Observations by the Foto-Flaneur

Bee in my eye!

2011-08-24T12:19:00.000-05:00

During my morning bike ride along the lake, as I was going around the totem pole, I became aware of a flying black insect just to the left of my left eye. The next thing I knew was I had an excruciating pain just above my left eye. I turned to the right to get off the bike trail directly in front of the totem pole. I literally threw the bike down as I jumped off. I was cursing and at the same time feeling my eye lid in the left corner. I did not not locate a stinger, but was in great pain. I sat down on a bench for a few minutes and then biked a short distance south to the drinking fountain and bathed my eye in the the cool water for about five minutes. When I got home I applied a cold compress of a small can of juice that proved to be quite helpful.

Joe Sterling, photographer, passes & photo philosophy

2010-11-10T23:16:00.006-06:00

Photographer Joe Sterling died earlier this week.he was a graduate photography student at the Institute of Design when I was an under graduate in the 1960's. His thesis was about the teen age adolescent experience in the inner city of Chicago. He came from Texas and was about as tall as the state of Texas, where he came from, is large.

I going to Joe's wake and funeral with Bob Tanner and Tom Knutson, both fellow students with him at the same time period.

Stan, my interviewer has changed his plan to write about my experience walking steel during the construction of high rises in the 1970;s in Chicago to my photo documentation of the civil rights movement and anti-war movement in Chicago at the same period. I am much happier that he chose that because it represents a philosophy of art, where as walking steel not so, unless you consider it a form of zen concentration, although that is open to discussion.

Stan Getz and Zoot Sims are two of my favorite mainstream jazz saxaphonists from the 50's to the 90's. Vocalist Stacey Kent's husband, Tomilson carries on the tradition.

Zoot Sims

Stan Getz

Stacey Kent

Captured: America in Color from 1939-1943 – Plog Photo Blog

2010-08-20T21:46:00.000-05:00

Captured: America in Color from 1939-1943 – Plog Photo Blog

Absolute phenomenal 4x5 kodachrome transparencies taken during during the depression and WWII on the home front by FSA photogs. Must see! Brings back that period quit well. Being kodachromes, they didn't fade over the years, and probably won't.

Two photos from a morning walk

2010-07-02T07:49:00.000-05:00

Sheridan and Thorndale.

2010-06-22T18:24:00.002-05:00

Monday, June 21, 2010 first day of summer and my dad’s birthday

This afternoon Susan and I visited with the Lill's. I biked down. On the return trip I passed many young teenagers on skateboards going along the bike path. I discovered they were headed to the rink in Lincoln Park just north of Lawrence Ave. in celebration of National Skateboard day. There was a mob of the dedicated groupies there along with some participants in a competition that I grabbed some shots. Very difficult since although the Canon S90 is a fabulous camera it is not intended for this sort of thing. It has a shutter lag that makes it impossible to shoot a decisive moment. Even many DSLRs have shutter lags. In addition, although I have a 8GB class 6 SDHC card, it is not very fast at buffering, so when I shot multiple sequence shots, they all missed. I finally pushed the shutter ahead of the peak moment and managed to capture a few frames that hit the action right on. All the time avoiding having the skater land on me, which happened almost three times anyway – and that doesn’t count the skateboard!

http://www.chicagobotanic.org/exhibitions/close.php

2010-06-08T05:47:00.000-05:00

http://www.chicagobotanic.org/exhibitions/close.php
Seems like a good reason to trek out to the Chicago Botanic Jarden. Photos look excellent on the Jarden's website. Unfortunately, today, it is raining all day long and chilly - good for a Shetland sweater and rain gear - just like Scotland!

Pic snapped on Hollywood Pier, Chicago

2010-06-03T12:09:00.002-05:00

Interesting couple on an extremely foggy morning about a week ago.

Where I have traveled on a map

2010-01-20T00:07:00.002-06:00

This map is located on Virtual Tourist. I've been to most of the states, some islands and Great Britain, Wales, Scotland and France.

Get Your Own Map

View Larger Map

Back in "Sweet Home Chicago!'

2010-01-18T08:17:00.000-06:00

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

sunny, but cold and a bit windy. typical Chicago winter morning

Had a fabulous breakfast at Ina’s on Randolph to celebrate our return to "Sweet Home Chicago."

New York City - Day 14 - Return to Chicago

2010-01-18T08:15:00.002-06:00

Monday, December 14, 2009 Absolutely beautiful sunny day!

We had a nice long luxurious breakfast at the Leo House and spoke with Sister Katherine Reis for sometime. She informed us that in 1960 Mother Theresa visited NYC and stayed at the Leo House!

We then finished packing and thought it wise to catch a cab to the airport at 11:33am. Our flight leaves at 3:05pm, scheduled to arrive in Chicago at 4:55pm CST.

The flight was delayed over an hour because of the weather in Chicago departing. I was constantly texting Ms S to get updates on the weather.

4:20pm. We left the gate and are cued up waiting in a long line of other planes. All a sudden a woman got up and started to go to the aisle! A stewardess ran down the aisle to put her back, but discovered she was “sick” and led her to the rear of the plane. They cleared a few seats somehow so she could lie down. Later, it was apparent she was probably drunk or on drunks and having a bad reaction. As the pilot said, “She seemed to be pretty much out of it.”

We stayed cued up, and then to our relief we started to move. Ah, but we made two, not one left turns. This meant, to me that we were returning to the gate, and sure enough the terminal building came into view. And we were close. We taxied all the way back to our departure gate and sat there while we waited for the paramedics to arrive.

4:35pm. The paramedics arrived and removed the ailing woman from the plane by supporting her as she “walked” the entire length of the plane to the front.

4:48pm. All of this time the plane was running and had used up too much fuel to be allowed to take off and fly to Chicago, so a refueling truck had been ordered and arrived.

5:08pm. We were still at the gate.

5:28pm EST. We finally left the ground and are air born! Hooray, we are on our way to “Sweet Home Chicago!”

6:45pm CST. We just bounced on the tera firma of O’Hare. Our pilot must be a former Navy pilot used to landing hard on carrier decks! Shortly after our return, two or three other American Airlines planes landed hard and either crashed or had trouble. The government is investigating. Hope the investigators are not Navy pilots.

Ms S had done a bit of shopping for us, so we had some fresh food available upon arrival.

New York City - Day 13 - fabulous Neue Galerie - Klimt, Schiele and other artists working in Vienna, etc.

2010-01-18T08:11:00.004-06:00

December 13, 2009, a dreary rainy day which became heavy in the afternoon

I am writing this at 8:16am after a half hour conversation with yet another Ozzie! I have lost track of how many I/we have met this trip. Many are staying at our place of lodging, but I can spot their accent and so usually approach them. They are a great bunch and quite friendy.

This fellow was on the hotel computer doing research in the final phase of writing a book on the Madoff ponzie scandal. He is interviewing all levels of people involved in the prosecution as well as some victims. I learned that anyone who got out of the fund up to six months prior to the filing for bankruptcy are liable by law and that they will be gone after to recover money to distribute to those who were left hanging holding the bag.

We talked a lot about the case.

Susan and I had breakfast at Breadstix again at the corner of 23rd and 8th Avenue and then took two subway trains up to Lexington and 86th and proceeded to walk 3 blocks east to 5th ave in rain to spend most of the day at the magnificent Neue Galerie housed in a magnificent old four story mansion at the corner across from Central Park. It was completed in 1914 by Carrère & Hastings, who did the New York Public Library. It features the great collection of Serge Sabarsky, a collector and art dealer. It features Austrian artists Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele, and Oskar Kokoschka, and German artists Max Beckmann, Otto Dix, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, among others working in Vienna and Germany just before and after WWI. The only word to describe it is a gem of collection in gem of a building.

After touring the artwork we couldn't resist visiting the bookstore in the former library of the mansion. The books are displayed in the original glass doored cabinets lining the walls. OMG! We could have purchased 25 books! One was on the cabaret and musical reviews of that period and included 4 CD's. Next to the library was the exquisite tiny "Design Store" featuring repros of many of the elegant silver ware of that period. OMG 2x!

We then cued up at their Sabarsky restaurant operated by renowned chef Kurt Gutenbrunner to partake of German - Viennese food. The approximately 25 x 40 foot room is panneled in a dark walnut. The decor includes lighting fixtures by Josef Hoffmann, furniture by Adolf Loos, and comfortable banquettes that are upholstered with a 1912 Otto Wagner fabric of white roses with pale green leaves on a rich burgundy background. We were seated in one of those by windows looking out on 5th Avenue and Central Park. Our table was graced with beautifully designed salt and pepper shakers and a sugar dispenser. The well worn floor is of a herringbone design. The center area featured black and white marble topped "cafe" tables with black bentwood chairs by Loos. Hanging in the tall windows are 18 inch Christmas wreaths with red ribbon bows. The windows featured fantastic brass hardware that I couldn't photograph because it was so dark in the room. They need romantic candles on the tables.

Susan started with a beet salad with goat cheese with a refreshing lemon vinaigrette dressing followed by Beef Goulah with spatzel which was excellent.
Stef started with a large bowl of Beef Goulash soup with potatoes that was tangy with just a bite of spice. This was followed by Wiener Snitzel with potato salad and lingon berries in a sauce. Very good.

