FGPO

NYC Part 2

2010-07-21T00:06:00.001-04:00

NYC Part 2

2010-07-21T00:01:00.004-04:00

NYC Architectural details (from the car)

2010-07-13T19:59:00.003-04:00

Flowerpots, Quebec Waterfront

2010-07-07T14:45:00.000-04:00

Funicular Tracks

2010-07-07T14:44:00.000-04:00

View of Lower Town of Quebec from Funicular

2010-07-07T14:43:00.001-04:00

Quebec Waterfront at Sunset 4

2010-07-07T14:42:00.001-04:00

Quebec Waterfront at Sunset 3

2010-07-07T14:41:00.003-04:00

Quebec Waterfront at Sunset 2

2010-07-07T14:40:00.001-04:00

Quebec Waterfront at Sunset 1

2010-07-07T14:38:00.002-04:00

Crutches arre left as a sign that people's prayers healed them

2010-07-07T14:36:00.003-04:00

Church Candles, Quebec Countryside

2010-07-07T14:34:00.002-04:00

Chapel - Quebec Countryside

2010-07-07T14:17:00.003-04:00

Levis Island from Quebec City

2010-07-07T13:58:00.000-04:00

2010-07-05T00:43:00.003-04:00

Channeling Herb Ritts

Black and White Portrait of Hawk Evans

NYC Pride March 2010

2010-06-28T23:42:00.014-04:00

Michael Jackson One Year Anniversary Tribute. Harlem, New York

2010-06-25T23:49:00.000-04:00

Remembering a true legend at the Apollo.

One year ago today, The King of Pop Michael Jackson passed away suddenly at the age of 50. Fans around the world were shocked and saddened by the sudden lost of MJ. It threw me for a loop too, because in all actuality, i thought Michael Jackson would somehow really succeed at living "forever". At least, that's how idealistic his music made me feel.

Today, on a beautiful sunny day in Harlem, hundreds of fans gathered at the Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., Harlem State Office Building to celebrate Michael Jackson's life and legacy, hosted by R & B radio station WBLS. Michael Jackson music blared from the woofers beckoning fans to dance, sing, and remember Michael's greatness. Along 125th street at the Apollo Theater, similar tributes went on, but on a smaller scale due to police presence. Yet street venders of MJ gear enjoyed a healthy demand as fans snatched up posters, t-shirts, buttons and anything with Michael Jackson's face on it.

MJ fan photographing the Apollo display.

Michael Jackson Look-a-like receives a hug from a fan.

Move like MJ.

Reverend Al Sharpton, Activist, Confidante and friend to the Jackson family.

Hands raised up in solidarity.

Heads bowed down for a moment of silence.

Michael Jackson, gone too soon.

Newark, NJ couple enjoying their first time in Harlem at the Michael Jackson Tribute.

A C-collar was no reason not to come out and celebrate!

MJ Fans packed the grounds of the State Office Building.

Michael Jackson had fans of all ages.

Painting Michael.

Young Michael.

Shopping for just the right MJ button.

Fan tribute.

Michael Jackson look-a-like. This was several blocks from the State Building where the fan tribute took place, so it was particularly interesting running into this character on the streets of Harlem.

Michael Jackson, gone too soon.
April 29, 1958- June 25, 2009

Portraits By Pavan

2010-06-23T22:58:00.006-04:00

Portraits taken over the last few weekends by Pavan.

noir et blanc

2010-06-22T21:57:00.001-04:00

Chess in Union Square Park.

Untitled in the city

Slide into Life

Afternoon light n shadow

I am wherever the light is.

2010-06-15T21:39:00.001-04:00

riding home...

