Lady Liberty

Lady Liberty
Originally uploaded by Jeffrey Dean H..

This will be my last photo post until after the July 4 Holiday and what better way to recognize the celebration of our nation's Declaration of Independence than with a symbol of America. Lady Liberty stands an impressive 105 feet tall on a hazy July day in the New York Harbor nearly 120 years after she was dedicated as gift from the French. Visitors can get a decent view of her by riding the Staten Island Ferry out of the southern tip of Manhattan for free. That's how I got this one, but I used a fairly strong zoom lens.

This too shall pass

This too shall pass
Originally uploaded by Jeffrey Dean H..

There's nothing too fancy about this photo in my opinion. It's about as straightforward as could be. I stood looking east, the ocean is just ahead and the writing on the back of the building housing the world famous Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ says "This too shall pass." The phrase is open to interpretation and I think it was intended to comment on Asbury, a town that is just down on its luck in so many ways.
While other photos I've posted of Asbury have a fairly depressing tone, I thought it was time for some optimism. "This too shall pass" reminds me that even though stuff might suck right now, the tough days will be gone eventually. All we can hope is that they get easier before they get tougher; but I unfortunately doubt that.

Eeyor smokes?

Eeyor smokes?
Originally uploaded by Jeffrey Dean H..

This one just cracks me up. Mark and Josh at MU's Homecoming back in Oct. 2004. Damn, that was a long time ago. It was a great day; we were just getting started as Eeyor was putting his "hands" back on after lighting up a delicious smoke. Josh, dressed as... umm, himself, looks on envying the nicotine goodness.

Hazy Hotel

Hazy Hotel
Originally uploaded by Jeffrey Dean H..

The Hilton in Hollywood, CA. While there last March I was served a quality dose of heat with a side of humidity. I was actually surprised at how warm it was that time of year. It was a great trip and the hotel was pretty nice. We had the most fun room. Frank beat up Josh one night then went in the hot tube. Good times.
I'm posting this today because we are starting to really get into those summer hazy days here in dirty Jers. I'm happy it's summer. But bump humidity.

Corner pocket

Corner pocket
Originally uploaded by Jeffrey Dean H..

This guy making his second appearance on my photoblog. I shot this with my D70 last Halloween at a party.

10 dollar orchid

10 dollar orchid
Originally uploaded by Jeffrey Dean H..

Cheapest orchid I ever bought. Last year I was given two orchid plants as a gift and they were like $35 a piece. Granted they didn't get the best care, they were both shot in about 6 months. It felt like a huge waste. This one was 10 bucks at Produce Junction and is great. One nice spring evening I moved them outside and shot a few close-ups with my D70. This is one of the best ones. Thumbnail does not do it justice.

View from shotgun of the plane

View from shotgun of the plane
Originally uploaded by Jeffrey Dean H..

Do planes have shotguns? As in the front seat. I suppose they do. I sat next to the driver/flyer. This was the view for about an hour and half. Trees, water, trees, and guess what, water. It made me feel good that there are parts of the earth that still look like this. New Jersey is the Garden State, but we certainly don't have this much open green space. I couldn't live up there in Canada, but I'll go back anytime. You flyin'?
Shot this one with my awesome D70. It's one of my favs from the whole trip; I'm surprised I haven't posted it on this photo blog until now.

Smiling statue

Smiling
Originally uploaded by Jeffrey Dean H..

Here's a nice little shot I took a while back with my Coolpix on the campus of Monmouth University. These statues are part of the whole Wilson Hall landscape. I like this one because it seems as though there should be a speech or thought bubble coming out of the statues face, don't you think?

Wrong Way

Wrong Way
Originally uploaded by Jeffrey Dean H..

The sky looks like this today: blue with a side of blue. It's warm. And I like it. I'm thankful I don't live in Asbury Park but I wouldn't mind going in the ocean on a day like today. I shot this with my D70 when I first got it last May. I went camera happy down in Asbury one afternoon. This is one of my favorites. Oh, the symbolism...

NYC park b&w

NYC park bw
Originally uploaded by Jeffrey Dean H..

A small park in midtown Manhattan, sorry I forget the name. It was a nice March afternoon, I'd wondered off with my Coolpix. I thought the shadows would make for a decent b&w shot, and I was right. It's nothing too fancy or great, but it's nice. New York has character. I'll be there tonight for a Radiohead show but I probably won't ever go outside in this great city because I'm arriving at Penn Station via train and MSG is directly above. It's okay, I've seen a lot of the city in my travels.

Larouche beach

Larouche beach
Originally uploaded by Jeffrey Dean H..

