The first week of 2024 is over. I look at this year with goals in mind, and wonder how to fit everything in everything. Starting with a positive attitude, I will continue to meet each week’s photo challenges. Capturing new images with my photo friends. When the computer screen gets too tiring for my eyes, I switch to my new endeavor – quilting. Back at the computer, my genealogy quest has surprised me. I connected with relatives living near Tel Aviv, Israel, London, England, and New Hampshire, U.S.A.
New York City
One World Trade Center Memorial
The MetThe LucerneKatz’sZabarsDefinitely, not TrumpHighlights from our trip back to New York City in March
I have passed this Banksy many times, but just now I discovered the background history.
Banksy on West 79th Street
Yolo County
A short drive down I 80 brings my photo friends to Yolo County and plenty of picture-taking opportunities. We visited various farms on Yolo Arts & Ag Days. A real treasure we waited for was our visit to Glashoff Sculpture Ranch. Amazing! Certainly will try and revisit it!
Glashoff Sculpture GardenGlashoff Sculpture GardenGetting in the photo
Sacramento Zoo and Local Critters
Family Outings
Ogden Alpaca Farm in Orangevale with my four grandsons
Roseville Big Trucks with my youngest grandson
Out and about with my photo friends
Traveling east to Placerville
Store Front reminds me of my librarian days
Some portraits of shopkeepers in Placerville
Just having fun being out with friends in Old Sacramento, Bushnell Nursery, Crocker Art Museum, Folsom Farmer’s Market, and a nighttime
My friend AnneCrocker Art MuseumTea is served
Me and my Moxie Love
Walking around Oak Park in Orangevale
Moxie is waiting to see what the new year holds for us.
Anne challenges me, to find fascinating structures that capture my attention, tell a story, or are just beautiful.
This gives me the opportunity to look at photographs from my New York City trip. I am originally from New York. Born in Manhattan but lived in Queens, and after the age of ten, I lived a suburban life on Long Island. Plainview to be specific. There is a vast difference between those 2 views. In 1978 the family left Queens, New York, and moved to Southern California. This was fortuitous since my husband worked on the 82nd floor of the World Trade Tower 2. Two years later we relocated to Northern California and settled in Sacramento. Did I know that my apartment in Northridge would be flattened in an earthquake? I now live in Fair Oaks part of Sacramento County for over 5 years.
In March 2020 we had tickets to New York City. At the very last minute we canceled, and New York City closed down. I don’t know why I don’t buy lottery tickets!
Leaving Kennedy Airport in Queens for Manhattan.
The architecture of the old TWA building.
But I still feel like a New Yorker, and when we visit we stay in New York City at The Lucerne.
This is a landmark building on the upper west side
The Lucerne on 79th Street
A condo was built in the space between
We made sure to visit different parts of the city each time.
Skyscrapers
The Empire State Building
On this very foggy day, we were told that there would be nothing to view from above. We came back another day for the view.
One World Trade Center
2014 was too soon to visit the site. There were still a lot of memories and a lot of construction.
One World Trade Center in 2014. Lots of construction in the area
2023
2023 we visit One World Trade Center
World Trade Center Memorial
Bird’s eye look at Manhattan
Going up to the One World Trade Observatory. Look at the view.
Amazing architecture
Inside the Guggenheim Museum
Madison Square Garden
The Metropolitan Museum of Art. “The Met”
This full facade was moved to The Met from Wall Street
Macy’s on 34th Street. Just think of the Thanksgiving Parade.
So much remains, and so much changes. A couple of weeks after we visited The American Museum of Natural History an addition opened up. I visited this museum often when I was growing up. My Aunt Li, Uncle Henry, and Cousin Ricky lived about 10 blocks away. And as it happened my mother selected an orthodontist around the corner. So trips to the city were frequent. Without the new addition, I was still in awe of the changes made to this museum and the Hayden Planetarium located there.
Walking up to the museumSurrounding buildingsHayden PlanetariumHayden PlanetariumNew Gem & Mineral exhibit in The American Museum of Natural History
Transportation
Grand Central Terminal – outside and inside
The Oculus
2014 The Oculus under construction
The Oculus
So many memories, and so many new places to see.I hope you liked this whirlwind tour of New York City.
John set up this week’s metaphoric theme “The Road taken” – and not about a physical road. For this week’s challenge, he wants me to think of my favorite type or style of photography as the road I’ve chosen to take most often.
I just returned from a CoVid delayed 8-day trip to New York City. Our last trip occurred in February 2014. We visited in the same season, but CoVid created many changes in the city. Last time I took most of my photographs using my Olympus OMD camera. I have since switched to the Fuji xt4, and I only brought my 18-55 lens. The cold weather dictated many indoor activities, and I found myself using my Apple iPhone 13 pro.
Looking up at the Empire State Building
I visited The Met (Metropolitan Museum of Art) specifically to view Berenice Abbott’s New York Album 1929. Eugène Atget, a French photographer influenced her, and when I looked at all the photographs I saw my “road”. My catalog includes similar images to those taken by Etget and Abbott. Street scenes, people, and animals capture my interest.
When I go anywhere, I document. I focus on a different or unusual way to see what is there.
Looking down from Zabar’s on Broadway and 80th Street
What kind of cheese are you interested in buying?
Line forming outside of Katz’s Deli. “I’ll have what she’s having!”
Going every which way at The Oculus.
Grand Central Station
Environmental Portraits that tell a story.
Grand Central Station food courtKatz’s Deli Manicurist59th Street StationThe MetMidtown Bus RiderThe LucerneFruit & Vegetable VendorKatz’s DeliNice MatinThe Oculus
This week Sophia’s challenges me to see how I view any urban environments I come across, either by visiting as a tourist or the place I live in. What makes that city or town special and how do I capture it?
Sometimes you come back from a vacation and you don’t take the time to look at your images. This challenge gave me the opportunity to review a trip to New York City in February 2014. I can tell that it was cold and damp. Snow delayed our arrival by one day.
Most of the snow had hardened into ice mounds. Lots of people moving quickly.
Stuck for a while
Lots of hustle
The day after Valentine’s Day
Looking up
Buildings of all shapes and sizes
We planned to visit the Empire State Building but the Security Guard advised us to come back another day. The clouds would just obscure the view. So we headed to B&H. For this trip, I used my Olympus OMD. I have since moved to a Fuji setup.
Metropolitan Museum of ArtThe GuggenheimSo many museums
Empire State Building
Food is everywhere. Katz’s Deli, made famous with the saying, “Senda Salami to your boy in the Army”, The Seinfeld scene, “I’ll have what she’s having!”
Katz’s DeliDo you know what this is?ZabarsFamous for its cheescake. Best pizza!
So many famous sites
Madison Square GardenOne World Trade Center
I grew up in Nassau County, but when I go back to visit I like to stay in Manhattan. My husband and I had planned a vacation back to NYC in March 2020. Our actual arrival date was March 10th. Well, on March 11th the whole city shut down. Subways and Broadway stopped by CoVid. The pandemic was gaining traction.
Subway and theatre tickets. This time we saw Chicago
Glad I decided to cancel our vacation. We still have the airline ticket credit.
This post is a bit delayed. The smoke from the Mosquito fire triggered an ongoing asthma attack. All the coughing has added to my dog Moxie’s unsettling behavior. No exercise, and listening to me all day. But I couldn’t let the challenge of showing you the urban city I love.
A Photo's Worth 