AL DENTE

This tiny restaurant is located on Manhattan's Upper West Side. I like the warm light and cozy feel of the place and of course the food. But what I really find fascinating is that despite the restaurant's intimacy, everyone in this photo seems to be lost in their own world.

SWEATER WEATHER

Whenever I see skeins of wool I think of my Mom. She was an avid knitter, making sweaters, scarves, socks and caps--countless caps. For more than thirty years she knitted watch caps for The Seaman's Church Institute. Those caps were distributed to sailors in their holiday packages. Mom's hands were always busy. She had the uncanny ability to knit and watch tv, a trailblazing multitasker, before multitasking was fashionable. Today I wore one of my winter jackets and when I put my hand in the pocket I found one of the watch caps that she made me! Mom doesn't knit much any more, if only I had paid attention and learned to knit!

OLD COUNTRY ROAD

I hate it when the clocks "fall back" and the days get shorter and shorter. Today as I was driving west on Old Country Road, a road I have been driving on since I got my license I saw the last remnants of the sun slipping below the horizon. I liked the counterpoints of the dark sky and headlights/taillights with the bright spot of the sun. I saw this road and intersection in a way I had never seen it before. At the end of the day (no pun intended), isn't that what photography is all about?

THE SUNDAY TIMES CROSSWORD

It has been a ritual for as long as I can remember, Momma and The Sunday New York Times crossword puzzle. My Mom has been doing the puzzle for longer than I have been alive. Of course she does it in pen and she always finishes it---usually in less than a day. It begins on Saturday morning with a phone call in which Mom tells me her opinion of the puzzle's theme and difficulty. For those of you who live outside of the New York metropolitan area, the Sunday New York Times delivers some of their Sunday sections (including the puzzle) on Saturday to their subscribers. After the call, Mom surrounds herself with her resources: dictionary, thesaurus, Bartlett's Quotations, Maltin's movie guide and various other volumes. In the past couple of years it has become a joint effort with me "Googling" some particularly tough clues. I point out to my Mom, a former teacher, that this is really cheating. Mom chalks it up to part of the educational process. At ninety, she is learning about computers, rap music and all sorts of things from the crossword clues. And Mom is still polishing off the puzzle in a few hours. I'm beginning to think that crossword puzzles might just be the secret to her longevity.

MAKING MUSIC

I just like the simplicity of this photo... it's a fast read. Right now all I can read is a bedtime story. Exhausted and heading to bed.

IN THE PINK

On a perfectly miserable, gray, rainy day the bright spot was this pink umbrella. I liked the faceless person reflected in the window of the car that she is struggling to get into. I also liked that most of the photo is composed of dark angles with that one big bright pink umbrella. Into each life a little rain must fall... I wonder if it falls more easily on a pink umbrella?

BIKE LIGHT

I just loved the lines and the light of this image. The red bike jumped out from the background and the geometry of the lines in the bike rack just created an interesting geometry.

STARS AND STRIPES

When I saw these flags I thought of those veterans who are gone and I thank those who who have served and those who are currently serving.

TWILIGHT

As I was heading to physical therapy this evening I couldn't help but stop to take a picture of the sky. Temperatures dropped significantly today, but the sky reminded me of warmer weather and sunnier times. However the bare trees tell the real story.

COURTING DISASTER

DITCHED

As I walked into a Starbucks I saw this sad little dog anxiously looking for his owner. The dog looked kind of funny sitting upright in the driver's seat, but clearly, this little fellow thought he had been ditched. He was staring out the driver's side window hoping to catch a glimpse of his owner. The owner did eventually return, latte in hand.

SPIN CYCLE

This sign caught my eye as I crawled along Brooklyn's Atlantic Avenue in traffic. The sign certainly portrays doing laundry as cute and appealing. Now that's a real spin cycle.

DINNER OUT

Another cold dreary day called for dinner at a warm inviting familiar place. We headed out to a favorite little spot and had to wait at the bar before being seated. The wait provided me with my blog photo (loved the candles reflected on the top of the bar) A glass of red wine not only warmed me, but went down way too easily!

