Visual Serendipity.

 

Giovanni Bologna’s famed Flying Mercury “captures the Greek messenger of the gods speeding through the skies.”  Mercury is depicted wearing a winged petasus on his head and winged sandals which give him speed in flight. He carries the caduceus in his hand, the magic wand given to him by Apollo that has come to symbolizes the practice of medicine.

Visual Serendipity. No Gas.

 

Two weeks after Hurricane Sandy hit New York (and other States), the gasoline shortage continues. New York City and Long Island began gas rationing a few days ago, something not seen since 1970s.

Here’s an interesting article from Forbes about “the truth behind the epic gas lines.”
And here’s another one from the New York Times.

Visual Serendipity.

 

Not bad for a two-year-old phone. This is Week 44 of Visual Serendipity, our series of images taken with a cellphone.

Visual Serendipity. NYC Subway.

 

 

By now, New York City’s subway system has been restored to “limited service”, as efforts continue to dry out flooded tubes, track, signals and other components damaged in last week’s “Sandy” storm. Below is the condition of the subway map after the hurricane:

Visual Serendipity.

 

Meet the Homo Neanderthalensis, an extinct human species living during the late Pleistocene Epoch throughout most of Europe and parts of Asia and northern Africa and associated with Middle Paleolithic tools. The image was taken at the one of  the current impressive exhibitions at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.

You can read more about the Neanderthal culture here.

Visual Serendipity.

 

The 1964 World’s Fair New York State Pavilion designed by Philip Johnson is simply awesome. It “featured three observation towers, one of which at 226 feet, was the tallest structure at the Fair. Speedy “Sky Streak” capsule elevators whisked visitors to the observation platform above. Beneath the towers was the Tent of Tomorrow, the world’s biggest suspension roof (larger than a football field), supported by sixteen 100 foot columns. Translucent colored panels in the roof flooded the tent’s interior with colors.” Sources here and here.

We normally don’t use other images on our Visual Serendipity series but these two are too good to skip.

Visual Serendipity

 

I found this image yesterday while walking around the Lower East Side, or “LES” as it is called by the locals. I believe it shows how many different and simultaneous things are happening in this city at any give time. Living in New York City can be very exciting, or very exhausting, depending on your day.

Visual Serendipity.

 

Bizarre view of a tiny interior patio at my hotel in Cologne.

Visual Serendipity.

 

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Visual Serendipity.

 

Hidden gems in Brooklyn, NY, part 3. This one is very close to the Floyd Bennet Field.

Visual Serendipity.

 

Over the past six years I have been collecting the corks from every wine bottle we drink. We have well over 700 corks at this point. I also try to write tasting notes for most wines. Since 2007 I’ve written 606 notes with an average score of 87.43 points, and tasted 77 varietals from 218 regions in 147 countries.  I do love good wine.

Visual Serendipity.

 

After spending a very hot and humid Sunday afternoon in Central Park we were looking for a restroom, and this is what we found instead. Gotta love this city.

Visual Serendipity.

 

Another hidden gem in Brooklyn. If you are willing to bike with me for 1.5 hours I’ll take you to this location.

Visual Serendipity.

 

Woody Allen’s, Manhattan, is about a divorced New Yorker dating a high-schooler, and looking for love in the mistress of his best friend. Quite a dark story there. I’m sure the city has changed a lot since the movie was released in 1979.

Visual Serendipity.

 

A true serendipitous moment. While walking in Dumbo I saw this unknown girl posing for her friend. I was able to snap only two pictures before they were gone. I have no idea what their shoot was about, but I loved the random geometries and the quality of the light.

Visual Serendipity.

 

A different view of “The Highline” a beautiful urban project in New York City that has become a major tourist destination. The picture was taken from an elevator, through the tinted glass.

Visual Serendipity.

 

 
The other Brooklyn. The one you DON’t know.

Visual Serendipity.

 

Visual Serendipity.

 

Don’t believe the rumors; New York is really safe.