Sakura Matsuri

2010-06-15T00:48:00.002-04:00

Lazy Afternoon

2010-06-15T00:47:00.002-04:00

Sky and Trees

2010-06-15T00:46:00.002-04:00

BBG

2010-06-15T00:44:00.002-04:00

Trees

2010-06-15T00:43:00.002-04:00

Pink Peony

2010-06-15T00:42:00.002-04:00

white peony

2010-06-15T00:40:00.001-04:00

Childhood

2010-06-15T00:25:00.001-04:00

roses and fountain

2010-06-15T00:24:00.002-04:00

Field of Flowers

2010-06-13T11:46:00.004-04:00

Orange Rose

2010-06-13T11:46:00.002-04:00

Rose Garden 2

2010-06-13T11:44:00.001-04:00

Rose Garden

2010-06-13T11:33:00.002-04:00

Botanical Gardens

2010-06-13T11:15:00.002-04:00

Lately, I've been photographing in the Garden, attracted by spring's lushness, and shooting some subjects that are not in my usual repertoire.

graffiti

2010-06-12T23:09:00.004-04:00

Editing a ton of images, that have been put on the back burner while Adobe failed me, I came across this image from Cairo. And looking at it all these weeks later realizing that drawings by kids all over the world are the same. We all develop in our own worlds into very different people depending on our culture, but no matter where you are, that drawing of a person is always the same. Reminds me of this image I took in 2002 in Havana. Both drawn in chalk, only to disappear when the rain finally comes.

A return to black and white.

2010-06-10T20:11:00.003-04:00

It's been a minute since I shot in black and white. i kinda miss it. Today was the perfect day for me to shoot in! Misty rain, an overcast sky producing diffuse, six o'clock light helped to create the mood of the images.

Young baller's

Skateboard kid

Family outing in front of the building.

A walk home from school

Repair

Maya Azucena @ The Blue Note - May 2010

2010-06-08T14:57:00.001-04:00

For the past 6 months I have had the pleasure of capturing some wonderful backstage and on stage moments of Grammy Award winning singer Maya Azucena and her band.

Fresh off a tour in Croatia, these moments were from her May 24, 2010 concert at The Blue Note in New York City. She is an incredibly dynamic artist who is worth seeing live. For more information visit www.mayaazucena.com

2010-05-06T00:05:00.000-04:00

our next event! - Sonya 2010!!!

Snow Day 2010

2010-02-15T21:40:00.002-05:00

Snow Beauty, 2010 Blizzard

2010-02-12T19:57:00.001-05:00

Snow beauty, 2010 blizzard

2010-02-11T18:07:00.002-05:00

The much anticipated snow has finally coated he city with the white fluffy stuff, making up for the false alarm blizzard promised by meterorologists last weekend. While DC got buried under more than two feet of snow, we didn't get nary a flurry. Today it was finally our turn.

Everyone at the job seemed to be on "end-of-the world" mode. I love that---to see those panicked faces of co-workers trying to figure out if the elevated train tracks will freeze, preventing them from escaping to suburbia or to some hood in Brooklyn on the J line. Or others scrambling to the market to get end-of-the world comfort food like milk, bread, chips, cake, pies, beer and an assortment of canned goods that will be in the back of the cupboard until we move, or the nuclear fallout touches ground in the way of white, fluffy snowflakes.

Below are some quick pics I took with my pocket point and shoot camera that I'm really beginning to enjoy. It beats carrying around a pro camera all the time! One of my favorite places to be when it snows is Central Park...the beauty is at times breathtaking. Check out the pics below for some shots taken in NYC's first blizzard of he year!

The world did not end. The city simply took a bow to beauty.

The Subtlety of Change

2009-10-23T20:17:00.007-04:00

Feeling in an abstract mood during a walk home through Central Park, capturing autumn as it unfolds.

View the rest of the images from this series on my blog at http://brothaluvacafe.blogspot.com.

Mourning the loss of summer...

2009-10-17T00:33:00.002-04:00

Metaphorically speaking of course...;-)

So long summer...and autumn begins...

