"Best In Show" -Year End Exhibit At Columbia Universary

Constantly on a hunt for inspiring images I found some in the most unlikely of places...my JOB! Yep, up at Columbia U. they host this exhibit of students final projects at the Graduate school of Architecture, Planning, & Presevation. Here's are some flicks I took that astonished me on how well they were conceived and designed out even in sketch form! I took down names of the artists that I was most impressed by case I EVER come into some big money and need a crib design bottom to top. The exhibit is located in Avery Hall (the Ghost Busters building) on campus.

"C.U. At The (Insta) Grammys!" -Columbia U + Instagram + IPhone = Job Photo Shoot

Now I'm not one to be on Twitter very much. Other than posting links to bring unknowingly folks back to this very blog, I'm not inspired by what I generally read being tossed back and forth and recycled/re-tweeted on there. However, I did read a time lined tweet I saw that @djdnice had posted some pics of B.O.B., Wale, Snoop, & 50 using Instagram and giving it HIGH praise on there. For those not in the loop, Instagram is a GREAT app tool on the iPhone/iPad for photographers both novice & skilled alike. Which brings me to this point. Just yesterday, based on how sunny it was, I decided to REALLY explore the app and the camera (which I NEVER hardly use...at all!) on my iPhone and do a "photo shoot" of some cool stuff that caught my eye around my gig at Columbia U. Oh...wait...you didn't think I worked huh? Sh****t, I gots bills to pay too man. LOL! Anyways, I cut down the amount and posted my favs below to show you (and myself) that with a good eye/app ANYTHING is possible! And speaking of cutting, who's cutting me the check for this heavy endorsement? Send your best Instagram pics (to theMreport@gmail.com) and if
(big on the IF) I like 'em I'll post them here on the blog. Now go get 'Gram crackers kids! Enjoy...













****UPDATE****

D-Nice

@djdnice

Dad, DJ, Photographer, Producer, Director, Hennessy Black DJ and My Name Is D-Nice!

@theMReporter wow! Your instagram pics are hot!!!

"Eye Know The Godspel!" -(Sunday) Schooling Cats On Church Photography

God knows how long it's been since I last attended church, but I work close to two of the BIGGEST churches in NYC...If not the WORLD! Cathedral of St. John the Divine (between West 110th Street, which is also known as "Cathedral Parkway", and 113th Street) & Riverside Church (betwn Riverside Drive and Claremont Avenue & betwn. 120th Street and 122nd Street). However something you walk pass something EVERYDAY and never get to truly appreciate the beauty of it's appearance. That's till now. But new found love for photography got me excited about taking flicks of things with a whole new perspective. Here's a few joints I shot off at the churches mentioned that I think you'd appreciate. Enjoy 'em & prey for me too. Lol



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"C.U. At The Top!"-Secrets Of Columbia University FINALLY Reveled!

You know how you work somewhere for a while but never take in your surrounding simply because you've become numb to the daily routine of traveling to and from work. Well, for it was that way for a while till on my usual lunch break on Columbia University's sprawling campus, a random vagabond shouted in my direction "Look at things deeper than just their shallow surface!" Gave the "evil eye", then hurried off with his ragtag shopping cart of aluminum cans. Usually I woulda shrugged the old coot's rambling off as just that...rambling! But I decided to take him up on that "jewel" he dropped and get my "Dan Brown" on researching some of the University's more iconic landmarks. Not it's not quite the "Davinci Code" of information that I was hoping to uncover, but what I DID find out was still pretty interesting, if I may say so myself.

Okay let's start of with the Alma Mata that adorns the center stairs of the campus. Come to find out that the statue place there was the original design engineer Gustave Eiffel (yeah of Eiffel Tower fame) had for the Statue of Liberty! The staff was to be the torch, the hand positioned upwards was to motion "What, MORE immigrants?" and the book on her lap was actual suppose to be a record log book to record all the names of the "newcomers." When NY state officials rejected the first design in fear of offending other nations, Columbia scooped up the "gift shop" sized, cheaper priced version, and saved a bundle. Wild huh? Who knew? Final note; the sculptor who's named Chester French is whom the group of the same name got it from.

Heard of "the Manhattan Project" , the code name for atomic bomb development during WWII? Well word is that it was first called the "Harlem Project" but it was renamed "Manhattan" to avoid it being confused with the low income housing projects being built in Harlem at the time. The Low Library was to double as a missile silo in fear of a possible German invasion starting with the Ivy League schools rumored to happen. Columbia not wanting to take any chances, quickly decided to move all of their existing library facilities across campus to what is now known as Butler Library. Today still emptied out of books, it on the short list of locations considered for the "Legion of Doom" in a live action film version of the "Justice League."

Back when Columbia was founded they were so eager to recruit players for their lagging basketball team they went as far as erecting a statue at the front gates as a sign of acceptance to the sport. Symbolizing what pride they took in their "hardwood" players. Coming out of the locker room shower with a basketball still in hand, draped with only towels and wearing sandals, was common practice (and not gay) back then. So this statue depicts just that.

However for women, cooking ruled the day. So then a statue had to be made in support of their "domestic prowess" with an equally grand front gate statue. One showing a young student woman holding up a cook book recipe proudly to the incoming student body and visitors alike.




Now this odd fact fans of the old Batman TV series will appreciate. Remember the statue / bust of Shakespeare Bruce Wanye used to lift in order to active the poles to the Batcave? Well the University has the SAME device...well not quite, but something very similar. Hidden inside this marble bust of "Athena" (I think) is two turn key locks to activite the missile silo and the dome to retract on top of Low Library if the fore mentioned German invasion ever had taken place. Only two people have possession of these keys, The (University) President has one and the head of security the other.

Forget a Recession, the Great Depression was what was on young students minds during the time when this sculpture was donated to the campus. Inspired by a student making ends meet by posing nude for fellow art students, this statue became the symbol for thousands of graduates wondering about student loan payments, and lack of job prospects. When the art teacher at the time asked the model what was he thinking about to invoke the now famous pose he replied, "Having to move back in with my God d@#n parents!" Understood.

Did you know "the Lion King" is the number one rented Netflix movie in campus dorms? So popular among the student body that a statue was erected with raised funds from bake sales to have a full scale statue made in honor of the animated film! In all honesty I swore it was the lion from those "Narnia" flicks! Guess that shows how much I watch movies huh?

Speaking of movies, 20th Century Fox has paid good money to the University to let them construct a full function life size version of the Fantastic Four's
famously known headquarters "the Baxter Building" as a set for their latest installment of the Fan Four's adventures. No word yet on what C.U. is going to do with the set / building once film production has ended. But I'm sure selling tours is one of their options. LOL.

That's about all I've uncovered for now but I'll be sure to get back to you with some more tidbit info before the book comes out, and I'm doing a book signing world tour