Shooting in New York City

In all of my travels I have never shot a single frame in New York City, nor have I ever aspired to. In all of my years as a photographer I have heard nothing but horror stories about shooting in NYC. The NYPD seems to behave more like thugs and vigilantes than as police officers. Over the years I have heard and read story after story after story of photographers being harassed and even arrested, especially if you are carrying a tripod. In fact, taking a tripod to New York seems to be the easiest way for an American to go to Cuba, specifically Guantanamo.

Finally, the Mayor's Office has now set official permitting rules as described in this article in Variety. It will take months if not years for the police on the street to learn what the rules actually are, probably only after another civil liberties lawsuit or two, but at least there is hope.

As described in Mayor's Office of Film, Theater, and Broadcasting Adopts Permitting Rules (where you can download the rules in their entirety:

Under the adopted rules, a permit would be required for filming if equipment or vehicles, as defined in the rule, are used or if the person filming asserts exclusive use of City property. Equipment does not include hand-held devices (such as hand-held film, still, or television cameras or videocameras) or tripods used to support such cameras, but a permit would be required in certain situations when the person filming asserts exclusive use of City property while using a hand-held device.

And also, from the actual rules PDF:

For purposes of this subparagraph, standing on a street, walkway of a bridge, sidewalk, or other pedestrian passageway while using a handheld device and not otherwise asserting exclusive use by any means, including physical or verbal, is not activity that requires a permit.

b. The following activities do not require that a permit be obtained pursuant to this chapter:

(i) Filming, photography, production, television or radio remotes occurring on City property, as described in subdivision (a) of this section, involving the use of handheld devices as defined in paragraph three of subdivision (a) of § 9-02, (A) if such activity does not involve the assertion by any means, including physical or verbal, of exclusive use of one or more lanes of a street or walkway of a bridge or (B) if such activity does not involve the assertion by any means, including physical or verbal, of exclusive use of more than one-half of a sidewalk or other pedestrian passageway or, in a situation in which the sidewalk or pedestrian passageway is narrower than sixteen feet, does not involve the assertion by any means, including physical or verbal, of exclusive use of the sidewalk or pedestrian passageway such that less than eight feet is otherwise available for pedestrian use.

Brain Illustrations

A few weeks ago I put together a brain illustration and then "put it in a drawer", digitally speaking, to come back to it later. Last week, a national science magazine put out a request on one of the "stock images wanted" wires for a photo or illustration depicting brain-computer interaction. So I pulled out a couple of old computer circuit boards from my "props" box and snapped a few pics to incorporate into a different version of the illustration. I don't know if my image will be used for this particular request, but hopefully it will be picked up by some publications eventually.

Here is my the original version:

Keywords

brain; illustration; concept; science; artificial intelligence; brainpower; brainy; capacity; conceptual; memory; cerebral; neurology; mind; intelligence; quotient; IQ; gray; grey; psychology; think; thought; measurement; measure; map

After adding in the circuit board I came up with this. It's fairly basic, but often illustrations shouldn't be too complicated.

Keywords

brain; computer; interface; illustration; concept; circuit board; science; artificial intelligence; computing; brainpower; brainy; positronic; cyborg; cybernetic; scifi; fiction; future; capacity; AI; conceptual

After I had submitted the above image, I wanted to play with the idea some more and the result was a bit more overlap between the two:

Keywords

brain; computer; interface; illustration; concept; circuit board; science; artificial intelligence; computing; brainpower; brainy; positronic; cyborg; cybernetic; scifi; fiction; future; capacity; AI; conceptual

I really like the varied but subtle colors that came through in the brain detail.

WARNING: EXTREME CLOSE-UP!

The funnest part about all of these to me is that the brain drawing itself comes from one of my childhood sketch books! I don't know if the drawing has an exact date on it. I don't have it in front of me, but I likely drew it when I was between 12-15 years-old. That's what I call turning childhood "wasted time" into something productive!

All images are Copyright Terry Smith, 2008. All Rights Reserved.

Stunique Inc. Press Release

The official press release announcing the new website launch of Stunique Inc. is now available online, or you can view it below:

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Jul 08, 2008 – Stunique, Inc. is excited to announce the official launch of a new website, www.stunique.com. After extensive research in the field of personalized party supplies, Stunique has developed their website in the hopes of offering a unique and enjoyable shopping experience for their customers.

The website currently offers a large selection of printed invitations and stationery, party supplies, and custom designed items for special events. Stunique also offers personalized gifts ranging from wedding gifts to designer doggie wear.

A special feature of the new Stunique website is the custom series. This line offers completely custom invitations, stationery, and announcements. This allows customers to have a unique design to match a specific theme and color palette. Stunique offers custom designed invitations, announcements, note cards, table cards, place cards, program fans and other items for special events. Their designers create images and designs based on information about the party, and incorporate personal touches such as photographs, monograms, and more to create an endless array of possibilities. Stunique offers hundreds of beautiful paper stocks, ribbons, envelopes, and ink colors in their custom series.

Stunique CEO, Jennifer Smith, created the website after working in the stationery and party supplies business and realizing a need for a more sophisticated product. Besides her extensive experience in sales and marketing, Smith is also a professional graphic designer and has created the designs herself with many more being added.

Stunique is currently offering a promotion for new customers. Use the discount code, newcust, at checkout to receive 25% off any order $25 or more.

It's Stunning. It's Unique. It's Stunique!

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Stunique offers a large selection of printed invitations and stationery, party supplies, and custom designed items for your special event. We also have personalized gifts ranging from wedding gifts to designer doggie wear. Looking for something especially unique? Let us design it for you!

Stunique is your one-stop shop for any event!

# # #

Announcing Stunique Inc.!

My wife and I are very excited to announce the official launch of our new company, Stunique Inc.! We have been working feverishly for the past six months to make it a reality, and the website is finally live!

Stunique offers a large selection of printed invitations and stationery, party supplies, and custom designed items for your special event. Stunique also offers personalized gifts ranging from wedding gifts to designer doggie wear.

It's Stunning. It's Unique. It's Stunique!

Besides being an extremely talented business woman with extensive experience in sales and marketing, Stunique CEO, Jennifer Smith, is also a professional graphic designer. If you need something especially unique, Jennifer can design it for you!

Our Stunique Designs line features products designed by Jennifer with many, many more coming soon!

Please help us spread the word! Please tell your friends and family about our new website. PLEASE link to us, blog about us, and do whatever you can to help us reach as many people as we can! We would sincerely appreciate it.

We are currently offering a special promotion for new customers. Use the discount code, newcust, at checkout to receive 25% off any order $25 or more!

Thank you!