Behind the Scenes : New York City Skyline

Are you afraid of heights? To be honest, I am. It feels like I am having a panic attack when I look down from the top of a building, the same fear I feel when I take a plane or ride my motorcycle over a bridge.

The first time I visited the CN Tower in Toronto, Canada, didn't realize the elevator floor is made out of glass panels. Once we reached the CN Tower top floor observation deck I almost had a heart attack when I realized the observation deck floor is also a glass floor. I was so scared that I hugged the wall near the entrance and waited for the next elevator to take me down.

For a while now, I have been thinking of walking the Manhattan Bridge pathway to take a picture of the Brooklyn Bridge and NYC skyline from above. Yesterday, it took a lot of courage for me to walk on the Manhattan Bridge for the first time; I put earplugs on to reduce car and subway train noise. Luckily there are strategically placed holes in the chain-link fence along the pedestrian path, so it is easier to photograph one of most amazing skylines in the world.

The bridge gives an awesome perspective of the Brooklyn Bridge and lower Manhattan. I like this image so much I am about to print a 20" x 30" enlarged poster, and hang it in my living room. I spent about one hour shooting the spectacular view, and soaking up the sun on this beautiful day.

Afterwards, I went to the Top of the Rock at the Rockefeller Center, the iconic NYC historic landmark in the heart of midtown Manhattan. My goal was to get a good picture of the Empire State Building and capture the One World Trade Center and downtown Manhattan in the background.

To avoid the large crowds I purchased online tickets in advance for early morning. Top of the Rock opens at 8:00 am; at 8:30 am, it was already crowded. As always, a good rule of thumb is to research the rules and regulations on photography equipment before you get to your location. Knowing in advance that they don't allow tripods up there, I brought with me my Platypod Ultra.

A group of security guards were standing next to me chit chatting, didn't pay attention to what I was doing. I used the concrete ledge with the cable release and a camera wrist strap and took lots of pictures. As a first time Platypod user, it passed the test with flying colors.

At the end of the day, I was able to accomplish what I set out to do.

La Metafora del Gobernador Ricardo Rosello

El gobernador de Puerto Rico, Ricardo Rosello, despues que se canso de besarle el trasero al presidente Trump, ahora esta actuando como guapeton de barrio amenazando de darle un puño en la boca.

"El gobernador dijo que Trump trata a los puertorriqueños como ciudadanos de segunda clase y afirmó que quiere reunirse con el mandatario para explicarle la data correcta sobre las necesidades de la isla tras el huracán. No se trata de entrar en una competencia de gritos y patadas, no creo que nadie pueda ganarle al presidente en una pelea de gritos y patadas"......

El incompetente gobernador va a Washington a rogar y patalear por mas mantengo y a exigir la estadidad. Tanto que criticaron a la alcaldesa de San Juan, y este con esas vulgares expresiones tuvo toda la semana a Puerto Rico en primera plana en la boca de la prensa americana. Ahora se retracta aludiendo que todo fue un malentendido, dice que lo del puño es simplemente "una metafora".

Este arrodillado le pide a Trump que “es momento de darle trato igual a Puerto Rico”. Han pasado mas de 120 años de explotacion hacia nuestra isla, y todavia este vende patria no entiende que los Estados Unidos jamas va tratar a Puerto Rico como nuestro pueblo se merece. Exigiendo reuniones con el presidente y haciendo mas plebiscitos para arrodillados rogar por la estadidad, cuando los americanos lo que han hecho es ignorar e insultar por todo este tiempo a nuestro pueblo.

A ver quien se atreve a informarle a este incompetente gobernador que la verdadera metafora es que los Estados Unidos le ceda la estadidad a Puerto Rico. 

Showcase : Printing Your Legacy

Now that I started to print big posters of my favorite images, I am all excited about the possibilities of decorating my man cave and also my office with them.

As I mentioned on a previous post, the image I recently found from my trip to the Dragon of the Cheoah Dam is my favorite. I like this picture so much that this week I decided to spend some time working on it to make it as big as possible without losing quality.

I had to crop the image a lot, to improve the way it looks. Cropping always involves cutting away part of the original image, results in some of the pixels being discarded and can change the width to height ratio.

Therefore, I was very careful making changes and editing the image. Learned recently that if I resize a photo for printing the photo may get soft and may need more sharpening. Also that is a good idea to save sharpening until the very last task, after I've applied other edits and resize the photo to its final size.

After the final edit, I sent online the 20" x 30" poster size to be printed. The original size image is 4928 x 3264 pixels, it is heavily cropped to remove unwanted areas to 3374 x 1847 pixels. This 20" x 30" poster will be used in my office as well as my man cave. The image was taken using my Nikon D7000 and a Nikon AF-S DX VR 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED lens.

In anticipation of picking up the poster today, I stopped at A.C. Moore Arts and Crafts supply store to find a 20" x 30" poster frame. A.C. Moore has a large variety of various frame sizes at reasonable prices.

The poster looks fantastic, superbly printed. To say I was amazed at the poster quality is an understatement, it looks very professional. The time and hard work I spent editing the image paid off in the end.

