Boogaloo

Today I experienced Latin culture. I covered a Latin Boogaloo concert today in central park. It featured Johnny Colon, Joe Bataan, and afterward they showed a documentary on the history of Boogaloo.

These guys really knew how to get a crowd moving. This concert must have been the most lively one because of all the dancing from the audience. It was also full of people of different ages. I saw newborns rocked on dancing fathers shoulders and women older than my grandmother shouting at Joe Bataan to marry them.


A show is always more fun when the crowd is into it. It makes you feel like your doing something important.

Friendly Fires

Today was a lazy day. I didn't really do much today but edit some photos from the free Friendly Fires concert on Sunday. The concert went a lot better than I expected. All the performers were really great and it was the biggest crowd I've ever seen.

It was also the hottest day I had to work on this summer. I was never so dehydrated, tired, and sweaty in my life. The Cults opened, then it was Naked and Famous. Finally, when I thought I was going to die of heat stroke, Friendly Fires came on.

I have never shot a show where the group was so energetic and alive. As soon as they came on stage they gave it everything they had and kept the energy flowing through their last song. The lead singer jumped into the crowd twice! It was nice to just relax after such a hard day. Just 2 shows left and I'll be done for the summer!

Kaiser Park

Today I held a fish. I did another coastal classroom in Brooklyn this time and we found a lot of fish. There were many more kids than yesterday and everyone got a chance at casting a net.

Each time the kids came back with more and more fish to the point where the buckets were too crowded.
I left the classroom early to prepare for Metropolis in Prospect Park. It was a great event with a live orchestra. It's one of those movies that was way ahead of its time and is still haunting and visually stunning to this day.

Hillets Cove

Today I touched a jellyfish. I shot a Coastal Classroom that the City Parks Foundation does every summer to teach children about our environment and how to protect it. The students learned about different species that lived in the East River and then went out to look for them.


At first they were reluctant but then were intrigued by different animals there were. They collected fish, crabs, shrimp, snails and jellyfish. The instructor told me that I was lucky I came today because it was the most they ever caught. They even found species they never saw before.


Looking at these kids made me wish I had something similar when I was little. Maybe I would have turned out to be an underwater explorer since 95% of the ocean is unexplored. I better get my scuba license.

The Sugarhill Gang

Today was an eventful day. It started off with not getting sleep and "waking up" with a migraine. I then went off to shoot but got insanely lost on the way and drove random strangers around the park. I then went to Brooklyn through the backstreets since there was an accident on the BQE. After I thought all the adventures were over I went out for what I thought was a peaceful walk over the Brooklyn Bridge but then lo jack informed me that my car had been towed.
I refused to give up on what I had been looking forward to for weeks so I payed my dues and drove to Staten Island. I'm glad I did because it was just the pick me up I needed. It was great to see The Sugarhill Gang doing their stuff 31 years after they started.
What really made my day was dancing with random strangers. That one moment of happiness made me forget about everything and just have fun.

Lykke Li

Today was a good day. I went to a party they threw for all the interns at the City Parks Foundation and got to learn a lot about all the other departments that brings together these events over the summer. After the food we had reserved seating to enjoy the show.

Lykke Li is a brilliant performer. I honestly did not expect such an amazing show. The press pit was swarmed by other photographers struggling to get as many pictures as they can within three songs. Today I just wanted to relax and enjoy the show so I took it easy.
Most of the Summer Stage concerts are free so definitely stop by! Going to check out the Sugarhill Gang tomorrow. http://www.summerstage.org/