Ciao Beach Amore!

Photo 323 - 324: I'm back in NYC missing FL already. Here are a few night shots we captured strolling around on Hallandale Beach. And let me just add that if I EVER tell anyone that carrying around a tripod is too much work... hit me. Seriously! This was another instance where I really should have had my nifty - yes I said nifty - tripod with me, because finding a flat and stable surface on a beach that lets you capture the perfect shot isn't always the easiest thing to do. Hm... reminds me of my aggravation at Luxor Temple in Egypt. No tripod either! I sense a trend here. lol

A Palm Tells a Story

Photo 320 - 321: After leaving Reno, I flew down to Ft. Lauderdale for Memorial Day Weekend to spend some quality time with my honey. We drove down to Hallandale Beach to catch some live music at night, and Pedro of course was not far behind. The sun was almost done shining it's happy rays on us, and I got some great evening shots of some very pretty palm trees and white sandy beaches. Doesn't it make you want to just watch a sunset? Sigh... can I transfer the weather and the FL beaches to NYC? I'm getting spoiled down here...

Something Blue... or Pick a Color

Photo 292 - 296: Strolling around the streets of Aswan or taking a nap on a cruise balcony gives you such a different view of the world around you. All week I kept tripping over everything - my own two feet, a curb, a chair - but only (!!!) because I kept looking UP to see what the next shot was going to be. Some believe I have a crooked walk (:P), but I like to think that it keeps me "falling" into places I would not otherwise see. lol I survived a boat, a camel, a cab ride and a train without major injury, and captured these images early at the crack of dawn, at high noon, and as the sun was going down - all with vibrant colors at the core.

A Weekend and a Wedding

Photo 286: We interrupt the scheduled programming to bring you this image of upstate New York... I went to a beautiful wedding this weekend, and despite a two-hour delay due to a bus getting lost with 30 wedding guests, the sun was shining, the birds were chirping, the weather was perfect, and the bride even prettier. The great thing about there being a delay though was the beautiful sunset! THIS was the backdrop not only to the ceremony, but the pictures the bride and groom took afterwards. It couldn't have been any more amazing...

A Little Night Magic

Photo 281-285: Thank God for flat surfaces, otherwise I would have cried. I didn't take my tripod with me on this trip, so various chairs, trash cans, and banisters provided me with a steady surface, and I even got to educate my fellow travelers on a little trick called "no flash + timer = happy photographer" mode. lol

Still, magic hour... twilight hour... It's the same no matter where you go, but when you're surrounded by pyramids, temples and the City of Cairo, there's something indescribable in the air.

Is It Summer Yet?

Photo 220-221: It flurried this morning, and all I want is some sunshine. I had it a few days ago, so here are a few more, to make everyone jealous with me ;) * collective sigh *

Florida Ain't So Bad ...

Photo 215 - 219: I've been on the road for work for the last week, acting as field director at spring training camps for a video interview shoot with some pretty cool baseball players. I roamed around baseball fields in Arizona and Florida with all-day, entire field access, and gave Pedro a workout all the while soaking up the sun. I had to deal with F-16s doing a training run over my interview site, got hit by a baseball! and told numerous maintenance guys to stop mowing/blowing/and sweeping the facility because of noise distractions. My crew was amazing, absolutely hilarious and dealt with every pitfall, delay and "wind annoyance" with ease and banter. We all "nibbled like deer" on our power bars, and wolfed down burgers and fries at night like grizzlies. lol Inside joke, but funny story for a later day!

After three days, I was prepped and ready to go back home, but I was informed by my airline and a few of my family members and friends, that Florida and Arizona are a thousand times better than the "storm of the Century" the East Coast was experiencing. This time the storm did NOT miss New York, but hit it dead on... and I couldn't get back, so I got rerouted to sunshine, beautiful water and an unexpected twist of events that promises to be one amazing/beautiful/crazy adventure. <3 So, here are a few pictures of my idea of perfection. :) Along with a pelican that wanted to make me his friend, and a sunset that I won't ever forget.

P.S. Baseball pics, Chinese New Year Parade and NYC pics to follow. I haven't even attempted to photochop anything yet.

5:30 a.m. and All Is Well

Photo 72: Good Morning! I'm suffering a tad from jetlag, so my internal clock is waking me up at 5:30 a.m. lately to start the day. Do I agree with that, no! Do I have a choice, not really - my body thinks it's almost noon in Austria. But it's not all wasted time and energy, at least I get to capture a shot like this - a beautiful sunset over BK. It's funny what you miss when you're in dreamland.

Heatwave

Photo 59: And as the night draws to a close, a sunset to remind us that (eventually) everything will cool down, and be bathed in gentle colors of the sun.

Photo 58: I know, I know, it's hot... and guess who is thrilled about that? ME! Here's a refreshing little picture of our NYC and a little boat action.

Photo 57: The really cool thing about Brooklyn is that you can really see anything and everything. Even on 90 degree days, theatrics and gigantic balloons can be found on the beach.