NYC Snow Day

So here are some pics from around NYC on the day after we received a nice pile of more than 20 inches of snow.  Enjoy.

Firemen digging out a car.
Snow in the subway.
Radio City snow.
Vendors in the snow.
Peace tree.
Police car being pushed by a snow truck.
Bow on a snowed in bar.

A Single Chef

Recently, I was lucky enough to meet and become friends with a very talented cook/chef/blogger named Marguerite. She runs a blog called A Single Chef, and specializes in demonstrating and explaining how to prepare meals for one or two people. She includes a section that will help identify the appropriate kitchen equipment to help replicate the amazing dishes she shares with her readers. Oh yeah, in addition to her amazing recipes and advice, you can find pictures that I have taken of the food she prepares. We will continue to work together in the near future because it's so much fun! Follow her and follow me for a good time and great food.
A Single Chef
enjoy.
-L

The Best Camera is the One You Have With You

It's an overused statement, but I think it is so true.  Whether you're using the camera on your cell phone, a point and shoot, or a super tricked out high dollar professional rig, what's most important is that you get the shots you want.  As a photographer, I have many camera bodies that I keep around even after I've purchased new ones.  Some people in my life would even go as far as to say I have too many cameras in my growing collection.  Oh well.  :)  I go through stages of really loving to work with one of them for a few months and then switch to another one for a while.
During my 2009 Appalachian Trail thru-hike I used a small plastic 8 megapixel Canon A95 point and shoot.  I was able to take wonderful shots for the entire 5 month journey with this little camera that I bought for less than $150.  (On the right side of this page there is a link to my Trail Journal with pictures from that hike and links to more.)  In everyday life I use the camera on my iPhone quite a bit, but I try to have some type of camera with me at all times because I never know when a great photo opportunity will present itself.
My current favorite walk-around camera is the Canon S90.  It's a 10 megapixel point and shoot with a metal body and the ability to shoot images in RAW format (my preference for file format).  It's small, lightweight, easy to master and includes full manual shooting capabilities.  I love this thing, and the samples below were shot with it this weekend.  Whatever your choice of camera, make sure you learn how to use its features so it can give you the best possible results.  The happier you are with your photographs, the more likely you are to continue shooting and learning more about photography.  Happy Shooting.

-L

 

Weekend Project

Now that I'm working with and learning from a couple of documentary photographers, I'm going to start photographing more people...or people more. The Food will still be the "money maker" (HA!), but I'm going to start a couple of people projects. This weekend I am going to concentrate on getting some up-close and personal shots of people. I think I see people well and I want to translate that into making compelling images. Hope to post some here in the next week.
Also, here comes the World Cup 2010. I'm ready.
If you don't already, you can follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/lancemadson

-Enjoy.

What Makes a Photograph Art?

Or really, what makes a photograph good?  It's different for every person and every photographer, but basically, a photo has to "speak" to someone.  What are your photos telling viewers?  It can be simple or complex.  Photos can inform, ask questions, motivate, shock, inspire, or simply make someone smile.

I just watched a great little video/interview with Carol Friedman, Photographer.   Check it out here.   It's one of several very good short videos on BigThink.com.  This site has a mountain of great content.

Savoy, Thank You

Last night was the tenth annual Calçotada, a traditional Catalan onion festival that marks the start of spring, at Savoy in SOHO.  It was an amazing event with great food, wine, music, and dancing.  I'd like to thank the owner, and chef, Peter Hoffman and the equally amazing chef and personality superstar, Ryan Tate for their hospitality and great work.  I'll be posting pictures from the event on my website soon.
If you're ever in NYC, please stop by Savoy and enjoy their amazing food and service.  They have the "freshest" menu around.  Pair that with their great service and you have a match made in heaven.

New Leica Digital

I'm lucky enough to have been able to communicate with 1 of 12 authors/photographers who were given test models of Leica's new V-Lux 20 12MP digital camera with manual functions. Evidently this thing is absolutely amazing. Results rival images created with Digital SLR models currently on the market.

Pros: It looks and feels like a point and shoot but has a very good sensor, an amazing lens with 25mm-300mm effective zoom range, and produces great colors. Also shoots HD video. It's a Leica!
Cons: $699 price tag. Shoots only jpeg, no RAW. No viewfinder, only amazing color screen used to frame shots.

Did I mention it's a Leica? I visited the websites of B&H and Adorama and found this camera on preorder. I also found a high end Leica DSLR priced at about $28,000. I'm not saying price is the sole indicator of quality, but these folks make great cameras. Can't wait to get my hands on one. See official info here: http://us.leica-camera.com/photography/compact_cameras/v-lux_20/

Hope that link works.


-- Post From My iPhone