My trip report from NYC with pictures, links, videos and a Google map
 

Hi

My wife Nikki and I went to NYC in November/December last year and we had about 1 week in the city. We have been there once before (in 2004) but there was still more to check out this time. We got to check out a Broadway show, go to a basketball game at Madison Square Garden, we visited Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, did some Christmas shopping, tried great cheese cake at Junior's etc. Here is the trip report with pictures and links http://gardkarlsen.com/NYC_travelogue_2007.htm .
One of the sections that you might find very useful is this interactive Google map that I have made> http://gardkarlsen.com/NYC_google_map.htm . You can click on the various markers to get more info but note that the various markers links back to both the trip report from 2004 and the one from 2007.

This time around we stayed at Quality Inn in Long Island City. Even if it was a bit out of the city (2 stops from Manhattan on the subway) it was not a problem.

Well, let me know what you think and please let me know if you find any errors :d I hope that the trip report can be of use to everybody that are planning a trip to the big apple :d

Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures

Hi Gard. I'm partway through reading your NYC blog. I like the photo of the Manhattan skyline. Where was that taken from, can you remember?

Interesting blog by the way, which is helping with my trip planning.

Hi

I think the picture of the Manhattan skyline (if this is the picture you are referring to http://gardkarlsen.com/NYC/Manhattan...unset_wide.jpg ) was taken on the boat when going from Liberty Island or Ellis Island.

Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures

I haven't read your trip report yet because I got entangled with your pictures of Stavanger. I was sorry to see no pix of the Hotel Alexandria and the beautiful park across the way. Loved that town, shops and people......did I mention the food? LOL! OK...now I'll read your trip report.

Really enjoyed your report. NYC is a city when you work there your "reward" from pressure is culture, food and entertainment like other major cities but with more glitz and diversity. I think the reason it's so interesting is because of the mix of people from all various walks of life and backgrounds.

I loved the warning about kitten sized rats on the track. Makes them sound cute, huh?

Hotel Alexandria? In Stavanger, Norway? I have not heard about that. When did you visit?

Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures

1958!

gard....Hahaha! It is now the Radison SAS Atlantic Hotel! They probably screwed it up and took away the charm. Loved your town, harbor, fish market and shops.

"but I guess she lost interest when I told her I had tried whale meat and it was quite tasty."

LOL!

Great report, gard! And you and Nikki are a photogenic couple. I've read many of your reports and love each of them.

Gard,

Great report!!!

We were in NYC (and Philadelphia) in mid-Sept. We had a similar view of the Lower Manhattan Skyline from the Statten Island Ferry.

I hope you don't mind but I could resist doing a minor enhancement of your.

http://www.travelwalks.com/back/low_manhattan_after.jpg

gard:

Well done - thanks for sharing.

Sandy

1958!!! I guess that explains it. Yes, I know about the Radisson SAS Atlantic in the middle of town :-) I'm sure that you would not recognize the center of town as they have done quite a lot of work here...they just restructured the town square due to Stavanger being cultural capital of Europe this year :d

Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures

Hi Myer

The enhancement that you did of the photo was quite amazing. What software did you use to do this? I only use Paint Shop Pro and I normally don't enhance the photos at all.

Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures

Gard, Thanks.

I use Photoshop.

I won't explain the whole thing but there are many ways to do the same thing in all different software.

I reduced the very, very bright areas a bit to reduce glare. This is visible mostly in the water as you can see the waves.

I increased contrast slightly. This ia a light/dark thing.

I increased contrast slightly in the colors. This is a bit difficult but it increases the contrast between similar colors. This has nothing to do with light/dark. I don't know if your program has "curves" in the individual color channels.

Lastly, I increased sharpness slightly.

Sounds like a lot of work but I've developed a workflow. I spent under a minute on your photo.

You could have done half of what I did and it would help. Digital cameras aren't as good as film cameras in capturing the Highlights & Shadow areas. They need some help.

Nothing wrong with a bit of enhancement to bring the image back to what you saw.

You can see the photos of our trip to NYC & Philadelphia at:

www.travelwalks.com

Again, excellent report!!!

Myer, just browsed through your Spain pix. I spent the month of Sept. there and saw that in many places I stood and took the same picture! LOL.
gard.... Time goes by but memories linger. The Fish Market is one of those memories.

Thanks. Maybe I have to take a look at Photoshop to see if I can adjust the pictures a bit :d

Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures

Gard,
Any particular reason why you chose to stay outside Manhattan?

Don't worry to answer Gard, I should have started by reading your trip report. Thanks.

Gard,

Photoshop is quite expensive.

While Elements doesn't have curves (I believe there may be some way to install them), it's much less expensive and has a very valuable Shadows/Highlights command as well as USM (Unsharp Mask sharpening).

Shadows/Highlights allows you to bring back the (reduce Highlights) the very high glare and the dark shadow (reduce Shadows) areas.

A photograph is a captured moment while your eyes adjust to the lighting as your eyes scan the scene. That's why we are disappointed with the results of our photos when they don't look as good as what we saw.

Also, a bit of sharpening helps as well.