Bye Bye Blog

So just a quick heads up, this blog is now no more. Done. Finished.

I have however set up a new, simpler, cleaner looking blog at

rcntravel.blogspot.com/

No more waffle, just new pictures, much more often.

So please check it out, follow it, let other people know.

Cheers!

-Ryan

Error 99

So right now my camera is out of action due to 'Error 99.' So until I get a quote and get it fixed, these are the last pics I took before it packed in.

Also, if anyone knows anything about Error 99 (I've been all over google but not much has helped) let me know.

Cheers!

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

A few pictures taken whilst on an awesome walking history tour of Ho Chi Minh city with the best guide in the whole wide world, Richie J Moore and the lovely Anna Chubchenko.

I've just recently moved to Vietnam to teach English and take pictures. Should be fun.

Also for music people, that statue of the monk is a monument to the monk who set himself on fire in that famous picture (used as a R.A.T.M cover).

Not sure if it's better in colour or black and white???

Garret Fitzgerald

Some pictures from the funeral of Garret Fitzgerald, former Taoiseach of Ireland.

Central Park, New York

So I still hadn't uploaded any of my New York pictures from when I visited the other week. So I put together this panorama of Central Park I took on my way to the subway whilst heading back to Philadelphia. I've never done a panorama before and it was hand held so I'm fairly happy with how it came out. I also used an orange filter on it.

Eastern State Penitentiary

Took a trip to Eastern State Penitentiary the other week, for one of their winter tours. Great place, somewhere you could lose hours in (the winter tours are guided unfortunately, outside of them you can wander with an audio tour by Steve Buschemi which I think I'll go back for).

Home to people such as Al Capone it is also considered to be extremely haunted (though I didn't see any ghosts unfortunately).

Still working on the photos but here are a couple.

Eastern State is definitely a must see.

15th St

15th St in the heart of Philadelphia. In the background the statue of William Penn, founder of the city overlooks everyone from atop City Hall.

At 37 feet tall it is the tallest statue to stand atop any building in the world apparently. And up until the 1980's there was 'gentlemen's' agreement that no building would be constructed in the city that was higher then William Penn.

There is also the Curse of William Penn, with the city sports teams suffering a string of losses since the construction of One Liberty Place in the 80's, a building higher then William Penn.

Arriving

A shot I found that I took when I first arrived, leaving the airport. PP'ed it like crazy but I like it. Bit too grainy but oh well.

Headshots

Been looking to get into doing more headshots so, if you're in the Philly area and looking for some shots, let me know!

ryan@rcnphotos.com

One More

Just another shot from the other day really. Happy New Years people!

Harder Then It Looks

Needed to get my photo mojo back so went into Center City today for a street photography wander. I set myself one rule, only being allowed shoot from the hip. At no time could I put the camera to my eye. Ended up being harder then I thought, trying to slow and stop while taking sneaky pics of people, trying to judge the angle, distance etc while not looking at people.

But I'm going to keep at it. I need to try and just stop for a second, fire a shot then keep walking like I never stopped without thinking it over too much.

Sixers!

Been a while since I've posted anything so here we go! Some shots from a Sixers game we went to a few weeks back. Never really liked basketball but after actually being there and watching it I have to say it was pretty good. Not as good as baseball though! And football is still rubbish haha.

Mary and David's Wedding

So Mary and David Cost were nice enough to ask me to photograph their wedding after seeing an ad I put on craigslist. Just want to say thanks to them for taking a chance on me and calling me after they got the pictures to say how happy they were with them. Was very much appreciated.

Face of a Legend

Went to an irish pub here in Philadelphia, called Slainte. I was going down to meet a Belfast boxing team who are over here for the Irish weekend in Wildwood in NJ. I was told about this by a photographer over here, Tom Keenan, who also teaches photography here. Lovely, lovely guy.

Got there, was chatting to some of the guys when all of a sudden I heard "Joe is here".

Turns out it was JOE FRAZIER.

He was great, posing for pictures for everyone and shouting "Who let the dogs out!" and barking during every one of them. Was great to see such a legend not taking himself too seriously. Even got punched in the stomach by him when I got my picture with him.

Great evening.

P.S: I went a bit overboard on the post work on this shot but...it's Joe Frazier, a legend. I might put up a less processed version soon. Wish it was a little sharper as well.

The Waterfront

Went down to the waterfront last week for a tour around a new casino that's opening in Philadelphia. Table games are only just recently been legalised here in Philadelphia so casino's could be the new leaders for employment perhaps. The one I went to, Sugar House, will employ over 800 people when it opens it's doors on thursday I believe it is.

Around the back though I saw all these birds relaxing and although it's kind of hard to see, I really liked the rays of sunlight coming through the clouds overhead.

The Jack Dillman Band

First time shooting a band since I got over and it was the really very good Jack Dillman Band. Shot them out in Lancaster, which I was happy to see was amish country. Who doesn't love the amish. But no, Harrison Ford was not hanging around.

Cajun Baby

Had a chance the other week to visit a new Cajun place in Queen Village. Catahoula Bar and Restaurant was my first taste of cajun food and it was realllll good. Especially the duck which was ridiculously good.

Walt Whitman Bridge

Coming back to Philly from Jersey over the Walt Whitman Bridge one evening.

Is it a bird.......

Just going through some shots from the other day and noticed this fella.