First off, hope everybody had a wonderful time over the holidays, with a great new year shaping up. Best to all, and many thanks for all the wonderful thoughts and good wishes sent our way via the blog, FB, and Twitter. Great way to close the year. Though just when I thought it was in the can, and it was done kicking my ass, a couple of interesting things happened. Good Morning America came calling, realizing that most likely lots of folks got some sort of digital picture taking apparatus for Christmas, and would be uncertain of how to use same. They all come with manuals, of course, but they’re tough to plow through stone cold sober, and much less so after decking the halls and knocking back eight to ten Limoncellos. So, in the wake of writing the LIFE Guide to Digital Photography, they found me, and proposed that I could do something instructive and coherent in three or four minutes of air time. That’s a fair bit chatting for morning TV, believe it or not.
There was this storm you might have read about. It roared in and knocked NY and much of the upper Eastern seaboard for a loop. And of course, I was supposed to go on early in the am, post storm. The phone started ringing. Folks who work in live television tend to jump on stuff, and solve problems as immediately as they can (just the nature of the beast) so when they call you, they like it if you just pick up the phone and say yes. They wanted me to come into NY on Sunday, in the teeth of the wind and the white, park it in a hotel, and be rested and there, ready to hit the airwaves. I said, of course, yes. Made sense.
Method to my madness (and the affirmative reply) was that the hotel was on the doorstep of Times Square. Hadn’t been in TS in a blizzard, I think, ever. Plus I’ve been experimenting with the D3100, which is quite a lot of camera in a small package. So, I checked in, and went out.
It was a touch wacky out there on Sunday night, but it was refreshing to know you could still get a hot dog.
Just had one lens with me, a 24 f1.4, so just messed around in the stinging snow, driving wind, bitter cold and neon lit misery in the heart of the Big Apple until I heard the call of the wild pillow in a heated hotel room. Tried some stuff from my window, and early am as well.
Then, it was show time. I’ve done the morning shows before, so I wasn’t completely unprepared. Everybody was super nice, whisking you here and there, asking if you’re okay and if you need anything. I think the only other time people are that collectively solicitous of your needs is immediately prior to major surgery, so I felt very comfortable.
They bring you in and sit you down. If I could make a suggestion, they might equip those comfy chairs with a seat belt. Because once the morning network anchor person goes weapons hot on you, it’s a fast ride indeed. Chris Cuomo did the interview. Smart guy, very nice, tough job. He’s gotta rattle his way through two hours of live TV every morning, keep everybody’s ball bouncing, roll with the punch, turn on a dime, ask reasonable questions that presume and elicit sound bite, quickie answers, shake your hand and go to the next set. He’s definitely the eye of the storm.
Whoosh! After I was done I kinda looked down to ascertain whether I was still wearing clothes. I felt like a cartoon character in a hurricane, you know, clinging to a light pole, while everything just whips past them as they struggle to hang onto their shorts. Or maybe one of those poor TV reporters out there in the blizzard, trying to make themselves heard as the wind blows them down the street, a Northeastern species of tumbleweed. Anyway, you can check out the interview here. Many thanks to my bud and terrific shooter, Elizabeth Opalenik, who grabbed the above pic off her TV screen on the west coast.
The show at the Monroe Gallery I mentioned a couple weeks ago went well. You can always tell you’re having an exhibit in New Mexico when you see one of these.
Sorta makes you wish anybody who shows up really likes your work, ya know? More tk….
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lovely images…
well seen, well captured, and well done!
I enjoy your blog. Keep it coming.
May the good light be with you!
It was a hoot seeing you on GMA! Have a great New Year and thanks for inspiring me to pick up a camera (Nikon, of course).
You did good on GMA and another wonderful year behind you. Let’s get together and nail down the dates for the Southern U.S. workshop stop in Montgomery this Spring…kg
Hey Joe:
I’ll be in Santa Fe during the week Jan 8 to 14 2011. Will your work still be at Monroe?
Sissy
I saw the interview this morning … you did great, although I wish it could have been longer. Funny that you felt it necessary to venture out into the blizzard to take photos … but I would expect nothing less of you. LOL!
