Manhattan’s Missing Its Stars

Sometimes the best way to see a place is to go outside of it and then look in. I’d say that principle has a much broader reach in our lives.  But, for now, let’s just go to Hoboken, NJ and take a look at Manhattan.

For New Yorkers, this is our mountain range.  These are our peaks.  We spend our days in the canyons, in the caves, exploring every interesting nook and every new artifact.  But, when you look upon the mountain range from afar you realize all you have, as well as all you’ve given up.

I always thought “light pollution” was a ridiculous term until I moved here. How much do we gain by living in a city where you can buy virtually anything anytime of night and day? And how much do we lose by not seeing the star-lit sky?  By not being able to tag along with Orion on his great hunt across the cosmos.  To read the fascinating stories of Perseus and Cassiopeia and so many others without being able to see the stars that inspired them?  Our connection to the Greek classics is reduced to two-dollar gyros on street carts.

It’s up to you to answer how much you lose or gain by living in Manhattan.  So we don’t have the stars.  But have you seen how beautiful all the lights reflecting off the water can be?  Have you seen the twinkling angels at Rockefeller Center during Christmas?  Maybe your inspiration comes from these man-made stars too. And trips from inside the mountain out can provide the balance to appreciate both.  What an adventurous journey that would be.

(By the way this shot was taken with a self timer, so that’s me on the railing.  Hi.)

Warm Weather Brings Out the Sounds of New York City

I noticed something when the sun went down last night on the Hudson – I wasn’t freezing to death! In fact, it was a beautiful night. And aside from the welcomed warmth, I noticed that the weather brought new sounds as well.  Cyclists now wooshed along the West Side pathway. Joggers chatted in between breaths. All the while, I fixated on the Hudson River sunset.

Cars rushed south on the West Side Highway. In winter, they greedily hold in heat and sound. Tonight, windows were down and even as commuters blew past me, I could hear music coming from their systems. Rolling Stones, Jay-Z, and even a quick hit of Aretha Franklin at one point.  Of course if you’re on the phone or eager for a moment’s peace, this isn’t cool.  But, for anyone who like’s to sing “sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me,” forever on end, hey, that sound bite of Aretha is all you need.

When the cars were still, the sound of kids playing on brightly lit astroturf fields filled the air. Coaches blew their whistles and called out instructions. Their energy radiated to all who passed by, probably pausing to remember when they were just a kid on a field, dreaming of going pro some day.  All the while, the city skyline, quiet as the clouds, speaks louder to New Yorkers than all the joggers, cars and soccer-playing kids combined.

Here comes spring in New York City.

To be a kid in New York City

Hello Sunshine!

Two beautiful days in a row in New York City. If only sunshine meant warmth!

I Spy NYC – Director’s Cut

I now know why movies come with a director’s cut. I was going through some of my older and unpublished New York City photos and found a few from Manhattan and Brooklyn that I just couldn’t send to the backup drive before sharing. I hope you enjoy.

West Village Snow Photos

Just a couple shots from lunch. Taken in the West Village of New York City.

Happy Chinese New Year!

It’s a gift when you can walk 15 minutes and find yourself right in the middle of the Chinese New Year parade. One of the biggest! Happy Year of the Tiger! Here are a few of my favorite images from the day. More shots can be found on my Flickr page.

After an hour or so, the streets were so full you could barely move. People were shooting off tube poppers all over, showering the crowds with confetti and good luck parachutes.

The whole scene was magical. I could have been in Beijing for all I knew. But it was just 15 minutes from my apartment in Gramercy, where my television was set to DVR repeat episodes of Jersey Shore and other programs only an American could love.

The dragon costumes were out of control colorful and beautiful. But I wondered about the men in them. What was their story. This has to be an honor, I would assume, as they are the ones who go to each storefront and do a dance in the doorway to bring good luck to the owner.

And there’s nothing like a good high-five to kick off any celebration.

Snowstorm hits NYC. “Sweet,” says photographers.

There were quite a few frozen fingers today as photographers went out to photograph their favorite New York spots, now blanketed with snow. I wish I could have stayed out in it all day – checking out the Brooklyn Bridge, Chinatown, Central Park, and all the hot spots – but we didn’t have a “snow day” at work. So here’s my favorite shot from my morning and evening commutes.

(You can buy a print of this Red Umbrella Photo from my etsy page. Click here.)

Winter Jam NYC

Did you know there are National and World Championships for trampolining?  A few of those champions took to the tramps in Central Park yesterday as Winter Jam attracted kids and adults alike to see the high flying show. There was also a snow boarding ramp, with performances throughout the afternoon. Visitors could watch the athletes or shop a variety of stands to buy their endorsed gear.

The Hudson is Frozen

The Hudson River really doesn’t need much to be major point of interest for New Yorkers and tourists alike. Since it’s frozen, though, the great shapes made by the ice make the views much more interesting. Check out this story of the Hudson freezing back in the day.

Jersey City, New Jersey: Home of the Most Colorful Sunsets

Ok, so the the dramatic hues are apparently caused by pollution, but whatever — New Jersey Sunsets are beautiful.Here are two shots — one taken just before sunset, and the other just after it’s gone down. You can see how the colors change dramatically.

Hark! The Rockefeller Angels Sing…

I wanted to leave you with this shot from Rockefeller Center for the holidays. One of my favorites from this winter so far. I’m headed home, so the blog will go a few days without any updates. It’s been a great holiday season in NYC. Everyone is here. The shows are at capacity. (By the way, go see In the Heights. And, I know it’s late, but the Rockettes show is very cool too.)  If it doesn’t rain or all melt away, we should have snow on the ground for Christmas. All is good. All is bright.

Central Park’s Angel of the Waters

Central Park Statue Wings, originally uploaded by marc.cappelletti. Available for purchase on Etsy.com.

This statue, the “Angel of the Waters” is absolutely stunning. The neo-classical sculpture was actually the only sculpture commissioned as part of the original design of the park. I hope my shot does her justice.

(This photo, Angel of the Waters, is available for purchase at my Etsy shop.)

Morning and Night, Best for Photos in NYC

Early morning or night, shooting in Manhattan is always more fun. I took most of these while exploring with Lindblad Expeditions/National Geographic photo specialist Michael Nolan. Check out his amazing wildlife images on his website, www.wildlifeimages.net.

Fall Light in NYC