Shadow Shot Sunday - Classic tarmac shadows

Last week I found an envelope of 8x10 photos in a file cabinet in the garage, and I think this might have been stored since 1997-1998 or so. There were a lot of pics therein from the 1940s on, and I found the second of a cool B&W photo which I am using for this week's Shadow Shot Sunday 2.

This is likely from March 1970, the person is my father returning from London, the place being the tarmac at JFK Airport in New York and the big subject in the background was the then brand new Boeing 747. On a sunny day in the Borough of Queens, the shadows are quite strong. The reason that he went down the steps that the 747 was so big that loading bridges to the plane were not yet installed at the Pan Am Worldport terminal.

On the back of the photo is a caption "Pan American World Airways, JFK Airport, New York" so this was when all was good...Pan Am passed away in 1991 and the Worldport terminal was razed in 2013. But four plus decades ago, the sun was bright and here is a picture of an optimistic future - I love the surprising discovery of these long-lost historical pics

Whimsical Windows - The Duplex

The weekly meme Whimsical Windows/Delirious Doors compels us to look at unique architectural detailing any place, anywhere. The always lovely Patti captured this gem last week in New York City West Village of Manhattan, and this being The Duplex. A cabaret theatre that calls visually to anyone with this very unique entryway. She captured it with a phone, and the deep blue surrounding the sign showcases this very unique place...

Wordless Wednesday - Brooklyn Eatery

When visiting our son in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, we dined at a cool eatery Cafe Madeline. I had a cheddar chive egg biscuit, the others something with bacon and arugula on sourdough. Photogenic and tasty too...see WW and WW

Shadow Shot Sunday - Suspension Shadows

Last week we visited our software developer son in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, and as we traversed the crowded expressways and crossings of our travels. So for this week's Shadow Shot Sunday 2, I requested that the lovely passenger Patti take pics of a subject I really like, the majestic and massive Bronx-Whitestone Bridge, crossing the East River to Queens. Opened in 1939, the towers rise to a height of 377 ft (115 M) above the water, which gives it a soaring appearance. Subtle shadows abound, primarily along the barrier to the right, the light stanchions and from the vehicles of many aggressive NYC drivers. That's why Patti takes the pictures as I navigate the byways :)

Whimsical Windows - Spectacular Skyline along the BQE

Toby most graciously hosts the architectural meme Whimsical Windows/Delirious Doors. We visited our son in New York's Kings County yesterday, and the software developer scion really likes urban living in the borough of Brooklyn. After lunch, we headed back to CT, and passenger Patti used her phone to capture this view of Manhattan and the iconic Brooklyn Bridge, This was taken from a northbound lane of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. The soft pastel sunset falls gracefully over the skyline of the city, a soft look that mutes the mighty city...

Whimsical Windows - Happy New Year 1964

For Toby's fun meme Whimsical Windows/Delirious Doors, I offer an old view and I think that I think I know what it is. As some know, I have been scanning a lot of old photos in an effort to digitize the Villers past. My Aunt Terry has been sending me old prints I don't have and I am compiling complete sets of old pics, maybe 2000-2500 in total, to put by subject into a series of CD/DVD slideshows. 

So what is this? I believe is New Year's  Eve 1963, my grandfather upstairs overlooking Times Square in Manhattan as the ball drop commenced at Midnight - check the clock on the Bond Clothiers as the big and little hands are both neatly lined up at the number 12...

How can I be reasonably sure of this? This pic was in a sequence that included our grandparents visit for the holidays in 1963 and they always went home via NYC. The Christmas tree was in the dining room of our new home in CT...and 1963 was the only year the tree was in the dining room. If my memory remains in working order over the past five decades :)

Whimsical Windows - Empire skyline

The 1931 Empire State Building, taken along the BQE from the Brooklyn side of the East River, Captured by Patti

I am back for this week's architectural meme, Whimsical Windows/Delirious Doors, hosted by Toby. Today is is from the series of NYC pictures Patti captured from the passenger seat. Without prompting, I am sure most could identify the landmark in the distance as the Empire State Building - iconic in style, it stands apart from the surrounding modern buildings. The day was a bit murky, so an edit to B&W ages the view a bit, and allows a the tiered and straight edges of the profile to jump at us.

Interestingly, Patti's mom actually worked in the building on the 70th floor during the late 1940s. We need to get her memoirs of the Empire State in book form at the earliest, as the B&W world should have many a tale to tell...

Shadow Shot Sunday - Express shadows

Queens side of Bronx-Whitestone Bridge crossing the East River. Photo by Patti

I-495 Long Island Expressway westbound, Rego Park, Borough of Queens, NYC. Also by Patti

Shadow Shot Sunday 2 is back, and we seek shadowy sharpness on all out travels, and capture same. Today I revert to out son's moving day to Brooklyn in December, and even more shadows captured by Patti. The first is from the Queens side of the Bronx-Whitestone Bridge. The scene looks hardly city-like as the East River looks more peaceful. The second is along the I-495 Long Island Expressway (world's longest parking lot/car park it is said) in Rego Park, happily without the weekday hordes of commuters...an urban jungle of steel and asphalt - and well-defined shadows. A day of contrasts as the change went from snowy and murky to sunny and shadowy...

Shadow Shot Sunday - East River Classic

The iconic Brooklyn Bridge, facing Manhattan across the East River. Photo captured by Patti

Shadow Shot Sunday 2 is back, and this week I am ready! This was taken by the lovely Patti as we helped our son move to his new residence in Brooklyn NY in December. This is I what she captured as we moved south on the I-278 Brooklyn-Queens Expressway in the city - a 1930s relic of danger that requires the driver to pay close attention to the large crowds of maniacal NYC taxis and drivers - best to leave the photo taking to the co-pilot/first officer...

This is of course is the iconic and stunningly beautiful Brooklyn Bridge. The stone arches are works of art, and despite its size and age (opened in 1883), it still stands as a strong and stylish gateway to Manhattan. Shadows included.