Public Strobe

One Of The 5 Oldest Bars In N.Y.C

2009-08-24T22:18:00.016-04:00

That's Me in front of McSorley's

I was on my way to B&H Photo Friday morning to pick up that great attachment for my D300, the Nikon MB-D10 Multi-power battery grip. Once you put this bad boy on your camera it transforms into the D3, BAAMM!! I wish it made the ISO work like the D3 as well but that does not happen here. However, the battery grip makes the camera so much faster that its so worth the 3 bills I spent for it. If you're into shooting fast moving subjects like kids, car racing, sports, etc, you must get the grip. It shoots at a much faster burst, adding 2 more frames per second - from 6fps to 8fps, that's huge!! Plus you get a vertical shutter button as well, which makes it so convenient when you go vertical. Definitely a must-have for serious photographers. So after picking up the grip, I met up with George at the event space part of B&H, George happened to be in the area when I called. We walked around the store for more than an hour poking and pushing buttons, and looking at stuff we want to purchase in the future. We would have been there longer if they weren't closing early; Friday is Shabbat . If you don't know about B&H or have never been there, I would say around 90 percent of the employees are Jewish, so they close early every Friday. George and I decided to have our own Shabbat. We needed to relax and get a drink somewhere. So we decided to go to one of the oldest bars in the city - McSorley's. Though McSorley’s claims it opened its doors in 1854, NYC historian Richard McDermott used public records to prove it really opened in 1862. This I found out with a little research on Google. McSorley’s is most famous for what happened in 1970 when, kicking and screaming, it was forced to open its doors to women. The beers famously come in pairs, (i.e., order one, you get two; ask for two, you get four) served in small mugs, great size for Frodo Baggins from The Lord of the Rings, but for George and I this was like taking shots of beer, The slightest display of confusion will surely betray you as a McSorley’s virgin. George already gave me the heads up before we got there. We ordered Two! Each WHOOAAA!!. Check out some of the pictures I took at the Bar, Enjoy.

That's Pat there on the left, a regular at McSorley's

This guys been here since the bar opened, Angelo!!

One down.....

2 minutes later.....burp!

Bartender!! two more please.

Hm mm.. another one bud?

NYC West Side Highway Hudson Park

2009-08-20T23:53:00.017-04:00

OK! These are the first photos from my NEW!! Nikon D300 that I just picked up two weeks ago, and I got to say that this is a great camera. I know what everyone is thinking, why not buy the new D300s, well first thing is that the 300s is about $400 dollars more, I know big deal right. however $400 dollars can get you a couple of cool extras for your camera, things that would make your pictures better, hmmm... instead of paying for a HD video, I don't see my self using HD video much from a camera I bought to take pictures with. What I am going to do with that extra $400 I saved, it will go towards purchasing the 35mm Nikon lens that just came out, maybe an extra battery or get that battery grip that makes the camera look like a beast Geerrrrr!!! Second the D 300 has been used and still being used by the best pros in the business, Scott Kelby, Joe Mcnally, Matt Kloskowski, the list goes on and on. the camera is great for the price and I jumped on it before they discontinue it. I guess I didn't want to pay more for something I didn't need, Its Like buying a new BMW because they added a DVD player and a faster top speed once you hit 150 mph. big whoop! I think I'm going to really enjoy this camera and I'm very happy with the purchase. Till next time, enjoy :)

Looking at New Jersey from west side highway

Basketball Court Where the boys from Wolfgang's tear it up!

Concrete Jungle

Someone cut the grass please!

The guy on the left is my fellow blogger on this site. George M. Bodziony with Edin Jarovic having a couple of brass monkeys at Wolfgang's Steakhouse

In The City With The Boys

2009-07-27T20:55:00.013-04:00

Hey everyone, I hope all is good, I know its been a while since my last post, sorry but I have been busy with work and covering people going on vacations. Regardless I know I should get to the computer and post, but sometimes there is no possible way to do that. Cant get out to take pictures and with no pictures you cant post anything. But were back! lets get back to business, were back with some pictures of a rainy but fun day in NEW YORK CITY with my friends. We decided to take a little field trip to the High Line park in the Meat Packing District, which opened to the public on June 9, runs from Gansevoort Street to 20th Street.