This was followed by special Viennese torts and exquisite rich hot chocolate.
I had hoped to visit some special chocolate shops and sample some goodies as well as have hot chocolate, but have managed to have some hot chocolate at a number of restaurants been lucky: it has been top notch.

When we left the light was a deep blackish grey accompanied by endless rain drops dancing in the streets, water running in the gutters and on glass roofs. You could see the rain back lit in the auto headlights.

Allow me an aside observation. We have noticed everywhere folks texting at inappropriate venues and times, at least in our opinion. Here we are in a romantic environment and even the woman is texting while her date is stilling there waiting to converse with her. Enough already!

New York City - Day 12 - A tiny taste of Brooklyn - Greenpoint and Williamsburg

2010-01-18T07:58:00.000-06:00

Saturday, December 12, 2009

I took two subways to get to Brooklyn and meet Jonathan Lill for breakfast at a great brunch place, Enids, on Manhattan Ave. We got their when they opened, but within a half hour the place was extremely busy.

Ran into many people dressed up as Santa Claus on the subway, as well as walking the streets of the area. They were all going somewhere to "Santacon." I missed some great hilarious shots as an endless stream of men and women, dressed in Santa costumes, some rented, others purchased or home made, streamed past the window on their way to one central bar to begin their pub crawl.

After a long brunch, Jon graciously led me on a great walk all over Greenpoint. Where Jon lives is an Italian neighborhood. But the neighborhood is often called "Little Poland" due to its large population of working-class Polish immigrants, supposedly the second largest concentration in the US after Chicago. We stopped in some of the cafes and grocery and pastry shops. A few of the shops made their own sausage. One featured marzipan in any food item you can name. Not only fruits and vegetables but sandwiches and hot dogs!

One shop we stopped in was Huitzilli Mexican Handicraft at 624 Metropolitan Ave. It was very similar to Casa Azul where Stephanie works at in Evanston. I spoke to Emily Cantrell the owner who operates very much like the owner of Casa Azul does. Another was Old Made Stuff a vintage shop at 441 Metropolitan Ave. owned by Leah Adams-Kroll and Frances Pezik. They had clothes and old retro stuff from various eras. Seemed geared very much to the 20’s – 30’s crowd.

I stopped into Hickoree’s which had a sign for Crown Overalls, the company my uncle Harry Levine worked for many years in Cincinnati, OH. On the rear, I think, it said Norwood. They sold hip clothes. It was temporary, since they mostly sell on their web site. They were in Metropolitan Green inventable space at 439 Metropolitan Place. I think they offer or rent space to emerging enterprises.

After I left him I walked down to the Williamsburg area. On the way I discovered an excellent bicycle shop and dropped in and had a conversation with the owner. Since it was Saturday, it was appropriate that is the day Don and I go early morning biking.

There was little activity since it was Saturday, but I did see some Hasidim returning from services.

New York City - Day 11 - Robert Frank Photography show at the Met Musee' Art & Man Ray show at Jewish Musee'

2010-01-18T07:54:00.000-06:00

Friday, December 11, 2009

Early this morning I spent about 25 minutes discussing art and photography with an art teacher from Melbourn, Austraila. She was leading a tour of students. She has been to NYC many times. I have met many "Sheilas" since landing here. ( Sheila, Australian slang for "woman", is derived from the Irish girls' name Síle.)

Winter has finally arrived! It is cold in the low 30's with a strong wind creating a knife cutting wind chill. Not good for Susan. Because of the weather and because Susan is quite exhausted from traipsing and around yesterday she has decided it wise to take a day off to re-coop her energy and ensconce herself at the hotel.

I took two subway trains, getting off at Lexington Avenue and 96nd street to go to the Jewish Museum to see the Man Ray show.

On the walk over, around 56 E. 93rd street, I struck up a conversation with a high end furniture dealer - gallery owner, Carlton Hobbs. The area is very upscale, similar to the Gold Coast in Chicago. There seemed to be quite a few tiny French bistros. I saw a Rolls and a Bently parked on Madison Avenue. I got a very nice photograph of buildings reflected in the trunk lid of the Bently which included the distinctive medallion of the Bently B with wings.

I wandered the area finally ending up having breakfast at Sarabeth's at Madison and 92nd street.I had Lox and scrabbled egges with a croissant along with hot chocolate for $22 before the tip. Sitting at the next table was a loving couple holding hands. They had two small bottles of J. Roge champagne, hot chocolate, french toast, quiche, and OJ. The bill before tip was $78. For breakfast!

The Man Ray show was very good as will as through. For me it was an insight into his time and activities with the dadaists and the surrealists and that fertile period in Paris between the wars. Ah yes, and then there was Kiki! Etc......

They really didn't include enough of his photography in the depth I would have preferred. Instead featured was an enormous amount of his paintings, which I personally don't think highly of. Too much thinking and not good execution. But lots of dada, which I love, and some surrealism. Also letters to some of the luminary's of the time including Duchamp and the one to Tristan Tzara from NYC in which famously he writes: "NYC is all Dada so there is nothing to be accomplished by bringing it to NYC." Further on he concludes with "I am doing nothing of interest now to anyone or to myself. Most Cordially, Man Ray." I found reading these documents of great interest. There was one knock out mobil hanging from the ceiling, probably the first, made from wooden clothes hangers with an old suit case on the floor. It had a spot light on it casting great shows on the white wall behind it. It was quite complex.

I also visited an exhibition about contemporary interpertation of Jewish religion and life. A bit of a stretch for me since I don't know everything Jewish. Never the less it was a great challange.

The museum building itself is something special, an old four or five story mansion right on the north east corner of 5th Avenue and 92nd.

The museum has an incredible gift shop feature Judica arts and crafts. A fantastic collection of modern menorahs to die for. I snuck a few shots, one of which features the statue of liberty for each candle holder. In brass. How I wished Susan was with me.

I had gotten to the area early, so walked about a bit as I sought out Sarabeth's, this one at Madison and 92nd street. As I wandered about I discovered numerous small intimate French bistros along the way. One was down a few steps into an English basement. I spoke to the owner who assured me that if I intended to have dinner there that I must make reservations. -- from Chicago, a bit before coming to NYC, I would guess!

I finally got to the Robert Frank exhibit at the Met around 4pm. On Fridays it is open till 9pm. I didn't hang out there that long!

I had my Eagle River bag with me with that old Domke bag pad for the shoulder strap that actually was a US postal carriers pad. Domke know about them and made them available for their bags. No one uses these now of course. LOL

I was looking at photo books that had been published before the Americans. He approached me when I entered the next room and confronted me with, “Who ARE you?” I responded with the same question.

He told me he was the Fantastic Fernaz. I didn't recognize this "promotional nickname." My excuse was that I've been in NYC for two weeks and suffering museum fatigue. LOL!

Finally, he told me his real name. I sure as hell knew who Ben Fernadez is because of his images of M L King.

I was aware of him at that time in the '60's and remember very clearly many of his Dr. King images. They are very fine! The caliber another photog wishes they had been there to capture as well. The only trouble was he was a late comer to the game, only documenting the last year and half of King’s life. That was a different time of activities- less on the street.

In an email I sent him morning I related the following story. Beginning in about 1962 or 63 I documented many of King's appearances on the south side (where the image I showed him that I had on my cell phone was taken) and west side. I remember a huge rally at Soldier Field downtown that featured the great gospel singer Mahalia Jackson. I have a monumental image (not size, but in style) of her listening to Dr. King. That image does accomplish what I had mentioned to him during our conversation; that of combining strong visual / graphic structure and arrangement in a photo documentary environment to communicate even stronger the moment being captured.

An interesting side light. During that period it was common to loan or borrow equipment from your competitors, even while out in field. John White, who was one of the early black photo journalists in Chicago and I would often run into each other often at these King events. He did not own a 28mm angle lens. I owned an incredibly sharp Schneider Curtagon. At the 47th street rally and at Soldier Field we were next to one another often and he would shoot virtually the same shot I did with my lens! The image described above is blown up to at least 30" x 40" and is on permanent display at a Black museum in Chicago in Washington Park.

Sadly John died of a heart attack in the 70's, I think, and society lost a vital image maker. I attended his funeral.

New York City - Day 10 - Rockefeller Center and The Sybarite5 Chamber String Quartet

2010-01-18T07:45:00.004-06:00

Thursday, December 10, 2009

great sunny day, but quite chilly. (Chicago - bad with a wind chill of 9 degrees.)

We spent the entire day at Rockefeller Center

After going crazy running around and trying to find the correct location to procure tickets to the Top of the Rock so I would be up there an hour before sunset, at sunset and then during dusk/twilight and also tour the NBC studios, we took a short rest and then went on the tour. We were provided with our own helper, Donald, about our age who cleared the way all the time, even finding our own elevators. The guides themselves were just great and had some personality. At the end I volunteer to play the roll of a news anchor person and read the news from a monitor. Lots of fun!

We went outside and viewed the Christmas tree, along with a gazillion little kiddies on field trips. OMG! We then walked around the ice rink. How convenient that there was a Metropolitan Museum of Art gift shop right there! Well, we could not pass THAT gift shop! Bought the Robert Frank book and more and are having all of it sent home.

Then we crowded into a small Dean and Deluca coffee shop across from the Today Show window. We had some chili soup and ham and potato soup along with a Cuban sandwich we shared and I had a large hot chocolate.

