Portraits. Taking them of someone you know is like asking yourself who you are. If you know who you are you can then interpret your relationship with someone. If you're lucky, which a lot of photography is about, is getting the image of that someone according to your relationship. That is the beauty and simplicity of a good portrait. To understand yourself is to take a relationship and visualize it. No one says it will be good first time around. It depends on the honesty one has with themselves. I love seeing how I feel. I learn from looking at myself.

Two portraits tonight are I think real. They are of feelings and interpretations of where they are today. Intellectuals. Lost in thought. No one who thinks about life is truly smiling. None of those pictures would be real. These two portraits represent among the most intelligent people I know who know life because they are not afraid to live it in a true to themselves way.

Apple iPhone has now bunch of applications and some of them for even posting blog entries remotly. But I probably pass on that.

The 600 mile service was due on the Vespa so I took it to the dealer and got it all done yesterday. While waiting I got a chance to test ride a few bikes. One of them was the MP3 scooter made by Piaggio. Then there was the walk over (netx door) the Ducati dealer to ride the Hypemotard with the upgrated exhaust. Wow! That was FUN!! That bike is whole bunch of 'I want it' while so many unpractical thoughts come to mind. Its just fun and Smooth!!

But aside from a fun Saturday, tonight a quick collection of somewhat of a typical commute. I avoided the Rush Hour by stopping for a drink at the Hyatt before heading back home. This was midweek.

The trip is via the PATH train that runs between World Trade Center and Newark, NJ. Exchange place is Jersey City, NJ. It is the last stop before the end of the line in NYC. The way back to Newark is across a Shipping yard, under the NJ Turnpike, through a service station for NJ Transit (at least some of the trains), few abandoned warehouses and finally arriving at Newark Penn Station.

It is a strange place in the middle of a strange city. Newark still has a rough reputation for crime. Few new buildings and restaurants have opened around the area. The Newark Penn Station is somewhat a gloomy place. It feels Train Station but I don't believe that its enough. The Station represents the mood of the city very well. The homeless roam the and smells dirty and its something that although does not need hallways and waiting rooms, live out of the bathroom and bring in a grunge feel to it all. Sadly, the trip from NYC to Newark via Path sets the mood quite accurately.

I'm set on a journey for true middle America. Some few weeks back I was visiting Dartmouth Campus in New Hampshire. I came across a book titled 'Blue Highways'. I was intrigued but did not buy it right there. I did save the title though. As it turns out I received the book as a gift from my friend Don. I was incredibly and pleasantly surprised Don read the book.
I have started the book and love it. Last weekend I was at Barns and Noble over a map at table in Clark, NJ looking at the map and settling for Memphis to be my starting point. These, I hope, to be weekend trips of a long term project.

Tonight, a photograph right out side of Columbia University's campus yesterday evening.

I have/ I am debating over starting a new blog. This one is about the true issues that concern me. It no longer so much about only photography. Its now about photography serving a purpose of telling a story. Let me think about it.

An image from a super humid NJ night.. as I was leaving the book store.