STORMY SKY

It was a gray cloudy day, but the sun still managed to peek through the clouds. I like the way the sun highlighted the relief on the facade of the building, yet the sky was cloudy and gray. There is color here, yet the photo has a monochromatic feel to it.

RED, WHITE & BLUE

SEASONS

This year more then any I can remember, autumn is giving us quite a show. I have been keenly aware that the leaves seem more brilliant, the color saturation deeper and more vibrant. This year almost daily as I drive around Long Island I see one tree more beautiful then another. I don't remember being this wowed by the foliage before. I know if I were to move I would miss autumn, but not the season that follows.

STAINED GLASS

I always slow down for stained glass windows. I get lost in the design and intricacy of them. As a child my Mom instilled an early appreciation for stained glass art in me. She told me how painstakingly some of the glass was cut and the leading that secured the glass in place. Mom used to give tours in our local church and of course the stained glass windows and their stories were the centerpiece of her tour. My art history classes in college reinforced Mom's art appreciation efforts. So today when I passed this window I stopped for a moment and then I had to take a picture.

THE FOX

For the past several years I have come to feel that the Long Island I was born and raised on is vanishing. Some days I feel like it has simply disappeared. Almost daily I lament the traffic and congestion and the loss of open space to developers. I was really surprised to see this red fox in a local park. I haven't seen a fox here in more than twenty years and at first I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me. The fox population is diminishing as more and more houses are built. I was so happy to see this fox it; reminded me of the bucolic Long Island I grew up on.

P THE PUMPKIN

Halloween is definitely Pistachio's holiday. He borrowed Slugger's pumpkin costume for the occasion....everything was too big, except the hat! Slugger was relieved he didn't have to dress up, he just wanted treats. As you can see Pistachio was just thrilled to be dressed up. He sure is the perfect Halloween cat.

THE RED DOOR

Every door of the college I graduated from was painted red. The door of my own home is red. So, of course, as soon as I saw this red door on the shed of a country house I had to photograph it. I liked the shadows and sense of texture, as well as the wear on the door knob. The age of the door gives it character and makes it more interesting. I like talking with older people. I like to hear their stories and I have learned a lot from them. I can only imagine the history of this door and the stories it could tell.

GRAVEYARD SENTRY

I drove through a quaint churchyard cemetery today and was surprised to see graves decorated for Halloween. There was something about this angel watching over what looks like skeleton masks, that I found made an interesting juxtaposition. Halloween decorations, an indication that life goes on and is even celebrated here in this city of the dead.

INSIDE LOOKING OUT

Today was the kind of day when you wanted to stay inside and look out...occasionally. Sonia seems quite pensive as she observes the inclement weather. She is just happy that it isn't snow.....yet!

MAPLE LEAF

I was in the yard preparing for the coming cold weather when I decided to bring in the birdbath. It was a birthday present from my Mom about five years ago. I always store the top to prevent it from cracking during the winter. I was surprised to see that the birdbath was bone dry and the only thing in it was a small maple leaf! I just liked the composition of this photo and the rich color in the leaf.

OSCARINA

I stopped to visit my cousin Jimmy today. Jimmy has always been a dog lover. When we were young he always had his dog by his side and to this day goes almost nowhere without Angus, his Cairn Terrier. What I didn't realize until quite recently is that he was probably Doctor Dolittle in another life. He loves all animals, cats, birds and turtles (stopped to save one that was in the middle of a highway--he moved it to a grassy wooded area). He even leaves food out for the fox that live on his property. This is his cat Oscarina, who was Oscar until she delivered six kittens! She was feral, but of course Jimmy took her in and found homes for all the kittens. She is completely devoted to him now.

RAINY NIGHT

As I was driving home from the city tonight I couldn't help but notice how desolate this intersection appeared. The only life was the light reflected in the wet pavement. Not a person in sight and no activity at all. It was an uncharacteristically quiet street in the city that never sleeps.

