Here’s the last batch of images from my recent trip to NYC. The above photo is of Grand Central Terminal (used to be Grand Central Station) and the Chrysler Building just after sunset. We walked there from Bryant Park to see the nightly light show that starts at 5:00 PM each night during December. Except that they don’t do that anymore. Thank you for the up to date info, Google! <eyeroll>

I like the contrast in this shot between the light column and the dark column, right there on the same building facade.  We stumbled across this walking through Soho.

This was just a random fire escape I noticed on our walk through Soho. I like the repeated curves in the design. A lot!

And finally, a shot I took just for my son, who loves dark, Gothic style buildings and art. It’s not exactly Gothic, I realize, but it’s still pretty cool, and he “uber-like”d it, so I count that as success!

While in New York City last weekend we visited Bryant Park. Besides the ice skating and Christmas market, there was a beautiful old carousel. The above shot is a detail of the canopy, as is this next image:

And this final image of the carousel in motion, which makes me particularly happy:

We took a quick trip to New York City last Sunday with the specific purpose of doing some photography. Last year when we made our Christmas trek into the city I only had a  point and shoot camera with me, and no tripod, so my after dark shots were pretty pitiful. This year I planned better. I packed my personal and photographic necessaries in my new epiphanie bag, except for my mondo-stable (read that: heavy) tripod, which I gave to Brian to carry, and set out.  So as I walked, stopping suddenly every now and then to grab shots of amazing things like afternoon sun on concrete doodads on door frames, he trudged beside me all day with my trusty tripod slung across his back like Robin Hood’s quiver. Once the sun went down I made use of the tripod, making all his hard work worthwhile. At least to me. The above shot was taken just before sunset in Bryant Park.

I was especially excited about getting some decent shots of the tree and skating rink at Rockefeller Center, since my shots from last year were pretty pitiful. Well, it was a nice thought… This is what we saw when we got there:

Now, I realize this is Manhattan, in December no less, but still! The crowd was packed this tight all the way around Rockefeller Center, including the terraces around the skating rink, the sidewalks, and the promenade between the rink and 5th Avenue! As hardcore as I believe myself to be when it comes to getting the shot, there was no way I was going to venture into this mass of humanity! The crowd in the foreground of this image is the least populated area in the vicinity. Yikes!  I did manage to get a fairly nice shot of the tree, in spite of it all. Not bad for having to shoot from the back of the crowd between a tree and free-standing elevator:

The final Christmassy shot may be my favorite. It was taken of the fountain across 6th Avenue from Rockefeller Center:

Last winter we got hooked on cupcakes made by ICED by Betsy, and, me being me, I have to photograph them before we eat any. Brian patiently waits for me, understanding that making photos makes me happy, and that the cupcakes are worth the wait. The photo above was taken a few months ago, so I don’t remember what the exact flavor is: just that it was some kind of lemony goodness.

We got this one, almost as a dare, and I’m pretty sure it’s one of my favorites now. It’s a maple/bacon confection, and yes, that is in fact real bacon adorning the top.

I don’t remember the name of this one either, but it was a tasty combo of chocolate and mint. As a chocolate fanatic, I pronounce it amazing.

And the uber-tasty lemonade cupcake, complete with straw.

And finally, more chocolate. This may be the one she calls Life by Chocolate, but I don’t remember. I just know that it is the best chocolate cake ever, filled with chocolate, then topped with chocolate. Honestly. What is not to like about that?