Visual Serendipity.

 

Oil paint, canvas and light.

Visual Serendipity.

 

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City measures almost ¹?₄-mile (400 m) long, and occupies more than 2,000,000 square feet (190,000 m²). Every single time I go, and I do it often, I discover something new.

Visual Serendipity.

 

Sea Gate is a private, gated community at the far western end of Coney Island at the southwestern tip of of Brooklyn. It contains mostly single-family homes, some directly on Gravesend Bay. According to Wikipedia, “residents refer to Sea Gate as “the gate,” and venturing into adjoining Coney Island as going “out the gate.” There is no universally recognized demonym for residents of the community: “Sea Gatians” and “Sea Gaters” are sometimes heard.

I was completely unimpressed by the neighborhood, but it was fun, as always, to discover hidden gems nearby.

Visual Serendipity.

 

A very quick shot at the lobby of the famous New Yorker Hotel while attending a BlackMagic event last week. According to the hotel’s website “from Muhammad Ali to Nikola Tesla, late President John F. Kennedy to Jennifer Hudson” have slept there.

Visual Serendipity.

 
Apparently even Ocean Parkway has a VIP Lounge!

Ocean Parkway, located in Brooklyn, NY, covers about five miles (8 km), from Prospect Park to Brighton Beach, and consists of “a central bidirectional avenue of seven lanes, the middle lane being for left turns or a painted median, two small parallel side streets, and two medians with trees, benches, and pedestrian paths.” The west median also has a bike path always full of selfish pedestrians. The parkway is designated New York State Route 908H, an unsigned reference route.

Visual Serendipity.

 
Serendip­ity: noun; the occur­rence and devel­op­ment of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way.

A random walk in Manhattan on weekends often produces truly unexpected images like this one, which was captured at Madison Square Park during an Indian meeting.

Visual Serendipity.

 
My hotel view in Savannah, GA, where I attended the super awesome Silver&Ink event. I took a gazillion of images of the window with my phone, but for some reason my favorite was this one, the very first I took.

Visual Serendipity.

 
Serendip­ity: noun; the occur­rence and devel­op­ment of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way.

One of the many super cool boutique hotels in New York City, the “Dream Hotel” is located “between the hip, cool Meatpacking District and chic, charming Chelsea.” According to its website the hotel offers a “new experience in full-service luxury travel, complete with deluxe amenities and unique dining options.”

I wouldn’t know, since I’m pretty sure I could’t even afford breakfast there. I just like the façade.

 

Visual Serendipity.

 
Apparently the traffic problems in New York City not only affects adults…

Visual Serendipity.

 
Serendip­ity: noun; the occur­rence and devel­op­ment of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way.

One of the many things I love about traveling is that I start seeing things differently, simple objects become spectacular sculptures, every day activities are suddenly fresh and attractive, and even airport lounges (below at JFK International Terminal) at dusk offer exciting visual challenges and new opportunities.

One of my favorite photo books is “Learning to See Creatively” by Bryan Peterson. I have been using this book for over 10 years, and every time feels more current.

Visual Serendipity.

 
Serendip­ity: noun; the occur­rence and devel­op­ment of events by chance in a happy or ben­e­fi­cial way.

The Cocora Valley is located in the Central Cordillera of the Andean mountains in Colombia. According to local legends, “Cocora” was the name of a Quimbayan princess, daughter of the local chief Acaime, and means “star of water”. The Valley  is the principal location of the national tree and symbol of Colombia, the Quindío wax palm, as well as a wide variety of other flora and fauna protected under the Park’s national status. The valley and the nearby town of Salento are among the most popular tourist destinations in the country.

Visual Serendipity.

 
“Hanging out” is our newest image on “Visual Serendipity,” a weekly series of unplanned photographs taken with an Android cellphone. Serendip­ity is the occur­rence and devel­op­ment of events by chance in a happy or ben­e­fi­cial way.

Visual Serendipity.

