Iphone: Polaroids

Soho, NYC. Three photos, each with three images within. That's what you call a bargain, folks. Shot and processed with the Iphone.

Interview: Phone with a Cord

Last week I did an interview with the thoughtful photography blog phone with a cord. It was posted today--go and check it out.

Fix Up Look Sharp

OK, its Sunday night--time to start thinking about the week ahead. Let's dress sharp and make a good impression!

TWA Terminal: Part 1

This week I was fortunate to get a first look at the restoration of a true architectural masterpiece, Eero Saarinen's TWA terminal out at JFK Airport. The painstaking restoration, overseen by Beyer Blinder Belle, will include repairs to the roof and drainage systems, removal of later unsympathetic additions and modifications, and asbestos abatement of the enormous ceiling over the lower and upper lobbies. It will also include restoration of the original flooring, seating areas, and even the flight information board and information desk. Basically, they're restoring the building to very close to original condition, complete with all the glamourous TWA accoutrements. Special thanks to BBB's Charlie Kramer (pictured) for showing me around and sharing stories about the building.

Check out Part 2.

Have a Seat

Its midweek--time to take a load off those weary feet!

Restoration of Wee Thurgood Marshall US Courthouse

Wee craftsmen restore the stonework at the Thurgood Marshall US Courthouse in Foley Square/Civic Center, downtown NYC. The restoration, spearheaded by Beyer Blinder Belle, will bring the building, designed by early skyscraper pioneer Cass Gilbert, architect of the Woolworth Building and the US Supreme Court, back to its former grandeur.

On the Rail (Purgatory)

New York City is where all the good photographs hide, just waiting to be found. I don't live as close to the city as I used to, so riding on the Long Island Rail Road has become a necessary evil. I read books, watch movies, play games, sketch out ideas for projects and mostly wish I was anywhere else as the train slowly chugs along, inching closer to my destination.

Fact: More than 1,000 punch shapes are used on the Metro-North and Long Island Rail Road. Almost as unique as fingerprints, the shapes identify which conductor punched a ticket in order to keep customers from reusing tickets from other trains.

Architectural Study: Jacob Javits Center (Pei Cobb Freed & Partners), 1986

"Jacob, Jacob Javits I'd like to thank you for everything/Primarily your glass house."--Pavement

The Javits Center was undertaken in 1979 to reposition New York in the highly competitive national trade show industry while encouraging development in an underutilized part of midtown Manhattan along the Hudson River.

The 1.6 million s/f building (triple the size of the Coliseum, New York's former exposition facility) was designed to house the world's largest exhibition hall under a single roof. It contains offices, shops, varied dining, storage, service areas, over 100 flexible meeting rooms and advanced communications systems including the simultaneous translation of multiple languages. All of these components are organized around a glazed urban room of great size yet delicate space-framed construction.

With its 1,000-foot long public concourse, 15-story Crystal Palace, Galleria and 1.1-acre outdoor plaza, the Javits Center transformed the traditional notion of a convention center from a large windowless box cut off from everything around into a welcoming public building integrally related to the surrounding city. The project's full significance lies as much in its monumental public spaces as in the exhibition halls they surround. Funded by the taxpayers and executed with their interests firmly in mind, the Javits Center remains the largest and most important public building undertaken in New York City in more than half a century. (From the website of Pei Cobb Freed & Partners)

I enjoy the Javits Center as long as I'm looking up! What do you think about the space?

Only the Brave

I have nothing against strobes, umbrellas, gels, lamps, booms and the like, but sometimes the best light is the kind that you just find.

For this shot of a Diesel handbag, I only had to go a few steps to my (former) apartment vestibule.

Iphone: Polaroids

Shot and processed with the Iphone.

Revista Continente cover

Contintente (Brazil) cover, December, 2009. You know when one of those magic moments unfolds in front of you and before you know it the moment is gone? I shot this in April 2009 while on a long weekend in Paris. It was really one of those rare moments where everything comes together for the perfect photograph right in front of your eyes. I don't know who the boy was but I do know that he certainly hit (nailed) his mark. The Continente folks were doing an art vs. religion issue so this image and their cover were made for each other!

Wee High Line construction in New York City

Ongoing construction of the High Line as seen from 30th St. This is where Section 2 is to be completed in 2010/2011 and Section 3 construction is to begin at a time TBD (when everyone sorts out what is happening at the West Side Yards). At midframe, you can see where the 30th St. access stairs will be. At bottom left is an architectural slab cutaway that will let pedestrians see through the High Line--pretty cool.

I took this shot on a windy, cold morning from the very tip top of the new high rise apartment building (did I say windy) on 30th St, then turned the scene into a tilt-shift mini in PS.

As seen on the High Line Blog.