Unfortunately we did not run into Louis Mendes, who has been shooting tourist photos in front of the tree for 40 years with a vintage Speed Graphic 4x5 camera, potato masher flash and sells you a Polaroid print! He even has a Facebook page!
We eventually went to the Top of the Rock where it was quite cold and windy.
By this time Susan was quite tired.

Upon descending we found a Starbuck’s inside the lower level of the center. Susan had a tea and I had a coffee mocha. We sat looking out picture window onto the skating rink. As we looked out the window, during the cleaning of the ice by the Zamboni, a guy and his girl friend skated to the center of the rink in front of the gold winged sculpture and the Christmas tree above it. He proposed to her, complete with the ring. Sweet! A memory to cherish.

Although it seemed impossible to hail a cab, I managed to attack one when I spotted one pulling over to drop off a well heeled couple. Such good luck! That wind and cold was not pleasant.
Susan decided to relax at the hotel.
I went to a concert performed by The Sybarite5 Chamber String Quartet at a small venue next door to the hotel called "the cell.' The group was fabulous and played rock music that they or others had had arranged for string quartet simply because there is virtually no music composed for such a group - combination. Quartet yes, quartet, apparently not. They opened with "The Rebel" by Piotr Szewczyk which was simply dynamite. One piece was by Dan Visconti who has spent some time Memphis, TN. It was titled " Black Bend," and evoked, at the beginning the erratic circling of a bee. Then it picked up speed and it started to truly swing! I found my foot tapping and noticed those all all the musician's feet tapping as well. The reason was the slap of bass and the cello. It proceed to really rock and have the flavor a bit of country music. They also played two pieces by Astor Piazzolla arranged by Piazzola himself. "Muerte de Angel" was really great. They finished with "Heart Breaker" by Led Zepplin that brought the small intimate group to it feet. I think a few even whistled.
Afterward there was champaigne and mixing with the group and audience. I spoke to the cellist for quite some time.

New York City - Day 9

2010-01-18T07:41:00.000-06:00

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

overcast and drizzly, 50 degrees

It is early in the morning and I am catching up on email and writing in this journal.

Peter walked into the computer room around 7:00am. At 7:30am we went upstairs and had breakfast together and spoke for over an hour. He wanted to find a souvenir for his son that was appropriate to the United States. I gave him the Sacajawea silver dollar I gotten in change a few days ago. Sacajawea was the Indian woman who led the Lewis and Clark expedition to the Pacific Ocean for President Jefferson in 1805.

Peter now lives in Geneva, Switzerland.

Susan was so exhausted from all the walking and standing around the Statue of liberty & Ellis Island that she decided to stay at the hotel and read a book.

I went to the folk art museum, that I think is associated with MoMA & was most unimpressed, particulary when compared to other similar institutions.

I walked up 5th Ave documenting Christmas windows and other facades. I even found a dead pigeon in front of Harry Winston jewelry to add to my series. Then I treked into Central Park.

I discovered a Russian jazz musician playing in the southern end of Central Park near a bridge to the ice skating rink. He is living in Brighton Pk. We both were able to converse a bit in German.

I was walking in Central Park and heard Christmas music being played by a lone jazz musician for tips. I took some photos from a distance then approached him, dropped a lot of change I had and started a conversation. Turned out he was from Russian, didn't speak much English, but when I asked if he spoke German, his face lit up and my limited German from high school and the Yiddish that was spoken at home by my parents became invaluable. Thank goodness I had the gumption to take the risk to approach him and speak to him. If I was better in German we could gone on for another 15 minutes!

I finally learned that travel is not just running around looking at architecture, museums and eating in the suppossedly "not to miss" restaurants, but actually meeting some locals and engaging in some conversation, even if it is the person sitting next to you at breakfast. Not only is NYC a great walking city, but it is a great talking town as well.

Later I decided to walk up to the Dakota and grab a shot of it and venture into Strawberry Fields which is opposite it in Central Park. I struck up a conversation with a teenage student sitting on a bench across the street from the Dakota at the entrance to the park. He is student at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy which is south about 10 blocks at 211 West 61st Street (between Amsterdam and West End Ave.) and at 2109 Broadway in an historic landmark beaux-arts building.
I think there has been a major shift in the people of NYC. None of them have acted like the stereotype of the past. Anybody who has bushed past or done anything that needs a "pardon" or "sorry" has said so! Many have offered help with my wifes oxygen converter machine which is on a small luggage carrier when we go down or up with the subway or onto a bus or in or out of doors! I never would have expected that. Any body I have approached to ask assistance is quite helpful, even walked me part way or all the way a few blocks to where ever I was going. Some of the small unique shop owners that we have sought out, if not busy have talked with me for quite a while. This was particularly true of a ribbon shop in the area where they all are. We then grabbed a lunch across the street in a cafe they all eat. It was if you were going to the deli or coffee shop you always go to back home down town.
The one thing I have noticed is that there seems to have been an invasion of suburban chain stores that belong out in shopping malls! The original flavor of the city seems to be ozzing away.

New York City - Day 8 - Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and we meet a social antropologist!

2010-01-18T07:36:00.000-06:00

Tuesday, December 8, 2009 sunny, 50 degrees, not much wind, but out on the water it was.
We had breakfast at the Leo House early, at 7:30am when they opened to get an early start to get our tickets to the Statue of Liberty ferry, etc. Susan knoticed a fellow sitting by himself, so asked if she could sit with him. We had talked to him the day before when he told us he was going to hear some jazz that evening at Birdland. Lee Konitz who was the opening group at Birdland 60 years ago was appearing with Brad Meldaw (sp), Paul Motrian (sp) and Charlie Hayden. (remember Konitz! When he was a teen ager he was recording with Lennie Tristano!) By the time I joined her she had already discovered he was from Denmark, living in Geneva, Switzerland and is a social anthropologist, an area of tremendous interest to Susan! The showers may not be the best at the Leo House, but the guests are superior.
Peter Larsen is a researcher at peter.larsen@graduateinstitute.ch . [ billelarsen@gmail.com ] He had just concluded an international event in Philadelphia and added a few days in NYC. When he learned we were going to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, he decided to tag along.
Yesterday was the first really bad day for Susan. Susan, Peter and I took the subway from 23rd street all the way "downtown," south in my mind, to the tip of Manhattan to Battery Park to catch the ferry out to Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. We got there fairly early, about 9am, but already there was a large group. You have to go through security exactly like out at the airport. I had to remove any metal, including my watch and belt. Poor Susan with her oxygen converter! I think one person knew what it was but was sure if it really was the real thing. Then they ran a wand all over her. I went to grab a photo of the process, but oh, no! No photos! I guess I would have locked up! Finally we were able to repack up everything and put everything back together on her luggage cart with her machine, huge "purse" bag that was larger than my medium sized over the shoulder/backpack. Oh yes and tie our shoes on our walking shoes.
Then we got into a long line to board the ferry. At this point my cell phone was ringing as I was facing some agent directing us where to enter the line. It was Stephanie, calling from our condo. She is watching our condo and collecting mail. Something was beeping! What was it! Where was it! It turned out to be the low battery warning on one of our cordless phones! I guess I need to add an item to my list of things to do before leaving for a vacation - place all cordless phones in their respective chargers.
Susan stayed below on the ferry, which was wise since it was chilly and windy on the top deck.
Wow! The light was bright reflecting off the waves! And it was windy out there! Finally we landed at Liberty Island. We just walked all around it taking time to allow me to photograph it. I had tickets that would allow me to access the top of the base, but decided there was no advantage to do that. Months ago the tickets to climb up to the crown had been sold out, so I missed that. I remember doing that when I was 16 in 1956.
I had a photo of me standing in front of the statue that my mother had snapped back then in 1956 and hopped to duplicate it as closely as possible. We actually found the exact angle but were unsure of the precise distance from the base to where I had been standing.
Never the less, I got Peter from Denmark to take a few shots of me with my Canon SLR.
That evening we decided to try out Houston BBQ at the NW corner of 23rd and 8th Avenue. NYC is not known for having decent BBQ, but we always were going past it, so decided to give it a try. It was packed and extremely noisy. It was good for people watching. Seemed everyone was talking or texting on their cell phones! We had decent BBQ ribs and chicken with huge servings of Cole slaw and mashed potatoes.

New York City - Day 7 - Ribbons

2010-01-18T07:32:00.000-06:00

Monday, December 7, 2009

I had breakfast with another Travelziner who ironically is visiting NYC from Rockford, IL. We had a good time.

We were going to go up in the Empire State bldg 2da, but if clouded up.

We went to the Hyman Hendler ribbon shop at 21 W. 38th street that featured high end ribbons, many imported years ago from France. It was established in 1900. Susan was in heaven. I talked to the owner about the beginnings of the company from a push cart on the LES. Talked about where our grand parents coming from Russia, etc. Talked about Maxwell Street and how it and the LES have become gentrified with coffee shops, theatres, gelato joints, etc. Also that the Chinese are the principle group running sweat shops in NYC and that they not only make clothing but findings as well. He mentioned he sold to Fishman’s on Roosevelt road just north of Maxwell Street in Chicago as well as Vogue Fabrics in Evanston who were cheap. He was a great guy. He is married to the daughter of the original owner.

We ate across the street in a coffee shop that all the fabric and findings merchants socialize and eat. They all knew the owner, who we discovered him as he was just leaving.

