New York City High Line

The High Line was a stretch of rail tracks built in the 40's on the west side of Manhattan. It was elevated to alleviate the problem of too many people got killed by moving vehicles. It was pretty much abandoned until a few years ago, a private group of citizen decided to restore the elevated track as a park. And they are doing a good job with it. It is not completed yet. In a couple of years, when it is finished, the track will you all the way to the Hudson River. The view will be even better than that of today.

These are some of the pictures I took from the track.

Detail

Spring/Summer Flowers

Here around where we live, we have two wonderful botanical gardens; one in the Bronx (New York Botanical Garden) and the other in Brooklyn. The properties and the grounds are very well maintained.

Closer to my home, there is also the Pepsi Headquarters in Purchase where they maintain a meticulous garden. I took my water lilies there.

Every year, around late April, I would get that itch to go to the gardens. Sometimes I come back with lots and lots of flowers.

The problem is, flowers are so colorful and beautiful. I have a hard time determining which one to discard.

Here's a handful of the one I took this year.

Egrets - a majestic elegance

I went to the Pepsi Headquarters in Purchase, New York early June. It was a lazy afternoon and there were much of a catch. At about 4:30, the sun started to go down and we were walking back to our car. I spotted this egret on the far side of the pond. He was picking small fish from the pond on the side. But I was far away from the pond and the sun was behind me. I wanted to be on the other side of the pond where the sun would be back lighting the bird. But it was a long walk and I didn't want to scare him away. So I took the long route walking around and I made it to the other side behind a big tree. I had enough time to change my lens and fired off a few practice shots. Then this wonderful creature just took off when I was perfectly ready.





The following egret was from our mini getaway weekend to Florida new St. Petersburg. I spotted him standing on a tree branch. I knew he was going to fly away, sooner or later. I sat and held my camera to my eyes waiting. You don't know how heavy a camera can get when you are still for 10 minutes. But my patience paid off and I got these two shots.

Yankee game

I went to a baseball game this afternoon with my wife at the Yankee Stadium. Yankees vs Toronto.

Final score: 7 to 6. Yankees won on the 10th inning.

Firework in Danbury, CT 7/2/2010

We got a jump on the July 4th firework on July 2nd in Danbury. We parked at the mall and had dinner at the food court. The fire one went up sharply after 9:30pm after they turned the lights off.











It was an enjoyable half hour show.

Then we waited over an hour trying to get out of the parking lot.

Gardiner, NY 7/3/10

Gardiner is about hour and half drive going upstate New York new New Paltz. Very picturesque and tranquil. We went up there looking for sky divers to shoot. Unfortunately, where we were allowed to short from did not render good lighting so I got only one jumper shot that's worth keeping.




But, I did get a few shots with great lighting, and most of all, with people. I have been accused frequently that my pictures do not have people in it. These few would dispute that.



I noticed this corner with the sun falling and a real pleasant dusty haze that makes perfect backdrop. I was wondering why only in that corner that that the haze formed. Later I found out that it was right next to the unpaved dirt cover parking lot. Towards the end of the day when people were leaving, the cars stirred up the dirt and dust that gave this setting.


This is an unposted picture. I was on the same rail and notice the perfect silhouette portrait light on this couple.



And then, this girl was caught sneaking a smoke.

Family of swans

I noticed this family of swans next to the small pond of the camera club in Danbury. I came back with a friend on a beautiful early June evening to look for them. They had not failed me.


They remind me of my own family. A lovely caring wife and two wonderful children that make us very proud.

June 2010

Danbury, CT