Some Unusual Sights

This portfolio features some photographic images I’ve taken in the past quarter-century that I consider unusual. There was that rare moment on April 9, 2000 when the seasons overlapped. A freak spring snow storm briefly blanketed the Central Park blo

This portfolio features some photographic images I’ve taken in the past quarter-century that I consider unusual. There was that rare moment on April 9, 2000 when the seasons overlapped. A freak spring snow storm briefly blanketed the Central Park blossoms. By late afternoon, the snow had disappeared, and spring – slightly the worse for wear – resumed its usual hegemony.

The theme for this portfolio occurred to me recently on February 19, 2022, when a “squall” (defined as a sudden sharp increase in wind speed lasting minutes that can create thunderstorms or heavy snow) hit our weekend home in Easton, CT.

The theme for this portfolio occurred to me recently on February 19, 2022, when a “squall” (defined as a sudden sharp increase in wind speed lasting minutes that can create thunderstorms or heavy snow) hit our weekend home in Easton, CT.

I ventured out on the screened porch to take the next two pages of photos. The clumps of snow were sticking to the wire mesh of the porch’s screen, providing a painterly quality to the scene.

I ventured out on the screened porch to take the next two pages of photos. The clumps of snow were sticking to the wire mesh of the porch’s screen, providing a painterly quality to the scene.

Here’s my favorite shot from that day. By evening, the effect was totally dissipated.

Here’s my favorite shot from that day. By evening, the effect was totally dissipated.

That squall effect reminded me of a watery scene at Central Park’s Bethesda Fountain back in 2001, when the four cherubs seemed to enjoy a man-made summer shower.

That squall effect reminded me of a watery scene at Central Park’s Bethesda Fountain back in 2001, when the four cherubs seemed to enjoy a man-made summer shower.

Here are two other unusual Central Park shots from past years. The spray is from an early morning watering of Strawberry Fields. The urban vineyard image was taken just above the Mall.

Here are two other unusual Central Park shots from past years. The spray is from an early morning watering of Strawberry Fields. The urban vineyard image was taken just above the Mall.

I’m a sucker for fountain photos. The one on the left is from Central Park, on the right from Washington Square Park.

I’m a sucker for fountain photos. The one on the left is from Central Park, on the right from Washington Square Park.

Here’s an overview of those overlapping seasons in Central Park – a brief shining moment, taken near the picturesque Bow Bridge.

Here’s an overview of those overlapping seasons in Central Park – a brief shining moment, taken near the picturesque Bow Bridge.

These two shots share the Bethesda Fountain angel in the background – the left featuring a brief display of the crossed seasons, the right backstopping the glorious buds of the real spring.

These two shots share the Bethesda Fountain angel in the background – the left featuring a brief display of the crossed seasons, the right backstopping the glorious buds of the real spring.

This is more prosaic, but I remain fascinated by the juxtaposition of the three slim smokestacks and the three high-rise apartment buildings – the whole image set off by the puffy white steam.

This is more prosaic, but I remain fascinated by the juxtaposition of the three slim smokestacks and the three high-rise apartment buildings – the whole image set off by the puffy white steam.

This rooftop mosaic was taken from the top of the Empire State Building after a snowstorm dumped a load on Manhattan's Peter Cooper Village and Stuyvesant Town.

This rooftop mosaic was taken from the top of the Empire State Building after a snowstorm dumped a load on Manhattan's Peter Cooper Village and Stuyvesant Town.

Back in the late ’90’s, I took my mother on a cruise which began on a rainy day. At the time, I had no idea that some symbolic significance might later attach to the fog-shrouded tops of the World Trade Center towers.

Back in the late ’90’s, I took my mother on a cruise which began on a rainy day. At the time, I had no idea that some symbolic significance might later attach to the fog-shrouded tops of the World Trade Center towers.

I’m drawn to photographic juxtapositions, especially ones with an ironic tone – the offspring of an incongruous pairing. This is a Times Square example – the church hailing "the truth" but sharing the scene with the “wicked” billboard across the str

I’m drawn to photographic juxtapositions, especially ones with an ironic tone – the offspring of an incongruous pairing. This is a Times Square example – the church hailing "the truth" but sharing the scene with the “wicked” billboard across the street.

I was also in the Times Square area when this splash of color materialized one day. All I had to do was click the shutter.

I was also in the Times Square area when this splash of color materialized one day. All I had to do was click the shutter.

Talk about juxtapositions – how about the tiny kayak traversing the huge aircraft carrier moored at a West Side pier.

Talk about juxtapositions – how about the tiny kayak traversing the huge aircraft carrier moored at a West Side pier.

Here’s one more notable pairing – two inter-generational modes of transportation.

Here’s one more notable pairing – two inter-generational modes of transportation.

How about this intrepid cabbie, making sure that his meager air-conditioning reaches the passengers in the rear seat.

How about this intrepid cabbie, making sure that his meager air-conditioning reaches the passengers in the rear seat.

These two pictures have nothing to do with each other, but yet the passionate bears and the insistent swami each give off definite vibes.

These two pictures have nothing to do with each other, but yet the passionate bears and the insistent swami each give off definite vibes.

I’ve long been attracted to this limb of an Easton tree that appears poised to attack the quiet cottage.

I’ve long been attracted to this limb of an Easton tree that appears poised to attack the quiet cottage.

Two unusual scene at Princeton’s football stadium – when coated with winter’s snow, and welcoming a ceremonial parachutist.

Two unusual scene at Princeton’s football stadium – when coated with winter’s snow, and welcoming a ceremonial parachutist.

The Korean War Memorial has long been one of my favorite Washington sights, and I was fortunate enough to be there on a day when the fallen snow perfectly captured the tough slog of our combat troops at the Chosin Reservoir. But across the way, atop

The Korean War Memorial has long been one of my favorite Washington sights, and I was fortunate enough to be there on a day when the fallen snow perfectly captured the tough slog of our combat troops at the Chosin Reservoir. But across the way, atop this sculpture near the Vietnam War Memorial, the snow did seem a bit misplaced on these semi-tropical warriors.

Here are the resplendent towers of Saint Ignatius Church in San Francisco – but tell me, what is that spectral bonus intervening in the upper left corner of the picture?

Here are the resplendent towers of Saint Ignatius Church in San Francisco – but tell me, what is that spectral bonus intervening in the upper left corner of the picture?

Along the scenic coast in Northern California, one suddenly runs into this aberrational structure . . . .

Along the scenic coast in Northern California, one suddenly runs into this aberrational structure . . . .

. . . and how about the adornment of this California cemetery plot . . . .

. . . and how about the adornment of this California cemetery plot . . . .

I’ll close with this choice airborne shot as we traversed the California coast.

I’ll close with this choice airborne shot as we traversed the California coast.

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