Went to Macy's which was an absolute total zoo. We had difficulty navigating the aisles and people constantly were knocking over displays. Lots of stuff 50% off today. I personally thought their Christmas windows were losers. They did have some normal window displays featuring perfume bottles and silver disks all hanging on fishing line which were beautiful and quite creative.

Went to B&H photo which also was a zoo. It was much further than I thought, all the way to 9th Avenue. I couldn't stand it and longed for Helix or Calumet.

Gave up and returned to the Leo house and ran two loads of wash! Yuk!

We had dinner at a French restaurant at 25th and 9th Avenue. I had Escargot which was excellent. That was followed by smoked salmon and ratatue crepes. Susan started with incredible rich and a bit sweet French onion soup followed by a chicken and ratitoui crepe. For dessert we split a chocolat bannana crepe.

The bread was great accompanied by Irish butter. The service quit good. The ambiance was good as well.

New York City - Day 6 - a GTG, Pierpont Morgan Museum and Moroccan food.

2010-01-18T07:19:00.000-06:00

Sunday, the 6th

We are having a "GTG" brunch with a small group of New Yorkers who belong to a Yahoo group I interact with called "The Travelzine." We call our self's "ziners." It is a great group of international members who post questions and answers about our travels. If a person is going somewhere and needs info for hotels, B&B's, restaurants, trains, or what to see; the others post responses with answers. I have cut and pasted many of these responses to documents I have created for future reference.

Only two of the four other folks showed up. But they were interesting. Both had traveled all over the globe and we felt a bit out of their league. I usually don't blow my own horn, so didn't didn't rattle on about all my travels for my jobs domestically and internationally. For me it was just interesting to hear their stories.

We gathered at Sarabeth's at 75 9th Avenue at 15th street not far from our hotel. It was very cold and windy from the direction we walked and that made it most unpleasant to put it mildly for Susan. [Torture would be more appropriate] Even for that short distance of eight short New York “street” blocks of a bit less than a half a mile, it would have been much wiser to have taken a cab. The restaurant is in the old Nabisco bakery converted to a long block walk past gourmet food emporiums, many bakeries and kitchen equipment establishments. The place was packed by the time we left around 1:15pm. Susan had outstanding French toast covered in raisins and banana slices. I had a omelet of ham, cheese and scallions with a croissant and their home made raspberry preserves. They also made me a very tasty coffee mocha. One of the two women we met was photographer Jack Reznicki’s wife, Reggie. (Studio is at 31 W 27th, #10B, bet Broadway and 6th Avenue, 212-925-0771.) She was very nice, as was the other woman, Sheryl. Both lived in Manhattan.

Afterward we visited the Pierpont Morgan Library & Museum. They had an exhibit dedicated to William Blake's watercolors, prints, and illuminated books of poetry revealing his genius that was incredible. Also an exhibit of Puccini letters and his original hand written musical scores to his operas. Then there was the gem of the Jane Austen collection of letters, A Woman's Wit: Jane Austen's Life and Legacy that reveal her characteristically sharp observations and irrepressible wit. Oh what a great gift shop! Lots of Barbar the elephant and a great selection of other books to purchase.

Ambitiously creative, Blake (1757–1827) was a poet, painter, and printmaker had an abiding interest in theology and philosophy, which, during the age of revolution, inspired thoroughly original and personal investigations into the state of man and his soul. I know him as an engraver, but this exhibition reminded me he was later recognized for innovations in other media.

The show includes more than 100 works and among the many highlights are two major series of watercolors, twenty-one watercolors for Blake's seminal illustrations for the Book of Job—considered one of his greatest works from about 1805–10 and twelve drawings illustrating John Milton's poems L'Allegro and Il Penseroso, executed about 1816–20.

In addition to the superlative watercolor series—twenty-one illustrations to the Book of Job and twelve designs illustrating Milton's L'Allegro and Il Penseroso—other important drawings are on display, included Fire (ca. 1805), which addressed the subject of war.

Also featured was a magnificent larges print, touched with watercolor by the artist, depicts Chaucer's Canterbury Pilgrims.

Among Blake's crowning achievements as a visual artist and poet are his illuminated books, such as Songs of Innocence and of Experience: Shewing the Two Contrary States of the Human Soul (ca. 1794) displaying his exceptional technical skills, reflect medieval manuscript illumination and the interrelationship between word and image. Also on view was the only dated copy of Blake's dramatic The Marriage of Heaven and Hell.

Sunday was a family activities day featuring Victorian London. Charles Dickens and his famous characters were wandering around the new lobby atrium reaching up four stories. They including a woman playing a guitar of sorts and a fantastic woman in very tall stilts all dressed in white. I got quite a few shots of both.

We listened to actress Marianna Loosemore as she read a charming short tale—written by a 12 year old Jane—about a young woman named Cassandra who sets off on an adventure through London, falling in love with a fancy hat and eating too much ice cream along the way! Each “chapter” was only a page or even less. It was in the main library room - books to the ceiling!

Celebrating Puccini featured forty items related to Puccini's career, including rarely seen original manuscripts and sketches for Madama Butterfly and La Bohème as well as first-edition librettos, personal letters, a period poster and playbills, souvenir postcards, and rare material linked to Puccini's relationship with Enrico Caruso and Arturo Toscanini.

Adolf Hohenstein's vivid poster for the original production of La Bohème and a playbill for the world premiere of Turandot are on view.

They have a tea room there, but we decided to spend all our time exploring the building and the well curated exhibits.

Susan really enjoyed this exhibit. We spent quite a bit of time at the library.
After the Pierpont we had a fabulous experience and meal at Barbe's French Moroccan at 21 E 36th St. just E of Madison named after the famous Paris neighborhood at the foot of the Sacre-Coeur, also known as the 'little piece of North Africa'.

Everything was tasty, the environment great and the service attentive and personable. Susan had something named a Virgin Barbe that consisted of lemon, lime, mint and ices. It was extraordinary refreshing. I had Moroccan tea.

For appetizers we had some of the most tasty onion soup ever and cab cakes a la moroccaine featuring special spices. Susan had Tagine de Poulet (chicken) with preserved lemon and green olives and I had Tagine de D' Agneau: lamb with sesame seeds and prunes along with a side of couscous. Both were delivered to the table in a conical clay cover that it had been baked in. For desert we shared a delicious out of this world Pastilla au Lait maded with large layers of filo dough with a creme sauce that included Moroccan spices in between and some strawberry slices on the top.

Strand Bookstore

2010-01-18T07:10:00.000-06:00

Saturday, December 5, 2009

The weather is quite raw.

It snowed in NYC quite a bit yesterday afternoon and night, but nothing accumulated. Temperature vacillated between 32 and 33 degrees.

We caught two buses and spent the morning hanging out at Strand bookstore. Susan made the acquaintance of a medieval expert who guided her in a selection of the best books to begin her investigation of that period of history that has she has begun to develop an interest. I was looking at books on French history with regard to WWII which was directly across the isle.

I then hung out in their collection of photo books of course. There is a new book of Helmut Newton. In the book are two photos of nudes he shot in the middle of the night illuminated by street light he shot outside our Paris apartment at 10 rue Aubriot, he had converted into a studio. They are included in the book. I took photos of the two full page images. I know where he took them because I recognize the out of focus church at the end of the one block long street. Street! ha! It is cobblestone alley!

I also leafed through quite a few other books, including one of color photos of Ansel Adams. He did shoot a lot, but never made prints because the technology of the period was either very expensive for good quality (dye transfer) or mush with C prints. I used to make lots of C prints and they never had the quality of real life. The text in the book was excellent and mentioned that he called on Harry Callahan to choose his best color images for some purpose, of which I do not recall as of this writing.

Susan made it to the Kate's paperie on west 13th and bought a few things. I left her there and went to the Forbes gallery to see the huge collection of toy boats he has amassed. OMG! 2X! Most look like WWI battle ships, but there others, including a number of submarines. I took quite a few photos of the exhibit. They probably won't be too great because of very low light illuminating the boats. I had to shoot at 400 ASA and at that rating you get noisy grainy images.

Uncle Nate gave me a metal mechanical submarine when I was a kid and I played with it a lot. I also had a sail boat he and I used to sail in Auld Park above the Ohio River.

After the boats was his collection of tiny metal soldiers. OMG! Fabulously exhibited. What a difference from today with computer games that obliterate your opponent.

Then came his collection of obscenely expensive watches.

In the next few rooms were his fine collection of photography. Had every single famous best Harry Callahan of Eleanore along with all the famous best Irving Penn images one can remember over his career. This, along with very old historic photographs.
All this in a fairly small intimate environment. It was a gem!

Then I returned to pick up Susan and we escaped the horrid rain by cabbing it the short distance to The City Bakery at 3 West 18th Street just off 5th Ave. that Dave Anderson sent me an email about. They also have some gourmet food, which we purchased and ate there. They are well known for their thick hot chocolate with home made marshmallows, so I gorged myself on that. We split a pulled pork sandwich, and considering it was made by some dorks in NYC, wasn't horrible. Susan had a tomato lintel soup that wasn't too bad, but I thought was a bit lacking in a definitive taste. Reza's blows it out of the water. We lingered there for at least an hour recouping our energy and watching the passing parade of customers.
By the time we left it was snowing wet blobs. We walked a quarter of a block to 5th Ave to see if we could get a cab. LOL

As we got to the intersection a cab pulled up to unload! What luck! The driver was very friendly, indeed everyone here in NYC has been gracious.

