Caped Crusader Takes a Popsicle Break

Even superheros like to relax with a popsicle once in a while.

Ingredients for a Wonderful Wedding

Great weather. (check)
A beautiful setting. (check - see above)
Friendly and fascinating people. (check, check, and double check)
A happy couple. (Check with a capital "C")

Kebab on the Barbie

This afternoon our friends Ramin and Mallory invited us over to their home (and lovely back garden) for a barbecue, Persian style. We had rice, kebabs, and delicious grilled veggies, followed by fruit and ice cream, and excellent company to go along with it all (including a brief appearance by a caped crusader).

I attempted to take advantage of the smoking coals on the barbecue to experiment with these techniques for shooting smoke described by Photocritic, but having forgotten some of the key tips, I had limited success (even shooting at a shutter speed of 1/650).

An Evening Walk

Even the most crumbling facade becomes charming when brightened up with a pretty window box.

Diagon Alley

Was I really browsing in Two for the Pot on Clinton Street, or did I mistakenly tap a brick behind The Leaky Cauldron (three up, two across) and wander into Diagon Alley? With offerings like these, it's hard to be sure.

Uncommon Grounds

Last night we took advantage of the lovely spring weather to take a walk around the neighborhood. We ended up at Uncommon Grounds, a new coffee shop down the street, for drinks. Tea and root beer were our beverages of choice. I will not bother with a review of the place as this is not that sort of blog, and it has already been done here by a far more adept blogger than I, but it was a great spot for shooting some odd items. That worked out perfectly as I was experimenting with the manual settings on my camera (largely uncharted territory thus far). This spooky deer lamp was my favorite curiosity.

Not Quite Donuts

These almond croissants at the farmers' market down the street looked pretty tasty. (They're not quite donuts Ramin, but we're getting close.)

Morning Commute

Looking pensive on the Staten Island Ferry.

Summertime

It's when the bikes come out. I found this red and blue pair resting against a lamppost outside our building while their owners ate Subway sandwiches on our stoop.

Hydrant

They opened the fire hydrant in front of our building the other day to respond to a fire across the street. The plastic sheet protected passersby (and their cameras) from getting an unexpected shower.

Dandelion

Sounds like a word for a lion who is looking particularly smart, but apparently the name comes from Old French for "lion's tooth." This one was just barely hanging onto its wispy seeds on a breezy day in the Bronx.

Afternoon Nap

I caught a tulip resting against a tree on the corner of Clinton and Remsen Streets this afternoon.

A Tripod...

...would have been great here. Even so, I liked the effect on the NYC skyline as seen from our roof.

Spring: Blink and You'll Miss It

When spring finally arrived in Brooklyn Heights it moved pretty quickly. The magnolia tree in front of St. Ann's church on Montague St. went through this turnaround in less than three weeks.

On April 11th:


On April 20th:


On April 30th:

Carry a Mint Bouquet

It's worth braving the smell (which, believe me, is considerable) to see the ancient leather tanneries of Fes, where methods developed centuries ago are still used today. Just in case, bring along a handful of mint to sniff.

Potted Palms

Somehow a little bird wandered into this photo.

Night Light

A streetlamp casts a golden glow on a window in the Fes medina.

Iron Chef...

...Moroccan style.
Taste: Chicken with preserved lemons and olives--delicious!
Presentation: Served in a tagine; conical lid lifted with a flourish just prior to serving.
Originality: In Morocco it is not too original, but in Brooklyn it rather will be.

Door Handles

You won't find these at Home Depot.

The Spice Market

We saw tin tubs of cinnamon and roses, big sacks of mushrooms and herbs, and towering pyramids of turmeric, paprika, cumin, and other savory seasonings.

Wheelbarrows of the Medina

There were so many varieties, I could have done an in-depth photo study of this topic. This shot from Fes was my favorite of the many wheelbarrow scenes I encountered.