BRIDGE TO THE BRONX

Okay, I admit it... I almost abandoned the blog tonight because I felt I had nothing worth posting. In the interests of keeping this photo a day thing going I settled on this. I like some of what is going on here, the strong vertical sailboat masts and the bridge towers. Still, I think something is missing. Maybe I will find something more compelling tomorrow!

FOOD HUNT

I was unpacking the Whole Foods packages when I turned and saw the back of Slugger sticking out of the bag! Slugger has been very hungry and pretty unhappy with his diet. I guess he was hoping to find some morsel of food to take the edge off his hunger. He was pretty surprised when I caught him in the act!

LATE OCTOBER

I passed this street corner and the shadows caught my attention first. I liked how long the shadows were and the way they looked on the fence's repeated diamond pattern. Something about the geometry of it all interested me. I'm still not convinced about it as an image... maybe I was trying too hard to find a blog photo. Maybe, maybe not.

ONE OF THOSE DAYS

The brilliant orange wall first caught my eye and then I saw the man's posture. His body language suggested he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. He seemed to be lost in thought. The strong shadow of his downcast head reinforced his overwhelmed appearance. I empathized with him. It really was one of those days for me too.

AUTUMN LIGHT

There is something about the crisp late afternoon light in autumn that can make something ordinary look extraordinary. Of course the tree's shadow is what makes this image interesting, it adds depth and interest. I liked it better in black and white too. The only real color in the photo was the street signs which are the only elements I wish weren't there. They were less intrusive when reduced to black and white. I just like the depth of this photo created by the tree and its shadow and the balance. Maybe what I like best is the way this very ordinary moment is frozen in time. I can look at it again and again and each time I see something new or I see it a different way. I wish all situations could be revisited that way.

HOOD ORNAMENT

Today hood ornaments seem to be limited only to luxury cars, but in the early days hood ornaments were a common way that automakers disguised the cap to the car's radiator. My maternal grandparents always drove a Packard. Growing up I would hear my Mom and her brothers talk about the car, but by then the company was out of business. When I saw this "goddess of speed" hood ornament I thought it was rich in detail and design and would be an interesting photo. Imagine my surprise when I saw the name Packard on the side of the ornament!

BOO!

MERRY-GO-ROUND

Sometimes life seems a lot like a merry go round--- going around in circles, but not making any progress. I have had too many of these days lately.

A SNEAK PEAK

I had a lot of mixed feelings today as I walked into the new Yankee Stadium for the first time. Of course I was curious about the new stadium but I felt guilty as I walked past the "original" Yankee Stadium en route to its replacement. I almost felt I was doing something wrong. I watched as the sod was installed on the Yankees' new field of dreams---about 90% is done and you can see where the rest will go, along the third baseline and left field. I walked around trying to take it all in as I imagined what it will be like to go to a game there, what kind of history will be made there. I decided since I documented my last visit to the original stadium, I had to document my first visit to the new stadium. My friend and colleague Charles took the photo!

SPOOKY TABLE

While waiting in a restaurant I saw these shadows cast by light passing through blinds on the table. I liked the interplay between the shadows and the Halloween centerpiece. It has a monochromatic feel to it and I thought I might like it more in black and white. When I looked at it in "grayscale" I felt that the nuances of color actually gave the image more depth and interest. It was an interesting experiment and the result surprised me. So I guess for me it was a kind of visual treat.

AUTUMN

Although it still feels like summer with temperatures in the 70s, there are signs everywhere that Autumn is here. The temperatures are supposed to change and become chilly on Friday. As for the trees they have already begun change and put on their annual show.

MOM AND THE MOON

As I walked my Mom to her car tonight she commented on the moon and said, "It would make a good blog picture". About the last thing I felt like doing was going into the house to get my camera and take pictures of the moon. Obviously I did. In my world, Mother always knows best!

NOT SO FLAT IRON

I have driven past the legendary Flatiron building in Manhattan countless times and really not given it much of a thought. Recently, I walked past it and stopped to take a closer look. I was amazed by the detail and design in the facade. As I looked up from the sidewalk below it was so imposing, almost overpowering. It reminded me of the prow of a ship. What a beautiful building.