New York City - Day 4 - back 2 MoMA & dinner with friends

2010-01-18T07:07:00.000-06:00

Friday, December 4, 2009

Had the full breakfast at the Leo House. All of it was quite good. Equaled what was available at most of the restaurants nearby. It is quite diverse in what is offered. Quiche, scrabbled eggs, pancakes, corned beef hash, bacon, sausage, bagels, croissants, various pastries, toast, juices, fresh fruit cup, creme cheese, coffee, espresso, tea, and probably a few items I have forgotten. Cost is only $9.

We took the bus in front of the hotel on 23rd street to 6th Avenue and a bus uptown to 53rd street. We then walked half a block east to the Museum of Modern Art. We spent full day from 11am till 4:30pm there. I went through the Bauhaus exhibit a second time. We both were impressed with the tasteful objects and craftmanship Marianne Brandt coffee and tea sets as well as her ink pot with a pen holder.

Then we went through the two floors of the modern collection starting with Cezanne forward. My goodness they seem to have almost every single important modern painting of the twentieth century! I've seen them in many of the books I've consulted. LOL! It was good to re-acquaint myself with many of my favorite and influential paintings (and the few sculptures) that I felt are like old friends! Susan and I had some vigorous conversations!

The museum had a special exhibit of the water Lillie's series by Monet in their collection. One is three huge canvases that creates a long panoramic image that stretched across an entire wall. It is similar to the ones in the Orangerie in Paris. I shot a poignant image of a older woman in furs in a wheel chair viewing the painting from approximately the center. Offset, standing to her left, and silhouetted, is a young woman nearer the painting tilted a bit with her legs crossed. A profound contrast.

The museum had lots of folks visiting. There were a number of guided tours with loud docents that unfortunately seemed to follow our every move!

I shot a few nice shots of the surrounding architecture out some of the large windows of the new wing looking uptown. One is of a narrow townhouse directly across the street that looks like it was inserted from the Baron Haussmann's reconstruction of Paris! It was only three or four stories high and had that tilted greenish roof with three attic garret bay windows. We wonder who lives there! In front of that apartment was a trailer with four gorgeous black motor cycles.

A few blocks further uptown, directly behind the townhouse was a glass facade building that reflected approaching back lit storm clouds. The windows appeared like ceramic tiles which changed their patina as the clouds moved and the light varied.

That evening Debbie Hecht and Sean O’Neil met us at out hotel. We then walked two blocks to an Bombay Talkie at 189 Ninth Ave just south of 23rd St. Attractive interior, fine wait staff and tasty food. We shared a selection of appetizers I don't recall. Susan had Okra baked with tomato and onions. I had chicken tandori, but it tasted different that what I have had in the past. Then we strode across 9th Avenue to a cup cake emporium. It was packed to the gills! I took shots of the lady icing the cup cakes through the window. She was part of the attraction. We brought our goodies back to the Leo House because there were only two tiny tables in the tiny joint which were unavailable.

Great conversation.

New York Day 3 - LES, Tenement Museum & dinner at Katz' deli

2010-01-18T06:57:00.000-06:00

Thursday, December 3, 2009

We had breakfast at the Leo House.

We decided to try out the bus system so we could observe the city as opposed to being underground. It took two buses, but we made it to the Lower East Side. We just stumbled around, not seeing all that I had planned but stopping in quite a few shops including a bra store, a deli, and a number of clothing joints including Nick and Sons, one good vintage, and an art gallery or two. At Nick’s I purchased a reversible belt that the salesman was able to cut down to my size and punched in two extra holes.

We came across David Owens Vintage Clothing at 154 Orchard Street just north of Rivington. He had some very nice stuff and I spoke to him about Susan’s 70’s designer clothing and he was interested. I am to email him some photos. davesvintage@aol.com Also he might be interested in my mother’s custom jewelry.
We discovered Il Laboratorio del Gelato at 95 Orchard which was excellent, but not out of this world.

We took the Tenement Museum's "Piece Work" tour on the second floor of a tenement building led by an "educator." He was quite young but good. At the beginning he asked how many people in some way might be related to the garment trade and it was suprizing how many in our small group of about 10 or 12 were, including myself. (My uncle Harry Levine was a cutter at Crown Overall.) The tour featured 3 different time periods of family living. It was well worth taking.

We had dinner at Katz's deli on Houston. I had matzo ball soup which I thought was pretty good, a good pastrami sandwich and an excellent creamy cheesecake. Susan had a brisket sandwich. unfortunately it seemed mostly populated by tourists.

New York City Day Two - Fab Bauhaus show!

2010-01-18T06:53:00.002-06:00

Wednesday, December 2, 2009 Overcast all day, at 5pm a drizzle began that developed in to an all night rain.
We had breakfast at the compact Breadstix Café a quite decent café at the SE corner of 23rd St. and 8th Ave, a half a block from the Leo House, a hospice/hotel operated by the Catholic diocese; it is fairly clean, comfortable and safe. We had, what became our standard, ham and cheese croissant and coffee.
Just as we exited the café door to descend into the subway right next to the restaurant, and endless line of three or four groups of 3rd or 4th graders beat us to it and began going down the stairs. They were on a “field trip” to see the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. Little did we realize that was happening all day every day we were in NYC! [I might add there are very few subways with elevators or escalators in NYC.] We waited, and waited. One we finally got to the bottom, Stef had to figure out how to purchase a tourist subway pass good for 20 rides or so. This was our first encounter with a friendly New Yorker who guided me in the use of the ATM like touch screen. It went very smoothly as I charged it on a credit card. Then we had the bad luck to be on a car loaded with those little darlings all talking at the same time. The noise was deafening.
Went to the MoMA and spent the entire time at the excellent and in depth Bauhaus show. They have a lot of photographs and paintings by Moholy Nagy. The show featured many items I had not seen in books.
At 3pm we had a reservation for tea at Bergdorf Goodman. This was to be a very special romantic and quite respite, but proved to be the nosiest tea room I have every experienced! The meal itself was okay, nothing outstanding. Susan enjoyed it, and that is what was important. I shot a few shots out the window of the beginning of Central Park, the Apple store cube in the plaza of a building at 59th and 5th Avenue as well as the entrance to the Plaza hotel.
At Bergdorf, we visited their “tea shop” room. Gorgeous antique and vintage tea sets, accoutrements and toast racks. Sigh! What a joy for Susan!
At the end of the day, after a time consuming cab ride down 5th Ave. we finally returned to the hotel. Susan was worn out.
What we had forgotten is that tonight was the Rockefeller tree lighting which is on 5th Avenue! An estimated million people were supposed to have amassed for the sight which featured two to three hours of first class entertainment preceding the lighting and broadcast live nationwide on NBC which is located in the Center.

Our 2 week visit to NYC 2C the Bauhaus show and more

2010-01-18T06:49:00.000-06:00

I kept a journal during our trip to New York City to see the Bauhaus show at MoMA, Robert Frank’s "The Americans" show at the Met, the Man Ray show at the Jewish Museum and the recently opened Neue Galerie dedicated to artwork and some furniture created in Austria and Germany from the turn of century, just after WWI, and before WWII. I have been editing it and am close to being done, so thought I would post it day by day in separate entries into my blog. I will keep the actual dates of each day's activity, as indicated below.

Ready? Here we go!

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

The plane was packed to the gills! They had difficulty getting all the carry on luggage and coats in the overhead bins!

We walked all the way down 8th Avenue to have dinner at Tea and Sympathy in the Village. We split a salad of field greens with vingerette. I had Banger (sausage) and Mash. Susan had pork loin with sage dressing mashed potatoes with baby peas and carrots. Finished the meal with excellent sticky toffee pudding. Then went next door to their shop offering many British food items as well as Christmas “crackers.” We noticed a large grocery bag near the cash register with the name Tina Brown on it in large marker pen.

Photograms and my vision of so called "photography."

2009-12-31T12:15:00.000-06:00

I am a graduate of the Institute of Design in Chicago which Moholy established upon his coming to the USA after the closing of the Bauhaus in Germany. Unfortunately he had passed on by the time I arrived. I studied with photographers Harry Callahan, Aaron Siskind as well as very fine graphic designers and graphic artists along with numerous visiting greats.

My apartment was around the corner from where Moholy originally lived in a charming Victorian three flat on Lakeview Avenue and Deming Place, in Lincoln Park. But, by that time, that too was gone, raised for a hi-rise. Only a plaque remains.

Moholy was a great inspiration to my thought process and vision.

I made photograms every year I studied there, finally realizing that photography does not need an object involved in its creation since, in it pure execution, photography only requires a source of radiating energy effecting a surface sensitized to that type of energy.

With that realization I began exploring sources of light and used them to expose colored 8x10 inch paper and later 8x10 Ektachome in 1961, 62 and 63.

In the end, I finally discovered sources of pure exploding light that I did on the above sizes of paper and film. I named these "dynagrams" (C).

I also coated my face with paper developer and pressed my face against fogged 4x5 and 8x10 sheet film for a minute or two and then ran the film through hypo - fixer. I named these "epigrams." (C)

I also explored other alternative energies such as heat (thermofax), x-ray and others.

Count Basie at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1959!

