It was a glorious St. Patty’s Day in NYC this week….I, for one, had no idea that that many bagpipes and kilts existed on the whole planet, let alone on a forty block stretch of Fifth Avenue.
It was a lovely sunny day, creating killer contrast for shooters to deal with (look for the shade, look for the backlight!), but nothing but good vibes and comfortable marching conditions for the hundreds, maybe thousands (I swear, it felt that way), of marching bands.
The parade is as much about New York’s Finest and New York’s Bravest—-the police and the fireman—as it is about a Celtic saint. There’s a lot of heritage intertwined there, and if you think it’s been diluted over the years, well, just show up on Fifth Avenue any given March 17th and see for yourself.
The NYPD is so totally cool and professional handling these things and even near the end of the day, when a scuffle broke out among some young bucks in the low 40’s who enjoyed a bit too much of the green suds, they handled the situation with efficiency and aplomb.
It all happened behind me as I was photographing, but I felt it before I saw it, because I got winged with a bottle tossed by one of the scuffling celebrants. Thankfully, it was a full plastic bottle of Poland Springs mineral water, and not a fifth of Jamesons or Bushmills, so I’m upright and here to tell you about it.
I’m glad the lads had the good sense to toss the mixer, but keep the good stuff close at hand. Otherwise, I might have been in the ER instead of ready to leave on my six week odyssey.
Oh, and I spotted at least one shooter who was totally in the moment, and using the right brand camera to boot!
I’ll be back at you from Africa in a few days.
mk
20 Mar 2010Isn’t that Moose Peterson? Heh-heh!!
Bob
20 Mar 2010I don’t think Moose would be seen in any green but camouflage green and certainly not with a DX camera:-). BK
Brad
20 Mar 2010The lens is a little on the small side too!
mk
21 Mar 2010The thing I love about Moose is the fact that he was one of the first to totally embrace digital, DX notwithstanding. But yeah, totally goofing… he’d at least have a D700! ;^}
mike a
20 Mar 2010no, moose doesn’t look that good, just kidding moose
Mark Olwick
22 Mar 2010He’s obviously testing one of the new rumoured 3D Nikon cameras. Just look at his glasses!
(kidding)
Mark
Gus
26 Mar 2010I was in that Parade as well, got surprise to see so many Irish together :). That was my first time in NYC, unfortunately I was facing the back of the marching bands, so all of my pics were taken with the sun in my face and pointing to the side and backs of them. But I was happy to try my new 18-200 and 12-24 in my D40x.