GOURDS

At the garden center today I spent a good deal of time looking at the colors, the form and the uniqueness of these tiny gourds. I listened as other people looked at them too. Some thought they were really ugly and "had warts". Other folks found them cute and colorful. It just reinforced that old hackneyed aphorism, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder". As for me, I love the fact that not one is the same and I bought a bunch of them!

HEADS OF STATE

If I am not mistaken I think I saw these heads spinning about the past week on Wall Street. Maybe if they put their heads together they can solve our economic crisis.

WINDOW PANE REFLECTIONS

I spent my entire day in the office and arrived home late with the sun starting to drop. I realized I hadn't found a blog picture and then saw the kitchen window reflections on this wall hanging. I have seen this so many times that it is familiar to me, but I suspect without that familiarity it might be a tough read.

COFFEE OR TEA

This picture was an accident. I shot something today and when I came home the compact flash card could not be read in my computer. The images didn't even show up on the card. I raced upstairs to my home computer where they could be read and puzzled over the variables. In the end the pictures were retrieved, but the card was not trustworthy. So I formatted the card and shot a test in my kitchen. Surprise, I liked the way the stainless tea kettle separated from the granite yet it all had a monochromatic feel to it. Funny, I am a coffee addict, a Starbucks devotee and a coffee purist. I never drink tea (unless I am sick), but I have inherited my Mom's love of teapots. I like the different styles, shapes and themes. I particularly like the short, squat ones. I really don't like this stainless one at all, but I love the way it looks in this "test" photo. That's what I love about photography... the surprises!

THE WATERFALLS

I had to see the New York City waterfalls exhibit before it closes this coming weekend. The 120 foot waterfall installed under the Brooklyn Bridge is one of four waterfalls installed in New York City harbor. This monumental scale public art installation is simply amazing.

TOP OF THE ROCK

From the Top of the Rock (70th floor observation deck of Rockefeller Center) the views are spectacular. My only regret was that the looking north the light was crisp and brilliant but the light looking south toward the Empire State Building was a rather muddy. Disappointed I tried to figure out how to make a photo that would work. A few minutes later these folks walked out on a lower observation level and their shadows added interesting elements to the photo. I like this photo, but at some point I will have to get back to shoot the Empire State Building when the light is right!

CLIMBING

I was cooling my heels on a park bench waiting to for the right moment to take a photo when I noticed this staircase. I liked the strong lines but was really concentrating on getting another image. Then this person started coming down the stairs and it looked more interesting to me. So often when I am intent on taking one picture, I see another.

BIN 220

We met some friends for a drink tonight at a wine bar in lower Manhattan. This gem of a spot not only had fine wine, but great ambiance too. I was lucky enough to see these beautifully backlit bottles from where I sat. We're definitely going back there again.

NIGHT COMES EARLY

I like autumn, but I don't like the days getting shorter and knowing that winter is just around the corner. I like wearing sweaters, crisp days and hearing leaves crunch under my feet. I don't like driving home from work in the dark and feeling like I have missed the best part of the day. Although it does make it easier to photograph the sunset!

ROOF LINES

Besides the striking way the green paint separates from the brilliant blue sky, I really liked the angle and lines of the roof. I wasn't sure this photo would work when I shot it, but I like the composition and use of space within the frame. It is a simple picture, but the more I look at it the more I see and the more I like it.

A SAD GOODBYE

I was up at Yankee Stadium today. I know it will probably be the last time I am in the stadium that has been so much a part of my life and the team that my family has embraced for longer then I can remember. As I got ready to leave, I had to go out to the field and take it in for one last time. I took my camera with a super wide lens and tried to take a picture of myself on the field. A tv cameraman I know was on the field taping. All of a sudden he yelled to me and said let me take the picture. He was kind enough to come over and take the picture. I will miss this stadium. My parents courted here and even saw a 1943 World Series game, it was here my Dad took my brother to his first Yankees game (Mantle hit a homerun but my brother was inside getting a hot dog) and I saw my first game here too. The Yankees made history here, but lots of ordinary people made their own kind of history.