Here are some pictures I hope you enjoy them. The High line park old train tracks

Armin feeling good on the High Line

Pretty Cool view

At the Chelsea market with Misho And Edin

A little Break from the rain

Armin And I taking a little rest from all the walking

PDN PhotoPlus International Conference + Expo 2009

2009-07-13T23:28:00.004-04:00

For all photographers in NYC or vicinity click on the enclosed link to register for the PDN PhotoPlus International Conference + Expo (self proclaimed "The Most Important Event in the Photography + Imaging Industries") on October 22-24 at the Jacob K. Javitz Convention Center in NYC.

I've never been to one of these but a friend of mine highly recommends it and if you register before October you don't have to pay the $49 entry fee. Click the Title Of the blog to be directed to the application.

It does sound good though:

You won't want to miss the 2009 PhotoPlus International Conference and Expo - the premier event for innovative ideas, essential learning and unparalleled networking.

Discover New Solutions
From the newest digital cameras hitting the market to imaging software, PDN PhotoPlus Expo is your #1 source for previewing the latest technologies and hottest new products. Explore an inspiring array of imaging products and services - all from the industry's leading manufacturers.

Find New Inspiration
Get up-close and hands-on with the latest advances in digital, film and output; and rediscover your passions in the extraordinary photo galleries on the Expo floor. Gain inspiration and knowledge from some of the greatest photographers and imaging experts in the world, with over 100 seminars, special events and hands-on workshops.

Connect with Brilliant Minds
Get tried and tested marketing tips, business advice and information on how to streamline your workflow from the world's greatest photographers and imaging experts. PhotoPlus brings together the leaders, innovators and rising stars in our industry at the hottest networking events.

Whether you are professional or amateur, you'll discover a marketplace of solutions that is unrivaled worldwide at PDN's PhotoPlus International Conference and Expo in New York - October 22-24.

If you follow this blog and plan on attending, reply back and we can meet up at the Javitz.
The more the merrier!

Good night everyone.

Manhattan Beach, New York

2009-07-07T00:25:00.004-04:00

It was a great weekend for New Yorkers, the weather was great. No rain, no complain. This shot was taken on Manhattan Beach in Brooklyn NY, not California, Just to clear it up. That's my foot there in the shot. I took this by putting the camera down on the bench next to me, I put it on a timer of like 5seconds and this is what I got. I like it let me know what you think.

My Time With The Boys Over The 4th of July Weekend

2009-07-06T23:40:00.005-04:00

My boys and there Guitars

Future Rock Stars!!!

Opps!! Thats Daddy, still trying to live my rock star years

My Sunset

2009-06-30T00:57:00.008-04:00

Nikon D-80 ISO 200 58mm f/25 at 1/100 sec

I wanted to go shoot some pictures so bad this summer, but the weather in New York wouldn't allow it.
Check out Georges post about the weather we have had here. Instead I have been busy at Barnes & Nobles reading about Photography, I ran across a book by a Photographer named David duchemin, David duChemin is a Vancouver-based freelance humanitarian and world photographer that just put out his first book called Within The Frame, The Journey of Photographic Vision, with foreword by Joe McNally and afterword by Vincent Versace was released in May 2009 check it out here. This book is just terrific and I am really enjoying it.Thank you George and Timmy.
After reading a couple of chapters of Davids book, it gave me motivation to go out this evening and take pictures of everyday life, and try to capture my own. The day was perfect, clear Sky's and NO! rain wow. So I decided to go down to the New York Harbor by the Verrazano bridge. I packed my Nikon D-80 and tripod jumped in the car and i was on my way. (smiling like a kid at a candy store). When I get there I looked around, saw some families walking by bicyclist and fishermen, It was a beautiful day, kids riding there bikes, birds singing, but I could not see anything yet to take, I think I had photographers block, if there is such a thing. So I started to take pictures of the Verrazano Bridge first shot......OK then another then again, has been done before seen it a million times, We all have especially if your from NY. Everyone out here was taking pictures of the Bridge, so what I did was sit down on some grassy field that was near me and waited. I waited for the sun to set, funny thing happen, while I was sitting there minding my own business, a cop car rolls up next to where I am sitting, here we go I'm thinking to myself, this cop is going to tell me that I cant have a tripod in that area too dangerous for the bicyclist or you have to leave its too late or some cop bullshit like that( sorry Alfred). The car gets closer moving slowly, when the cop sticks his head out the patrol car lookes at me and says, you doing HDR's. O ...ok I answer quickly and say, nope just taking some regular shots and waiting for the sun to set. The cop starts telling me how he has a canon camera and so on. this police officer new a bit about photography, long story short We had a nice conversation, for a bit . the time was getting close for a sunset shot and the officer realized that and let me go back to setting up again. once the sun started to set, everything changed. There where great shots every where all of the sudden. The colors that sunsets surround us with, The warm colors the sellouts the reflection off the water, wow just amazing. sunsets are so beautiful that it never gets old. The picture on top has me peeking in to the frame on the left side, I thought i would add something to it, I like it. You notice that serious look I have hahaha I posted two more that i like under this post i hope you Enjoy them Walla!! till next time.

