The Story Behind The Shot

Last year, in one of the photography forums I am a member of, I saw a picture of the Eiffel Tower taken from a tall building in Paris. At first, I thought it was taken using a drone.

Upon inquiry, a forum member revealed that it was taken from the MontPannarse Observatory Tower. So I decided if I ever visited Paris, I would find a hotel room close to that location.

So I did. When I made the decision to visit Paris, I booked a hotel that was a short walking distance from the Montparnasse Observatory Tower. As luck will have it, I had access to everything I needed during my stay including access to public transportation; everything was in the same vicinity.

As mentioned before, on the day of my arrival, I applied for the French Health Pass [$36.00 euros] as proof of vaccination to gain access to pretty much everything in France.

It was a cold freezing night when I visited the Montparnasse Observatory Tower. I was surprised to see that I was the only person in the security screening line. After they screened my Health Pass, I was the only person on the elevator on my way to the observatory. The night was so cold that without counting the security personnel, I was the only person at the observatory. I spent half hour taking pictures during sunset hour.

After I left the building, I walked ten city blocks back to the hotel with a huge grin on my face anticipating what kind of pictures I had taken. Even though you never know what will happen when taking pictures, I predicted one of the dozen images I took would be the one I envisioned. This is my favorite image taken during this trip, it was all worth it. 

More Paris Pictures

Learned recently that the Eiffel Tower is lighted in blue the month of January because it was France's turn to preside over the Council of the European Union. For a minute I was wondering why the tower turn blue at night, when in most online images it looks gold? I guess that solved that mystery.

One late afternoon, after visiting the Louvre Museum, I decided to walk [approximately 3 miles] from the Louvre to the Eiffel Tower, along the Seine River. I noticed a tribute sculpture (the Flame of Liberty) for the late Diana, Princess of Wales at the entrance of the tunnel where she died next to Pont de L'Alma bridge.

As I stood there, passersby dropped flowers at the sculpture next to her pics. I chose not to take pics of the memorial, I refuse to photograph anything that resembles a shrine. Instead, I photographed a young woman taking pics at the metro subway entrance next to it. Enjoy the pictures!

The top picture was taken from a place called Trocadero. Second picture was taken next to Princess Diane Flame of Liberty sculpture memorial at the entrance of the subway Metro. Next pic is another Trocadero image. Then the Louvre Museum, a merry-go-round by the Eiffel Tower, and the Eiffel Tower at night. The last picture was taken from the Montparnasse Tower Observation Deck.

A Few Images From Paris

I arrived home this past Monday, after spending almost a week in Paris. A fascinating city, worthy of many return visits. I think I will need at least a month to see all Paris has to offer.

I followed a friend's advice and obtained a French Health Pass on the day of my arrival to enter museums, restaurants and public venues. Health passes are available at any pharmacy for $36.00 euros.

You have to show your vaccination card at the pharmacy. They transfer the information to the document, you pay the fee and receive the pass in the spot. Without the French Health Pass, people are not allowed to enter most establishments. They requested the document at every restaurant I visited.

My main concern was where to obtain a COVID test 24 hours prior to returning to the states. Without a negative test result, the airline will refuse people to get on board. On my first day I learned that COVID-19 test are available at any pharmacy in Paris. The test cost $26.00 euros, and there is a pharmacy in every corner. No appointments necessary as you can see me on the last picture, standing outside the pharmacy waiting to be called for the test.

The top picture was taken from Bateaux Mouches, across the Seine River. The second picture is the pharmacy where I obtained the French Health Pass. The last image is where I took the COVID test 24 hours prior to my returning trip.

El Problema del Puertorriqueño Es El Propio Puertorriqueño

Puerto Rico no tiene remedio, la gente no aprende a votar. Al pueblo puertorriqueño le gusta que le den fuete. Ya lo dijo Luis Francisco Ojeda: "¿Quieren fuete? cojan fuete, el pueblo tiene lo que se merece."

Edward O'Neill acaba de salir victorioso en la eleccion especial de la alcaldia de Guaynabo. Cabe recordar que su padre, Hector O'Neill fue acusado y destituido de alcalde por un escandalo de acoso sexual. La persona que tomo la posicion de alcalde, Angel Perez, ha sido acusado, destituido y arrestado por el FBI por corrupcion. 

Ya lo dijo alguien en un comentario que acabo de leer en un periodico de la isla, "el problema de Puerto Rico no son los partidos ni los politicos, es el pueblo que continua dandole el voto a la misma gente". 