I watched this morning and you did a great job and gave some real excellent tips. Of course, anyone worth their weight in photography has spent time with their craft; something I saw when looking at photos my father took with my 70-200mm f/2.8 as I sat on (their neighbor playing) Santa’s lap. At least the background was in focus.
I work for a local television news station and things go pretty smoothly until a wrench is thrown into the equation and we have to think on the fly. A tape for a prepackaged story is missing just as our anchor is reading the intro…”It’s a snap” turns into some producer wanting to snap! I’m just glad I’m in the warm cozy control room rather than out in the cold snow this time of year. Want a weather report? Just ask the reporter all bundled up what the weather is like when getting a mic check.
You’re a natural, Joe.
Good thing I have a seven month old, or I may not have been up early enought to see you. Of course, I still had to wrestle the remote away from my 3 y/o, engulfed in Little Bill, or Little Bear, or one of those Nick Jr. shows. She was impressed with your wit and wisdom, though, I must say.
Two great points: Good to know I can get a hot dog in a blizzard…and Cumo going “weapons hot.” Great writing.
Nice job. You’re having a better few weeks than your NY Giants.
~ Mark
Joe,
Heard you got bumped so went to GMA on the net and caught the clip this morning. The makeup was good!
I love the shot of Virgil’s from the window. Nothing like NYC in snow, puncuated by the neon lights. Good to know you can get a hotdog when you need it too.
Here’s to a safe and happy new year. The best (?) is yet to come???
Bill Bogle, Jr.
Thanks for sharing that – I had a client asking me how to use her new D3100 just this morning and I’ll email her this post. I’m pretty sure that most DSLR’s should come with a copy of your latest book. Have a great new year!
Hi Joe,
Got up to shoot some photos of the rare snow storm that we had here in in NC, flipped on the tube and guess who greeted me on GMA? My 11 year old son listened intently to what you had to say, turned to me and said, “He’s got some pretty good ideas dad. You ought to listen to this guy.”
I almost threw The Hot Shoe Diaries at him. 🙂
Rob
Joe, terrific job. I have been to several presentations of yours in the past 18 months and I think you are great. Well done. I’ll bet that was quite an experience on GMA. The publicity could not come to a harder working – nicer guy. Cheers to you!
Being a resident of NM, this doesn’t surprise me at all. However, I am surprised to see that sign in Santa Fe, at an art gallery no less. Maybe all of the hallucinogenic drugs used here caused someone to see Yosemite Sam at a gallery recently, hence the sign posting.
Hi Joe,
Nice, very short, interview. If you ask me it was to short, but you did great.
Gr. Ralf
Joe, thanks for the link to Elizabeth Opalenik’s site: her work is fantastic!
I have to admire your commitment!
We have to be in New York this time next year for a family thing, so hope the weather is a bit kinder next time around. We are in Cape Town, South Africa. Slightly better weather here!
Anyway, I love your work and your generosity in posting and blogging. Your giant polaroids were stupendous. Your new Life book is great too; I keep looking out for a really dedicated work on sports photography, which is my real passion, but it rarely get more than a couple of pages in anyone’s book. Scott Kelby has been great with his NFL posts, though.
When are you planning to visit us here in Africa?
All the best for the festive season
Robert Gad
Those pics are really good coming from a D3100. And the firearms warning is really funny!!
Merry X-mas, Happy New Year and thank you for all inspiration! I have had a really good time reading The moment it Clicks, and Hot Shoe Diaries, best photobooks ever!! Best Wishes from Hilde in Norway.
HAAHahaaa, couldn’t believe my favorite blogger was on the morning show, between shovelings to come in and find you being fluffed by Cuomo was hilarious, but well worth it for those great photos (for a Nikon) of the city blizzard- awesome Joe, you de best.
Great snow pictures – my son is over from the UK (we saw you on the Kelby tour) and took a load of images on Monday.. my wife reckons his are better than yours 🙂
http://www.tom.doverdesign.co.uk/
The no-firearms sign isn’t so weird: Many places are passing laws that allow carrying weapons unless specifically prohibited (handy in New Mexico; you never know where a rattlesnake might turn up) so the sign gives the property owner some protection against liability if a patron were to have a 9mm “oops” moment.
