New York Renaissance Faire

I went to the New York Renaissance Faire this weekend, something I've been wanting to do since 7th grade.  I sometimes hear people talk about these kinds of festivals, wishing they could live like that every day.  I wouldn't necessarily go that far myself, but certainly Monday through Friday.  I'm not sure I'd ever invest in a full Ren Faire wardrobe, but the pewter beer mug attached to the belt is a fashion trend I certainly embrace.

I'm looking forward to heading back in a few weeks when they switch gears to the Forest of Fear, where I can hopefully photograph their haunted house.  Between this and the upcoming New York Comic Book Convention I've got a pretty nerdy Fall to look forward to.

Even More TCGS Pictures

I've been able to make it to The Chris Gethard Show pretty consistently lately, so for now I'll just keep posting my new pictures on this post.  I've got a handful of episodes to share;  hopefully I'll keep'em coming!

TCGS #100: Episode HUNDO 

TCGS #102: Destroy-a-Toy, feat. Bobby Moynihan

TCGS 104: Space Battle, feat. Rich Sommer and Chad Carter

TCGS #106: The Villain's Journey

TCGS #107: We Got Nothing Two

Improv Everywhere's "MP3 Experiment Ten"

I had the pleasure of celebrating this year's Bastille Day by photographing a flash mob at South Street Seaport held by Improv Everywhere.  They're the same group that puts together the No-Pants-Subway-Ride each year, amongst many other things.  This particular event was centered around a roughly 45-minute mp3 that participants played simultaneously in their headphones, which directed a long-form flash mob that included silent dance parties, paper airplane throwing, bubble blowing, and randomly giving observers a dollar (I was on the receiving end of this last part a few times, so I guess this was technically a paying gig).

I'd only heard about it on my way out the door, so I didn't get a chance to download the track or gather the necessary supplies (i.e. paper, bubbles, dollars...), so I had to (/got to) witness the flash mob with fresh eyes.  I've seen a good deal of flash mob videos online, but I don't think I've never seen so many people in once place.  Pier 17 was packed like Mumford and Sons was headlining a music festival on the river or something.  I'd wager it was one of the largest mass bubble-blowing events in recent history.  The part where everyone suddenly stood still like statues was also pretty entertaining, though I suppose the effect is lost in still photos.

I've been photographing a lot of improv-related things lately, between The Chris Gethard Show, The UCB's Del Close Marathon, and now this Improv Everywhere flash mob.  I've noticed a lot of overlap of friendly faces throughout, and I've really warmed to the whole community.  I've got a lot of appreciation (but perhaps little understanding) of the improv world as a whole, so I feel really lucky to have gained all the access and trust of these communities.  Or maybe that's just how networking works.  Anyway, here's pictures!

The Upright Citizen Brigade's 15th Annual Del Close Marathon

I was more than a little excited when I found out I'd be covering the Del Close Marathon again this year.  It was one of, if not THE best experiences I'd had as a freelance photographer last year, so I jumped at the chance to go back.

I was anxious about being able to deliver-just-as-good-if-not-better photos than the year before, but once I got into the swing of things it felt like I'd just been there the day before.  I found myself in the same cramped spot on the floor of the UCB Chelsea Theatre, and pretty easily got back into the same groove.

It struck me how it seemed so familiar after being away for a year -- the faces, the pace of the shows, the inescapable heat, and that particular smell of a crowded little theater full of sweating improv fans.  Shooting through the night, crashing on my friend's couch as the sun comes up, sleeping a few hours and doing the same thing for the next two days -- it's a pretty incredible experience.  And on top of all that I got to see my favorite comedians practicing their craft live and in-person.

The DCM is a one-of-a-kind phenomenon, and I consider myself incredibly lucky to have been able to capture a little part of it.

The Chris Gethard Show (cont'd)

Here are some photos from my last to visits to The Chris Gethard Show. I'm enjoying myself more with each visit, and have loved getting to know the cast/crew/fans these past few weeks. Still a relative newcomer, it's always a warm reception whenever I'm able to make it to the show. 

With a car on the fritz and a full-time job on the horizon, I may not be able to make it into the city each Wednesday night, but in any case I'll always look forward to watching online. At the very least I'd really like to make it out to the near-approaching episode 100 - I've got no clue what's planned, and I'm not sure if they do either, but it should be one for the books!

The Chris Gethard Show

Here are some photos from the past few weeks shooting various events for The Chris Gethard Show.  It's been an awesome experience every time I shoot for these guys, and I hope to make a habit of it in the future.


 

Red Bull Music Academy Presents: A Night Of Improvised Round Robin Duets

I've been getting more live music gigs lately, and this one was a bit of a treat.  A little while ago I photographed a show at the Brooklyn Masonic Temple called "A Night of Improvised Round Robin Duets."  This was a show where one artist starts improving onstage for five minutes, and was joined by a second musician who would duet with them for another five.  Then the first musician would leave and the next would join in, and for the next two hours twenty musicians would take the stage.

Of the twenty musicians I was only really familiar with three:  ?uestlove, Andrew W.K. and Andrew Bird.  It seemed like a rather random assortment of talents to bring together on one stage, so I was intrigued to see how the rest of the lineup would mesh together.  It was just as random as I expected - DJ's playing with pianists, jazz sax players playing with punk rockers, acoustic instrumentalists playing with computerized sound-scapes, etc.

