Michael Buble

Power (2013)

One word, stunning. Michael Buble's recent stop to Phoenix for his 2013 tour was simply breathing taking. His voice was as smooth as melted butter and his range is incredible. He did everything from singing the classics of Try a Little Tenderness and Can't Buy Me Love to fan favorites Haven't Met You Yet and Home to recent radio hits like Get Lucky. Buble put on a non-stop music filled night with a full orchestra and string sections. He went into the crowds and wasn't afraid to give hugs, handshakes and take photographs with adoring fans. He also had conversations with audience members and told the story of how Phoenix was the first place he ever played in America to a small crowd of just under 20 people, as well as how it is being a dad. A fan gave him a baby gift of a Phoenix Suns bib and he quickly responded with "I don't think this will fit me." He was quite funny and he wasn't afraid to chuckle and tell the crowd that they sang the wrong words to one of his songs. He was jolly and joyful on stage.

Sing It Out (2013)

Having A Good Time (2013)

His staging was impressive too. He had enormous screens that have difference scenes displayed on them during songs such as stars, fireworks and other cool graphics. I tried to capture some of the staging in Sing, Lights, and Green as well as Driven. He also had these screens that moved up and down as he sang that appeared 3D. My personal favorite moment of the show was his cover of Can't Buy Me Love. There was confetti cannons all throughout the arena and nice heart graphics on the screen. Another thing about this concert that surprised me was that there was not continuos screaming. I could actually hear all of Buble's performances. It was nice. Yet what was most impressive about his show was his pure powerful vocals. He belted out his notes as seen in Power and Sing It Out and his emotions were so clearly seen. He did not simply sing his songs, he relived the moments he first sang them and his emotions are so easily felt seen in With His Heart and Driven. He had a good time performing, just having fun and enjoying the stage as seen in Having a Good Time. Towards the end of the show, he did a quick change of clothes and came back out to sing a few songs including Mack the Knife as requested by a sign in the crowd. And right before he got off the stage, he removed his microphone and sang purely off his projection of his voice. It felt personal and intimate, a perfect way to end a show. Michael Buble is a class act with an incredible voice, perhaps one of the best of our generation.      

No Mics (2013)

With His Heart (2013)

Sing (2013)

Green (2013)

Lights (2013)

Driven (2013)

A Study of People In the Buzzing NYC

All Nations (2013)

For this post, I wanted to show off some photos from New York City. NYC is a great place for not only scenery and art, but also culture. It is estimated that each year New York City has over 40 million visitors, making New York City a perfect place to study people. I focused on how to perceive people in these photographs. All Nations, shows how diverse people are. One of the wonderful things about the United States is that we welcome people of all nations. New York is a melting pot of cultures. This photo also shows how different people not only by nationality but also by appearance. One of the coolest things about people is how everyone looks different. No two people look exactly the

Linear Side of Humans (2013)

same. Linear Side of Humans, shows how people naturally look for order. These girls are all skating in a line but why? There is an entire ice rink, yet subconsciously they all decided to go in a line. This willingness to skate in line, shows how people look for a structure and pattern in life without even noticing it. This is one of my favorite photographs I took in NYC and was taken in front of the Rockefeller Center. Waiting on a Train, however shows the chaotic side of people. While, we look for order, we also have the ability to move freely and explore. In this instance, these people are in the Grand Central station and just roaming about. There is no sense of rushing or worry. A Day in Life, however gives off the feeling of worry and stress, showing the struggles people can go through. Here, the street is filled and people are rushing. We don't know if they are going to make it to their destinations in time. It is also interesting to note that we can not see their faces, leading to mystery. How are they feeling? What are they up to? We will never know. People are mysterious sometimes and you never know what is going to happen. For the Better, shows the courage and generousness of people. In this photo, one person is taking the difficult job of building a skyscraper for the sake of the good of others. This is a dangerous job and could easily end in injury and possible death. His willingness to take this job, knowing its dangers, shows the courage and generousness of people. Replicating Art, shows the thinking and intellectual side of humans. People have the capability to think and wonder. In this shoot, these people are enjoying the art of the MET and engaging in deep thoughts. Another cool thing about this shot is how the people look like statues that they are looking at. Stillness is present in both the people and statues, making them seem similar. In a metaphorical sense, the statues could be studying the people just like how the people are studying the statues. Lastly, Shared Patience shows the calmness and order people can have. Here, a crowd of people are waiting on a boat to unload at dock. They are standing still and waiting their turn to unpack and get off the boat. When you think about this, this is an amazing feat. People are not told they have to wait, yet they are being courteous enough to do so. There is no rushing to get off first. This photograph shows how people can think about others first and less about themselves. If these people only thought of their own self interest, then they would have not waited for those located below them to give off the boat first.      

Replicating Art (2013)

For the Better (2013)

Another Day in Life (2013)

 

 

 

Waiting on a Train (2013)

Shared Patience (2013)

Central Park

Curved Thinking (2013)

Easily one of the prettiest parks ever constructed, New York's iconic Central Park is breathtaking. Filled with greenery and autumn colors, Central Park shines at this time of year. For this posting, I want to share some of the photographs I took on my last trip to NYC. My favorite photograph of this shoot is Curved Thinking. The instance I say these benches, I just knew they would make a great abstract photograph. As a photographer, before I take any photographs, the shot is visualized in my head. I do not just point and shoot. What I really like about this shot, is the angle from which it is shot at. One of the unique things about photography, is that it allows a person to see objects and things from different perspectives and focus on details. Here we can see the roughness of the wood and the slickness of the metal. Also a contrast between man and nature with the man made bench is present. This raises the question of where is man's place in the world. As seen, the trees and greenery start to over rule this bench, indicting that nature does rule supreme. We are just living in the wonderful place we call Earth, nature runs it. Yet having these pathways and benches in the park are stunning. I hoped to capture some of the park's beauty in Pathway, Siting Among the Trees, Empty Pathway, and Manufactured Beauty. Central Park is 2.5 miles long and 0.5 miles wide and one of the amazing things is that each park of the park is different. The trees are varied, the greenery is scattered about and there are different features to look at. In some places there are these marvelous bridges such as the one seen in Manufactured Beauty and others you will find art work such as the one in Man in Nature. Every place you look, there is something new to discover. You also find lots of small animals such as squirrels like the one captured in Scavenger. For Park Life, I saw these funny look police cars so I had to capture it. This also ensures a sense of safety. Central Park is a safe place to be at during the day as it is filled with tons of people. With these photographs however, I did not want to photograph people because I was focusing more on the Park and nature itself. Lastly, for City Among the Trees, I wanted to capture how the park is in a city. It is quite amazing to think that one of the most populated cities in the United States has a gigantic park in the middle of it. Industrial cities do not usually have much space or room to spare, yet in NYC there is an enormous park. I hope you enjoy these photographs. If you are looking for a place to run or just walk around and view nature and you are in NYC, definitely go to Central Park.    

Siting Among the Trees (2013)

Pathway (2013)

Park Life (2013)

Empty Parkway (2013)

Man in Nature (2013)

Scavenger (2013)

Manufactured Beauty (2013)

City Among the Trees (2013)