Nikon D-80 ISO 200 90mm f/5.6 at 1/640 sec

Nikon D-80 ISO 200 31mm f/5.1 at 1/800 sec

American Culture

2009-06-27T00:35:00.006-04:00

Good bye Michael Jackson RIP.....moment of silence please............

OK so a legend dies, the whole world knew Michael Jackson, No matter where You were in the world, if you where in Iraq or Montenegro Everyone knew or heard of Michael Jackson. No doubt he was a phenom and someone who changed music forever. He influenced artist today we all know and love like, Justin Timberlake, Usher, Chris Brown Etc....The dance moves the attitude the voice, one of a kind for sure.

I will never forget the time, when I was about 7 or 8 Years old watching TV with my sisters, on a small 19inch TV set, There was a picture of Michael Jackson and his hair line, on his head was bandaged up. Pepsi yes Pepsi !! was the reason I heard of this pop icon, It was all over the news, I'm sure you guys can remember if you think back....think come on .... hint fire, hair, lawsuit, yeah you guys remember.... that's it you got it. Michael Jackson had a freak accident and his hair somehow caught fire.(pyrotechnics accidentally set his hair on fire)

After that news blitz about Michael Jackson's accident, that's when i saw his video of Billy Jean.
That's when I became a fan of Michael Jackson.

I will try to remember all the good music of this icon instead of the bad and sad stuff that has happened to this person though out the years.

The picture on top is of Michael Jackson at the White House with President Ronald Reagan and first lady Nancy Reagan in 1984.

On A PhotoShoot With A legend

2009-06-24T00:17:00.026-04:00

Hey gang, I couldn't wait to post this blog today. For a photographer that is just getting started compared to the legend I was with today. You can say I know nothing about this photography stuff after seeing this guy work in person wow dude legend!

Yes! A legend and still one of the most respected fashion photographers today. his name is Bruce Weber (born March 29, 1946 in Greensburg, Pennsylvania) He is an American fashion Photographer He is most widely known for his ad campaigns for Calvin Klein, Abercrombie & Fitch, Ralph Lauren, and Gianni Versace, as well as his work with big fashion magazines like Vogue, GQ, <-----I subscribe to that one Vanity Fair, Elle, Life, and Rolling Stone just to mention a few. I had the Pleasure of following Him and his crew around New York City while he was shooting a new ad campaign.

Smooth Like Butter

the man is smooth, makes it look so easy. All the great ones do, Michael Jordan shooting the game wining shot for the bulls in Game 6 of the 1998 NBA finals against the Utah Jazz with 5.2 seconds left to win their 6th NBA title. Michael Phelps winning 8 medals in the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, I guess with hard work practice anyone can be really good at something but to be great and have it come to you more naturally you have to have it in you. Like Jordan, Ali, and Michael Phelps they were born to do what they do so well. Of course they workout, practice hard as well, I believe everyone else has to work that much harder. that doesn't mean you can’t be great at what you do, what I believe is for some people it comes easier and the rest of us........well.... we have to keep working a Little bit longer and harder at it.

The Natural

Bruce Weber was born a photographer; you can just see it, watching him roll the film back taking aim, instructing the model, Yes ! Michael Jordan of photography.

