a saving grace for me. RAW allows non-destructive changes to white balance, sharpness, and a bunch of other preprocessing sliders that will restore your image without degrading quality. More on that in another post.

A New York City Skyline with the Empire State Building adorned with festive red, white, and blue for the Memorial Day weekend.

365 Project – Day 6 – Klipsch Speaker Abstract

For those of you that are not familiar with Klipsch, now is a good time to find out simply because they are one of most efficient and beautifully sounding speakers when paired with the right amplifier. Music can be soft and delicate, then hard and edgy. Crescendos are meant to impact and boy do Klipsch speakers know how to deliver in the dynamics department. Listening to a properly mastered CD or vinyl record is actually satisfying.

Klipsch Makes Beautiful Music…and Movies Come Alive!

That little introduction just highlighted music; THX certified Klipsch speakers breathe life into movie scenes. I am a Marvel Comics movie fanatic and the sheer impact of watching The Dark Knight on a proper 5.1 system must be heard. Sure, you can go to the movies, but what about bringing the movies to the comfort of your own home.

Klipsch Cerametallic Speaker Abstract

Speakers move air. Larger speakers have larger internal cabinet space so they can move more air. I’m a believer in that you cannot listen to life-like, concert sound through small speakers. Either frequency response is compromised, or the sound is boomy and artificial. I’m not saying it’s the only way – I still love those little Bose Sound Docks for what they are, so no argument there.

I share with you today a glimpse of beauty, and that beauty is in the form of a Klipsch Cerametallic Speaker Cone Abstract.

An abstract of an RF-7 cerametallic speaker cone with internal details like baffle and hex screw.

365 Project – Day 5 – Wooden Bench Just After Dusk

It’s back to work for most people (myself included) as the holiday season has run its course. Take a few minutes to reflect over the past few weeks. Hopefully you shared time with those close to you and had a few laughs.

Wooden Bench Just After Dusk

In keeping with a Google+ theme today, I chose to share something from my own backyard for #MyTownTuesday, which is curated by Melanie Kintz and Eric Leslie. In case you are interested in checking this amazing sharing site out for yourself, following this link over to: Google+ – Real life sharing, rethought for the web. You can add me if you’d like to follow my photography there as well. The Wooden bench just after dusk is part of a pathway system in my neighborhood that I pass by often; it only made sense to capture it. Finally.

A bench just after dusk basks in street lamps with a path running up the left of the frame.

365 Project – Day 4 – Soapstone Glow

Soapstone is a remarkable rock. I find that it is quite beautiful and smooth and no two items are alike. It’s also a great material that works really well with fine art items such as candle holders, tea light incense diffusers, and soap dishes. A tea light candle will illuminate a room in a soft soapstone glow. The warm glow in addition to the aroma therapy is soothing. Stress and worries melt away.

I’ve had tea light incense diffuser since high school and still use it from time-to-time. Yankee candles are good for every day use, but essentials oils are better for aroma therapy. The oils are strong so only a single drop is needed. They will open your sense of smell and promote a state of calm from within. If you have never tried aroma therapy, give it a shot!

A soapstone incense diffuser illuminates intricate cutouts with a soft glow.

365 Project – Day 3 – New Perspective

2012 brings new perspective, a fresh light, and a newfound hope for the future. Today’s photo is taken from a new perspective, which I hope gives a new appreciation from an ordinary vantage point.

If you’re heading in the right direction with your hopes and dreams, keep going; otherwise, try to see life from a new perspective and change it for 2012. I find that a dream board helps keep your desires at the center of your world; always remember that a dream written down is a goal with a deadline.

It was a beautiful January 1st, 2012. The weather was sunny and the temperature was in the 50’s most of the day with a bit of rain in the evening. Reflecting back on 2011, I am grateful for a supportive family, a great group of friends, and the most amazing girlfriend anyone can ask for. 2011 left behind great memories and lots of change; it’s time to move forward and make 2012 even better.

Best wishes.

A tree trunk in the warm sun frames the left edge of the photograph with an out-of-focus tree, pond, and evergreen branches to the right and behind.

365 Project Ideas

Happy new year! I decided to do little housekeeping to keep my creativity fresh by creating a 365 project ideas checklist. This list is by no means complete; it is simply a foundation of basic suggestions that can be embellished with your own ideas or portrayal. I will be sure to keep this list updated as sort of a living document for others’ use as well.

365 Project Ideas

Color

  • Red
  • Orange
  • Yellow
  • Green
  • Blue
  • Indigo
  • Violet

Texture

  • Hard
  • Soft
  • Rippled
  • Grainy
  • Blotchy
  • Bumpy
  • Smooth
  • Rough
  • Jagged

Shapes

  • Square
  • Rectangle
  • Triangle
  • Circle
  • Line

Forms

  • Sphere
  • Cube
  • Cylinder
  • Pyramid
  • Silhouette

Materials

  • Wood
  • Metal
  • Paper
  • Plastic
  • Glass
  • Carbon Fibre
  • Silk

Elements

  • Fire
  • Water
  • Earth
  • Wind

Objects & Things

  • Windows
  • Doors
  • Mailboxes
  • Clocks
  • Fountains
  • Grain Mills
  • Wind Mills
  • Street Lights
  • Crayons
  • Tools
  • Technology
  • Bridges
  • Musical Equipment
  • Train & Train Tracks
  • Cemetery
  • Cars & Trucks

Nature

  • Sunrise/Sunset
  • Woods/Forest/Trees
  • Mountains
  • Glaciers
  • Flowers
  • Lakes
  • Streams/Rivers
  • Animals
  • Snow/Rain/Ice/Fog/Clouds/Sunshine

Feel free to use this list for yourself if you are partaking in a 365 project or are thinking about starting one.

365 Project – Day 2 – Pussy Willow Sunset

I scrambled home just in time to catch the sunset. I didn’t have much of an idea for the shot today, but I did know the sunset was going to be a key element in the frame. Time was of the essence and I needed to move – and fast.

On the short walk through the local woods, I stumbled upon a pussy willow patch in the vegetation mix. I find inspiration in the little things, so choosing a pussy willow as my main subject was a natural decision for me. One particularly useful lighting concept was employed here. It’s called “dragging the shutter” and in simple terms allows you to change the mood of your shot. I’ll explain this lighting concept in detail in a follow-up post.

A group of pussy willows watch the sunset

365 Project – Day 1 – Pine Cones!

I’m giving in and starting this project just before the new year! Either I’m an overachiever, or my excitement has reached new levels and I cannot wait to begin. I’m going with the latter.

So, I love pine cones. I love their shape, their texture, and their ability to play with highlights and shadows. I found this little guy a few years ago and he’s been sitting in my dining room in a "La Cucina Italiana" porcelain dish that sits atop my wine refrigerator. I think he’s perfect so he’ll be sticking around for the long haul. Actually, he’s even going to travel with me if and when I move.

Note, my photos are available for viewing in high resolution with lots of detail over in my SmugMug gallery. You can even view my other favorite photos from this website in their high resolution glory.

An old and weathered pine cone sits on top of a table thinking about its future.

Hello world!

Hello world! I anticipate my new site to be up and running by January 1st, 2012.  See you then!