NYC Day 2

Today was really a lovely day.  I woke up fairly early because that is how I generally roll.  Headed up to the continental breakfast upstairs but didn't see a single coworker, despite there being maybe 40 in this hotel.  No matter, I trotted off quickly to B&H to peruse the camera gear because I am a masochist and know I can't afford any of it.  But I thought maybe I could find a funky camera strap or something.  Instead, I picked up a hot shoe sync for my studio lights.  Very helpful staff there, as always. After that, I used my Yelp app (love love love love LOVE Yelp) to find a cozy little coffee shop to have a small latte, skipped through H&M (I was big on the X&Y stores!) and picked up a super-cute "boyfriend" jacket, and then took an informative, if overly dramatic, tour of Grand Central Station and the surrounding area.  Very much a good time. Right now I'm killing time and relaxing before a big, long work event that I will have to photograph and pay attention to for far far longer than is advisable.  I hear the food is excellent, though, and that always makes me happy. You've heard the story, now see the photos.  Not a big photo day, really - I was mostly enjoying walking around without a camera dangling from my arm. grand central station nyc Our very engaging and dramatic tour guide.  "New York is slammin'," he said without a hint of irony. tour guide nyc Chrysler Building details: chrysler building photos maps manhattan chandelier and guy on a phone street photography nyc Pardon this one.  It's just for David. concha y toro Also, the latest in my series of hotel self-portraits.  I already have one from this hotel in New York but it never hurts to have others. black and white self-portrait in new york hotel

Stuff I Love: Crazy Weather

We were supposed to get all manner of crazy wind and lots of rain last night, but the "storm" was little more than a blip in the area and some areas did see serious weather.  But sometimes we do get awesome, crazy weather.  It's a relatively rare event here in mild-weather Washington, D.C., so I have to cherish it then.  I'm sure if I lived in tornado alley or blizzard-friendly Chicago, I'd be well sick of thunderstorms, hail and nasty weather.  And I'm not unaware that harsh weather brings a lot of suffering to a lot of people every year. That said, I do love watching thunderstorms.  Here are a few images from the past to illustrate my point.  Crazy front that moved through the region this summer: crazy weather in washington dc thunderstorm front in arlington, va big storm over washington monument And here's one from my trip to Chicago, also this summer.  This storm was all over the news and shortly after I took this photo, the tornado sirens went off!  I'd never heard tornado sirens before - it was very exciting.  My buzz kill of a best friend made me go down into the basement, though, so as to avoid injury and such.  I suppose it was for the best. lightning in chicago near millennium park