2009-10-14T22:10:00.001-04:00

End of Summer - By DeAngela Napier

2009-10-13T00:44:00.007-04:00

Goodbye Summer 2009

Images from Urban Blink Photo Blog @ www.urbanblink.com

High energy on the uptown A train

2009-09-16T20:52:00.000-04:00

42nd Annual West Indian Day Parade, Brooklyn 2009

2009-09-09T22:20:00.003-04:00

View the full photo essay at http://brothaluvacafe.blogspot.com

Brazilian Day Festival 2009

2009-09-08T00:45:00.002-04:00

A few pics from the Brazilian Day Festival this weekend.

Coney Island by Sangram Kachwaha

2009-08-16T00:55:00.003-04:00

Coney Island-Brighton Beach Solitude

2009-08-09T18:59:00.003-04:00

Coney Island Brighton Beach Solitude

It occurred to me as I was enjoying the laughter, rides, attractions, people running and swimming, the noises and the smells of Coney Island and Brighton Beach, that there is a whole other world within this World Wonder. So I decided to capture the Solitude amidst the chaos on a warm summer's Saturday afternoon and evening. We expect a lot of laughter and noise in an environment as huge as this, but I realized the quiet and solitude that started to emerge.

Coney Island-Brighton Beach Solitude

2009-08-09T14:35:00.001-04:00

Coney Island

2009-08-09T13:32:00.002-04:00

Coney Island

2009-08-09T13:25:00.001-04:00

Dance Dance Dance

Coney Island

2009-08-09T12:06:00.002-04:00

Coney Island--Dance Dance Dance

Party people are here, Party people are everywhere. Of all the attractions on the Coney Island Boardwalk that day, THIS is what drew my attention. People young and old, black and white were gettin down to the sounds of HOUSE MUSIC--" Rock your body, Move your body!"

Now, I know some of them were not even old enough to remember the days of Studio 54 or the Garage, but you couldn't tell them that when the music started thumping thumping thumping, and then the beat takes over you, mind body and soul. For the Party People of the Worlds THIS is OUR Religion.

Dance -Dance -Dance- Dance keep on Dancing....

Games and Rides...Good times at Coney Island, 2009

2009-08-06T22:58:00.009-04:00

Waiting on line for the Wonder Wheel.

Faceless couple in an embrace at the Wonder Wheel.

The Wonder Wheel, Coney Island.

Boys aboard the Polar Bear Express, a Coney Island favorite.

My favorite game in Coney Island since I was a kid. Aim and fire the water gun into the clowns mouth, which inflates the attached ballon. First one that pops wins. i like how the baby is the background is hanging in there too!

"Play it Your way"...the nerve-racking quarter game.

The Horse Race to the finish line, prizes dangle from the ceiling.

I remember riding these plastic motorcycles chasing and dogding other cars and obstacles on the moving screen.

Ambivalence about challenging the mechanical arm wrestler.

Freefall, free kids.

Father makes sure his son is prepared to fly.

"They don't touch you, do they???", asked this tense woman as she got strapped in for a ride through the Coney Island Haunted House.

Red, White and Blue - Coney Island - Bhumi Shah

2009-08-05T09:57:00.000-04:00

The ubiquity of the American Flag is the binding agent that holds together the fabric of diversity that is Coney Island. Be it patriotism or a universal brand appeal the red white and blue sure as hell sells America as hard and fast as Nathans does their dogs. This photo essay is my ode to the flag that in its three colors is the representation of the polychromatic multitude of humanity that is drawn to Coney Island.

Inertia - Coney Island

2009-08-05T04:00:00.001-04:00

What does Coney Island have to do with a bag full of cow's eyeballs and the definition of Inertia?

Well, I remember them all so clearly. In 7th grade science class, we had to dissect Cow's eyeballs. Yes, you heard correctly, the eyeball of a cow. But that wasn't even the traumatic part. After we were paired up, our teacher made us reach into a large garbage bag filled with Cow's eyeballs and pick one out. He wanted us to remember the experience. He also taught us the meaning of the word Inertia by repeating it over and over and over and then putting it on every test we had. Why? I don't know. All I could think about was that I didn't care about this slimy cow's eyeball or about remembering what inertia was after I left his class.

