Friday's Wide Angle Post

Last weekend, I actually had the full weekend off, so my wife and I decided to take a last minute trip down to Philadelphia. We found a cheap hotel in Bensalem, booked it, headed down Saturday morning. Easy trip down there, I possibly may write more of that day, but this photograph is from Sunday. 

We just walked around the downtown area after checking out of our hotel. We didn't want to stay too long, back on the road by the mid afternoon since we had work and school the next day. So I had a cheesesteak from Jim's, the girls had a hoagie. We enjoyed the old buildings all around the city. Independence Hall is one of the last places we walked by before heading back to the car. We didn't actually see the inside this trip, or Liberty Bell, but my wife and I had done it about 13 years ago.

Independence Hall
Canon 60D, Tokina Pro DX-II 11-16mm f/2.8, f/8, 1/1000sec, 640ISO, 11mm

 

TGIF

Canon 60D, EF 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6, f/8, 1/60s, 1600ISO, 155mm

I hope everyone is able to just "hang around" this weekend!

Cunningham Park

Just Off the Motorway During the Autumn Season
Canon 60D, EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6, f/8, 1/60s, 3200ISO, 29mm

New York City has many great parks, and another one close to where I live is Cunningham Park in Queens. You can read about the history of it here: http://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/cunningham-park/history. For the past few summers, my wife, daughter, and I have attended the New York Philharmonic free performances that end with a fireworks show. In the autumn, we enjoy walking down the old roadway of the Long Island Motor Parkway, the first roadway designed for automobile use only, built by William Kissam Vanderbilt II. It was in operation from 1908-1938.

This park has served as the backdrop for a couple of my family portraits and Halloween portraits. If one finds themselves in Eastern Queens, I recommend a visit to this park.

The Seagram Building WAW

Before moving to New York City, my experience with most architecture was limited to what I saw in books. Arizona has some lovely architecture, and some high rises, but a majority of the buildings that have historical significance happen to be in other cities, especially New York City. One of these buildings in the Seagram Building, located at 375 Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan.

Seagram Building
Canon 60D, EF20-35mm f/3.5-4.5, f/4, 1/50s, 3200ISO, 21mm

My experience with this building is with one of the original tenants, the Four Seasons Restaurant. I have worked on many social events there over the last (almost) decade of working in the special events industries, from weddings, to bar/bat mitzvahs, movie premier parties, and corporate holiday parties.  I just worked an extremely long day there this past Sunday, but this photograph comes from November 9th of 2013. A little sad news as well: The Four Seasons will be closing in July, being forced out by the new landlords of the Seagram Building.

Seagram Building
Canon 60D, EF20-35mm f/3.5-4.5, f/4, 1/50s, 3200ISO, 21mm

The lens that took this photo was an old Canon EF 20-35mm f/3.5-4.5 USM. I inherited the lens from my uncle, who was a photographer before the digital revolution. Lots of post processing was used to correct the lines of the building, as the wide angle lens had some distortion, as well as the distortion from the lens looking up, causing everything to start to look like it was heading to the same single point way up past the frame.

Seagram Building
Canon 60D, EF20-35mm f/3.5-4.5, f/4, 1/50s, 3200ISO, 21mm

Throwback Thursday

Saguaros as far as the eye can see!
Canon 60D, EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6, f/8, 1/500s, 320ISO, 55mm

This holiday season, I visited my family in Arizona. My father-in-law also came for a visit, and it was his first time. So my wife and I took him to one of our favorite daytrip destinations, Tortilla Flats in the Superstition Mountains.

Father-in-law on the Edge
Canon 60D, EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6, f/8, 1/400s, 640ISO, 18mm

It was an overcast day, and we did get a little rain on our way though Apache Junction. It created a softer light, as opposed to the harsh midday shadows I would have gotten if it was a sunny day.

No Pavement Next 22 Miles
Canon 60D, EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6, f/8, 1/500s, 640ISO, 29mm

We made it as far as the paved road would take us. After it ends, it is a packed dirt road. But as I was in my parent's family sedan, we decided this was far enough.

The Trusty Whip
Canon 60D, EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6, f/8, 1/400s, 320ISO, 135mm

And when I saw this angel, I knew one of my readers from Santa Clarita would love this photo.

Desert Angel
Canon 60D, EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6, f/8, 1/500s, 320ISO, 47mm