2009-11-16T07:08:00.000-06:00

Test to see if I can embed a link to music on wolfgangsvalt.com. This should be Count Basie at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1959!

Bicycle Beats Helicopter

2009-09-29T18:24:00.001-05:00

Bicycle Beats Helicopter

Shared via AddThis

Today was World Carless Day. Read this story about a race by various modes of transport in rush hour SÃ£o Paulo including the bicycle. Be sure to watch the video.

I'm tweeting

2009-05-28T10:56:00.002-05:00

I am doing more frequent short postings, some with with photos on my twitter account at:

http://twitter.com/finephoto

Yikes, haven't posted! I tweet a bit though!

2009-05-12T06:21:00.006-05:00

Hello to those few who even are aware of my blog.

Sorry, haven't posted a thing in many months! I have gotten addicted a bit to this Twitter thing, and follow Lance Armstrong as well as a few others. Much quicker and immediate than blogging. I do some posting there as well, along with links to photos at twitpic. If you are interested in checking out my micro-ramblings on twitter, I can be found at https://twitter.com/finephoto

If I have posted a picture on twitter, it does not actually appear on twitter, but rather as an imbedded url that takes you to the photo at twitpic.
That url is http://twitpic.com/photos/finephoto

Well, I may well be off to a sunny bike ride along the lake shortly.

S.

Countries I have visited around the Globe

2008-07-26T14:00:00.001-05:00

Not too impressive, but here goes!

visited 7 states (3.11%)
Create your own visited map of The World or determine the next president

Here is a map of where I have traveled in the United States of America.

2008-07-26T13:57:00.003-05:00

visited 38 states (76%)
Create your own visited map of The United States or determine the next president

Nothing here!

2008-07-17T07:09:00.003-05:00

deleted, because it takes forever to load.

Deleted, ' cause it takes forever to load the video.

2008-07-17T07:03:00.001-05:00

nada!

Nothing here!

2008-07-17T07:01:00.001-05:00

deleted, because it takes forever to load.

Deleted, ' cause it takes forever to load the video.

2008-07-17T06:59:00.002-05:00

Believe me, it was not worth it any way! Just a fun thingy.

Deleted, ' cause it takes forever to load the video.

2008-07-17T06:49:00.003-05:00

deleted, because it takes forever to load.

Bob Seeley boogie woogie pianist extraordanaire!

2008-06-12T09:18:00.001-05:00

This past Saturday, June 7, I caught Bob Seeley at the Piano Salon event at Piano Forte in the Fine Arts building at 400 S. Michigan Avenue here in Chicago. Just sheer joy!

I shot the below video with my still Canon sd700is digcam. This is at youtube.com. The original has much higher resolution. Just click on it and the video will play. enjoy!

Pix from Savanah, GA trip

2008-04-16T22:36:00.002-05:00

Blank

2007-09-11T08:35:00.001-05:00

Sculpture at 1800 N. Clark, at Lincoln Ave. in Lincoln Pk, Chicago, IL

2007-08-09T09:44:00.002-05:00

1800 N. Clark, at Lincoln Ave. in Lincoln Pk, Chicago, IL, originally uploaded by finefoto.

Foster rocks at approximately 5400 north.

2007-08-09T09:43:00.002-05:00

Foster rocks at approximately 5400 north., originally uploaded by finefoto.

I have a new LG cell phone with a camera. It is the first one I've had with that feature. It also plays mp3 music along with a host of other features that can distract me for hours.
I took it on a recent morning stroll along the lake front and grabbed this shot of life as I tested it out.

Quinceanera at Millenium Park 8-2007 at "the Bean"

2007-08-09T09:24:00.002-05:00

quinceanera at Millenium Park 8-2007 at "the Bean", originally uploaded by finefoto.

This is the original camera crop.

Quinceanera at Millenium Park 8-2007 at "the Bean"

2007-08-09T09:19:00.002-05:00

quinceanera at Millenium Park 8-2007 at "the Bean", originally uploaded by finefoto.

Quinceanera at Millenium Park 8-2007 at "the Bean"

2007-08-09T09:17:00.002-05:00

quinceanera at Millenium Park 8-2007 at "the Bean", originally uploaded by finefoto.

This was shot on an extremely hot & humid August Sunday under a large polished stainless steel sculpture named "Sky Gate," but know locally as "The Bean" due to its shape. It is located in a large park between downtown Chicago's "Loop" and lake Michigan. The park is approximately two long blocks by three blocks. It features a concert venue, other sculptures, a garden, a restaurant and other features. Weekends, the park features a multitude of cultural and other activities.

It is a favorite place for locals to celebrate weddings, birthdays and other important events.

This photo is of a group of friends participating in a "Quinceanera," in which a young Latinia female makes her debut before the church and society at the age of 15 in a rite of passage celebrating the girl's transition from childhood to adulthood. It is one of the most important and memorable events on her life.

To learn more look it up on Wikipedia or better yet, try www.epcc.edu/ftp/Homes/monicaw/borderlands/10_a_hispanic_...'s.htm

Shot with a Canon SD700is compact camera.

North Ave palance Extreme bike rider launched into sky and lake

2007-08-09T08:58:00.003-05:00

2007-4-8 North Ave palance Extreme bike rider launched into sky and lake, originally uploaded by finefoto.

What can I say? These guys show up early most Saturdays on the concrete placade between Oak Street and North Avenue beaches just south of the chess pavilion in Chicago and take turns at this dare devil bike trick. All the while literally hundreds of joggers, bikers, roller bladers and walkers and parents pushing babies in strollers are going by.

shot with a Canon SD700is pocket camera.

North Ave palance Extreme bike rider launched into sky and lake

2007-08-08T23:01:00.002-05:00

2007-4-8 North Ave palance Extreme bike rider launched into sky and lake, originally uploaded by finefoto.

Tiffany dome of Chicago's cultural center (before restoration)

2007-05-25T13:46:00.002-05:00

Tiffany dome of Chicago's cultural center, originally uploaded by finefoto.

This is the 38-foot dome in Preston Bradley Hall of Chicago's Cultural Arts Center. It is believed to be the world's largest Tiffany dome. Designs in the ornately decorated room are inspired from nature including fish scales in the dome and theTiffany lamp in this photo. Directly above the lamp are the symbols of the Zodiac. It is located at Michigan Ave., and Washington st. This was shot before the 2008 restoration that cleaned it up and got rid of the flourencent bulbs and now allows natural light. A visit now is truly one of visual delight. Not as mind blowing as St Chapel in Paris, but never the less, refreshing. This was shot with an ordinary point and shoot Canon sd700is digital camera at 200 asa. I laid on my back on the floor to compose this shot, and enable myself to hold the camera steady and align the two circles.

Chicago- Reliance Bldg 1st skyscaper with steel skeleton

2007-05-25T09:36:00.001-05:00

Chicago- Reliance Bldg 1st skyscaper with steel skeleton, originally uploaded by finefoto.

Located at 32 N. State Street, the Reliance Building was built shortly after the Chicago fire, and is the first steel (not iron) skeleton structure building in the world and gave birth to the concept and engineering that enables the building of tall buildings with no masonry support what so ever, like in the Monadnock building a few block south east. Burnham and Root were the architects.
For more info, check out http://www.ci.chi.il.us/Landmarks/R/RelianceBuilding.html

Rookery building, Chicago, IL

2007-05-25T09:02:00.001-05:00

Rookery building, Chicago, IL, originally uploaded by finefoto.

Although the Rookery building was designed by Root, it is the Frank Lloyd Wright remodeled large skylit lobby done in 1905, which features elements of his Prairie School designs that bring fans from all over the planet. It is located at 209 South La Salle St., a few blocks south of Helmut Jahn's State of Illinois building.

My French guest, who I was giving an architecture tour pointed out that all the delicate cut out work in the iron beams would be economically impossible today, even if you could locate crafts people capable of the work.

The lamps are a delight to study also.

Unfortunately guests are limited to the first floor and are unable to explore the spectacular spiral staircase. Lucky for me, I was able to get fabulous photos of it back in the late 1960's that have been reproduced in various publications.

Chicago - Carson's Sullivan facade

2007-05-25T08:18:00.001-05:00

Chicago - Carson's Sullivan facade, originally uploaded by finefoto.

One of the first buildings I showed a visiting French woman during our architecture tour was this structure on State Street.

"One of the most important structures in early modern architecture, famed for its influential modular construction and design. Visionary architect Louis Sullivan shaped this commercial building--originally built for the Schlesinger and Mayer department store--into a dramatically animated structure that inseparably merges beauty and function. The ornament of the lower two stories is frozen in cast iron, while at the same time giving the impression of being in fluid motion. It is an excellent example of Sullivan's genius for architectural ornament."
from www.ci.chi.il.us/Landmarks/C/Carsons.html

If you visit Chicago, you must not miss exploring its architecture, and this is number one on the list.

Chicago - Dubuffet & church

2007-05-25T08:04:00.001-05:00

Chicago - Dubuffet & church, originally uploaded by finefoto.

Here is another more unique view/interpertation of Jean Dubuffet's "Monument With Standing Beast" installed in the State of Illinois Plaza at Clark and Randolph streets in Chicago's loop.The building is by Helmut Jahn and worth exploring its huge open atrium.

I shot this with a point and shoot Canon sd700is during a morning architectural walk of the Loop with a visitor from France. Just shows that it is not the camera, but the eye of the fotographer that creates a fine fotograph.

