Posts Tagged USA
Mother of all cities
Posted by NN in Photography, Travels, Vacation on 100321
After my super busy days in San Francisco and Austin I stopped by NYC on the way home. I had such luck, being invited to stay at a good friend and his wife’s new apartment in Brooklyn – the best of hosts during my too brief visit.
It was wonderful apartment, looking out over the city from the clock tower where they live. I got an awesome picture with my darling Tilt-Shift lens from the top of the clock tower one night (see below) I hope you like it too.
I was fantastically lucky with the weather. Spring was definitely in the air. Waking up with the sun, listening to the sounds of the city. Looking up at a clear blue sky and feel of the warm sun on my face, was just bliss. And perfect for long walks through the neighborhoods, letting impressions soak in. There can’t be a better way to feel the vibe and taste the culture of a city.
Manhattan wasn’t left alone though. I did my mandatory pilgrimage to B&H, ate lunch in the park, experienced some of the craziness on St Paddy’s Day, enjoyed the view of the city from the Top of the Rock and finally, I got to see the Tim Burton exhibit at MOMA. YAY!
I met old dear friends and made some new. I had some great food and drink and, of course, got a hint of sunburn. How it’s supposed to be.
GDC+SXSW
Games Developer Conference used to be a conference for developers only. I remember back, maybe ten years ago. I was attending my first conference in San Jose and the language was definitely alien. It’s not that I was completely out of the loop. I’ve spent the past twenty years involved in the gaming industry. The last few years however, after the demise of E3 in Los Angeles, the show has become a very significant one even for Business Developers like myself. Maybe the most important conference of the year even after E3 got back on it’ knees.
So there I was, back in San Francisco where the show moved a couple of years ago. 40+ meetings penciled in over as many days with networking at nights to boot. It was a crazy busy, mad, interesting and very good week – but no time for photography.
After such a tiring week it was quite depressing to sit at the airport, watching my friends and colleagues preparing for their long flights home. My trip had just started. I was headed to Austin and SXSW.
I probably would not have traveled to Austin and South by Southwest had I not been invited to speak at a panel with some great peers in the industry. Once I got there though I’m glad I went. I’ve been to Austin many times before. I’ve written about this oasis surrounded by Texas and how I like the place. Something was different this time though. It was a different energy in town. It was buzzing with creativity. It was truly a great experience. Quite unique and I hope you have the chance to partake, have you not done so already.
I didn’t bring my camera to the streets at night. In a way I wish I had – to share the energy and life around the hundreds of concerts, film previews or interactive events – but I’m also glad I didn’t – so that I could enjoy the liveliness without shutter speed and aperture distractions.
A new perspective
Posted by NN in Photography, Travels on 100217
New York City will never be the same. A great place just got better.
One reason was my new tilt-shift lens.
I have always liked stories told with still images and try to find ways to add my own perspective and narrative. It’s not always planned, often a gut feeling. New adventures, light and temperature, people, cities and landscapes, sounds and smell trigger my senses and feeling of exploration.
These first images playing with the lens is very much taken in the spur of the moment. In review I can see so much more potential, a detail here and there. That said, it is true to that moment and I wouldn’t change what I captured. Rather, take it with me next time I venture out, where ever I go.
And New York, I hope we meet again soon.
Ping-pong
It’s been two months since my last post – two very hectic months. Now, on what feels like the longest flight ever, I do have plenty of time. So what has the past months been like?
NYC
In the end of September we traveled over the pond with tickets to Springsteen and E-Street band’s final concerts at Giant Stadium. That my birthday fell in the same week didn’t hurt either… :)
I love New York. Every time I visit I wish I could stay longer. Had a great birthday dinner in Brooklyn with friends, strolled the streets of Manhattan and smiled at the sun up on High Line Park. Enjoyed Central Park as ever, and a rainy day at the Met. Ate very well and a few tall drinks. Had the usual stop, well two, at B&H, but managed to stay away from the big purchases. That said, all in all, we did our best to help the US economy with a healthy shopping spree. It was so great to take full week off in the autumn. Not done that since the late eighties. Scary.
The two concerts were great. Amazing atmosphere. It was nice to experience Bruce in his backyard before the old stadium was torn down. I wouldn’t call myself a hardcore fan, liked his music before the shows, but now I catch myself humming his songs more often than not. Curious that.
Seoul
Arrived home from NYC on a Monday evening, had a quick meeting at the office on Tuesday morning before heading back to the airport and the flight to Seoul with my boss. Three continents in two days, not advisable, not surprisingly it turned into a jet lag rollercoaster. Had a great time though. Met with our Korean partners for a few days. Very busy schedule. Didn’t even find the time to take a single picture before we continued on to Beijing.