As the old Epson printer ad used to say, "a print ensures your story will continue".

HERE is a link to my first ever 16" x 20" poster size image. 

Behind The Shot : Marine Corps War Memorial

For several months, while browsing online, I was trying to figure out how people were able to photograph the U.S. Capitol Building, The Washington Memorial, and The Lincoln Memorial in the same image, while photographing the United States Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Virginia. 

From the ground, to the flag pole's top, the monument stands at 78 feet. None of the pictures I've found online explain where was the photographer standing when they took the image. I noticed on Flickr that some of them used a telephoto lens. So just to be on the safe side, I brought my Nikon AF-S Nikkor 55-300mm 1:4-5.6G ED lens with me on this trip.

I visited Washington, DC for the second week in a row, its one of my favorite cities. I arrived earlier in the day, considering I had planned to ride the Metro train for the first time. So I arrived earlier just in case, didn't want to get lost riding the Metrorail.

You're Never Too Old To Have Fun!

Not sure how I missed this image when I edited photos from my camera memory card of last year Deals Gap, Tail of the Dragon trip. Found it last night while looking for another photo. Of all the pictures I took from the Cheoah Dam in North Carolina, this image is now my favorite. To see a bigger version of this picture click HERE. 

I like having some of my favorite pictures to decorate my office; they include some of my motorcycle images.

A group of people came to my office after I finished running the support group today and noticed the motorcycle pictures decorating my office walls.

They were surprised I ride and wear leather racing gear. At the clinic they've only known me always wearing a business suit and ties. They told me that never in a million years they would've imagined me riding a sport bike at my age. I laughed when I heard them say that, I am only 63 years old.

Have you ever been told you are too old to ride a motorcycle?

Since I purchased my 1972 Kawasaki 750 two-stroke triple in the early 70's, always owned sportbikes. From their aesthetics to the combination of speed and raw power there's plenty to love about fast motorcycles. Riding a sportbike is an exhilarating experience. Not to mention the mental health benefits I gain by riding my bike; I always tell people that riding helps me to de-stress.

The day I purchased my current motorcycle I took it to the garage and a neighborhood kid no older than 6 years old approached me to admire it. He asked the usual inquisitive question, "how fast does it go?". After I told him, he gave me a bewildered look and keeping a straight face said "you're too old for your bike".

Kids say the darndest things.

Tales From The Garage

Spring is just around the corner. Went to the garage where my bike is stored, to change oil, filter, check brake and clutch fluid levels and install the battery. During winter season my bike's battery sits in my apartment kitchen connected to a battery tender.

My bike has been hibernating, sitting in the garage since last October. Haven't even started the bike all winter, I haven't checked it in several months. It's still cold outside, here in Philly the cold weather is still lingering. I hate cold weather with a passion. We are in mid-March and now there's talk of more snow sometime next week.

I received a rent increase notice from the garage landlord yesterday. Personally, I feel the rent increase is unreasonable since he hasn't made any property improvements to the unit in seven years. Besides, he shutoff power to all the garage units in 2013 after half of the storage facility caught fire. I was fortunate that the section where my bike is stored was not affected. He is lucky there is no other motorcycle storage facility in the city, totally monopolizes the storage units market in Philadelphia. 

Depending on the weather, tomorrow I will be changing the rear brakes. Ordered the rear pads last year before the Dragon trip just in case I needed them. I don't want to have any issues when I visit Toronto, Canada this summer. 

Planning ahead and proper maintenance to my bike before I leave on a trip is a must. I would rather be safe than sorry. 

Behind The Shot : Photo Postcards In Your Own Backyard

Sometimes I look at images of exotic destinations, they seem to be a lot of fun and exciting spots. Unfortunately, due to financial constraints or lack of free time, the majority of my shooting is done in locations not far from home.

One example of this is my favorite hangout place, New York City. In addition to the amazing city skylines, NYC have lots of historic landmarks that offer a wide range of potential compositions.

The Big Apple is a popular choice for landscape photographers, many of whom travel from distant states and other countries to shoot there.

Often, we think great images happen by luck, or because a person have expensive equipment. The truth is many great images are taken after years of return trips to the same spots.

A Day In Court

Several months ago I received a summon for jury duty; I reported for jury duty today. Some people make it sound worse than it is. Due to the type of work and field I am in, I am always selected. Always (sigh).

Jury duty is a civic responsibility, and as a responsible citizen, it is my duty to serve as a juror.

It was reported last year that more than one-third of Philadelphians (250,000 residents) don't bother to respond and ignore jury duty summons each year. Maybe the $9.00 dollars per day as compensation has something to do with it.

This time I received a higher number in my jury duty panel. Inside the courtroom the judge read out the charges against the accused person, it was a case of sexual abuse among siblings. The judge said it will take at least five days to hear the case, unless the defendant plead guilty before trial.

When the judge said five days I felt a little uneasy because I have a doctor's appointment that I cannot miss next Friday. In fact I've been looking forward to see my primary doctor this week to receive the results of multiple diagnostic and blood tests I took recently.