Chicago - Dubuffet & church

2007-05-25T07:50:00.001-05:00

Chicago - Dubuffet & church, originally uploaded by finefoto.

"Monument With Standing Beast" by Jean Dubuffet in the State of Illinois Plaza. The building is by Helmut Jahn and worth exploring its huge open atrium.

I shot this with a point and shoot Canon sd700is during a morning architectural walk of the Loop with a visitor from France.

Map of a great walk along the lake up in Edgewater - Foster to Montrose

2007-04-30T18:06:00.000-05:00

Check out the map. If it does not appear in this post cut and paste this url in your browser and click on enter or go.
http://tinyurl.com/yvggjp

Brown Out

2007-02-18T20:56:00.000-06:00

Around 9am today, a Sunday in February, the electric in our area has gone out and we seem to have a brown out. No real power, but the bulbs have an extremely low orange glow, like an one watt night light. It was this way for over two hours until I ran out to the power company truck in the alley when I heard its familiar motor. No real info, but I could see another truck over two blocks north. They theroize that a transformer blew when a squirrel shorted out the wires when he jumped from one wire to another and his tail clipped the wire he jumped from. This is a frequent problem. When it happens, and the transformer blows, there is a loud bang that joints me out of my seat!

Since we have no idea when, or even they will be able to fix the problem, we have decided to camp out at friend's and so have gone to their place. That is where I am posting this from.

Corkscrew Audubon Swamp

2007-01-25T21:08:00.000-06:00

Corkscrew Audubon Swamp: A Sanctuary birds & wildlife.
If you are in the Fort Meyer area be sure to drive south to this fabulous nature area. I'll post more info later.

Vintage Bill Evans to sit back, eyes closed and enjoy

2007-01-20T11:20:00.000-06:00

Bill Evans Trio
Uploaded by alternativa

This classic Bill Evans video features Chuck Israels, bass and Larry Bunker, drums, perhaps in Paris at a recital given at the Orchestre de la Radio Televise Francaise (ORTF) in early 1965, or at a similar such event.

Finesse!

Fab Video of Hawk, Bird, Getz, Rich, Little Jazz, Ella and more

2007-01-20T10:16:00.000-06:00

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Charlie Parker
Uploaded by alternativa

Enjoy!

Vine leaves in fall

2006-10-30T05:34:00.000-06:00

Vine leaves in fall lo-res
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

Fall has return again and I came across this as I was walking to the elevated station. This was on the wall of the train tracks. The original file is very sharp compared to this lo-res posting. Since I shot it on a very gray overcast afternoon, I tweaked it a bit in Photoshop, to the image's great improvement IMHO. Wish I could have done this back in the old C22 print days!

Bobby Lewis at PianoForte

2006-09-24T12:08:00.000-05:00

2006-09-16 Bobby Lewis at PianoForte (10) rt2 lo-res 9C) Stef Leinwohl
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

The mature warmth of trumpet and flugel horn player Bobby Lewis appearing in the intimate Salon environment of the PianoForte piano shop in the Fine Arts Bldg on Michigan Avenue in Chicago. Among the pieces he played were Emily and the theme from Black Orpheus. The reflected hands on the keyboard belong to the ever ready and flexible Jim Ryan. The concert was on Saturday September 16, 2006.
Was shot with the magnificant new Canon sd700is pocket digcam.

Edgewater dental tooth brush neon sign

2006-09-16T13:34:00.000-05:00

Edgewater dental tooth brush neon sign
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

Part of my continuing documentation of strong graphic neon signs in the Edgewater area of Chicago. This one is on Broadway.

Notice reflections of the krate kid neon sign across the street. This is, a "happy accident", as I call it. So much fun, considering his placement.

I don't know if this is a standard neon sign, or is a custom design. In any event it is quite striking graphically.

Chicago Neon Statue of Liberty

2006-09-14T08:17:00.000-05:00

Neon Statue of Lib - neon lo-res
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

This neon sign, on Bryn Mawr just west of the el stop in Edgewater, Chicago, flashes on and off making it difficult to shoot. It is for a tax prepairer.

It is across from "Flourish," a wonderful bakery where you can also enjoy a pastery with their custom blended coffee. They also serve daily special light meals featuring three daily specials.

Flourish has a bar along the window great for the observation and study of the parade of the eclectic blend of inhabitants of the community.

The perfect place to hang out if caught in the rain.

It is not far from a nice bookstore just south on the west side of Broadway.

Chicago Grafitti

2006-09-14T08:13:00.000-05:00

Chicago Uptown Berwyn El viaduc_v lo-res
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

This is along the west side of a viaduct wall south of the Berwyn el stop in Chicago. It is part of about seven others that were done about five years ago.

Edgwater Graffiti

2006-09-14T08:11:00.000-05:00

Chicago Uptown Berwyn El viaduc 2 lo-res
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

This is along a viaduct wall south of the Berwyn el stop in Chicago. It was painted in 2001. Amazing how intense the eyes are considering this was done by teen agers.

spider in the city

2006-09-14T08:09:00.000-05:00

spider hi res
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

Just happened to be walking around my neighborhood in Chicago and found this spider. No idea its name, since I am not into spiders much, although I enjoy them as objects and love their webs. It has been very rainy and humid which seems to bring out spiders. Perhaps to snare mesquitos.

Lake Pt tower, Chicago, patriotic window washing machine

2006-09-06T16:08:00.000-05:00

Lake Pt tower patriotic window washing machine
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

Chicago skyline no one sees from a patch of wild land just east of LSD at river

2006-09-06T16:07:00.000-05:00

Chicago skyline no one sees from a patch of wild land just east of LSD at river
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

This was shot from a wild weedy patch of land just east of Lake Shore Drive north of the Chicago River where it meets Lake Michigan. It is basically unaccessable. I had to circumvent two fences and wend my way through chest high Queen Anne's Lace, wild brambles and tall bushes and trees. Behind me, across a slip of water, is Navy Pier. Little are the Pier visitors aware of this wild patch of prairie. I believe it belongs to the city, but am not sure at all.

Chicago fountain along river rear Columbus Dr & Chicago River in N Loop

2006-09-06T16:02:00.000-05:00

Chicago fountain along river rear Columbus Dr & Chicago River in N Loop
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

This is a unusual water fountain in the Streeterville area just north of the loop downtown in Chicago. It faces the Chicago River just before it enters Lake Michigan.

Chicago - bean (Cloud Gate) Sculpture reflections

2006-09-06T12:11:00.000-05:00

2006-09-06 Chicago - bean 1004 lo-res
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

The official name of this sculpture is "Cloud Gate," but since that is such an obtuse name and since it looks like a giant kidney bean, everyone has nick named it "The Bean." It at the north end of Grant Park along Michigan Avenue in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It is made of polished stainless pannels that were expertly welded together so that the seams are invisible. It is a delight to experience.

Hancock Bldg between Mies' 860 N LSD bldg.

2006-09-06T12:09:00.000-05:00

2006-09-06 Chicago - Hancock Bldg bet Mies LSD bldg, Chicago lo-res
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

The buildings on the right and left are the famous 860 LSD glass and steel buildings designed by Mies van der Rohe. The building in the center is the Hancock Building on Michigan Ave.

Chicago - bean & japanese tourists

2006-09-05T21:37:00.001-05:00

2006-09-06 Chicago - bean & japanese tourists 1001
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

These Japanese tourists and having so much fun playing with their reflections in a sculpture named "Cloud Gate," but since that is such an obtuse name and since it looks like a giant kidney bean, everyone has nick named it "The Bean." It at the north end of Grant Park along Michigan Avenue in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It is made of polished stainless pannels that were expertly welded together so that the seams are invisible. It is a delight to experience, as you can see demonstrated by these Japanese tourists.

He is mimicing her suggested pose. Both are giggling.

Give Pandora a try to create your own radio stations to play your own programmed favorite music

2006-08-26T16:23:00.000-05:00

duke ellington Radio

click on the above link it should take you to a station playing mostly Duke Ellington and his style of music.

If that is not to your taste, try Wilco Radio to listen to the band Wilco.

Then explore creating your own station.

Marias, Paris

2006-08-25T08:48:00.000-05:00

Strapped
Originally uploaded by Mernas.

Au quartier juif, Marais Paris

2006-08-25T08:47:00.000-05:00

Au quartier juif
Originally uploaded by Mernas.

quite the nice B&W shot. Not easy to grab.

Bryn Mawr nr Broadway:

2006-08-23T23:26:00.001-05:00

A new bakery/pastry shop opened in June. S and I often visit it to enjoy, not only their fabulous pastry, but light meals. It is located in the Edgewater neighborhood of Chicago at 1138 West Bryn Mawr at the El stop, just east of Broadway. I had the best pot pie I have ever eaten. The crust was the secret.

Moishe's Movers

2006-08-09T22:00:00.000-05:00

Moishe's Movers
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

Oy Veh!

TallShips Visit Chicago

2006-08-04T12:17:00.000-05:00

TallShips
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

Every three years the Tall Ships tour the great lakes and make a week visit in Chicago, IL in August. You can get on board and tour the ships.

Docked just east of Michigan Ave bridge below Wacker Dr.