The thumbnail of this one does not do it justice at all. Make sure you click the photo. Then, if you want, click "All sizes" to see the whole thing. It was Bruce and Hank fishing off the dock that afternoon. That whole week the weather was beautiful. The rock serving as an ancor the boat is acting as the starting point for my photo. The puffy white clouds finish it off nicely with help from the crystal clear sky. Probably the most "artsy" shot I took all week. My only complaint is that I didn't pay attention to the horizon and it turned out lopsided.
I'm starting to really wish I'd jumped on board for this year's fishing trip to our neighbor of the north. Weeks spent fishing on a private lake in the middle of nowhere Canada are the most relaxing I've ever experienced. Maybe next year.

Cinderella's Castle

Castle
Originally uploaded by Jeffrey Dean H..

It's a real Disney World photo. I liked the angle of this one and how much headroom I left on it. The clouds were really cool looking. January is the best time to visit Florida. Don't go to Disney World in the summer; it's so damn hot and there are crazy people everywhere. Lots of 'em. Eat at the restaurant on the second floor called Cinderella's Royal Table ... and make a reservation.

rose in Disney

rose in Disney
Originally uploaded by Jeffrey Dean H..

Just a nice flower for ya. It was growing in a garden in Epcot in Disney World. We'd stopped walking because someone yelled "Liza!?" Random people in Disney, a got a white rose shot out of it. This one shot with my Coolpix.

Homecoming 2004 - jdh (79)

Homecoming 2004 - jdh (79)
Originally uploaded by Jeffrey Dean H..

Can't go wrong with a pink car! I just don't like the reflections in this one. I snapped these really quick when walking to an opposite side of the parking lot during the Homecoming tailgate in late October, 2004. It was an awesome day, followed by a crazy night of spraying champagne and drinking from a gigantic trophy. Well, here's a pink car. Looks like a Chevy from the 50's, but I'm not positive.

Wilson Hall in Fall '04

Wilson Hall in fall '04
Originally uploaded by Jeffrey Dean H..

I'm thinking I need some more color on this page; it's looking a little blah at the moment. Hopefully I'll put some more photos up on Flickr soon and then I'll have more of a pool to draw from if I wish. There are still a lot I would like to add to this blog, but I often forget which have been added and which ones have not yet. We're going to have a solid few days heading into the weekend. Sorry for the long lapse of no photos.
This is Wilson Hall, once summer home for President Woodrow Wilson and also the filming location for the famous musical Annie. Now it's part of Monmouth University's diverse and beautiful landscape. This angle of the mansion serves as the seal of the university. I think I should have taken a step or two to the right, but hey, close enough. This was a great fall afternoon for pictures. I love the shadows and the orange tree in the background.

Tim making crazy juice

bombs
Originally uploaded by Jeffrey Dean H..

Jager in Redbull is a good combination if you feel like destroying your body in pretty much every way imaginable. But hey, we do what we can. As you can see, there were plenty of "bulls" out that night. This is a Sea Isle pic. I'll be there in less than 24 hrs, hopefully.

Waves crashing into rocks

Waves crashing into rocks
Originally uploaded by Jeffrey Dean H..

I plan to spend plenty of quality time with the Atlantic Ocean this weekend. The water will probably be slightly chilly still, but I'm sure I'll make it in there a couple times. Weather should be beautiful and I'm really excited to just get down to the shore and relax. Enjoy your Memorial Day weekend, kids.

silver tower

silver tower
Originally uploaded by Jeffrey Dean H..

I brought my camera to work one day because I thought this silver tower thing would make for a decent photo. While it didn't turn out quite like I'd pictured it, I guess it's okay. The weather was beautiful that day as spring turns into summer.

N. balcony view

N. balcony view
Originally uploaded by Jeffrey Dean H..

It's Monday morning and being here is what's keeping me going. Hopefully I'll be there Thursday night; Friday afternoon at the latest. Sitting on the deck with a nice vodka and a friggin' smile on my face. If I look to the right the waves will be rolling up to the shore line and people will be going down the ramp too fast. Wawa's only two blocks away and the "No shower happy hour" starts at four at the OD. I'm so there. PS-we love fat people.

Curvy green and purple benches

nyc green and purple park
Originally uploaded by Jeffrey Dean H..

Here's a photo that captures more of the everyday, not-so-famous, character of New York City. Some say New York is the best city in the world, and it's tough to argue against that, but I haven't been too every city. And while London will always hold a special place in my heart, I love New York. I also love the colors green and purple together, it reminds me of Jack Nicholson in Batman.