Monthly Archives: July 2012

July 31, 2012

7-30-12 Beach Volleyball And Chocolate Chips

So after the nail biter of the Beach Volleyball game between the team from the Czech Republic ( Marketa Slukova/Kristyna Kolocova) and the USA team of Misty May Treanor/Kerri Walsh (who I just discovered is playing with pink eye!) which Misty May and Kerri won – their 16th straight Olympic match with no set losses over 3 Olympics – Abigail decided she needed cookies. You can burn a lot of energy rooting! Let me just note that I regard these two women as two of the greatest athletes the US has ever produced. They rank right up there with Michael Phelps in terms of consistency, dedication and skill. They are the Rocky Marciano of Olympic Beach volleyball.

Since I knew the results of the Men’s Team Gymnastic event, I was designated to make the cookies.

Chocolate Chip Cookies avec dough balls.

They were not bad if I do say so myself. (I love to add a few white chocolate chips as an accent). A bit later one of Abigail’s bffs Caroline,(who is just slightly shorter than Abigail)

came up and they ate a few cookies and dough balls before settling in for a long summer catch up (they haven’t seen each other since June because of camp schedules etc.).

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7/30/11

Two Nymphs escaping the River god?

1 comment | tags: Beach Volleyball, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Hudson River, Kerri Walsh, Michael Phelps, Misty May-Treanor, New York City, Olympic, postaday2012 | posted in Photography

July 30, 2012

7-29-12 Cherish The Hudson Lomax

By Robert S Johnson

I woke up this morning and realized that something was missing. It didn’t take a lot of thought or introspection to realize that I was missing the river. It had been at least 10 or 11 days since I had really seen it. So, I put on my walking shoes and took a 3 mile river walk.

Deep In Thought

These ladies had no objection to my shooting them from behind but they would not let me shoot their faces.

As I left the river and headed towards Lincoln Center I had to wonder what had happened to Pocahontas and why the other Princesses were not helping her and had even turned their backs on her…

Today’s celebration was

OURLAND: Celebrating Irish Culture in America! The Music, The Bards, The Magic

A significant part of the event was in celebration of Alan Lomax‘s work in field recording. Today, Lomax is primarily known for his work in the south but he went all over the world, Ireland, England, Italy, the Caribbean and Spain. He recording Brendan Behan at his wittiest and worst.

Some of the people participating included Cherish The Ladies, Lianne Smith, Joe Hurley, and even the Director of the Lomax Archive.

The 78 Project was also on hand. They recorded Lianne Smith live on a 78 RPM acetate ( that is why you see that old-fashioned microphone in front of her) basically using the same techniques Lomax used and were immediately able to play it back for the audience.

Oh and let us not forget these gentlemen

Alphie McCourt, Malachy McCourt, William Kennedy

Colleen Taylor co-host of Ceol na nGael on WFUV-90.7FM was at the WFUV table giving away tattoos, magnets, and other lovely things.

A good time seemed to be had by all.

4 comments | tags: Alan Lomax, Cherish The Ladies, Disney Princesses, Gaelic, Hudson River, Ireland, Malachy McCourt, New York City, postaday2012 | posted in Photography

July 29, 2012

7-28-12 ISTANBULIVE IV

By Robert S Johnson

Every year as the summer starts to wind down, Lincoln Center offers a three week free outdoor program of a variety of music, dance, theater events, called cleverly enough, Licoln Center Out of Doors.

Last night was ISTANBULIVE IV with

The Secret Trio

It started to rain (drizzle really) during their set

One of my favorite audience members

and continued drizzling for the first part of Ilhan Ersahin’s Wonderland featuring Hüsnü Senlendirici set,

Guess who is the leader of the pack

Finally the headliner was introduced. Her name is Selda Bagcan and this was her US debut. She was introduced as being the Edith Piaf of Turkey or the Joan Baez of Anatolia which is a wide swath of music. The audience appreciated The Secret Trio and loved Wonderland but they went nuts when Ms. Bagcan appeared.

Many in the audience seemed to know the words to all her songs and she invited them to join in on the chorus of most of the songs.

This is what really makes NYC so special for me. Without going more than 5 miles from my front door, I can see the world. Every day some culture is expressing itself and inviting the rest of the city to come and play.

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Last year on 7/28/11 I went to Croton Point Park. Fell again, Hurt myself again. Saved the camera again. This shot has nothing to do with that. It is just some kids swimming in the Hudson.

4 comments | tags: Anatolia, Croton Point, Hudson River, Joan Baez, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, New York City, postaday2012, Selda Bağcan, Turkey | posted in Photography

July 28, 2012

7-27-12 The Eyes Have It

By Robert S Johnson

Today we did more studio shooting but with our classmates as models. Above you see Marina and Chafic. This was not an easy effect to achieve…

So this was the last day of the class. I have taken a number of classes at ICP but I believe that this was the best one in the combination of knowledge imparted, amount of shooting and critique accomplished, and frankly just straight up fun. The class was a great group of people and I truly can’t say enough about Harvey as a teacher. He teaches workshops around the world and if you ever see that Harvey Stein is teaching in your neck of the woods, try to make the time to take a class. He also leads shooting tours like this one through ICP so feel free to check them out.