What ensued was a one-of-a-kind performance that brought together a wide array of musicians and fans that would otherwise never have found themselves at the same show.

Boston Marathon 2013

I was in Boston for the day of and the week following the marathon bombings.  I didn't take any profound photos from the finish line, and I didn't have a particularly unique experience compared to most other people in the city, but I do have some images I'd like to share from my week. 

Harpoon Brewery

I recently took a tour of the Harpoon Brewery in Boston.  It was the first time I'd been there since 2010 when they were still doing renovations, so I was excited to see how they'd improved the already impressive brewery.  Our tour let out into a giant beer hall at the perfect time of day, just as the sun was setting behind the Boston skyline.  My brother and I sat at the bar facing the view, and I was able to make this great HDR image of a back-lit glass of beer:

After glancing at my camera to make sure I got the shot, I look up and the backlight was gone - the sun had just crept behind the Prudential Center.  I gave myself a little pat on the back and smugly finished my beer.

Game of Thrones Exhibition in NYC

When I heard about the temporary traveling Game of Thrones exhibition I jumped at the chance to nerd out for an afternoon.  I had no idea (though I guess I should have) that so many people would line up around a city block just to get an inside look at the show. 

I had a great time photographing costumes, props and behind-the-scenes aspects of the show, but I also indulged in the Blackwater Bay video game and got my Santa-at-the-mall-esque picture taken on the Iron Throne.

...and I might have gotten in line again and posed as Spider-Man.

Hurricane Sandy

This is a RATHER late post about my coverage of Hurricane Sandy in my neighborhood.  After all the floods of 2011 our block and the surrounding houses were ready for the worst.  Luckily we were spared any flooding, as most of the water damage came from tidal surges rather than heavy rains.  However there was wind and tree damage like I've never seen.

The Lakota Wolf Preserve

This past Sunday I went with Bergen County Camera to the Lakota Wolf Preserve.  The trip was a bit pricy, but absolutely worth the money.  Out in Columbia, New Jersey, the people at the site work year-round to feed and care for not just wolves, but foxes and bobcats as well.

On the bumpy ride up to the shooting area our guide told us that during Hurricane Sandy around a hundred trees were blown down, some damaging the fences keeping the wolves in.  Amazingly the trainers spent the night on top of the hill amidst the hurricane conditions making sure the wolves were safe and contained.

This was an amazing opportunity, getting to photograph these beautiful creatures in a near-natural habitat.  The morning light created several challenges, but allowed for some beautiful views of the animals.

The Central Park Zoo

Nothing particularly unique about these pictures, just a day trip to the Central Park Zoo.  I've always loved shooting animals, whether they're in the zoo or in the wild.

The Old '76 House

The Old '76 House is one of the countries oldest taverns, and holds a particularly interesting place in American history.  This is where American troops brought the redcoat Major John Andre for interrogation and imprisonment after he was caught aiding the infamous Benedict Arnold in his attempt to deliver West Point to the British.  Andre was tried, convicted and hanged atop a nearby hill, which is marked by a similar blue-and-yellow sign.  These signs are common sights throughout the Historic Hudson Valley.

Inside the tavern is decorated much as it might have been in colonial times.  The portraits of Andre and Arnold (or "The Spy" and "The Traitor", respectively) sit atop one of the mantles, the latter turned upside down as is customary with traitors.

The menu contains as much history and folklore as it does food items.  It lists its notable patrons throughout history, from George Washington and Alexander Hamilton up to Bill Murray and Rosie O'Donnell.  The waiters take pleasure in telling patrons ghost stories involving Major Andre's imprisonment as they make salads at the table.

Though this area is full of official historical sites and buildings, The Old '76 house is definitely a unique experience.

"The Dream @50" Celebration at The Met

Yesterday I had the pleasure of covering 'The Dream @50' Celebration at The Met.  This was an art contest awards ceremony that included submissions from local K-12 students, meant to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King's famous 'I Have a Dream' speech.  Though the actual date isn't until August 28 (something I've always remembered as it's also my birthday), holding this event in January was a great, touching way to start of Black History Month this year.

The assignment for the art competition was to present a piece that reflected on the progress of the Civil Rights Movement in the decades since MLK's work.  What was really interesting/inspiring was how much of the artwork dealt with not just the state of Blacks, but of all races, religions and orientations.

The ceremony included two performances by students from the Harlem School of the Arts.  Between the artwork and the performers, there was some amazing stuff presented.  I kept having to remind myself that these were elementary, middle and high school kids dancing and singing and painting, etc.  - which made the work 'RULL' impressive, rather than simply 'really' impressive.

Curators made several references to works form the American Wing throughout the ceremony, so I decided to take a walkthrough afterwards and as a bonus I've included some of those HDR's.

2013 NYC Winter Jazz Fest

I had the pleasure of photographing the NYC Winter Jazz Fest in the West Village this past weekend.  Not a whole lot to say here, so let's get right to the pictures!  

Bonus:  Here's a botched HDR of an upright bass player at Sullivan Hall.  I rather like how it came out.