Christmas night sky: Jupiter above the Moon

Eric pointed the sky out to me as we arrived home after spending all of Christmas Day with good friends.  Jupiter above the moon .. Beautiful.  For more info on tonight's sky, click here. And to see it posted on Patch.com, click here.  (And click on photo to enlarge)

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Snowflakes for Sandy Hook

Eric and I spent a couple of evenings folding and cutting snowflakes to send up to comfort the children of Newton Connecticut along with thousands of others around the country.  The CT Parent Teachers Association wants to create a Winter Wonderland when the children enter their new school building.  We watched a YouTube video to learn how to cut them. Click here for the story and the address.  Deadline for arrival is January 12.

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Departure from the norm: Shooting a car accident

Shooting car accidents is not my usual milieu but my Patch editor gave me props for these shots, taken this morning in Midland Park.  Evidently, an elderly woman mistook the gas pedal for the brake and her car broke through a railing onto the parking lot below.  Midland Park Police, Fire and EMS crews were very reassuring to her and she was extricated from the vehicle within a short time.  An officer at the scene said she was "fine, alert and stable." My dad was a volunteer fireman for over 35 years in my hometown of Palisades Park.  He was in my thoughts as I watched these men at work. 

Click here to see more photos and the article ..

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"Deck the Halls" Christmas house lights finalist for Patch.com

A finalist in the Patch.com annual "Deck the Halls" Christmas lights decorating contest was announced today.  Jerry Ghinelli, a resident of Wyckoff who lives beside Zabriskie Pond, was thrilled to hear that he is one of the 24 lucky finalists.  The grand prize is $100,000 to be used in the homeowner's local school district.  If he wins, he wishes to have the funds used for security to protect Wyckoff school children.  Click this link to read the Patch story and to vote for his home.  

Here are some of tonight's images, shot in a drizzling rain with a Nikon D7000 and Nikkor 18-105mm lens, tripod or Nikon SB800 flash.  Click on any image to enlarge.

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The Shore .. Six weeks after Sandy

Hurricane Sandy made landfall at the Jersey the shore six weeks ago.  For Sea Bright and Monmouth Beach, recovery is still very much underway.  Eric and I went down yesterday as part of a business trip.  Here are a few of the images.  (Click on any to enlarge).

Today, Eric and I assisted the Moonachie-Little Ferry Relief Fund by going door to door to check in on storm victims closer to our home.  In Little Falls and Moonachie, residents had just 20 minutes to act before a five foot wall of water surged through their neighborhoods, drenching everything in their basements and on the street, including their cars.

Most of those who answered their doors to us seemed to be doing OK.  Most had already removed wet sheetrock and remediated the mold issue. Others just wanted to tell us their stories.  We located and reported one home with a small child where toxic mold could become a serious issue.

For residents who were not at home, we left a brochure with a phone number to call to receive free, volunteer help for whatever issues they may have, related to the storm.  Anyone can help by contacting the Volunteer Center of Bergen County by clicking here.

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Tree Lighting in Midland Park, NJ

Eric and I went down to the municipal building tonight to attend the town's tree lighting.  We've got so many kids in this wonderful little town.  It was a joy to see their faces as they met with Santa.  (Click on any image to enlarge)

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Brave Wounded Warrior

On Friday, I had the honor of photographing four of our courageous Wounded Warriors for the Fallen Heroes Fund while they filmed a Public Service Announcement.  The shoot was held at AOL Studios in NYC.  Each of these servicemen suffered profound physical, personal and mental losses in defense of our country.  Here is one of the heartbreaking images of the day.  Donations to assist these brave veterans may be made by clicking this link.  

(Click on image below to read about the NiCoe state of the art facilities for treating our wounded heroes suffering from traumatic brain injury).

For more Intrepid events, please visit my NEWLY UPDATED website .. http://www.proofpositivephoto.com/ .. Under "Gallery" and then "Events at Intrepid".  Thanks!

Red Breasted Nuthatch spotted

With the odd weather we've had the past few years in northern New Jersey, including our first hurricane in ages, its not surprising that our wildlife would be affected.  One of the benefits (we're told) is that Red Breasted Nuthatches have made a few appearances in our area.  I was lucky enough to capture one with my camera last Friday, November 30.  Here he (or she) is, along with a few other backyard visitors spotted recently in our yard.

My Red Breasted Nuthatch photo was featured today on author Jim Wright's blog from the Celery Farm, a local bird habitat.  Click here to see his posting and blog.  As a local birding expert, Jim also writes a weekly column on birding for The Bergen Record newspaper.

This was a "no-acorn" year, so the squirrels have been raiding the suet even more than usual.

The Sparrows can see me through the kitchen window, but its such a common sight that'd they are more curious about me than anything.

This little Sparrow is puffed up on a frozen branch, trying to keep warm during the day-long snowfall we had after Hurricane Sandy.

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Photo in today's paper "Signs of the Times"

Jill Schensul, the travel writer for our local county newspaper, The Bergen Record, is always on the lookout for "signs that left you puzzled or amused."  Here's my entry which appeared in today's paper.  (Click to read).

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2012 Thanksgiving Day Parade in NYC down 6th Avenue

We finally had gorgeous weather on Thanksgiving for the first time in several years.  It was in the mid-50's, sunny and dry, perfect for the parade.  Here are some of my photos from our vantage point on 50th Street and 6th Avenue, direction across from Radio City Music Hall.  Photos shot with my Nikon D40X with my 18-55mm lens and with my Nikon D300S with my 70-200 mm VRII lens.  (Click on any photo to enlarge).

A very happy day in the City!

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Veterans Day Parade NYC 2012 Fifth Avenue

Today was a day to honor our Veterans and as usual, New York City pulled out all the stops and gave the Veterans a wonderful tribute.  Hundreds and hundreds of soldiers, sailors and airmen took to the streets, marching in formation, accompanied by marching bands and various groups of their supporters.  The weather was perfect .. It was a welcome and heartfelt tribute in the wake of Hurricane Sandy just two weeks ago.

Here are some images of the day .. Click on any photo to enlarge.

Congressman Charlie Rangel, former NYC Mayor David Dinkins ('90-'93)
and former NYC Mayor Ed Koch ('78-'89)

NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg ('02-present) and Senator Charles Schumer,
currently serving his third term

NYC Police Commissioner Ray Kelly (right)

New York's bravest .. the Fire Department

Fireman breaking ranks for a moment to greet a soldier

The camouflage works well!

Our Marines .. Semper Fi

A Navajo code talker.  They transmitted secret messages on the battlefields during WWII.
Only a few survive.  They traveled to NYC from Arizona.
To learn more, click here.

Proud members of the Wounded Warrior Project.  Their mission is to honor and empower wounded warriors. 

For more information about the NYC Veterans Day Parade .. Click here  And to watch a multi-part video of the parade as broadcast on TV, click here.

Special thanks to Constellations Group for the opportunity to photograph this wonderful event!

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