Photos 01 Feb 2009 09:50 am
Slices & Scraps
- Before getting into my photos, let me put in my two cents on Annie awards. It’s absolutely ridiculous that WALL-E didn’t pick up any awards and Kung Fu Panda got it all. I didn’t like either film (for different reasons), but nothing for WALL-E! Ridiculous as it is, even screenplay went to the Panda when Waltz With Bashir was nominated!
We’re living in the world of the 17 year old!
Just a bunch of varied pics and thoughts:
- My friend, Steve Fisher sent me this photo, and it got my juices flowing. I love slices of my favorite NY buildings. The Chrysler Bldg is right up there, #1. Of course, the Empire State is #2.
Wherever you go in NY, you have a built in compass to locate yourself. If you pick the Empire State as the center (or if you can only see the Chrysler Bldg, that’s close enough) you can gauge where you’re standing.
You know that building is at 34th & Fifth, so it’s either N, S, E or W of you. The rest is for you to make the mental marker and arrange accordingly.
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Steve’s photo (above) shows the Chrysler Bldg from Hellsgate Bridge in Astoria, Queens.
Above left I have a photo I took from 59th St. & Lex. Take just one step to the right (as pictured in photo on the right) and you can see the Chrysler Bldg. sliced nicely by all the other buildings on Lexington Ave.
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Here’s the Empire State Bldg as seen on Bleecker St & 6th Ave. You can see that
you’re South and just West of City central. You’re in Greenwich Village.
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Here’s Steve Fisher’s bird’s eye view of the Empire State Bldg
and he writes, “While this shot may not exactly help orient you
in terms of streets and avenues, it perhaps makes a statement
on the direction of our society.”
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This is another of Steve’s photos showing
the glowing orbs of a church on Lexington Ave.
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I love the glowing tops of these two buildings shot on Lexington & 29th St.
but I never seem to be able to capture the feeling of them.
There’s a feeling of dignified opulence in the two buildings.
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Changing the subject: I was in Hastings on Hudson earlier this week.
This was one of the days it snowed; within hours the rain washed it all away.
That type of weather has happened at least once a week since New Year’s.
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I also had a visit and a great lunch with my friend, James Wang and his wife, Andrea.
I’ve known James since 1976 when I hired him for Raggedy Ann & Andy as an in-
betweener. I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone so ardently dedicated to learning
animation. He’s one of those people in animation I love but see too infrequently.
The photo, taken by an animator in my studio, is mercifully out of focus.
Like Greta Garbo’s cameraman, he’s softened our ages.
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There’s an article about Coraline and the 3D system in today’s NYTimes.
on 01 Feb 2009 at 10:25 am 1.steve fisher said …
Michael: Thanks for sharing some of my snaps on your splog. The Empire is probably one of the most photographed buildings in the world, and among the most recognizable. Your observation that it is also a great orienter for the traveler of New York City streets, something I guess we’ve all relied upon, but mostly sub-consciously, is brilliant. Your work always enlightens as well as delights. Thanks. Steve.
on 01 Feb 2009 at 11:56 am 2.Simon W-H said …
I’ve only been to New York city once, and that was for a week only. I loved it; those photo’s make me want to visit again
on 01 Feb 2009 at 1:47 pm 3.Mark Newgarden said …
“We’re living in the world of the 17 year old” :
You bet! Just noticed? And he’s/she’s not the brightest 17 year old either.
Dig the neighborhood photos.
on 01 Feb 2009 at 5:11 pm 4.Bill Perkins said …
Michael: Great too see a picture of you and James. I worked at Cuckoo’s Nest for several years in the 1980′s. It was a great experience, certainly the people at his studio made it more then a pleasure. If you had to work 12 hour days seven days a week – which we did as broadcast dates approached you couldn’t ask for better people to work with. If you could fill me in on what he is doing and his contact info I’d appreciate it. He was always very approachable, genuine and certainly loved the art and craft of animation. Great to know you got him started.
on 01 Feb 2009 at 6:44 pm 5.Matt said …
WALL-E deserved it because not only was it the best animated film, it was the best film of the year period. Didn’t like either film? Guessing you didn’t really pay much attention to WALL-E, then. It’s beyond ridiculous for anyone to say it at this point.
on 02 Feb 2009 at 8:47 am 6.Michael said …
Matt, I believe you liked Wall-E. Many of us did not for a lot of reasons. Don’t assume you’re all knowing. Your taste matters, and so does mine. To me, the story in Waltz With Bashir was miles above Wall-E. I’ll accept that you don’t agree and not try to convert you to my way of thinking. Please offer me the same respect.
on 02 Feb 2009 at 3:25 pm 7.Thad said …
LOL, did you see the site his name is linked to? BTW, the Annies are a sham. Katzenberg’s gold is obviously making its rounds.