Monday, February 23, 2004
8:44 PM — Phun Photos
I keep forgetting how much I like to take whimsical photos. Most often, these take the form of strangely reptitive forms, usually as found in forms of modern industry. This past weekend I spent visiting my parents in NYC, and I carried my new digicam with me. (Cannon Powershot S400 Digital Elph--long enough name?)
I visited my Nga Boo (grandma) in the "rehab center" on Friday. The Kosher facilities and attempts at engaging the inmates result in a bizzare mix of the pathetic and humorous. Elderly Excitement captures this in the sweeping arc of wheelchairs aligned facing the TV, the main source of entertainment. The focus is slightly off unfortunately, I'm not sure whether due to where it chose to autofocus, or through a longer exposure (I didn't use a flash, as I didn't want to disturb my subjects). When I learn to zoom on the camera I'll be able to check the image better at the time of taking it. I also need to learn how to change the focus zone.
Saturday night Dad and I went up to Yonkers (just North of the City) for the Crotona Midnight Run. This is a not your father's motorcycle race. Starting at midnight, this year's 27 entrants had until 6:30am to ride 150 miles throughout Upstate New York. They are handed the route only an hour before the start time, and are penalized if their average speed for the trip is more than 30mph. Temperatures this year started at about 35OF at midnight with light snow.
Entrants likely to finish wore spelunking lights on their helmets to see their home-built contraptions for reading their routes, and heated suits and gloves which plugged into their cigarette lighters. As opposed to most motorcycle events I've been to, I felt included, even welcomed into the group, and the start was a jolly good time. We declined an invitation to meet them at the halfway point and instead went to our warm car and warmer beds. Our inviter was last year's second place finisher--of three people who made it through the whole night. The start was at a Nathan's Hot Dog chain restaurant. These traditionally have arcades with pinball and such, and of course no arcade today is complete without its Grab Game.
Images are copyright ME. Permission granted for educational and personal use on a single computer. All other uses must obtain written permission prior to use. ¶ permalink | 0 musings
I visited my Nga Boo (grandma) in the "rehab center" on Friday. The Kosher facilities and attempts at engaging the inmates result in a bizzare mix of the pathetic and humorous. Elderly Excitement captures this in the sweeping arc of wheelchairs aligned facing the TV, the main source of entertainment. The focus is slightly off unfortunately, I'm not sure whether due to where it chose to autofocus, or through a longer exposure (I didn't use a flash, as I didn't want to disturb my subjects). When I learn to zoom on the camera I'll be able to check the image better at the time of taking it. I also need to learn how to change the focus zone.
Saturday night Dad and I went up to Yonkers (just North of the City) for the Crotona Midnight Run. This is a not your father's motorcycle race. Starting at midnight, this year's 27 entrants had until 6:30am to ride 150 miles throughout Upstate New York. They are handed the route only an hour before the start time, and are penalized if their average speed for the trip is more than 30mph. Temperatures this year started at about 35OF at midnight with light snow.
Entrants likely to finish wore spelunking lights on their helmets to see their home-built contraptions for reading their routes, and heated suits and gloves which plugged into their cigarette lighters. As opposed to most motorcycle events I've been to, I felt included, even welcomed into the group, and the start was a jolly good time. We declined an invitation to meet them at the halfway point and instead went to our warm car and warmer beds. Our inviter was last year's second place finisher--of three people who made it through the whole night. The start was at a Nathan's Hot Dog chain restaurant. These traditionally have arcades with pinball and such, and of course no arcade today is complete without its Grab Game.
Images are copyright ME. Permission granted for educational and personal use on a single computer. All other uses must obtain written permission prior to use. ¶ permalink | 0 musings