Then it happened, as I walked around Coney Island last weekend it popped in my head. The definition of inertia.

Inertia - A body at rest remains at rest. A body in motion remains in motion, unless disturbed by an outside force.

My eye kept being drawn to all the many things I saw at rest and the things in motion. I thought, "This is the REAL New York I fell in love with". How drastically different things will be when the beachfront is turned in to a year around resort next year.

Inertia - A body at rest remains at rest...

A body in motion remains in motion...

...unless disturbed by an outside force (otherwise known as real estate developers).

Goodbye my Coney Island.

Stay inspired. - DeAngela

P.S. - One for the road

Coney Island Culture; Urban revitalization on its heels

2009-08-03T23:17:00.000-04:00

No matter the view, an endless mix of people and culture come to Coney Island in search of fun or peace. I wonder what the vibe will be like once the Urban Revitalization is completed. Will the mix of culture continue to blend or will it sift out like flour in a sieve? What will the "new" Coney Island offer? And to whom? It remains to be seen, but in the meantime, we salvage what final moments of what will soon be considered "what used to be".

Laboring at the World Famous Nathan's

2009-07-30T21:11:00.000-04:00

Wonder Wheel detail (night), 2009

2009-07-28T21:59:00.000-04:00

Coney Island, An iconic tourist shot

2009-07-28T21:51:00.000-04:00

FGPO member Marcia Lloyd at the world famous NATHAN's.

2009-07-27T20:16:00.000-04:00

You go up. Get down. Movin' all around!

A quick edit from Saturday. All the movements by the sea!

FGPO Photo Outing/Assignment: Creating a Photo Essay about Coney Island or Brighton Beach

2009-07-26T22:53:00.001-04:00

This month, we have a two-part Outing/PhotoEssay project. The assignment is to photograph at Coney Island or Brighton Beach and shoots images to create a photo-essay.

A photo essay is a set or series of photographs that are intended to tell a story or evoke a series of emotions in the viewer. Photo essays range from purely photographic works to photographs with captions or small notes to full text essays with a few or many accompanying photographs. Photo essays can be sequential in nature, intended to be viewed in a particular order, or they may consist of non-ordered photographs which may be viewed all at once or in an order chosen by the viewer. All photo essays are collections of photographs, but not all collections of photographs are photo essays. Photo essays often address a certain issue or attempt to capture the character of places and events.

The second part of the assignment is to edit down the shoot to just 10 images to compile a picture story/essay, accompanied by words. All essays will be published on the blog and a photo book, and presented for critique at the August FGPO meeting. Feel Free to comment on the essays as well as any other images on the blog!

Peace,
Ocean

Photo Essay#1: Multiculturalism at Coney Island, 2009

2009-07-26T22:29:00.000-04:00

Coney Island, once known as the "poor man's paradise" was the world capital for amusement that began around 1897, a time when early Dutch settlers inhabited the neighboring communites. Since then, it has become a mecca for people and communities near and from around the world. Whether seeking amusement or solace, the "faithful" make the pilgrimage to the southern-most tip of Brooklyn. It is here that cultures blend together as effortlessly as the sun rises. Regardless of where someone is from, be it Asia, India, Africa or the Bronx, at Coney Island, they "fit in" and have as much a stake in the sentimentality of the place as did the millions of visitors that have preceded them over the last hundered years.

Below are some images that reflect the multiculturalism of Coney Island, giving it world-wide status as a true "melting pot".

Click on any image to enlarge. COMMENTS WELCOME!

Coney Island photo ca.1940. Crowds at Coney Island beach. The first turn of the Cyclone is in the background, between the trees. And to the left of it you can see the top car of the Wonder Wheel.

For Neal Collins.