Beijing
It had been almost six months since I’d visited our team in Beijing. It was great to be back and to spend some time with them. It was the first time in the office not being directly in charge. A bit weird, but I still think of the studio as one of my babies.
It still amazes me how fast the city develops. Even when I visited more frequently I saw changes. With a half-year break it was just amazing. The area around our studio is completely transformed. Only three years ago I drove over an empty, bumpy field (the taxi made a wrong turn and decided to take a short cut over the grass – which turned out to be more rocks and potholes than anything). Now, at least ten skyscrapers were in construction on the same lot. Luckily, the little green oasis we have around our studios is still there, just surrounded by concrete.
The only bummer with this visit was that I didn’t find the time to visit 798. It was my boss’ first visit to the Far East, so we opted for the usual suspects instead. Unfortunately, we arrived at the Forbidden City ten minutes too late. It closed earlier due to the 60-year celebration. Tiananmen Square was packed with, I would guess, at least 200.000 people. Its on days like that you get an idea of the share number of the Chinese. We did get to see the “Egg”, the music hall, which was a first for me as well and I was very happy that we managed to stop by my favorite café in Houhai for a Tsing Tao. The planned trip to the Great Wall went down the drain too, but we did visit the “bird’s nest” and “water cube” at night.
San Francisco
I spent ten days at home, before flying out again. This time I traveled to the West Coast and San Francisco, another favorite city. The weather was perfect, warm, and sunny. Waking up to a cup of tea at Samovar in Yerba Buena Gardens, having a great Sunday brunch at Mama’s and strolling along the Embarcadero was a great way to start ten busy days. I did of course burn my nose…
Los Angeles
After a few days in the Bay Area we turned south to Los Angeles, to more meetings, dinners and more fun. Good drinks and company at Philippe and Roger Room. Gazing out over the Pacific in spare moments in Santa Monica. A pre-Halloween bash at the Hollywood cemetery was OK, didn’t bring any costumes on our trip which made us stand out quite a bit. So when we the following day were invited to Heidi and Seal’s Halloween party at Voyeur, we had to find something good. I ended up as an undead renaissance something…
Seattle and London
The day after we continued up to Seattle. Stayed at the 1000. Brilliant hotel, you should try next time you visit. I’ll book it again for sure. It was a quick stop in the Pacific Northwest before we headed back east the following day, across the Atlantic to London. I must like cities, because this is another favorite.
Home
Coming back to Oslo was nice, even though November is the saddest month of the year. A joyous time of cold, dark, and wet, occasionally white, quickly turning into wet, cold sleet. After two weeks without much sunlight I found myself back on an airplane, and my first visit to Busan in Korea.
Busan
Speaking at ICON/G-Star, meetings, dinners and walking the show floor. A five-day visit. I managed to squeeze in a free day, on Saturday, taking a taxi to unknown destinations. I like it that way. Stepping out of a cab, not knowing what I’ll see or experience. My trusted friend, Nikon and I on yet another adventure.
I found myself in what I believe is a national coastal park area. All signs are in Korean only and all around me were locals. I saw a group of people walking over to a booth buying tickets. I followed their example, and before I knew it I’m on the kiddy-train. Driving 5km/h along the footpath… It was fun for 300 meters, where I jumped off and walked down to a pebble beach. And to my surprise I see someone I’d wanted to meet since I read an article in National Geographic Magazine years ago; the pearl diving grandmothers. Amazing women.
Stumbling along on the large pebbles I was almost blinded by the brilliant, incredible flat, white sunlight. Enjoying the gentle sound of waves until it was suddenly drowned by the weirdest, kitschy, Korean electro pop music I ever heard. As a perfect score in a Wes Anderson flick it blasted out from a tourist boat on the other side of the beach. What happened next is hard to describe. Standing there listening to that music, shielding my eyes I saw silhouettes of a crowd of old, small, Korean seniors rushing – on slow motion – down a hill to catch the boat. Such a surreal experience, and I loved it.
The walk around the peninsula was quite pleasant. After three hours I continued my journey into the unknown city. Stopped at different markets before heading back to the hotel to pack my bags, and an early night sleep before the long flight home the morning after. Or so I thought. Damn you, jet lag. In bed, wide-awake I counted down the hours till I had to get up. At 5:00 I finally submerged into dreamless sleep, giving me a full hour…
In transit
I’m arriving in Frankfurt in a few hours, just one more flight left before I’m home. The journey will take me 23 hours door to door. Knowing that I don’t sleep on airplanes I figured that by the time I’m diving into bed I will have slept only one out of past 47 hours. I’m so looking forward to get to my bed.