 
Serendip­ity: noun; the occur­rence and devel­op­ment of events by chance in a happy or ben­e­fi­cial way.

“Multitasking” is our newest addition to “Visual Serendip­ity,” a weekly series of unplanned pictures taken with a smart phone.

Visual Serendipity.

 
Serendip­ity: noun; the occur­rence and devel­op­ment of events by chance in a happy or ben­e­fi­cial way.

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Our new addition to “Visual Serendipity,” a weekly series of unplanned photographs taken with an Android cellphone. Grace Church, a French Gothic Revival masterpiece, is a historic parish church in the Episcopal Diocese of New York, located at the corner of Broadway and East 10th Street.

Visual Serendipity.

 
Serendip­ity: noun; the occur­rence and devel­op­ment of events by chance in a happy or ben­e­fi­cial way.

Spring leaves? No, it is just arriving.

Visual Serendipity.

Serendip­ity: noun; the occur­rence and devel­op­ment of events by chance in a happy or ben­e­fi­cial way.

Biking is fun, good for your health, and great to explore a new neighborhood. The colorful building is a simple storage facility in Brooklyn.

Visual Serendipity.

 
Serendip­ity: noun; the occur­rence and devel­op­ment of events by chance in a happy or ben­e­fi­cial way.

I saw this ad at a subway station, and found it really engaging. I must admit I had never realized that a) each borough in New York has its own facial hair style, and b) that shaving is now super hip hop cool. The poster is part of a huge campaign for Braun’s Cruzer 6 which apparently “delivers cutting-edge technology and performance giving you a close shave, neat trim or defined edges and provides an innovative wet & dry technology making it a convenient shaver for use under the shower.” Wow. That’s  a mouthful!

 

Visual Serendipity.

 
Serendip­ity: noun; the occur­rence and devel­op­ment of events by chance in a happy or ben­e­fi­cial way.

I love reflections and colors, and also have a strange fascination with mannequins. This image, shot just a few days ago on 23rd Street near Baruch College, captures everything, including myself.

The source for the word “mannequin” comes from the Middle Dutch “mannekijn,” which means “little man,” or “little doll.” Mannequin is the French spelling from this Dutch source. Even though the word means “little man,” the literal French meaning is, “a young woman hired to model clothes.” Go figure.

Visual Serendipity.

 
Serendip­ity: noun; the occur­rence and devel­op­ment of events by chance in a happy or ben­e­fi­cial way.

“Feeling blue” doesn’t always have to mean something sad or negative. We just moved to a new place, and since we haven’t installed the curtains, I’ve been waking up every morning with this view. The new place is full of light, peace, silence, and positive energy. That’s the new meaning of “feeling blue” to me.

Visual Serendipity.

 
Serendip­ity: noun; the occur­rence and devel­op­ment of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way.

I need things to be neatly organized for me to be creative. Unfortunately, the world, and especially the business world, does not often work that way. I try to maintain a personal universe where I keep books, wine, and films as oases that are always within a safe distance from the chaos of the outside world. Are you like me, or, do you thrive in chaos?

Visual Serendipity.

 
Serendip­ity: noun; the occur­rence and devel­op­ment of events by chance in a happy or ben­e­fi­cial way.

When I saw this “ad” it immediately reminded me of “Biutiful” the film by Mexican director Alejandro González Iñárritu, shot by Rodrigo Prieto, and starring Javier Bardem. The movie’s title refers to the orthographical spelling in Spanish of the English word beautiful as it would sound to native Spanish speakers.

Interesting facts: Iñárritu spent 14 months editing the film, and it is the first time that a performance (by Javier Bardem) entirely in the Spanish Language has been nominated for an Academy Award Best Actor Oscar.

Going back to my picture, I am still trying to decide if the person who wrote this did it as a joke or even as a reference to the movie, or if the missing U in “beautiful”, the flipped N on “antique”, and the patched R on “mirrors” are real mistakes. What’s your take?