I am not a religious person, (I'm spiritual but not religious) especially when it comes to organized religion, but I was "praying" inside the courtroom and hoping they would select the jurors early before it was my turn.

Fortunately I lucked out, I didn't have to sit in the jury box. Before my jury panel number was called by the judge and attorneys, they selected the jurors after questioning the people ahead of me in the courtroom. I was given a jury fee check and was dismissed before noon.

I was a very happy camper when I left the courtroom, and didn't have to report to work until tomorrow.

Eduardo Pagan Alega que la Ley Jones Contribuye a la Prosperidad de Puerto Rico

Eduardo Pagan es el presidente de la Asociacion de Navieros de Puerto Rico y Gerente General de TOTE (Totem Ocean Trailer Express) Maritime para Puerto Rico y el Caribe.

Este vende patria tiene la desfachatez de hoy escribir una columna en el periodico El Nuevo Dia donde el alega que la Ley Jones contribuye a la prosperidad de Puerto Rico.

¿Cuanto le habran pagado a este charlatan por escribir esa columna?

Este lacayo del imperio explotador de Estados Unidos es vice presidente y gerente general de una compañia que es beneficiada por la Ley Jones. La Ley Jones no se hizo para los puertorriqueños, la triste realidad es que quienes se benefician de esta ley colonial que mantiene todo mas caro en la isla son los sindicatos americanos y la compañia naviera estadounidense.

El bolsillo puertorriqueño por los pasados 100 años ha sido exprimido por esta ley colonial que le ha sacado hasta el ultimo centavo desde el 1917 al pueblo. Este individuo es una de las muchas marionetas que Estados Unidos utiliza para defender lo indefendible. Eduardo Pagan practicamente esta diciendo que ser colonia es lo mejor para Puerto Rico.

Esta es simplemente otra columna hecha por mandado de los grandes intereses del gobierno americano.

Behind The Shot: Elfreths Alley

I was in downtown Philly shopping for clothes a couple of years ago when I finally decided to visit Philadelphia's oldest street, Elfreth's Alley. I am one of those people who always carry my camera with me everywhere, so I figured why not, let's see what all the fuss is about.

Surprisingly, it wasn't as crowded as I expected. Unfortunately, there is a lot of construction equipment to the right of Elfreth's Alley from 2nd street. I had to tilt shift my camera, recompose and focus my image to the left side of the street.

It was a partly cloudy Sunday, hence far fewer visitors and much less congestion. Despite the expectation of rain, some tourists ventured to visit and walk through the ally just to check it out and take pictures.

In busy tourist destinations is difficult to shoot with no people or distractions in it. I spent at least two hours just waiting for the opportunity to shoot five bracketed images taken under different exposures, without people in the shot.

After editing, even though I had to crop the final image to remove the construction equipment, I am very happy with the end result.

By far, this is the most popular and shared image from my Facebook photography page.

Kofla Olivieri Rides The Tail of the Dragon

Deal’s Gap (aka the Tail of the Dragon) is without question one of the finest roads in the US. It is located in the beautiful Smoky Mountains at the Tennessee/North Carolina border where US 129 intersects NC 28. 318 turns in 11 miles.

Riding the Dragon is a lot of fun. Riding it fast is a challenge which brings motorcycle enthusiasts from all over the world to try their skills against it. Crashes are common on every given weekend (as the Tree of Shame can attest) and more than a few have lost their lives while trying to challenge it.

Have you been to Deals Gap and ridden the Tail of the Dragon? The Dragon has been on my bucket list for a while, I didn't think it would happen so soon. Last year a group of friends from the Philadelphia area invited me to spend a week with them at Deals Gap.

I figured I was more than due for a vacation, so why not ride my bike to the Dragon, hang out with my Philly friends and relax while exploring the area. I wasn't yet sold on the idea of riding solo to the resort, but decided to make the reservation anyway. I expected the round trip to be over 1,500 hundred miles.

Asi No Se Puede Pedir la Estadidad

El fraude arropa al gobierno de Puerto Rico. Y pensar que este chanchullo se ha destapado gracias a un caso de violencia domestica de parte del exlegisladron Ramon Luis Rodriguez Ruiz hacia la exdirectora de su oficina, Soniel Torres Suarez.

El mismo dia que este legisladron acude a su juramentacion como representante, imparte instrucciones para iniciar el despilfarro de fondos y la creacion de corporaciones fantasmas en su gobierno.

Estoy 100% seguro que esto es parte de un patron de corrupcion sistemica que permea en la politica de Puerto Rico.

Mientras tanto, ya estan perfilandose los candidatos del partido de los rojos y los azules para gobernador en las elecciones del 2020. Unos acusan y critican a los otros y les exigen cuentas sobre el desbarajuste que azota a Puerto Rico.

Si ellos se miraran en el espejo, veran quien es culpable de fraude, de la malversacion de fondos y la corrupcion en Puerto Rico. @asinosepuedepedirlaestadidad

Como dijo el prócer Ramon Emeterio Betances: ¿y qué les pasa a los puertorriqueños que no se rebelan?