Delayed and graced
Posted by NN in Photography, Travels on 090919
I was on my way home after a few days in Austin at an industry conference. I always enjoy Austin, especially South Congress, but I was so ready to go home. My itinerary asked for a stopover in Memphis and all went as planned until the obligatory flight check found an error on the machine that forced us, the passengers of NW 58, to spend the night in Tennessee.
A few hours late, in whole in the wall of a hotel, I tried to find my sleep. Airplanes were taxing past my window, so close it felt I could touch them. Not even in my year in the air force, living on a base surrounded by aircrafts, did I hear such a noise – every five minutes – in made for a perfect end to a shitty day.
The only positive with being delayed in Memphis is that it gave me the chance to visit Graceland. I jumped in a cab and drove to the world of Elvis Presley. I’ve wanted to visit for years, and suddenly I was there. Walking through the front door of one of the most famous buildings in the world. All in all I’m glad I got the chance to visit Graceland, even if it only lasted for a few hours.
Long live the King!
Weekend in the sun
Posted by NN in Photography, Travels on 090914
I never learn. Years ago, in my mid-teens, I visited the Algarve coast with my family. My skin wasn’t used to the strength of the Portuguese sun and I received a serious burn on my face. Ever since my nose light up as a signal light every time the sun peak out. I’m usually good using 30 SPF on my face, but this past weekend, in Los Angeles, I forgot – again.
I was walking like I often do in the weekend. Saturday spent along the Pacific coast down to Venice. It’s been a while since I walked all the way down. Strolling with the alternative crowd. Window-shopping on Abbot Kinney, having a nice cup of coffee and enjoying Mew’s new album on my iPod.
Sunday I headed north, on the bluff along Ocean. Up towards Pacific Palisades, an area I hadn’t walked before, just driven through. It’s nice. I enjoyed finding something new to explore. Headed back over to Montana and had a great lunch at R+D Kitchen while watching the Bills – Giants game.
It was a relaxing, quiet weekend in the sun before the hectic week ahead.
Fourth
It was about time. After more than a few dozen stays in Santa Monica I finally managed to break loose and book a room in another part of the City of Angeles. With Sunset, Viper Room and Whisky-A-Go-Go in my back I found myself looking over West Hollywood. Not the same as The Pacific, but it would do for the few days I’d spend in Los Angeles.
Strolling down Robertson in the afternoon, I walked into a little piece of Norway. “Moods of Norway”. I’m not the type who desperately seeks any sign of the motherland when traveling, rather the opposite, but I was looking for a shirt and they do have nice, fresh and very colorful designs. Met the founders inside the store, chatted for lesser part of an hour. Two very nice guys, who’re spending the summer in California to oversee the opening of their new flagship store. Too bad I couldn’t stay for the weekend and their cross-country race in the back alley with Champagne and Tractor print waffles.
In the evening I found myself walking along the stars of Hollywood. Not to stargaze, but to find a place for a drink and later a meal. By Mann’s Chinese Theater a not too large group had gathered around a fairly dirty and trampled display next to Michael Jackson’s star. I had seen it on telly the day before. In real, it just looked small and sad. I hope the memorial to come with will be in greater, should I say, respect to one of the greatest entertainers of our time.
Being the sport nut I am I was relived to find the Wimbledon matches in HD starting at 6am on ESPN2 – a great way to wake up. That said they only aired a few select games, so I had to rely on the wonders of the Internet.
My new Kindle waited for me when I arrived in San Francisco a few days later. I must admit I was a bit skeptical, but once I held in my hands, whispering books over the net and read a few chapters I was sold. It’s the best gadget this year by far, and a mentally healthy one too.
Visited the de Young in Golden Gate Park, a museum I’m bound to revisit time and time again, and continued a very good meal a Moroccan restaurant in Haight. It was a good evening. Two days later I filled my cultural quota for the week at SFMOMA with a great Georgia O’Keeffe & Ansel Adams exhibit. Inspirational.
The fourth visit to California this year, and coincidently over the Fourth of July weekend. Nice and sunny. Established once and for all that red is the new tan… Didn’t see much of the celebratory fireworks, but the combined July 4th / Birthday party was fun.
The return of E3
What a relief to look over the Pacific Ocean after days in the desert heat. As always, it felt good to be back in California. This time to attend the annual E3 show downtown Los Angeles.
