I Miss Chicago
Hey,
This year I have decided to blog a bit more as I feel like its another way for me to connect with my audience. Sometimes people would rather read than look at photos all day, and sometimes I feel that writing things down is more better than having to imagine it.
I’m writing about my travel to Chicago a few years ago. Why now? why so late? to be honest the title speaks for it self. Why so late well because now I thinking my birthday just passed and I wanted to take another trip. Should I go back to Chicago or should I go somewhere I have never been before, Either way I'm going somewhere.
If you follow my work you know that I love dramatic landscape photography and Chicago is no where short of dense inner city landscapes. Layers upon layers of sky scrapers and iconic buildings. I have always love the Chicago for obvious reasons...The Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordan.
I love photographing in a place like Chicago because it feels like I home. It’s one of those places I have seen over and over again. I just can't get enough of the city. Feels like home away from.
Here are some images I was able to capture...
New York Minute
Not sure how to start this one back up again, but its been a long time since I have posted anything on here. I have been doing a lot to be honest just no time to sit down and make a post about it.
Today I want to talk about my New York City experience in which I was soaked by the rain, had my backpack fall apart and spent 2 hours trying to get the perfect shot.
Chinatown
When I came across this location it was here when I felt like I was in New York. No, it wasn't the slick talking or the One World Trade building. This!! This somewhat iconic shot of Chinatown from the Manhattan Bridge is when I felt like I was in New York. Its places like this that we see time and time again that make us feel like we made it. A lot of the time it is not about the destination, but the journey it took to get there. Cloudy days, rain and puddles are what made up most of the week.
Walking across iconic bridge felt like a bad joke at times. "why did the photographer cross the bridge?" To get all the shot? As much as we tried to predict the weather we had many failed attempts because predicting the weather is like finding the fountain of youth you come close, but your just not there.
Brooklyn Bridge
The Infamous Brooklyn Bridge, iconic the first New York City bridge and one hell of a run to the other side. We got caught in a crazy down pour with nowhere to hide. No shelter to cover and all our clothes, camera equipment and bags exposed. All we could do was embrace the New York weather, as if we had any other choice. When things like this happen you take it and think its a bad thing, but its memorable so why not document it . First time in New York and on the Brooklyn Bridge we caught in the rain. (I know I have been saying we a lot, I was on this trip with my girl friend, who doesn't have Instagram but loves to travel take photos and experience different foods.)
It rained for 3 days so stayed inside...
Fulton Station pt.1
Fulton Station pt.2
The Oculus
Staying dry is key when your not walking around with a 1Dx or weather sealed equipment. Because New York is so big and has so much to offer have a day inside is still a good thing. Not all cities are like this, but I will say rain or shine NYC doesn't stop, doesn't slow down and doesn't take breaks. Unfortunately I don't have a 1Dx, but its in the woks.
Chrysler Building
One World Trade Centre
The rain finally settled and going high above New York to capture this busy city in one photo, finally made sense. Seeing a lot these buildings was also a culture shock because the amount of films that have been recorded in New York is astonishing. From Batman, Die Hard, Sex & The City, Fast & Furious and more, NYC has got it covered.
Now to tell you what it means and how much dedication it takes to get that perfect shot that ends your trip. It was the last day of our trip and we wanted to see The 'Top of The Rock'. All tickets were sold out up until the next day and we were at the end of the line. The people ahead of us were buying tickets for tomorrow so by the time we get to the kiosk it would have been sold out. Did I mention it was our last day, so there was no trip back to the top of the rock for us. So, when your backs against the wall and you almost out of options what do you do? BUY VIP!!!!
We bought VIP skipped the line in a New York minute and stayed on rock for 2.5 hours because it was our last night the sun was finally out and we had no where else better to be than to watch the sun go down over one of the craziest cities in the world. It almost felt like we were in a movie watching the sunset.
Till next time,
Peace
The Cuban Experience
I know it has been long since my last post in January, but you can look forward to more post in the coming future.
I recently took a trip to Cuba for the experience of a lifetime courtesy of Havana Club Canada. For 3 days myself and the 2 other photographers Celia & Gillian enjoyed food, music and of course rum. We were able to get some history of how rum is made in a very cuban fashion.
Walking the streets of Old Havana was one of the highlights of my trip, seeing the culture, the old buildings with new modern architecture. Tones of characters roam the streets of Cuba any given day engaging tourists and cubans alike. You may have to pay a peso or two, but a photo of one of these street characters is worth the experience and the memories.
Unforgettable sunsets at 6am to going to kids in the streets playing soccer. Cubans may seem like they don't have much, but they sure live life to the fullest. Live it day by day and drink to the good times.
There were very few times when a local wouldn't try to sell me cigars and or rum as Cuba's largest income is based around tourism. Very nice and very respectful by the 3rd day I didn't want to leave, I felt like I was more than welcome to stay for as long as I wanted.
I would definitely recommend if anyone wants to go to somewhere hot, where they can enjoy good food, dance and of course cigars Cuba is the place to be. I have so many moments from this trip that overtime I see an image I feel like I am still there. I will never forget this trip to Havana.
Till next time.