TallShips visit Chicago

2006-08-04T12:15:00.000-05:00

TallShips
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

Every three years the Tall Ships tour the great lakes and make a week visit in Chicago, IL in August. This was shot under horrid misty flat light. They have a parade of ships the first day. Too bad for the weather. Of course it cleared up and was sunny, as you can see in another shot I posted, after they had docked.

What a delight to see the wonder of wind power from the past.

Jimmy Rosenberg 1993

2006-07-25T17:21:00.000-05:00


Jimmy Roseberg in 1993. Wow was he good even then!!

Biréli Lagrène, Gipsy Project & Friends

2006-07-25T17:08:00.000-05:00

Adblock
Ah to have been at this "Arrêt spectacle" Concert au petit Trianon in Paris on March 2 of 2006! Biréli Lagrène, Gipsy Project & Friends (Didier Lockwood, (fiddle) Dorado Schmitt, Angelo Debarre)

Festival "l'esprit manouche"

2006-07-25T12:14:00.000-05:00


Here is a great video from 12-13/07/2003 - at Moseley Park, UK. featuring gypsy stars Tchavolo Schmitt, Angelo Debarre, Fapy Lafertin & Tim Kliphuis, Note manouche (Mandino Reinhardt, Sony Reinhardt, Marcel Loeffler, Joselito Loeffler, Gauthier Laurent). it is 1hr 18 of joy.

Hawaiian shirt at the White Palace Grill, Roosevelt & Canal, Chicago, IL

2006-05-20T21:36:00.001-05:00

R & I had an early morning breakfast at the venerated classic "White Palace Grill" at Canal and Roosevelt on the near south side of Chicago near the area where the Maxwell Street Market was forced to move when the U of IL bought up the vibrant nearby old Maxwell Street area at Halsted and Rosevelt Rd. I had scrambled eggs, 4 pancakes and two generous thick pieces of ham for $5.50. Coffee was an additional $1.00.

This fellow was sitting on this chrome stool when we sat down in the booth opposite. I grabbed a shot of him as soon as we settled in. In less than a minute he had finished his waffel delight, stood up and walked off.
Hawaiian shirt at the White Palace Grill, Roosevelt & Canal, Chicago, IL
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

500 blk of Oakdale Ave, Chicago

2006-05-15T08:15:00.000-05:00

500 blk of Oakdale Ave, Chicago
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

We often walk along a street looking straight ahead, straight down at the sidewalk or right or left for traffic, but rarely up at the diverse architectural detailing and windows, much less the reflections in the windows. Here some of detailing is a simple arrangement of the laying of the brick to create a diamond design. Compare this brickwork to that in one of the photos posted on May 9, 2006. The locations are only two blocks from one another, but probably 70 years apart in construction dates.

500 blk of Oakdale Ave, Chicago

2006-05-15T08:13:00.001-05:00

500 blk of Oakdale Ave, Chicago
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

Simple pressed tin detail that at one time was very popular because it was inexpensive compared to having a trained artisian carve it out of solid stone.

500 blk of Oakdale Ave.

2006-05-15T08:13:00.000-05:00

500 blk of Oakdale Ave.
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

bleeding hearts 1 lo-res

2006-05-14T23:51:00.000-05:00

bleeding hearts 1 lo-res
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

bleeding hearts 2

2006-05-14T23:22:00.000-05:00

bleeding hearts 2 lo-res
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

Each spring brings the delicate pink sculptures known as "Bleeding Hearts." These are just east of our apartment on Oakdale in a fenced in garden on the parkway.

Benches in water tower pk Chicago lo-res

2006-05-14T23:20:00.000-05:00

Benches in water tower pk Chicago lo-res
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

I happened to be walking through the delightful park surrounding the old water tower when noticed this interesting rhymatic pattern of the chairs.

This photo is also a homage to Henri Cartier-Bresson for his decisive moment seeing and patterns. See, compose, and wait -- click! Hard to do with a point a shoot that has a shutter lag.

Spring at 431 Oakdale

2006-05-09T11:16:00.000-05:00

Spring at 431 Oakdale
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

Light! That's what its all about.

sun reflection on wall with walker

2006-05-09T11:06:00.000-05:00

sun reflection on wall with walker
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

This is at Pinegrove at Oakdale in the Lakeview area of the northside of Chicago. The sun is reflected from a few window panes in the late afternoon. What a delight to discover! Particularly when most people are looking straight ahead or worst yet straight down at the concret in front of them. Of course, you can find some very nice abstract images on the sidewalk, even graffiti. Shortly after shooting this I met an economist visting Chicago as I crossed the street. We had a delightful half hour conversation. I showed him the image to demonstrate his question of what a good photo was. I compared this one to others of the same situation that did not work as well, or at all.

2900 N Broadway, Chicago graffiti

2006-05-09T11:05:00.000-05:00

2900 N Broadway, Chicago graffiti
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

I decided to walk an alley for about four blocks instead of a street on my way to a doctor appointment. This led to discovering these two stencil graffiti images. Have no idea who did them or what they are about. They are around 2950 N. Broadway in the Lakeview area of Chicago.

alley diagonal bricks & person at sunset

2006-05-09T11:03:00.000-05:00

alley diagonal bricks & person at sunset
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

Was I delighted to walk past this one day! I spent about 15 minutes grabbing shots of people as they used this short cut to Clark St from Broadway. The light is perfect to reveal the brick design. Compare this brickwork to that in a photo posted on May 15, 2006.

Art Citroën 2CV - 1970

2006-03-25T18:09:00.000-06:00

Art Citroën 2CV - 1970
Originally uploaded by Citroën Guy.

Found this on flickr.com as well. Photographer said "Took this shot in Munich in December, 1970. I didn't know that I'd own one 35 years later."
The poster's handle is Citroën Guy
Note: click on the photo be be taken the the image on flickr.

Citroen in USA

2006-03-25T18:06:00.000-06:00

tin box
Originally uploaded by ericm.

Found posted on flickr.com

Citroen in Chicago - fun paint job

2006-03-24T09:00:00.001-06:00

You rarely come across a vintage French Citroen mini auto on the streets of midwest Chicago, IL, USA. There was one was in Lincoln Park on Pinegrove near Diversey. It is in excellent shape, perhaps restored, but I don't know. I waited around for a while, but the owner did not appear. If you look carefully you will realize there is absolutely no space between the Citeron's front bumper and the rear bumper of the car in front. There was only the thickness of my leg between the rear bumper and the car behind! I have lived in this area for 40 years and parking has not only always been at a premium but is usually tight since it is a high density area near the park along Lake Michigan and near the Loop, our downtown. Even with a tiny car, it is of little help, people will come after you have parked and lock you in! Perhaps he will remain here for days until someone moves. Of course the next car could lock him again in the wink of an eye lash since that is the amount of time a parking spot remains available. Parking at night is impossible. I usually walk, bike or take public transportation.

Diversey & Halsted 1 B&W version

2006-03-12T07:53:00.000-06:00

Diversey & Halsted 1 B&W version
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

Seems stronger on content without the distraction of what little color there was in the original color version.

Homeless at Diversey & Halsted Saving & Loan

2006-03-12T07:39:00.000-06:00

Homeless at Diversey & Halsted Saving & Loan
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

Somehow the sign indicating the current interest rates for a home mortage loan are a contrast and a comment on a homeless person resting beneath the sign in the very expensive neighborhood of Lincoln Park in Chicago. This corner is a popular gathering spot for these folks, perhaps because of the ATM machine and a Walgreens and the KFC, offering low cost meals and a dumpster.

Goethe statue & homeless man in sleeping bag

2006-01-28T10:06:00.000-06:00

Goethe statue & homeless man in sleeping bag
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

On my way from a early Saturday morning walk in a drizzle I came upon the same fellow I had two weeks ago, this time at Diversey and Sheridan Rd. next to the Goethe statue in Lincoln Park.

da Bears lost!

2006-01-19T08:53:00.000-06:00

Just for the record: da Bears lost! It was a horrible game from the first few seconds when the Panthers ran a touch down on the second play. So much for hopes for a return to the Super Bowl, exactly twenty years later.

A Memory

2006-01-19T08:48:00.000-06:00

A test that didn't work!

Palazzo brides dress boutique, Chicago, IL

2006-01-14T15:26:00.000-06:00

Palazzo brides dress boutique, Chicago, IL
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

On my return from my usual Saturday morning walk through the zoo with D. we returned on Clark st and came upon this juxiposition and contrast of society. The remains of the person's meal is still there next to him, as though he fell asleep eating. French fries and a glass of some liquid.

Palazzo is a very chic custom brides gown boutique.* The work they do is usually very simple sophiticated and elegant, that is why the juxiposition is so striking. I also think the posture of the mannequin is appropriate. With her hand on her hips she seems to be about to utter, "Well!"

Can't wait for tomorrow. The Bears play their playoff game.

When we began our ramble the sky was very wintery with heavy grey overcast dark clouds with a chill in the air from the wind. I wondered why I had decided to take my camera since the light was so dreary.

* Personally, I would prefer to shop at one of the boutiques in the Marais in Pari!

Another image from Nawins concert

2005-12-09T09:05:00.000-06:00

IMG_6847 rt (C) Stef Leinwohl, Chicago, IL (C) Stef Leinwohllo-res (C) Stef Leinwohl
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

This is being directly posted to my blog from my photos on my flickr site. Hope this works. The below ones were loaded one by one using the add an image icon button in the compose function of this blog.