San Juan: Exploring the Old City

I decided to try my first cruise this year.  The port of departure was San Juan so I figured that I would arrive a few days early and check out the sites of the city.  I don't think I realized all the history that surrounds San Juan or how beautiful the city is.  My short visit focused around Old San Juan, but I think that's the best of the city.  From battle forts and old churches to colorful architecture and narrow streets, there is a lot of charm and beauty to San Juan.

San Simeon: Hearst Castle

So this photo blog entry will be a little flashback to 2005.  Bear with me, as this was before I invested in any decent camera so the photos are from a little point and shoot.  This was one of my first trips to California - a 10-day vacation on my own for my birthday.  I flew to LA to meet up with college friends and decided to rent a car to drive up the PCH.  My goal was to see the coastline and end up in San Francisco.  It was a great adventure!  These photos are from my visit to Hearst Castle.  If you're a fan of architecture, history, or even just scenic views, Hearst is a must see.

New York City: Time Square Ball

For New Years Eve I was honored to get an invitation to spend the evening in Time Square.  And not just any invitation, a prime spot at the heart of the celebration from the Hard Rock Cafe.  And to top it off, the invitation included a private viewing of the Waterford Crystal Ball.  I told myself that I would never set forth in Time Square for NYE but this was once in lifetime.  I invited my little brother and we had an amazing time.  No matter, here are a few photos of that ball.

Washington DC: Party Time

This photo blog post is a little off topic and not really typical for me.  But hey, it's December and I just wanted to share some random photos that I've captured.  Not necessarily any architecture or nature shots.  A few months back, I took a road trip with a few fraternity brothers to surprise our college buddy Josh for his 40th birthday.  It was a very special gathering as the 4 of us are particularly close - a great friendship that has remained strong for over 15 years.  Josh's wife organized the gathering and we ended the night at a warehouse night club that had an 80s rave party.  Great music and awesome friends - that's all you need.

Rome: Highlights of the City (Part 2)

This is a follow-up photo blog post from my vacation in July to Italy.  My sister and I ventured from Venice, to Florence, then on to Rome with a quick stop down to Naples and Pompeii.  The four days in Rome were not enough to really experience the whole city, but we still managed to see a lot.  One of the highlights was a little bar owned by an Italian guy that spent a stint living in Pittsburgh.  The bar was dedicated to Pittsburgh sports teams and PA teams in general -especially the Steelers.  We were welcomed with open arms.

Philadelphia: Solidarity with Paris

This post is a little late but work has been busy.  Earlier this month Paris experienced a horrible tragedy.  The rest of the world mourned with the French and showed their sign of solidarity in one of the simplest ways possible - with light.  As a lighting designer, this had some special meaning; it shows how much impact light has on us - emotional, story-telling, and insightful.  Our firm manages the design we completed for the Avenue of the Arts here in Philadelphia and we programmed a 'Solidarity' show to run in the aftermath of the tragedy.  Below are some shots that I captured of the programming.

Pompeii: Historic Ruins (Part 1)

Although the vacation with my sister was focused on Venice, Florence, and Rome, I really wanted to make a quick visit to Pompeii and Naples.  Naples of course for the only REAL Italian pizza and Pompeii for the historic significance of the city.  I will warn you that mid-July is probably not the best time to visit, but it was still an amazing adventure with Mt Vesuvius ominously in the background.

Rome: Highlights of the City (Part 1)

This is a bit overdue since my Italy travels in July.  Still, better late than never.  My sister I travels started in Venice but we eventually made our way to Rome.  Wow!  What a huge city.  We only spent three days in the city, and I don't think we saw even a fraction of what it has to offer.  Here are a few highlights.

Philadelphia: Exploring the City

Sometimes it can be easy to take your own city for granted.  You pass through the streets and patronize the restaurants and shops, but we don't always stop to appreciate the nuances.  At least once a year I make it a point to rent some really nice camera lenses and set out on foot to explore Philadelphia thru the lens.  This is something that I picked up from my 3 years living in Dallas.  I found it a great way to really get to know the soul of the city.  So, here are some random shots from all around the city - the Delaware River to the Schuylkill River.