I was hoping you would post a few photos of Times Square, and I have to say, I don’t think anyone could have done it better! Looking forward to watching the GMA interview although it will be after the main airing as I just don’t wake that early. 🙂
Hope you and the family (including Drew) have a wonderful New Year!
Hey Joe, just picked up Hot Shoe diaries, looking forward to diving in. Have a happy new year!
Those are some wonderful shots for 3100 camera. I always thought it’s a camera for the entry level. But the output is really stunning. The street shots I don’t know whether you used a flash, but there is no noise. That’s super cool.
We have firearms warnings in the south as well. Probably not as many as New Mexico, but it makes you wonder. Anyways I wish I had known about you being on GMA would have loved to seen it. Its great to see someone who has dedicated so much effort and work get noticed.
Happy New Year
Nice job Joe, I notice you were able to bring it at the level of the “just got a camera for Christmas.” I privately mused when you said, “Climb something” that they didn’t show the pic of you climbing the Empire State building for the changing of the bulb shot, mighta scared a few? 🙂
Great work as always! 😀
Have a happy new year!
Hi Joe, you are the hardest working man in the business, loved to have got out in the snow and done those shots.
Tried to watch your interview but there was an annoying videogame trailer music from the GMA site, however you looked like you were having fun.
BTW, get some rest!!
That firearms sign was quite funny, we dont have to worry about that in the uk,
If I dont get a chance have a great New Year,
Rich
Nice interview, but boy was it quick. Hope it gets you some more book sales though. I enjoy my copy of it.
Have a good new year.
Just watched the clip on my iPad – can you see the mugs looking in the window when you’re on the set?
I’m really enjoying the iPad version of the Life Guide to Digital Photography with the added audio and video clips – like having an instant seminar available wherever I am.
Hope you got home safely and without too much drama and best wishes for 2011.
Nice to see you on TV.
Stupid sign!
Betcha the light is really smoking in the window off the “Park” sign. At least for background light. Aha, you need to do one of your girl in the window shots off that sign.
Great snow shots. Looks like fun for a photog
Unique camera settings, lighting and composition. Your work is fantatically inspiring and fun to be informed about. It gives me the kick to go out there and experiment. Mille mercis.
Best wishes for 2011.
Of course you can make an awful NYC storm look gorgeous! 🙂 Your GMA interview was great, I hope to see more of you on TV! Happy New Year!
Nice interview. Love your work – and I like your writing equally well. You’re great at both!
Great fun seeing you on GMA. Hope you get to relax a bit before 2011 leaps into view.
sweet imagery and an informative GMA interview! have a great new years! -ed & mar (from a rainy san diego, ca:-) )
This is an official complaint; you need to update your blog more often. Im getting bored between each time:(
yeah and btw, love your work.
I’m inclined to believe that whatever camera they put in your hands Joe would yield good pictures. I like the neon selection as I think it captures one small essence of NYC. Have a healthy and happy New Year Joe, I look forward to reading and learning more from you in 2011.
Thanks for sharing that
Great work as always
Awesome pictures 😀 Lots of snow in there :d. Is there any yt versions of that show?
Wonder why they like making it a guarantee that only criminals might possess a weapon? Sure wouldn’t want anyone to be able to defend themselves against a bunch of hoods.
Joe, love your work I just got your book, “The Moment It Clicks” for Christmas.
HAPPY NEW YEAR
Joe, the people at the dog stand – that shot is iconic. Only in NYC 😉 I miss it a lot. I like the truck alone too, but only in NY would people trudge into that kind of weather for a Sabrett’s dog.
I wish you a great and Happy New Year and safe travels for the year ahead.
Great article I really like living in Florida , but this article made me miss my home state of New Jersey and some great snow shot photography ops.Thanks Joe and have a Great New Year
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I have been to several presentations of yours in the past 18 months and I think you are great. Well done. I’ll bet that was quite an experience on GMA. The publicity could not come to a harder working – nicer guy.
LOL, the irony is I am reading this blog at the time of the corona pandemic. The time when I have been enjoying holidays for more than 3 months.
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One thing more, I want to tell you matt, Really impressive and enjoyable interview.
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