Technical note: I was using for the very first time a Nikon D80. I've never shot with Nikon, but I inherited one from my buddy Neal Collins who recently transitioned to another space in time. It's a great camera, with tons of features, but i used it on total manual mode including manual focus, which at times was a challenge. The other real challenge was controlling the ISO, F-STOP and Shutter speed dials, which is completely the opposite direction than from my Canon 20D that I'm accustomed to using! I find the resolution better from the Nikon camera but I'm not sure if I'm a total convert yet!

Father and daughter on the Coney Island bound D train, 2009

2009-07-26T18:02:00.000-04:00

I love this moment...it is everything.

Jazz Age Lawn Party

2009-07-22T00:07:00.000-04:00

Jazz Age Lawn Party - NYC (Governor's Island)

more images here.

2009-07-21T14:38:00.001-04:00

TRIBUTE TO ANCESTORS (Middle Passage)

2009-07-10T06:33:00.000-04:00

Coney Island, June 2009

Urban Flotsam

2009-07-08T03:29:00.000-04:00

Water Challenge

2009-07-08T03:08:00.001-04:00

RIP Michael Jackson

2009-07-08T02:43:00.000-04:00

He rocked my world. More images here.

Never Can Say Goodbye

2009-07-07T18:44:00.000-04:00

My heart is still broken...

Urban Flotsam?

2009-07-05T01:17:00.000-04:00

Great theme for this month's project. Not sure if this counts, but they were interesting enough!

Click on any image to enlarge.

Appreciating Life...

2009-07-05T01:12:00.000-04:00

I just loved this moment...it felt like magic to me.

Happy 4th!

2009-07-05T01:06:00.000-04:00

Independence Day hat and outfit

Waiting for fireworks

Macy's Fireworks

Happy Fourth!

2009-07-04T11:10:00.000-04:00

Taken in Washington, D.C. on June 25, 2009.

Pocket full of Rainbows

2009-06-29T23:42:00.000-04:00

Palm Beach, Florida 2009

2009-06-22T14:49:00.000-04:00

2009-06-21T16:50:00.000-04:00

Water Water... fall down.

Everyone made it out safely, minimal injuries. wow!

2009-06-21T00:20:00.000-04:00

Water Water--Drip Drip

2009-06-21T00:11:00.000-04:00

There they were. Buddies- friends-compatriots-waiting for their owner in front of Wholefoods. I'm glad I had my camera --cute

Where ocean meets sky, 2009

2009-06-19T00:43:00.000-04:00

Coney Island Beach/Atantic Ocean

Water droplets

2009-06-19T00:29:00.000-04:00

NYC drinking water sampling station

2009-06-19T00:28:00.000-04:00

Water, like glass ornaments

2009-06-19T00:26:00.000-04:00

2009-06-14T23:23:00.000-04:00

Figment Festival

A little something from the Figment Festival today.
Lots more photos on my blog, click here!

Baptism, 2009

2009-06-14T02:04:00.000-04:00

2009-06-10T21:19:00.000-04:00

It's the last week for our show, "Yellow" at Gnarly Vines.
The show comes down on Sunday so if you haven't checked
it out, GO NOW! :)

WATERmelon

2009-06-07T22:08:00.001-04:00

Do words with water count? :-)

Hudson River - Rhinebeck, NY 2003

2009-06-07T12:06:00.001-04:00

Bead of water

2009-06-06T17:08:00.001-04:00

Stages of water

2009-06-06T17:04:00.000-04:00

Bradford Beach - Milwaukee, Wisconsin 1993

2009-06-05T21:53:00.000-04:00

Water

2009-06-05T20:19:00.000-04:00

2009-06-05T10:34:00.000-04:00

2009-06-04T11:56:00.000-04:00

Reflection

2009-06-03T21:13:00.000-04:00

What do you see when you see your own reflection?

Drops

2009-06-03T19:53:00.000-04:00

White water

2009-06-02T21:40:00.001-04:00

Night water

2009-06-02T21:19:00.000-04:00