saturday fare

:images diana murphy, 217project no. 43

Good weekend, everyone. Wherever you may be.




:image diana murphy, moscow white night, 2006

photo impressionism

:images diana murphy, levon's place; 217project no. 41

:image dianamuse; 217project no. 40

the wild

Welcome to my little walk through Riverside Park this a.m. As I took a bunch of snappies and absorbed the early morning light, I imagined myself (via a rich portion of luck and a good bit of hard work) someday visiting the luminous Janelle, traveling alongside her through the wild kingdom that is her home. Oh, but wouldn't that be swell?












:images dianamuse; 217project no. 39

quick-change artist

Same trip, different outfit. The sky plays dress-up, too.

Flying over the Atlantic. See the teeny tiny boats. I count four of them.

This one knocks my socks off.

:images diana murphy, horizon series; 217project no. 38

saturday fare

:images diana murphy, grids; 217project no. 37

:image dianamuse, moma 12:27 p.m.

217project no. 36

Nothing in the world is permanent, and we're foolish when we ask anything to last, but surely we're still more foolish not to take delight in it while we have it.

- W. Somerset Maugham, The Razor's Edge, 1943

:image diana murphy, 217project no. 35

the naturals

More from my AMNH mini-series. In lieu of serious summer travel (sigh), we're content to hop over to 81st and CPW and imagine ourselves photographing the wildlife — up close and personal — in the eastern Congo or the Serengeti Plains.




Did you know? The Akeley Hall of African Mammals in the American Museum of Natural History is named after Carl Akeley, who conceived of, designed and collected for the hall. Akeley was a dedicated explorer, taxidermist, sculptor and photographer who led teams of scientists and artists on several expeditions to Africa during the first two decades of the 20th century.

Carl Akeley died of a fever during an African expedition in 1926, ten years before the Hall was completed. He was buried in a place depicted in the Hall's famous Gorilla Diorama (first image in this post).






I think this one is still my favorite. I posted it previously here.





:images dianamuse; 217project no. 34

opus magnolium

As promised, full magnolia splendor from pre-oil-spill days of yore (remember them?). Please oh please enjoy.



























:images dianamuse; 217project no. 33

Beautiful weekend, everyone. Wherever you may be.





:image dianamuse; i took this shot (and a guskillion others) this afternoon in the land that time forgot;
217 project no. 32

pine pom-pon pick up stix

On a recent weekend trip to Ithaca, New York (home to Lake Cayuga and Willard Straight Hall), I took a few snaps of these wonderful prickly pine explosions. I like the high contrast of pattern against the stark white morning sky. Have a look at some other (large-scale) versions right here at beautimuse.




:images dianamuse; 217project no. 31

through the looking glass

I took these shots of some pretty flowers that materialized on Mother's Day. I like the subdued tones and the hazy, underwater "effect" — the result of aiming my camera at an antique mirror in our bedroom.












Plus: A (partial) self-portrait. It's the closest I've come so far to exposing myself here at the place. Baby steps.

Thanks for stopping by and saying Hey.





:217 project no. 30; images dianamuse

coney island treasure

Childs Restaurant, situated along Coney Island's boardwalk, opened its doors for business in 1924. The building was designed by Dennison & Hirons in a fanciful resort style, combining elements of the Spanish Colonial Revival (relatively rare in NYC) with numerous maritime motifs. Friezes of sailing ships and King Neptune adorn the tops of the arches; the roof is intricately decorated with carvings of fish.




I took these colorful detail shots of the Childs building last summer. Here's some more of the building's history:

The Childs building served as a firebreak during the Coney Island Fire of 1932 and saved other buildings from destruction. Originally, Childs was topped by a roof garden with a pergola above the main restaurant, and featured rooftop dancing. With the disinvestment in Coney Island by NYC during the 1940s and 50s, most of the area's businesses closed, including this Childs Restaurant.

Childs Restaurant under construction and completion, 1924 (vintage photos courtesy of NYPL Digital Collection)

In the 1950s, the vacant building was used as a candy manufacturing facility, although the building itself was not cared for and fell into disrepair in the subsequent decades. Then fate played its hand once more. In 2003, Childs was designated a New York City historic landmark. Since 2005, the building has played host to a hot pink roller rink in the summertime. Beyond that, City Planning has yet to determine just what to do with the building. One thing's for sure: This beach beauty will survive.








:217project no. 29; color images dianamuse, childs restaurant building, 2009; vintage photos courtesy of nypl digital collection

hamlet in stockholm

Makes me chuckle every time I look.





You too?


:image ken mccown

28:217

:217project; image dianamuse, may day fair