Moment of Zen

Moment of Zen. Washington, D.C., USA. September 2016. 

If you are a looking for a quiet hiding spot on D.C.'s National Mall, you will find it in one of the two garden courts at the Smithsonian's National Gallery of Art West Building. As a D.C. resident, this is a free and accessible retreat that I do not take advantage of enough.

The Hirshhorn has a panoramic room on their top floor, the National Portrait Gallery has a glass ceiling courtyard created by Foster+Partners, and the National Gallery of Art has this neo-classical garden. This photo was taken on a Sunday afternoon and while the gallery was bustling, the garden was perfectly still. 

So, "Here it is, your moment of zen."*

*Thank you Jon Stewart

Take a Ride With Me

Take a Ride With Me. Milan, Italy. January 2016. 

I spotted this nice ride parked along Corso Magenta in Milano and I had to stop and shoot it. In a city full of Fiats, Alfa Romeos, Peugeots, Opels, Renaults, and motor bikes, it is a rarity to see beauty like this; a classic car not constructed for narrow roads and tiny parking spots. It was refreshing to see this slick guy situated stoically by itself, unobstructed by any small cars nearby. King of the road. Now if I had only learned something from watching "Gone in 60 Seconds"...

OG Instagram

OG Instagram. Florence, Italy. January 2016. 

A couple of weeks ago, I was walking the streets in Florence and came across this beautiful vintage "fotoautomatica" booth on the corner of Via Dell'Agnolo and Via Giuseppe Verdi. Photo booths are a common find around the city particularly in train and metro stations, however this is one of the most charming ones I've seen. I particularly liked the teal interior wall set against the monochrome background. 

If you are wondering if it is still in working order, yes it is. When I took this photo, an Australian couple was waiting for their "instagram" to be printed.