Growing Up (NYC, July 2008)

Growing Up (NYC, July 2008), originally uploaded by Hernan Hernandez.

This is the dark and dingy lobby of the building I grew up in. I lived here, at the Baruch Houses housing project, from between the ages of 10 to 20. That was many moons ago... but it still looks almost exactly the same. I can look into this lobby and see my father and mother walking in and looking back at me.

Photographer's Note: This image was balanced for daylight and it took Photoshop all of it's might to do so (requiring several steps). That little florescent light above is not just a fluorescent light... it is an industrial strength, "Projects" fluorescent light and casts a super-sickly green-yellow tinge... and that is just not how I remember my childhood!

Also note that this lobby indeed was dark and dingy -- even in the middle of a sunny Summer's day with the sun blazing down upon the entrance. Somehow, these Projects' lobbies suck up all of the light. My on-camera flash, along with a little Photoshop magic helped the sun out in this case.

Leaky Water Tower (NYC, July 2008)

Leaky Water Tower (NYC, July 2008), originally uploaded by Hernan Hernandez.

This Water Tower can be found at the Lillian Wald housing project on the Lower East Side of New York. If you look carefully, you'll see water flying off this water tower towards the bottom left.

Note to the NYC Housing Authority: get a repair crew there ASAP, before there is a tragedy and you drown your own tenants!

Exhibit at Rockefeller Center (NYC, July 2008)

Exhibit at Rockefeller Center (NYC, July 2008), originally uploaded by Hernan Hernandez.

I was thinking about Tinker Toys, Erector Sets and other childhood building/construction toys when I came across this art exhibit at Rockefeller Center, one night after a Steve Miller/Joe Cocker concert at Radio City Music Hall. Crap, now I have to go to the toy store.

The piece is a sculpture by artist Chris Burden, which he calls "What My Dad Gave Me." It is on display through July 19, 2008.

Marley (Home, November 2007)

Marley (Home, November 2007), originally uploaded by Hernan Hernandez.

Drive-By Shooting (NYC, April 2008)

Drive-By Shooting (NYC, April 2008), originally uploaded by Hernan Hernandez.

Seeing traffic approaching, I spun around, quickly pointed my weapon and got off a couple of shots before diving into a nearby deli. When the smoke cleared, I realized that one of my shots had strayed and had hit this target instead... two innocent vehicles speeding by. Oh, the horror! In the aftermath, there was color everywhere, lilacs, reds and oranges, and the streets were littered too...

March Showers, Bring April Flowers #2 (NYC, April 2008)

March Showers, Bring April Flowers #2 (NYC, April 2008), originally uploaded by Hernan Hernandez.

Steely Dan Live at The Beacon (NYC, June 20, 2008)

Steely Dan Live at The Beacon (NYC, June 20, 2008), originally uploaded by Hernan Hernandez.

Steely Dan's background singers performing with the band, at the Beacon Theater in New York, on Friday, June 20, 2008.

Photography Lesson #109: Never, Ever Shoot Into The Sun (NYC, May 2008)

Photography Lesson #109: Never, Ever Shoot Into The Sun (NYC, May 2008), originally uploaded by Hernan Hernandez.

Nope. Not Miami Beach. Guess again.

Flower & Butterfly (NYC, July 2008)

Flower & Butterfly (NYC, July 2008), originally uploaded by Hernan Hernandez.

Taken at the Northern end of Stuyvesant Park, on 2nd Ave.

No Comment (NYC, July 2008)

No Comment (NYC, July 2008), originally uploaded by Hernan Hernandez.

Union Square Coneflowers (NYC, July 2008)

Union Square Coneflowers (NYC, July 2008), originally uploaded by Hernan Hernandez.

Purple & Yellow Coneflowers living & breathing (for us) in Union Square Park, New York City.