Weekend Roundup

Since it's midterms week, it only makes sense that this past weekend was one of my busiest yet. (Because it's not like I need to study.)

It involved:

• College basketball at the Garden.

• A school wide house event at this pretty church on the East side.

• A school sponsored Oscars party that my roommate and I helped photograph.

Also a fun fact: I managed to use each of the three lenses over the weekend. Yay for variety in photo shooting style!

Hockey Weekend In New York

This past weekend was Hockey Weekend in New York, part of Hockey Weekend Across America which is an effort to celebrate the game and spread the love of the game to anyone and everyone who may (or may not) have the chance to play it.

As a part of the festivities in New York over the weekend, the New York Rangers held a skate at Wollman Rink in Central Park. There were clinics for kids and free skating admission to anyone wearing Rangers gear. I have no idea how to skate, but I went uptown anyways to be surrounded by one of my favorite sports.

I was able to see some former NY Rangers players (from afar) and watch the clinics and people skating from my perch in Central Park. I chose to bring the 18-55 and telephoto lenses that day, for obvious reasons.

Here's one of the many photos I captured. It encapsulates the essence of hockey in New York. A dash of suburbia, sports/rec with the hockey and of course, the city's glaring presence in the background. (Also, fun fact, in case you don't know, the short building on the right is the famous Plaza hotel.) 

Fountain

I love action photos. Something with movement, something happening. Either someone laughing, someone or something moving, a freeze frame of a moment. Because a moment is fleeting. Capturing it on camera is forever.

Photos give something to remember by. A photographer's job of capturing that raw emotion and events makes it that much more important and crucial that a photographer's eye be discerning, observant and sharp. There are details and intricacies that you don't want to miss out on. Even something as simple as the stream of water from a fountain turning into tiny droplets and falling into the basin.

1/1600, f/2/ ISO 800

Happy Presidents' Day!

And complete side note, but I'm pretty sure George Washington would have wanted me to have today off.

Everyday flowers

On Valentine's Day, two guys came to my door bearing flowers. But no, it's not what you think. (Guys, flowers, Valentine's Day...I knew where that thought progression was going.) Rather, they were bringing flowers to the girls in my building campaigning for a student who's running for Student Body President. A nice sentiment, unfortunately for them, I'm just not easily bribed.

(On a photography note, I probably should have photographed these carnations when the sun was out for natural light. Artificial lighting is not my favorite, but needed sometimes.)

Seasons

Last night I was listening to Vivaldi's Four Seasons (which is wonderful to study to, in case you couldn't guess) and the prospect of the changing seasons excited me, simply because it's so pretty. There's a new start, a new blossoming. (And I'm not just talking about spring.) In the process I realized I don't have much nature pictures as well, so I'm on a mission to fix that this spring. (And this winter if it ever decides to snow.)

Oh, and I also realized I will never be gifted enough to play the violin as Vivaldi's Four Seasons requires. Some brief disappointment ensued, until I remembered the violin is most likely not my calling. (Since I probably can't even hold the instrument right and I've only played one a grand time of maybe 5 time in my life.)

It won't be long before the sun comes out

Here comes the sun,

Little darling,
It's been a long, cold lonely winter,
Little darling,
It feels like years since it's been here
...
Little darling,
The smiles returning to the faces
Little darling,
It seems like years since it's been here
...
Little darling,
I feel that ice is slowly melting
Little darling,
It seems like years since it's been clear
...
Here comes the sun,
Here comes the sun,
And I say, "It's all right"
...
Here comes the sun,
Here comes the sun
"It's all right."
"It's all right."

Chili in Brooklyn

This Saturday I was fortunate enough to go to Brooklyn with my house to our adviser's house for our second annual chili get together. (She also happens to be one of my favorite professors thus far in college, but those are different stories for another time.)

It's not a major event, but it's definitely great to get out of Midtown and even nicer to have a home cooked meal. Brooklyn actually reminds me of a mesh of DC/Georgetown/Bethesda in a weird nostalgic homesick way. 

It's filled with brownstones, iron gates, fire escapes, churches, little restaurants and bars, disorganized traffic, trash in found lying over the sidewalks (and just about everywhere else) and few skyscrapers. 

It feels like a city even though by New York terms, it's not even on the same scale as NYC. In fact, as I was walking down Flatbrush Ave, I almost felt like I was walking down South Capitol in DC. But maybe that's just me.

I didn't make too much of an effort to take photos (after all, I was a little more concerned about the food), but here's a few.

Menu:

1. Appetizer: Chips and guac. (Mmm. Yay for good fats!)
2. Types of chili: Southwestern chili (pictured); turkey chili; Texan chili; and vegetarian chili. (I only tried the Southwestern and turkey chili, both of which were very good.)