Back in the big city.

A week ago found me traveling to New York City for one of my favorite corporate clients, Citizen Relations. I was so excited to be back shooting in my "Madison Avenue" studio again-with it's gorgeous light and fantastically New York background.  And now, as I write this, so excited that it wasn't THIS week, with a weather forecast of upcoming blizzard!

I woke in New York to a sunny--but brisk day--27 degrees for the high—and very happy that there wasn’t a need to contend with snow, ice or rain!  I thought about how amazing it was that Monday morning, I took my walk on the beach and watched two dolphins and a sea lion frolic in the surf (no, for real!!) and Tuesday morning, I was walking to work on the streets of New York.

I finished working Tuesday evening and felt like a real New Yorker as I walked back to the hotel to drop off most of my gear.  Shoot, (pun intended) I was in New York with a little time on my hands--I decided to head out and see what I could capture at night.

Off I went, bundled up, gloves on.  This isn’t so bad, I thought.  The last time I was here, in August, I’d wandered my way to Times Square and all the way to B and H (only to find them closed—probably good—who needs more gear anyway!).  So this time I wandered toward Rockefeller Center (with The American Girl Store as a pitstop along the way.)  I took a few shots--"This is refreshing" I thought to myself.  I took a selfie in front of NBC studios which required my gloves to come off and the 18 degree cold made my fingers scream at me to hurry up all ready and take the picture!

My legs also started feeling a little cold because my jacket is only 3/4 length.  The wind picked up and I could hear the flags frantically flapping in Rock Center. I headed toward 49th and buried my face in my scarf a little more.  The American Girl Store’s heat never felt so good.  As I came out and all 18 degrees hit me.  I decided it was time to head back to my hotel.  This might be why I’ve never yearned to be a landscape photographer!

Landscape photographers need to brave the elements for their shots.  They go out in the cold and look for their image.  They brave early morning darkness to wait for the sunrise shot over the city.  Nope, not me.  My warm cozy bed beckons.  That’s not to say I’ve not gotten or am going to get some great shots that don’t involve people, it’s just that they are going to be a little bit warmer terms!

I was heading back home to California Wednesday morning, but as I watched the news while packing in my hotel room, I decided I wanted to get out one more time and headed back out to NBC studios to see the TODAY show being taped.  I arrived just in time to catch the crew outside for the last outside segment of the morning and braved another half hour to see the interview with Sienna Miller.

Al Roker doing his thing.

See the numbers behind the camera man?  They say 23.  As in degrees.

As they began the segment, the camera panned the few standing outside the studio braving the 21 degree morning.  We waved.  Well, I took a photo--that's me, all the way to the right on the cameraman's screen--taking a picture.

When I got home, my husband had taped the segment and we ran it back to find my 5 seconds of fame.  Thankfully, I still have 14 minutes and 55 seconds left.  See, there I am waving.

Stay warm and safe my New York friends!