Central Park Gig

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September 27th So, Chanel has decided to build a temporary museum in Central Park, as reported in the New York Times, and I’m helping.

We’re about a week into the project. In the first photo see the beginnings of the foundation and skeleton of the UFO-styled building. In the September 27th, late nightsecond photo the multi-faceted glass roof is being hoisted into place. My production assistant duties involve a little bit of everything, from helping move trucks onto the site for unloading, to running off the raccoons that love the catering tent. As you can probably guess, New York City raccoons aren’t afraid of much. Overall, it’s a big change from sitting in a Blackberry littered cubicle at a law firm, and that ain’t bad.

I’ll keep posting photos as the structure goes up.

Hour of the Wolf: Part IV

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Bridges This past Saturday the 23rd, the members of Altered Fluid once again crawled out of bed at an insanely early hour to hold a meeting on WBAI’s Hour of the Wolf radio show.  As usual Jim Freund did a great job hosting as Alaya Dawn Johnson and her story sat on the chopping block.  You can find the PodCast on the radio station’s website (scroll down to Hour of the Wolf, 9/23 show).

I took this photo at dawn, as we FINISHED the show.  So much for me becoming a night person to prepare for my upcoming job.

The Sun Also Rises

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Sept16_1

Since I’m preparing to work nights on an art installation in Central Park this coming fall (more on that later) I decided to get up early and watch the sunrise this morning. I thought these shots a good contrast to the sunset shot of yesterday.

I’ve recently come to the realization of why I love photography. First, it is simply the art of capturing what is there. Point the camera, shoot, and the world takes care of the rest of it. Secondly, photos are process of capturing that which is temporary. The clouds, the colors, the Empire State Building, and especially the person holding the camera. All temporary.

Sept16_2


KGB Reading

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CyclerLauren McLaughlin will be reading at the KGB Fantastic Fiction series tomorrow evening, Wednesday the 16th at 7 p.m. Lauren’s first novel, Cycler, was released by Random House last month. As you may remember, I interviewed Lauren for Sybil’s Garage No. 5 late last year. That interview is available as a free download on the Senses Five Press website.

Fall

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September 15 I’ve been feeling guilty about not posting lately. I’m making myself more busy than I should, and it doesn’t appear I’m letting myself off the hook anytime soon. I did get some time just to sit on the deck this evening, though, and caught this photo. The shadows today and the quality of the light both during the day and at sunset reminded me that fall is upon us. My favorite time of the year.

Travels Part 2: Upstate Retreat

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img_1964.jpgAfter returning from the Nationals, Kristen and I went up into the Catskills of New York to spend a few days at the Dai Bosatsu Zendo. If you want seclusion you can’t do much better than this place unless you know of somewhere that has no electricity. We spent several days in what they call Beecher House; it has some connection to Harriet Beecher Stowe, but I am not sure exactly what that connection is as of yet (I haven’t researched that hard, though). Regardless of the connection, it is a great place to write. I took a few photos of the lake, from the lake, and of the family of 7 snakes that lived under the patio, who would come out every morning and sun themselves on the grass.

Mist on the lake  Beecher House

Snakes!  The mountain

Travels Part 1: The Nationals in Virginia Beach

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During the past month I’ve been traveling like I have the money to afford it. A week in Gettysburg (that I already covered) and three days at the yearly ReaderCon writer’s conference outside of Boston (that’s been covered so thoroughly on the ‘net that I won’t waste anyone’s time by recapping here).

Last weekend I nurtured my inner model builder and went to the IPMS National show in Virginia Beach. It was my first Nationals, and I was mightily impressed. The craftsmanship was amazing, some of the best models from kits and scratch-builds that I’ve ever seen. I was stunned when the Weehawken took a silver medal in her category. I was happy just to have my work on the table and seen with the other entries, but to win something was very gratifying. I also spent a little money in the vendor room; picked up a big hunk of resin ironclad to keep Weehawken company on the shelf.

Storms

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stormeast.jpgTwo shots of the weather that rolled through earlier today. I shot 4 gigs of photos trying to get the elusive shot of a lightning strike. One of my life’s goals. No such luck today, but I did catch these funky boiling clouds.

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Gettysburg, once more.

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This past week I returned to Gettysburg and spent four days there and at Antietam taking tours, talking to historians, guides and rangers, and doing general research. I stayed at my usual hotel on the site of General Lee’s headquarters during the battle. Its proximity to the first day’s field on the west of town is very convenient since that’s the focus of my research. To be within walking distance on a battlefield that is approximately 25 square miles is a huge bonus. This was my first real summer visit to the area, and I highly recommend it even though it was hot and humid. The various summer programs going on throughout Gettysburg will keep anyone busy. I was there four days and there were at least another four days worth of activities I wish I could have stayed around for. The tour guides and rangers were of great help while I was there, especially Joanne Lewis, who came in on her day off to give me a tour of the Gettysburg Day 1 field, Gerry Eak, who gave me a great tour of the town of Gettysburg itself, and Mannie Gentile, who gives a wonderful no-nonsense tour of the Antietam field.