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Category Archives: Architecture
LIC’s New Z Hotel Threatens To Become New Premier Boutique Hotel In Queens
One of the quickest routes to Brooklyn from Long Island City is the Pulaski bridge that runs from 11th street beginning at the foot of the Queensboro Bridge. I’ve often taken this road in my day-to-day business during the last few years, noticing the construction of a slender building clad in glass and dark colors. I assumed it would be commercial space at first, but as it began to take shape, I realized it would be the second boutique hotel in an otherwise industrial section of Long Island City.
Following in the archetypal footsteps of the smaller and less opulent Ravel Hotel just a couple blocks west, The Z aims to bring high end clientele to Long Island City, with an attractive, modern design, a long list of amenities and everyone’s favorite part, the rooftop bar/lounge and dining area. At the moment, the Z’s location would seem somewhat odd, being surrounded by many older 1 and 2 story structures, but that will all change in the next few years as development and revitalization of Long Island City continues to swell with sophistication. The Z’s developers had the foresight to set the tone early. Continue reading
History Of The Nikon F (Video)
Remember Film Cameras? You know, The dSLRs without the “d”, back when they were just SLRs. I just came across a video on the design history of the Nikon F series. Find out what that little red triangle is all about, and why the originals were so edgy and sharp. Just as in automotive practice, the Japanese were influenced by zee Germans when it came to camera design. Continue reading
Trigger Finger: Peep Holes
Trigger Finger is a series of posts dedicated to the impulsive and instinctive cell phone photography that we’ve all developed over the years. For the times when you don’t have your best camera on you, but the moment is still worth capturing.
There’s a new construction site in town. Typically, large scale construction and renovation projects are shielded from the public with large, blue plywood barriers. Sometimes, the contractors will cut crude holes in the plywood to give pedestrians a glimpse into the building progress. This is not quite the case here. Continue reading
Trigger Finger: The Urban Igloo
Trigger Finger is a series of posts dedicated to the impulsive and instinctive cell phone photography that we’ve all developed over the years. For the times when you don’t have your best camera on you, but the moment is still worth capturing.
This piece of modern architecture was spotted on the Corner of Ditmars Boulevard and Crescent Street in Astoria. The grocery store owner on the same corner built it for his kids, who regularly hang out in and around the store. The individual blocks were crated by packing snow into milk crates lined with cardboard. The unorthodox flat roof is supported by a sheet of plywood, and then covered with more snow for stability and insulation. The small window opening also uses plywood as a lintel. Its no Ice Hotel but this sure looks like it would be fun if I was 10. This igloo has melted since the taking of this picture but I’m sure there will be a new one up soon with the recent snowfall. Continue reading
Flickr Photostream Friday: Jibby!
“Though I may often be grim of nature, and dark of mind, I believe there is light in the center of my being, a luminescence of the soul that shines even in the darkest of my hours.” -Jibby!
Don’t let the lead shot fool you. This week’s featured photostream is from a photographer who thrives in the realm of sinister and playfully morbid. Shooting mostly wide angles in the Pacific Northwest, Jibby!, also known as David Leeth, is modest about his picture taking abilities, but admits to a great love for post production. He has been a Photoshop guru for over ten years, and uses his software strengths to radically bend images to his will. Ordinary, everyday scenes are not enough for Jibby! Skies darken, buildings come alive and spirits rise from their graves when he works his magic. I would imagine this is how young children often see the world, embellishing existing conditions into supernatural states. Jibby! also shoots portraiture and critters, but I find his black and white creepy stuff to be the most engaging.
Aside from his great ability to conceive and stage a specific shot, Jibby! also works as an image retoucher and restorer. I can tell you from doing this myself, that this is no easy task. Old pictures often have harsh blemishes or even missing information that must be estimated and drawn back in to the best of the retoucher’s ability. Much like a painter restores an old artist’s work, a digital image restoration process can be long and arduous.
I invite you to dive into Jibby!’s abyss and wade through his surreal work. Don’t forget to check out his many sets. But for heaven’s sake, don’t leave a big ugly group badge instead of a real comment. He’ll condemn you to hell. Enjoy!
Flickr PhotoStream Friday: Velasquez Photo
Like most of us, Mr. Eddie Velasquez began taking pictures for leisure and found that he really enjoyed it. He now works as a part time freelance photographer in Anaheim Hills, California. His commercial work is comprised mostly of portraiture and product photography, but his interests also include architecture, landscapes and Motorsports (my kind of guy!). Eddie’s black and whites are very nice, but I’m particularly drawn to his colors, and gorgeous models. California always looks great when you’re in a New York winter! Head on over to Flickr and check out his photos. You won’t be disappointed.
Trigger Finger: Google Maps 5 for Android
Google Maps recently updated its app for Android to include faster, vector-based loading of maps. That’s the boring stuff. The cool stuff is the 3D views, and two finger guesture control to tilt, spin, etc. Its like Google Earth without the fat now.
While giving it a test run through the upper East Side this morning, I noticed something odd. The Guggenheim Museum doesn’t look like what it should, at least in my snobby architectural mind. It seems Google has chosen to simply extrude the footprints of individual lots instead of giving iconic buildings the true and accurate rendering they deserve. I want to see the spiral and the cantilevered entrance! C’mon Googs! Perhaps in 6.0. :/
