Ranting Details

Picture of the Day: 7/01/08

(Pondering a reflection.)

Where Are You Going? (Part 2)

(A Bruce Nauman installation?  Or the ceiling?)

(A rather deserted platform after "Dancer's Choice.")

Where Are You Going?

People watching while holding a camera is a recipe for disaster...or at least getting caught. 

Waiting

I find myself disconnecting from conversation by putting myself behind the lens.  This is the "Waiting" Triptych. 

Picture of the Day: 6/20/08

(TMNT POV.  Anyone?  Anyone?)

Latin Fire Devours the Dressing Room

One of my favorite parts about Met season was always the dressing room.  Only, I had a habit of spending a lot of time in Marcelo and David's dressing room rather than my own.  The accommodations for the corps are pleasant, but the Principal dressing rooms take the cake.  During breaks I would wander down to their cushioned, private corner of the Opera House and spend time with two guys who not only inspire me, but make me laugh unlike anyone else.   

It's rare that two Principal men are on for the same performance, so when I stopped by to catch David's debut in "Don Q" I couldn't help snapping a few photos documenting their preparation for the show!

Pas for Jenny

Last Saturday night marked ABT's memorial tribute to Jennifer Alexander.  Most of you will remember that Jennifer, a dearly beloved corps member of ABT for 13 years, passed away last December.  Included in the celebration of Jennifer's life was a piece that Marcelo Gomes choreographed for two of Jennifer and her husband Julio's closest friends, Isaac Stappas and Kristi Boone.  It was a simple and elegant pas de deux that celebrated the love shared between Julio and Jennifer; a perfect way to honor Jenny.

I had the chance to photograph the pas a few months ago. 

   

 

Baby Death Gets a Burger

When standing in line for a burger at Shake Shack (the Madison Square Park staple) there is little to do but listen to your stomach.  Each step forward through the course of an hour (which is a typical wait time) finds conversation dwindling, as salivation overtakes social grace.  That is exactly where I found myself yesterday evening, as Lauren, Michael and I decided to treat ourselves to a late night burger and shake. 

Just as we were about to board the subway I decided that the light outside was too good for me to forgo taking pictures, so I ran back to my apartment and grabbed my camera case.  Not only were we coming up with creative children's book titles ("Baby Death Gets a Burger," the first in a new "Curious George"-like adventure series featuring a baby grim reaper doing grownup activities), but we also managed to turn the park into an episode of "America's Next Top Model."  Damn these gorgeous people!

 

(This was one of my first time taking close portraits as well!  Very fun, but also challenging.) 

(Dreaming of burgers and shakes...and Baby Death.)

("But I want an Oompa-Loompa a burger now!")

("Never mind, I want to shoot a Gossip Girl ad.")

("Do you think the people care that we're repeatedly using a flash while standing in line?")

("Just wait until they check out Ranting Details, then they'll wish we had taken MORE!")

("True.  They'll see I can sing my ass off AND do American Apparel ads.")

("Whatever happened to Matt?!")

("I'm EATING MY BURGER!!!!")

("We ate so fast that we turned into fuzzy blobs!")

("Oh, nevermind.  We're still giving it. But what about Lauren?")

("Oh, she's giving "Sex and the City" poster for us.")

("I certainly am.")

("But now it's time to go home and collapse."  It's hard for them to eat burgers AND be beautiful.)

Picture of the Day: 5/28/08

(Sure, it's not the classiest picture I've ever taken.  But I still enjoy it.) 

BKLYN (Not that crappy musical)

SORRY FOR THE ABUNDANCE OF PHOTO-HEAVY POSTS RECENTLY.  I'VE BEEN SO BUSY WORKING ON OTHER WRITING PROJECTS THAT I HAVEN'T HAD MUCH TIME!  RANTING IS COMING SOON! 

I'm lucky to have a pool of wonderful people in my life who are experts in the various fields I'm interested in.  My wealth of writer friends are always good for a quick proofread, and the talented photographers who I spend some time with can always direct me to a new magical button to improve my photos.  So when Timur proposed a photo adventure a few weeks ago, I was game.  Here are the results! 

(Tricky bastards!  Trying to get me to jump up and grab the twinkle lights...and cut my hands up.)

(Maybe they should add some tight rope walkers?)

(What is behind this magical door?  Siegfried and Roy?  Bernadette Peters?  Peanut Butter Puffins?  All of the above?!)

(A note to the owner of this gorgeous building overlooking the water: I hate you.  Kisses.)

(Ranting Details headquarters?)

(Timur gives me a lesson while people scream obscenities at the Popemobile across the water.  Seriously.  We just happened to walk around in Brooklyn the day the Pope was getting whisked away.  People weren't so much "screaming" as they were frantically waving scarves.)

(The Pope made the sky neon blue.)

(Branch vs. sky. Who wins?!)