Stiff Breeze

As the weather changed just prior to the weekend, boaters got in a last sail before tropical storm Danny came calling. Like a good bit of the summer of '09, the weekend looks like a total washout. Could it really be September looming after this weekend??

Lunch By The Bay

Oliver Scott continues to discover the many joys of summer. A sandy sandwich dipped in bay water...and it's something to dance about!

Hurracaine Season

Just as Long Islanders breathe a sigh of relief as hurricane Bill passes far offshore, the weatherman tells us to brace for a much closer brush with hurricane Danny. The best case scenario forecast has Danny passing 100 miles off Montauk, worst case has the category one storm hitting this beach on Saturday. Either way, heavy duty beach umbrellas will be required equipment!

High Surf

Hurricane Bill thankfully made a sharp right turn as it came up the eastern seaboard over the weekend. The effects of Bill's wake however were felt all along Long Island's south shore as beaches were "closed" from Brooklyn to Montauk due to high surf. ( I'm not sure just "how" a beach can be "closed". )
At any rate, these shore birds seem to have heeded the advice and avoided the heavy surf.

(best in larger view)

Ancestors

Genealogy is the latest computer based passion in my house. It's ironic that modern high speed information technology makes looking into the past much easier. For me, it's exciting to feel a real sense of history that connects to family. Numerous databases available on the inter net make "playing detective" a fun challenge while doing research in home based comfort.

As I explore and discover more about my family I find humor in the fact that when "relatives" become "ancestors" they become more interesting. It's almost as if the story we all have to tell will be more of interest when we are not around to tell it. :-)

The Bee Man

Summer Yellow jacket/Hornet drama...If you spend anytime outside with food or drink at this time of the year you know the drill. Pesky, annoying and finally aggressive Yellow jacket Hornets that feel ownership for whatever it is that you are trying to eat. To add insult to injury these unwelcome and nasty guests often choose to ignore property rights when building their nests.

Indeed, buzzing around your hot dog is one thing but nesting above your front door is another matter entirely! After approximately nine cans of hardware store variety hornet spray (technique: spray/run..spray/curse/run..repeat) this homeowner made the executive decision to take the sting in the wallet and not in the ass.

Crab Season

If you like Blue Claw Crabs it just does not get any better than August/September on Long Island. The crabs this season are very prolific and with a little effort you can fill your bucket at just about any town dock or salt marsh creek.

At our house sharing crabs in red sauce with friends has become a summer celebration of sorts. Requirements include a disregard for being messy, an abundance of napkins and a decent glass of red wine. Life is Good!

Summer

Recently, on a perfect summer day at the beach, I was reminded how timeless and universal this scene has become. A perfect mix of kids, sand, ocean and summer is the same the world over. Living in the moment, innocent and carefree, seemingly oblivious to the dwindling days of August. Life is good!

Fire Island Ferry Dock

In a land where there are no cars the need for a highway still exists. The ferry dock at Davis Park is beginning to look like the LIE. Weekend crowds can become a bit intense with the arrival and departure of the ferry from Patchogue. The scene often reminds me of people trying to get in an elevator before others can get out! Just what is up with that anyway?!

More Macro

I spent four hours at a Hummingbird preserve last weekend. The mission was to get the perfect "National Geographic" shot, the one with the bird frozen in the frame. Alas, for all my efforts I came home with shots of those much slower moving (often sitting still) creatures...butterflies. :-)

Beach Read

My idea of the perfect beach day includes a cold beer, a gentle breeze and a good book. Of course, having my sexy wife in the beach chair next to me adds much to the experience. Life is good.

Giving His Regards To Broadway

Standing in the epicenter of Times Square, George M. Cohan (1878-1942) is a popular meet-up site. With several blocks now closed to traffic, Times Square has become very pedestrian friendly!

Saturday In The City

Time spent with the folks at Roundabout and "Tin Pan Alley Rag" made for a perfect summer Saturday!

Proud Gandpa Series

Another new discovery..the Atlantic Ocean. Oliver Scott, fearless and loving the water at nineteen months of age!

Beach Deer

The end of another perfect beach day and our old friends are still looking for a hand out!

Downwind Sail

Fun with the fisheye lens. Keeping the horizon straight when shooting from a moving boat can be a challenge. Fisheye distortion certainly provides an excuse! :-)

Bellport Bay

Often called the "Unhampton", Bellport Village on Long Island's south shore has a distinctively different feel than neighboring towns. Bellport's waterfront, it's quaint tree lined streets and it's Main Street shops remind me of the Cape Cod from years ago.
A favorite spot for south shore sailors, Bellport Bay is wonderful spot to spend an August afternoon.

Working Hard

A Great South Bay classic, tong boats have an open flat deck with very little free board. Clammers use the long handled tongs to scoop the sandy/muddy bottom in search of bivalves. Today, this is a rare sight as the clam fishery has all but collapsed. Old timers still joke about being able to "walk across" the bay by stepping from clam boat to clam boat.

Genealogy Field Trip

In addition to photography there is another passion in my house. Both Alida and I have been bitten (once again) by the genealogy bug. On a recent overcast weekday we headed out on a cemetery safari as Alida continues to connect some dots leading to and from Brooklyn. This shot was taken at Linden Hill a burial ground with beautiful vistas of Manhattan.

Macro Fun

Up close and personal with our summer friends.

Young Thrill

Carnival Time... Making discoveries and learning about trust.

Life Is A Beach

At 18 months of age, Oliver Scott has discovered a whole new world. On his very first trip to the beach he was awash in all forms of new excitement. An ocean with endless laugh inducing waves that lapped at the feet and tugged at the body was a source of much sensual pleasure. A beach with limitless sand that joyfully stuck to everything from ice cubes to cheese sandwiches to diapers. And that does not include those fascinating winged creatures that fly when you chase them called "boids" Ahh, the thrill of new discovery.
From a grandparent point of view all of this is cute, the awareness for Mom (the "oh-oh factor") is that little Oliver indeed has no fear.

Car Show

The Classic Car Show, much more my brother's arena than mine, but an interesting way to kill an hour or so. The Cash for Clunkers program is not an option here and some of the restoration efforts are indeed very impressive. Funny how cars can be benchmarks of time, I suppose that if enough years go by we all can become "classics".

Wizzing By

The town carnival, that annual rite of summer with all the sounds, smells and flavors that provide the allure of honky-tonk. It's fun to witness the excitement of innocent youth as they thrill at the cheessy rides and indulge in the greasy foods. Year after year the same carnival atmosphere is new again and a reminder that there is still plenty of summer left to enjoy! Life is good.

View Of The Upper Eastside

A morning stroll on Roosevelt Island riverfront affords some impressive vistas of Manhattan. A surprisingly peaceful and quiet corner of New York....

Belmont Park Candid

Mistaking me for the paparazzi ( or at least the Daily News ) this jockey struck a pose dressed in his best silks. While not headlining on The Daily Racing Form he did make it to Random Shots By Chris! (best in large view)