Thursday, May 31, 2007

Caped Crusader Takes a Popsicle Break


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

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

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")

Sunday, May 27, 2007

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).

Saturday, May 26, 2007

An Evening Walk


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

Friday, May 25, 2007

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.

Thursday, May 24, 2007

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.



Wednesday, May 23, 2007

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.)

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Morning Commute


Looking pensive on the Staten Island Ferry.

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

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.

Monday, May 14, 2007

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.

Friday, May 11, 2007

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.

Thursday, May 10, 2007

Afternoon Nap


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

Wednesday, May 9, 2007

A Tripod...


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

Tuesday, May 8, 2007

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:

Monday, May 7, 2007

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.

Sunday, May 6, 2007

Potted Palms


Somehow a little bird wandered into this photo.

Saturday, May 5, 2007

Night Light


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

Friday, May 4, 2007

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.

Thursday, May 3, 2007

Door Handles




You won't find these at Home Depot.

Wednesday, May 2, 2007

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.

Tuesday, May 1, 2007

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.