Looking back, a tribute to New York City

It's really surreal thinking back 9 years ago. Actually, my mind starts back to sometime in late August nine years ago. My good friend and I had the great honor of being flown from Portland, OR to Stockholm for a business trip.

We were the top sales women at Pro Photo Supply and were flown over by Profoto, the line of photo lighting, to check out their factory and be schmoozed some while in Sweden. We could not have believed our luck with this one. Hard work really does pay off. We had a hefty layover in NYC, technically Newark, before jumping the Luftansa jet to Stockholm.

And thank god we did and thank god we decided to get on the train from Newark that put us right next to MSG (aka Madison Square Garden) in the heart of NYC. We had the best time roaming about with cameras in hand photographing everything. Everything. I had heard from some people not to ask native New Yorkers for directions, esp in the subway. But you know what?  They were the nicest, most helpful people. These natives enabled us to ride the subway from the Canal Street Station to Chinatown and back without a single glitch.

My friend had asked me if we should go to the World Trade Center. And at that time, not knowing what massive changes were about to come, I said no. "No, it will always be there." Yeah, that is what I said. I will never forget that.

Especially just a few weeks later when my alarm went off at 6:30am PST. I thought it was just a prank. One of those stupid morning radio show pranks. Until the announcers didn't stop discussing this plane that went into the one tower. I jumped out of bed and turned on the TV in near perfect time to see the second plane hit.

No one will ever forget. Nor will I forget the strange sensation walking to work that morning and hearing nothing. No planes in the sky. No cars on the road. Everyone was glued to their TV or radio. No one was moving. They were certainly moved, but no one was capable of traveling. Both due to being stunned, as well as being locked into their current location.

I posted a bunch of photos on the brandMOJO Images Etsy page with the main goal being to celebrate what glorious time we had in NYC and to celebrate what makes this country so fabulous. I hope to sell at least one photo since I am dedicated to donating 10% of each NYC image sale to the New York Fire and Police Wives' and Children's Benefit Fund. It's the best way I can give back. And to share the snipits of time I captured before life in that city and this whole country changed.
I ♥ NY!

Rainy memories

We have been having the most glorious Spring like weather this past week. Major downpours that are just feeding my gardens, especially the budding veggie garden. It is a thrill to pull fresh greens from the garden for a giant salad. Mmmm. And all started from seed, too. But I digress.

Yesterday, it was this gentle rain, no thunder, just a sprinkle, then a harder rain, then it would subside. I was working in the shop on the mirror frames for our master bath: steel wool, then buff. Wood is so gorgeous in its natural state. But Scott had a great idea to shoot this Cobbler's bench in the rain.

The finish is such that it can handle anything, including a deluge of rain. It was quite interesting as he shielded my D90 from the rain with an umbrella, while I guided him around to find the right angles, the right shots. I set the camera for a high rapid-fire shutter to capture some droplets of rain.

They came out great, but every time I shoot with my camera, which I love, I find myself thinking back to the way cameras used to feel. If you didn't have a motor-drive grip you weren't shooting rapid fire shots. The drag of the crank would dictate how your shots would evolve. The pull of the film through the camera with just your right thumb had a sensation of completion. Now, don't get me wrong, I love the easy access of an image immediately, as opposed to waiting until you could get the film developed. But the feel isn't the same. I do miss those shots. But, I would not have been able to capture images such as this with my F3HP.

What do you think of it as a diptic?

Or with a slow shutter hand-held?

Sleepy, oh so sleepy

This is day three of not having coffee. I am attempting to "fast" from such delicacies and to drink green tea with honey for awhile. Give my body a break, basically. But with the time change, it is dark in the morning, and I have been sleeping so much better that I do not wish to rise in the a.m. So I am dedicating this blog to everything that gives me the warm fuzzies and makes me wish I were back in bed. Back in bed with my hubby and my three furry kids, all cuddled and warm.

                                                                        FashionTouch

Tascha

 

                                                                       voodoomaggie

                                                                      thechadandhope