Santa Monica. I always stay down by the sea when I visit LA. The view of the ocean, the possibility of actually walking around – a rare thing in this city – and the opportunity of a morning jog on the beach are too good reasons to change that pattern. I’ve been on a good work out routine lately and was pretty bummed that I missed my exercise as my bag was on route to some random destination earlier in the week. At Loews, where I often stay, I got the chance to make up for lost time. It felt good.
Over the years I’ve acquired a decent understanding of LA. Friends in the city have been so very kind driving, and showing me around to the different neighborhoods – for something I’m ever so grateful, in case I don’t say it enough. In turn I end up being a mini-guide for follow visitors. It’s a city with so much to offer, it would be interesting to actually spend a longer period of time – to experience that too. I know it would be different, but not how.
E3 used to be the biggest tradeshow in LA. Three days where the video/computer games industry pounded its chest and celebrated its existence. After the 2006 show, which was humongous, it was decided to scale down the event. The following two years were nothing less than disastrous, so it was with a happy heart I saw some of the past promise return this year. It was great to hang out and chat with peers, friends and new acquaintances in the industry as well – all in all a very good week.
When in LA there’s always a good chance to meet or at least see people who normally are fifteen feet tall on the silver screen. Watching James Cameron talk about Avatar, Pele about a new football game, standing next to Steven Spielberg on the show floor and sitting next to Megan Fox enjoying a Jerry Seinfeld performance was my star struck moments of the week. It was fun.
Desert heat – a rant
I had a cunning plan. Leaving Montreal early in the morning would give the better part of the day, once arrived in Arizona, to rent a car and drive the hours needed up to Monument Valley. I’ve wanted to visit for years. My camera and I surrounded by majestic landscapes. Bliss! I also had a back-up plan in case I found the drive north too long. Not very far, all considering, south of Phoenix is Tucson and more importantly (in my opinion) AMRAC, popularly called the airplane graveyard. Thousands of US Air Force aircrafts lined up – a beautiful sight in my viewfinder.
However, bad weather in the Atlantic North East put a stop to my brilliant plan. The minute I walk into the transit hall my flight to Chicago got cancelled. After closer examination I read that all other flights going westward with other airlines were on schedule and, of course, my blasted airline had no agents about to explain this mystery to me. Quite some time later, listening to muzak on United’s 1-800 number, I rebooked to Dulles, where I had a short glimpse of light – I got to see the CL Final. 90 minutes after, back in to darkness. Man U delivered a poor game. Barcelona did not, and won the cup fair and square.
Nine in the evening, twelve hours after I was scheduled to land, I finally walk into the Phoenix’ desert heat, without my suitcase.
A temperature in the shade, warmer than regular body temperature is a tad too much in my book. The warm caressing breeze is not very gentle when it feels like pointing a blow dryer to your face, and walking out into the sun… I would need a big pool if I’d ever had to live here, and God forbid should the AC malfunction.
My visit to Phoenix turned out to be pretty “mama huhu”, as the Chinese would say, and not having clean clothes, toothbrush etcetera didn’t make it better. The day after in Las Vegas was a huge improvement, and that says quite a bit. I usually don’t like Sin City, but this time I didn’t spend a nickel in the casino and I my suitcase was finally returned to me. Maybe sad that’s what it takes for me to have a good stay in Vegas.
California
Posted by NN in Photography, Travels, Work on 090329
I’ve always liked California. Flying in, stepping out of the terminal with a feeling of anticipation of what the visit will bring never fails. And most of the time the warmer air does the trick too. This time however I stepped out of LAX and froze. It was much colder than in Beijing. Almost 10 degrees (Celsius) difference – and I, how was looking forward to warmer weather.
Spent a few relaxing days in Santa Monica. Enjoyed myself under the grey skies and cold wind. Visited Samy’s of course and walked out with a new beauty, used it well after. New for me this time was visiting Palos Verdes. On the south side of Los Angeles, this beautiful peninsula was well worth the drive down. I also stocked up at Whole Foods Market. I wish we had that store back home.
The following week I spent in San Francisco – a very hectic week. Flew in for the annual GDC (Game Developers Conference). In preparation of this week I suffered a case of extreme meeting booking syndrome and during my days in the City I paid for it. Over 40 meetings in four days, phew… It went well, but I slept eleven hours straight after the last day.
I did get some time to enjoy life outside the conference scene as well. Had a marvelous meal at Beretta (23rd/Valencia) in the Mission. The worlds best Tuna Melt, and great tour of Pacific Heights and Marina and some time under a warm sun. Great weather the whole week – the way it should be.