What did you think of the opening of The Olympics? I thought they missed at least one song…

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If you have been dipping into The Hudson, quotidianly or even occasionally over the past year you may recall that one day while I was walking to the river and shooting the soccer players on the fields below I clumsily and idiotically slammed my leg into a bench and fell barely saving the camera. Today is the anniversary of that lovely occasion! This is the last picture I took before looking down and realizing that blood was pooling in my shoe. All I have is a few pictures and a lovely scar to remind me of the event. You don’t get to see the scar but here is the picture.

4 comments | tags: Blood, Chafic Kazoun, Harvey Stein, Hudson River, Marina Arruda, New York City, Olympic Games, postaday2012, Sex Pistols | posted in Photography

July 27, 2012

7-26-12 Lights Cameras Models

By Robert S Johnson

Today we shot with models in a studio environment. First time for me. I shot Rachel and Jim. It was a great pleasure to work with both of them.

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An Oldie

4 comments | tags: Clouds, Hudson River, ICP, Lighting, Models, New York City, postaday2012, Storm, Studio | posted in Photography

July 26, 2012

7-25-12 What I Did For Lunch

By Robert S Johnson

“How they dance in the courtyard, sweet summer sweat.
Some dance to remember, some dance to forget”

Don Felder, Don Henley, Glenn Frey

My original intention was to write a parody of What I Did For Love (lyrics linked) From A Chorus Line with lunch substituting for love. Unfortunately I don’t have the time. So, feel free to give it a shot!

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I don’t know what it is but I just love these two running in the rain by the river…

7/25/11

Leave a comment | tags: Bad Day, Chorus Line, Don Felder, Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Hudson River, Juggling, New York City, postaday2012 | posted in Photography

July 25, 2012

7-24-12 Mexico City Maria

By Robert S Johnson

Today we partnered up and went out to shoot specific assignments. The weather was extremely hot which didn’t bother me but did bother a few of my classmates.

The class is extremely international. If I am remembering correctly we have folks from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Guatemala, Italy, Lebanon, Mexico, Taiwan, Venezuela, Virginia and Westchester County. The TA is from Russia.

The assignment: shoot from 6 feet above our partner; 6 feet below; at the closest focal range possible with a 50mm lens,; in motion; in an environment that described them; and a team portrait.

My partner was Maria, a 23 year old woman from Mexico City who is in the States for 3 weeks taking courses at ICP.

I did well on a few, badly on a few. Here is the good…well at least I think so…

Team Portrait

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7/24/11

Sunset On the River

4 comments | tags: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Guatemala, Hudson River, Italy, Lebanon, Mexico City, New York City, postaday2012, Taiwan | posted in Photography

July 24, 2012

7-23-12 Photographing People

By Robert S Johnson

I am taking a five-day intensive class (10-5 daily) called “Photographing People.” Harvey Stein is the teacher. Harvey has been a professional photographer since 1979 and is probably best known for his work at Coney Island. Coney Island 40 Years was published last year. His first book on Coney Island was published in 1998.

Today’s afternoon assignment was to go to Bryant Park and Rockefeller Center and ask people we found interesting if we could take their pictures. We are to bring in our five “best” to show tomorrow. These are the top 5 that didn’t make the cut…

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7/23/11 The Norwegian Jewel passes Pier 54

4 comments | tags: Bryant Park, Coney Island, Harvey Stein, Hudson River, New York City, Norwegian Jewel, Photographing People, postaday2012, Rockefeller Center | posted in Photography

July 23, 2012

7-22-12 Pina Bausch

By Robert S Johnson

We went to Lincoln Center today to see The Paris Opera Ballet‘s production of Pina Bausch‘s choreography and staging of Gluck‘s Orpheus and Eurydice. I am neither a ballet nor opera fan but this was a remarkable production. I don’t believe that i have ever been disappointed in a work by Pina Bausch. Some I have loved more than others but she always has something to astound and move you. Wim Wenders released a 3D documentary called “Pina” last year to celebrate and commemorate her work (she died in 2009) You can’t see the Paris Opera Ballet as they have left NYC but if you can find the movie, you should see it. It is a truly wonderful work of documentary art.

It was a bright and hot day on the plaza…

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7/22/11

3 comments | tags: Gluck, Hudson River, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, New York City, Paris Opera Ballet, Pina, Pina Bausch, postaday2012, Wim Wenders | posted in Photography

July 22, 2012

7-21-12 Not The New York Metropolitans

By Robert S Johnson

I think there is baseball related information in there somewhere

Hard as it is for me to believe I had not (until today) been inside either of the new baseball stadiums in town. I have been to ball games but in other cities. Why haven’t I gone? Probably because they are so damn expensive, maybe because I don’t like the public paying for a capitalist to build private space, possibly because the Yankees are way too corporate and the Mets, well, too Bernie Madoff inflicted.

The original Metropolitans played from 1880-1887. The current Mets were officially named upon their founding The Metropolitan Baseball Club of New York, although cooler heads later prevailed.

The Mets were playing the Dodgers – as always that means a number of fans who forget or do not accept that they moved to LA a few years ago…but that’s cool. Hey Pretzels heeeere…