Tuesday, November 29, 2011

November Beach


November Beach, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
Yesterday was a real treat from weather central. Is it really the end of November on Long Island with temperatures hovering around 70 degrees? Yesterday's record setting high temperature for the date (69 degrees) is a far cry from the record low of 20 degrees. Enjoy it while it lasts. Keep an eye over your shoulder as the weatherman promises a very chilly weekend and a stroll on this beach will be much less comfortable!

Monday, November 28, 2011

Brief Interlude


Reading Chair, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
I love the "coming home"of family for Thanksgiving. The sharing of food, laughs, stories and good wine is it's own reward. Like all holidays Thanksgiving has evolved into more than just a day, we have the travel day, Black Friday, College Football-Left Overs Saturday, and Get Away-Sunday (when the relatives hit the turnpike). Lately, I have found another holiday reality that is equally as wonderful. It's rather nice to get one's home back and enjoy the solitude after helping to pack those mini-vans and waving goodbye. It's pleasantly quiet now and I do think that there just might be a enough left overs in the fridge for one more turkey sandwich.
I can't get too comfy though, it is after all Cyber-Monday and there are all those Christmas decorations in the attic! How many "shopping days" do I have anyway???

Saturday, November 26, 2011

End Of November


Reflections, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
The last of autumn color shows in reflections as November draws to a close. Can next weekend really be December? Like the osprey and the songbirds my compass is beginning to point south.

Friday, November 25, 2011

Time To Shop?


Street View, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
To shop or not. The much ballyhooed "Black Friday" is upon us. I see it thusly, I can go out, get in line, fight traffic and hope that I can buy that discounted gift ( praying that there is one left )... OR... I can stay home and eat leftover turkey and pumpkin pie. It's a no-brainer for me.
BTW: Is it me? Is it fair? Do I see "Black Friday" creep? Does "Black Friday" now start while some of us are still doing dishes on Thanksgiving?

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving


Happy Thanksgiving Best, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
"A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all the other virtues". ~Cicero

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Appreciation Energy


Departure, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
The day before Thanksgiving most of us are either traveling or we are cooking. Regardless, there's a good deal of energy that goes into saying Thanks with family and friends. More than just a meal, Thanksgiving is a day to count one's blessings and appreciate the gift of family, friends and loved ones! It's a special holiday and it's well worth the effort.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Traffic


Traffic, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
The media keeps reminding us that tomorrow, the day before Thanksgiving, is the busiest travel day of the year. From what I hear, over 40 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home in order to share Thanksgiving dinner with family. They also tell us that 24 million of those travelers will be flying to their destination, so.. take your headphones and try to get an aisle seat. The rest of us will have to deal with a whole bunch of cars on the highways....Happy Thanksgiving, and be careful out there!

Monday, November 21, 2011

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Stepping In


Stepping In, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
My wife and I feel like kids again. The excitement comes with finally finding our own piece of Florida where we will be stretching our snowbird wings! Life is Good.

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Heavenly Vintage


Heavenly Vintage, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
This west side storefront struck me as a scene from 1970's New York. I decided to play a bit with post-processing in an attempt to give the image that 60's-70's film process look. Remember when photos were "developed" in a darkroom, not to mention waiting a week to see the finished product!

Friday, November 18, 2011

Catching Reflections


Catching Reflections, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
There is so much to learn about photography. I often shoot with a group of friendly fellow photographers and the conversation is always peppered with f/stops, focal lengths, shutter speeds, etc. I have come to realize however, that a major part of photography is all in the "seeing" (as opposed to just "looking"). I'm always amazed how one or two of our group members always seem to get "THE" shot because they saw something that I just "looked at". It's where the real talent is I suppose, creative people just see beyond the ordinary.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Cool Shadows


Dune Fence, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
November afternoon shadows seem to pass quickly as the light sinks early on the horizon. The temperature seems to be dropping almost as fast as the sun!

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Flower Tracks


Flower Tracks, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
Nature's reclamation project, gardens between the rails along NYC's High Line Park.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

The Crowd


The Crowd, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
News Item: The world population has just exceeded 7 Billion. Seems as though the benchmark of the first Billion took over a thousands years, the following 6 Billion took a couple hundred years. While there's always room for one more, I for one am planning on getting that flu shot!

Monday, November 14, 2011

Colors


Color Panes, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
More from along the High Line...finding art in abandoned industrial space.

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Street Sounds


B&W Blues, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
I'm a sucker for street performers. There's always something special about live music. While most of these artist are playing for handouts, I really do believe that they love what they are doing. They certainly add enjoyment to my city meanderings.

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Pier 54


Pier 54, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
Waiting for your ship to come in? I think I'll just appreciate the fall colors along the Hudson. Life is Good.

Friday, November 11, 2011

Veteran's Day


Veteran's Day Plaque, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
Two postings today to express gratitude to our nation's veterans. (See the second post below.)


Veteran's Day

In a salute to all our veterans of all our conflicts I was struck by the pride in this old soldier. Joseph is a veteran of the Korean War and he is also the commander of the Long Island Camp of "The Sons of Union Veterans of The Civil War". Civil War buffs will know that the GAR (Grand Army of the Republic) was founded in 1866 as the official Civil War veteran's organization. The GAR remained very active through the first half of the 20th Century, it's last surviving member died in 1956. By an act of Congress in 1954 the SUVCW was designated the legal heir to the Grand Army of the Republic. Today, full members must prove direct lineage to a Union veteran.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

High Line Hydrangia


High Line Hydrangia, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
Autumn color along the High Line...Life is full of appreciations! :)

Wednesday, November 09, 2011

Helm View


Helm View, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
While every day is a gift, some gifts are nicer than others. Long Island enjoyed a 70 degree November day yesterday. If you had the day off and your boat was still in the water you just may have spent election day on the water. It occurred to me as I stuck the camera out the helm window that this could just be the last time Recess returns to port this season. Life is Good.

Tuesday, November 08, 2011

High Line Walk


High Line Walk, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
An elevated oasis in the heart of Manhattan's west-side, the High Line offers spectacular city views and a touch of Autumn color. A modern day stroke of green genius, the park has converted one and a half miles of urban blight into a natural garden/walkway. Put a stroll on the High Line on your "must do" list!

Monday, November 07, 2011

Stacked Up


Stack, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
A fisheye view of the old industrial and gritty New York is quite a contrast to the artsy and elegant new neighbors!

Sunday, November 06, 2011

Wall Art


Wall Art, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
Some rather impressive "Street Art" found just off Manhattan's Highline Park...

Friday, November 04, 2011

Thursday, November 03, 2011

Autumn Afternoon


Autumn Afternoon, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
Serenity on a November afternoon along the shore of the Connetquot River.....

Tuesday, November 01, 2011

Data Buoy


Data Buoy, originally uploaded by Chris S Thorpe.
"Hey...what's that?" After more than a few years on the bay I've got that whole green buoy/red buoy thing down pretty well. Seeing a bright yellow buoy where there just has never been any buoy certainly got my attention recently. My curiosity led me to discover that the folks at Stony Brook University School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences have been busy collecting data about the Great South Bay. A long range study of the bay's ecosystem has been utilizing instruments on these buoys throughout the bay. Buoy placement has been mostly in the "off season" as to not interfere with recreational boaters.
Yellow buoys.."who knew?"