Being there in person, and watching him in his zone was great, he was a gentlemen the whole shoot and so polite with his staff, models and yeah even me! He also surrounds himself with the best. The way his staff works is something to watch, the speed the accuracy of the lens change to cleaning of the lenses to handing Mr. Weber his cameras is unreal. I was frozen with my mouth open and jaw on the ground in awe, it looked like a pit crew at a NASCAR race. It was definitely an eye-opener into professional photography.

If you’re serious about being a fashion photographer(Bruce Weber)sports photographer(PeterReed Miller) landscape photographer, (Moose Peterson) or whatever you like to photograph. You should find a professional photographer in that category and follow them read books by them blogs by them, intern for them. Whatever it takes, just like a young baseball player in high school watches and studies his favorite team and player, this will help you tremendously.

Remember one thing! Never quit something you love keep working on it and it will pay off.
Till next time.

The Mayor And I

2009-06-20T16:37:00.018-04:00

OK there it is the Mayor and I...pretty cool huh. well that is what I thought at first but the best thing about this picture is meeting the Mayor Him Self Michael Bloomberg of New York City!
He was so down to earth and so straight forward with me, we talked about business, politics and family, I thought that was great and very surprising. Look I did not think the Mayor was going to have his security beat me up for trying to talk to him or anything like that.
However, I did not think he would be so open and one on one with me, with around 130 other people in the room at this function it felt like it was just Him and I nobody else.
I guess this is why he will be Mayor of New York City again... He gets it! i know i know ... that sound like his slogan sorry but i feel this is why he is who he is (clears throat ....here it comes ...gulp) a billionaire! He is a businessperson after all. Mr Bloomberg knows how to get peoples attention and get them to do what he wants. 4 more years 4 more years!! lol had to do it.
Well that's all folks just thought i would share this picture and a little of what went on behind this photo. next week i will be posting some shooting ideas and we can get back to the art of photography see ya soon.

Rain, Rain Go Away!

2009-06-18T14:42:00.006-04:00

Since I'm just learning this blogging thing, you'll notice that the following post was first posted as a comment to Steve's post. We learn from our mistakes, and now I've learned that posting is different from commenting. Just bear with me everyone.

Thinking it couldn't possibly rain again, I left my windows open last night before going to sleep. I slept great (with it raining and all) but had to dry the mini puddles in my bedroom and living room when I awoke. I've missed a lot of shooting days this month because of the rain. The rain this June has been unlike any that I can remember. Last year in early June we had a four day heatwave with temps in the upper 90's (with one day hitting 100) and people losing power in some neighborhoods. The high temp for this June has been 82 degrees. There are great shots to be had in the rain so instead of hoping that it stops raining, today I'll head over to B&H and buy the Ewa-Marine C-35 Economy Photo Rain Cape for my D90. It only $20 and has gotten good reviews. (I just hope they still have it in stock as it must be selling like hot cakes)

CHECK OUT GEAR HERE

The problem with any rain cover however is that you still need to leave the front of the lens exposed but I can deal with that.

Anyway, this is my first post (the second on this blog, Stevie beat me to that one). These posts will become more cheerful as the weather improves.

BTW, here's an excerpt from yesterday's NY Times:

Where were you on Sunday, June 7, at 2:08 p.m.?

Well, if you were not outside, you probably failed to take note of “The Minute It Actually Felt Like June.”

It reached 82 degrees in Central Park at that moment on that day, well below the record high of 96 degrees for any day in the month, but warm enough to qualify as the highest temperature recorded this month, meteorologists said.

As the official start of summer beckons on Sunday, the stretch of Seattle-like weather has been a dampening experience for people who live in New York, as well as for businesses that depend on more seasonable weather.

Full Article: HERE

2009-06-18T01:41:00.001-04:00

The Beginning

2009-06-17T18:19:00.001-04:00

So this is our first blog site weeee heeee!!! ok sorry a little excited.
My name is Steve Feratovic and my friend George Bodziony (were not gay we are both happily married to two beautiful women) we are the creators of this blog.

We will be sharing some ideas, tips, advice, and some of our own personal experiences in photography and everyday life in the BIG Apple. So keep checking back for some great blogging and we hope you will enjoy it, as we will.