Al pueblo le dieron a escojer cinco opciones, cinco candidatos para empezar con borron y cuenta nueva. El pueblo de Guaynabo escojio a Edward O'Neill; en otras palabras, mas de lo mismo. 

Los puertorriqueños no aprendemos. Por eso siempre estaremos jodios y quejandonos de la misma caca. Continua la monarquia en Guaynabo City.

[Caricatura cortesia de Kike Estrada]

2022 New Years Eve Fireworks

Photographing fireworks has always been a challenge for me, despite watching dozens of YouTube videos for the past five years and trying different suggestions by the "experts". 

On New Years eve, I decided to give fireworks photography one more try. I had nothing else to lose, everything I've tried in the past didn't work. Surprisingly, the planets aligned for me this time and I captured several good images. 

I arrived early to the Camden boardwalk next to the New Jersey Adventure Aquarium, across from Penn's Landing in Philadelphia. The camera was setup in Bulb mode, and it was held in the tripod in vertical position. This time I was able to capture the most keepers, great pictures from a fireworks show. All in all, I am very satisfied by how the pictures look. Enjoy the pics!

The 2022 Bucket List

In three weeks I am traveling to Paris, France, for the first time. To say I am a little nervous about this trip after several months of planning it's an understatement. I am a little worried that the new COVID variant Omicron could force the French authorities to apply more travel restrictions, and prevent me from visiting the country. 

For years I've been dreaming of riding a motorcycle in Europe. If all goes well and the weather cooperates, I plan to rent a motorcycle for a couple of days during my stay. I already received my International Drivers Permit. I contacted AAA (American Automobile Association) , visited their local office here in Philly and got the International Drivers License the same day. 

In addition of carrying my Nikon DSLR and a couple of lenses, I am planning to bring my GoPro camera with the handheld gimbal stabilizer and use it to vlog about the trip. Ordered extra memory cards, extra batteries for my Nikon and GoPro cameras and also a couple of European travel plug adapters. All the camera gear is ready to go. 

Don't laugh, but it's been so long since I used my GoPro cameras, that while testing recording a video the other day, nothing worked. Nothing was video recorded. For twenty minutes I was freaking out, panicked, trying to figure out why nothing was recording. Until I noticed that the GoPro camera lens cover was on, that's when I realized that I need to use my GoPro more often. 

I am looking forward to this my second trip to Europe. I just hope that this time the weather is nice during my stay, the motorcycle rental is dependent on the weather conditions. 

Gobierno De Las Tres B : Baile, Botella y Baraja

Miguel de la Torre fue un militar y político español que lucho en las guerras de independencia de Venezuela y Colombia como parte de la expedicion encargada de sofocar la rebelion. Dicen que el capitan general y gobernador Miguel de la Torre y Pando, que goberno Puerto Rico entre 1823 y 1837, establecio el llamado gobierno de las Tres Bes: baile, botella y baraja, pues segun el, un pueblo entretenido no piensa en rebeliones. El decia: "pueblo que se divierte no conspira".  

El pueblo puertorriqueño tiene una memoria corta, todos los dias celebran el baile, la botella y la baraja. 

Nuestros politicos son bien consistentes cuando se trata de corrupcion. Todos los años se repite la misma historia, lo unico que cambia son los nombres de los arrestados por corrupcion. 

En el verano del 2019 el pueblo se alzo en protesta, y el gobernador Rosello renuncia y abandona la isla. Menos de dos años despues, regresa y es premiado como cabildero en el Congreso de Washington DC para abogar por la estadidad de Puerto Rico. El pueblo lo recibe como un heroe. 

Hace unas semanas, el alcalde de Cataño Felix "el Cano" Delgado renuncio a  la alcaldia y se declaro culpable despues de ser acusado por corrupcion. Hace dos dias fue arrestado por el FBI el alcalde de Guaynabo Angel Perez acusado de recibir sobornos en efectivo. 

Mientras los politicos se roban el dinero de las arcas de nuestro gobierno, las masacres, los asesinatos y feminicidios arropan nuestra isla. El pueblo no esta seguro ni dentro de su propio hogar. 

En Puerto Rico muchos negocios han tenido que cerrar sus puertas por falta de personal. En Puerto Rico, 57.7% de la poblacion apta para trabajar no lo hace. Segun cifras de el Departamento del Trabajo, hay mas de 4,000 empleos disponibles en el sector agricola, pero ante el desinteres del pueblo, el gobierno opta por traer extranjeros para trabajar en las fincas. 

A quien le importa los problemas que agobia nuestra isla, si anoche hubo baile, botella y baraja para mas de 30,000 personas sin mascarilla en el concierto de Bad Bunny en el Estadio Hiram Bithorn.