Tag: Prospect Park

Seeing Things Through a Different Lens

By Mitchell Slepian

Do you ever try to see things through a different lens? Are you so stuck in your usual way of thinking that you cannot? It might even scare you to try to look. The other day, I was at Grand Army Plaza and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. I was thrilled to see that the plaza renovation is finally complete. It made the fact that I looked through a different lens even more special.

Grand Army Plaza

Normally, when I stroll through the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, I have my camera with my Nikkor105MM F2.8 macro lens. That’s the lens that lets you to closeups of the flowers. You can shoot shots of the bees flying around and landing on the pretty flowers. Perhaps they are fetching honey. That’s an old joke from a camp skit. The lens allows you to take close-ups of a nice ribeye with that glass of red behind it and hashbrowns on the side. 

I love shooting macro. But it doesn’t allow you to go wide or zoom. You are at a fixed focal length. That’s cool. Most of the best portrait and street photos are shot that way. I have taken dozens of floral shots with my 105 mm lens. I have been contemplating going to the BBG with a different lens. I finally did. I brought a Nikkor 24-70MM F2.8. Some call this the everyday lens. It is amazing. It gives you the versatility to do nearly everything. It doesn’t go as wide as a standard wide-angle. Nor does it let you zoom like the 70-200MM. It goes from wide to short telephoto. It is light and won’t weigh you down. It is a great choice when you wanna go out with just one lens and not be weighed down by your camera bag.

Bee Fetching Honey – Macro

As I walked by Prospect Park towards Grand Army Plaza, I was shocked to see that the renovation work was complete. It took about two years. For NYC, that’s super-fast. They’ve been doing track work on the R-subway line for several years with no end on the horizon. 

Red and White – Macro

I was so happy I took my 24-70 lens. The macro would have done a great job. But framing the shot would have taken much longer and been more difficult. The other lens allowed me the flexibility I needed. Yes, I tried to take a shot of the Brooklyn Museum. No dice. I need my wide-angle lens. If the museum were about a half-foot smaller, I could capture it. 

As I entered the garden, I took my usual opening shot of the field and was able to capture it all. I was able to shoot the ponds and capture them perfectly. As for the close-ups of the flowers, it did okay. It captured them nicely. Does it capture the same detail as the macro? No. But that’s why they make that lens.

Purple – 24-70mm

Bottom line: seeing things through a different lens opens your eyes to new things. Give it a try.

Marc and Alana Plot to take out Anat

“Alana, we need to get together. We have a real problem. Tomorrow, meet me at our bench at Wolfe’s Pond Park.”

Alana was sitting nose deep into her Kindle Fire on the Staten Island Ferry Newhouse. She jumped on the train and got off at Huguenot. As she headed to the park, she passed her and Marc’s alma mater, Tottenville High School. The two of them hated that place. Pure misery.

Marc was seated on their bench overlooking the water. Alana walked over and gave him a hello hug.

“Let me guess, our problem is that crazy boot wearing woman, who fights with prunes and dates? A few days ago, she was hurting someone in Prospect Park. We fought. She’s tough.”

Marc shook his head. “She attacked me last Sunday outside the Stadium.”

They chatted for a few minutes. Marc explained that she was actually after Jen.

“We need to take her out,” exclaimed Alana.

Marc’s blinked his eyes and smiled. “I know. But how? Do we double-team her? I don’t want her to hurt Jen.”

Marc went on to tell Alana that he thinks Jen will get married to the guy she’s dating. Alana responded by telling him that she thinks it is nice and knows the two of them will never wed anyone. Marc smiled and told her that they at least have their own messed up friendship. And that’s life.

The two got up and walked along the trail hand in hand. They continued to discuss their plan to take out Anat. Marc was assigned the task to warn Jen. Alana was somewhat jealous of Jen. Partially due to her former relationship with Marc. And because she was able to find someone. She got out of the web that chained Marc and Alana.

They left the park. Jen called Marc.

“Hey, Marc. Listen I know I will always love you and our time together. But I am moving on. I am talking marriage with Jake. I think he may get me a ring any day now.”

“That’s nice, Jen. Tell me about some crazy smelly lady named Anat who claims you tortured her when she was growing up?”

“What? How do you know her? I was thinking about her the other day. Please tell me she’s not your girlfriend. I am on a new path. I know you and Alana will always have your twisted relationship. I’m happier than I’ve ever been.”

“Anat attacked me outside the Stadium. She attacked some woman in Prospect Park. Alana broke up the fight. After she went after me, she said she’s after you.”

“We tortured her in summer camp. I was a ringleader. She couldn’t swim. We did the old “put the crazy kid in a canoe trick.” You taught it to me.

“Oh boy, Jen. You’re in for it. I will always love you, too. Be careful.”

Alana is attacked

A woman was sitting in Prospect Park reading a book on her Kindle. Dogs were running around. Kids were laughing and playing. Nothing was unusual on this typical sunny late morning Sunday afternoon at the beginning of the spring.

Alana was skating through the park. She hadn’t been on her skates in many moons. She was gliding by. Her earbuds were pumping Love & Rockets’ “Ball of Confusion.” Her mind was clear. She knew she had to talk to her rebbetzin and her parents. She would get to them all in due time. She wanted to enjoy her morning.

She took her skates off, stretched and sat on a bench for a little while. She all heard the usual sounds basketballs dribbling, kids screaming, bats connecting to balls and music blaring out of people’s mobiles. All was well.

The next sound she heard was a blood-curdling scream from a woman. Her head quickly turned in the direction of the yell. She saw an unkempt woman wearing boots swinging at bat at someone. People gathered around and were shooting shots. No one tried to help. Alana raced over and called out to the assailant. No response. Alana started saying lady chill and drink some wine. Alana even said the blessing for it.

The woman dropped the bat. People went over to the victim and gave her water. Someone took ice out of their picnic cooler and put it on the knee that was smacked with the bat. Meanwhile, the attacker looked at Alana who was still screaming out a blessing. Alana concluded and shot wine out her fingers. She hit the attacker in her eyes and nose. She was miffed for a minute. But seemed unharmed.

All of a sudden the woman’s eyes started flinging dried fruit at Alana, who was beginning to unleash a wave of figs. Some landed in the lady’s mouth and momentarily choked her. The two went at it.

They got closer to the lake. Alana tried to kick her. But was blocked. The dried fruit lady raised her left boot and tried to connect with Alana’s head. Alana ducked. Alana started screaming at the boot-clad woman. Her screams were returned with a deafening silence. The woman’s eyes opened wide and stared right at Alana. Alana shot wine into her eyes. She blinked and nailed Alana with fruit and gave one last look and walked away.