I enjoyed my last trip to NYC back in 2019. MJ and I explored Manhattan, per our normal process. This was the first time we explored the Oculus building. This unique building is a terminal station on the PATH subway system. It also has an underground mall within it. I loved the architecture of this building.
Motherland Monument
This sculpture in Kiev is part of the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War. This photo doesn’t do the sculpture justice….it is very big, very big. This stainless steel statue is over 203 feet tall and weighs 560 tons. The sword is 52 feet long and the shield is 43 feet long/26 feet wide. The Soviets build this to impress.
To view a larger version, click HERE
One World Trade Center
MJ and I are heading to Manhattan soon for a short trip. I’ll get some work in and some fun in (via photography, site seeing & great food).
That upcoming trip had me thinking about our last Manhattan trip. Therefore, this photo of One World Trade Center from that trip.
To view a larger version, click HERE
Motherland Monument
This massive statue sits on top of the National Museum of the History of the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945)…we know it as World War II. This stainless-steel statue is 203 feet tall. Counting the museum building it sit on, the entire structure is 335 feet tall and it weighs 560 tons. The sword in her right hand is 52 feet long by itself and weighs 9 tons. That’s a huge statue by any comparison!! The State Emblem of the Soviet Union is on the shield. Even though this war ended in 1945, they didn’t start the construction of this statue until 1979 and it was completed in 1981.
In Kiev, Ukraine where this is located, the statue is controversial due to Ukraine’s complicated and currently rough relationship with Russia. Blair and I spent a few hours walking around this national park photographing the war monuments, tanks, etc…. If you’re wondering, the blue and yellow tank in the foreground is painted the Ukrainian colors.
To view a larger version, click HERE
Christmas Surprise
As the phrase goes, “it’s a small world”. I had a wonderful Christmas day with my family today. Frankly, we had a great relaxing weekend. In addition to the family time, calls to touch base with close friends, Lego building and Christmas gifts, I got an additional small Christmas surprise that started with a small flight delay on December 8th.
On that day, I was laying over at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago when my late flight back to Pittsburgh got delayed by a couple of hours. It had been an extremely long week, so I got dinner at a pub within the airport. I was traveling by myself, so I sat at the bar vs taking up a booth or table that a group could use. While sitting there, a nice young man (I’ll leave his name out of this to protect his identity) from California sat down and started up a conversation with me. Turns out, he was originally from the Pittsburgh area and was traveling back to Pittsburgh to meet up with his girlfriend. She lives with him in California but was traveling for work that week along the east coast. So, they were going to meet in Pittsburgh to visit her parents (she’s also from the Pittsburgh area) and catch the home Steelers game. While we talked, I learned that her parents live within a mile of my house.
I also learned that we were both on the same flight back to Pittsburgh and I offered to give him a ride to his girlfriend’s childhood home, so she didn’t have to come pick him up, since our arrival was now delayed well past midnight. At first, he wasn’t sure and I just left the offer open in case he changed his mind. Later as we were boarding the flight, he asked me if the offer was still good. Fast forward to the end of the flight, we picked up my bags and away we went. I dropped him off at this destination (again it was about a mile from my house) and we parted ways.
As you can guess, during our time together we talked about the Steelers and I told him about my part time gig photographing the games from the sidelines. At the time we talked, he didn’t know where he would be sitting, but I told him to text me during the game and I’d come over to photograph his group (him, his girlfriend and her sister). Sure enough, on game day he sent me a text and I took their photo. Turns out, they had great seats in row 1 behind the Steelers bench.
Following the game, I sent him the photos (see the photos below) and got a thank you. It was a nice exchange that went from Chicago to Pittsburgh. I really never expected to hear from him again. Well today (Christmas day) I got another text from him that included a photo (see below) of his girlfriend at their house in California. She’s dressed in her Steelers gifts and holding a frame that includes the two photos I took of them. He didn’t have to send me that, but it helped make a great day, just a touch nicer. As I said at the top, it is a very small world. And what a wonderful world it can be at times.
I hope the two of them have a great 2018.
South Pool
On our last trip to NYC, we visited the 9/11 Memorial site for the first time. I captured a ton of photos from every angle trying to capture this wonderful memorial….at least until the anti-tripod police stopped me.
This is a “must see” location for every American.
To order a print or view the entire gallery, click the photo again.
World Literature Today
To be completely honest, I had never heard of this magazine before until very recently. I learned about them when they decided to feature one of my old photos in their March 2016 issue. I’m honored and happy to help them.
Empire State Of Mind
During our last night in NYC, MJ and I went to the Top Of
The Rock Observation Deck at Rockefeller Center. Rockeller Center isn’t the tallest building in NYC and isn’t
the only observation deck, but it is the one with the best view of the entire
city (including an amazing view of Central Park). This is looking south toward the Empire State Building. In the background to the right, you can
also see One World Trade Center being built at the World Trade Center Memorial
site. Now that One World Trade
Center is almost done, the Empire State Building becomes the second tallest
building in the city.
To purchase a print or view the entire gallery, please click the photo above.