First Photo of the day

 April 06--Tidal Basin, Washington, DC--The annual early morning photo excursion to photograph the Cherry Blossoms.  It is a challenge to try to make something different each year as well as find something someone else isn't doing.  A hard task on both fronts.  This year decided to use only one lens and utilize short depth of field.  A Friday morning, overcast and a chilling low 40s, arrived at 6:20am, 25 minutes before sunrise, only a few parking spaces were left on Ohio Drive.  Seven situations made in about 40 minutes. Didn't rush, just tried to walk slower to observe and enjoy.

Washington Monument

Jefferson Memorial

Morning View

Martin Luther King Memorial

Where bad trees end up going

Copyright 2018 Laurence L. Levin

www.LLLevin.com

All Rights Reserved. 

2017 From My Window Seat

Departing from Chicago O'Hare

From My Window Seat.  Images made in 2017.  Flying over 60 flights per year can get tedious,  how many magazines, movies, or boring passengers can you deal with.  Always taking a window seat alleviates some of the boredom.  Always something interesting to see, even if it is a cloud formation, it helps to think or dream.  It is a challenge to make an interesting photo, usually it occurs after departure or before arrival.  The other task is to practice downloading the image immediately from the camera to the iPhone.  The next step is to use phone apps to make adjustments and upload to Instagram. All something to keep me busy, sharpen skills and make some fun photos. 

Departing Newark Airport

Off the Florida Coast, Atlantic Ocean

Arrival in Havana, Cuba

Railroad yard, O'Hare Airport in Chicago

The National Mall, Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument and US Capitol

Shadow over Chicago

Seems a little to close for me.

Copyright 2017 Laurence L. Levin

All Rights Reserved

www.LLLevin.com

Joe Kennedy III

Joe and Lauren

Three assignments this year with Representative Joe Kennedy III. Joe participated in the Best Buddies Challenge in Boston, Massachusetts.  He played football and rode in the ride from Boston to Hyannis Port.  Joe was the invited guest luncheon speaker for the German American Business Council. The third event was meeting Sister Olga of the Sacred Heart, as she lobbied with In Defense of Christianity.
 

GABC Luncheon Speaker

Joe with Sister Olga on Capitol Hill

Copyright 2017 Laurence L. Levin
All Rights Reserved. No Publication Rights Granted
www.LLLevin.com
Instagram @larrylevin

Joan Jett Performs at the Best Buddies Challenge

Joan Jett, a classis on stage performance. 

June 03--Hyannis Port, MA-- Rock n'Roll icon and trailblazer Joan Jett and her band the Blackhearts performed before a an enthusiastic Best Buddies Challenge audience.  Jett sang her popular hits.  She is known for her influence in the world of rock music.  She was a pioneer as one of the first females in the dominated world of rock music.

Song list posted on the stage

Entering the business at age 15, with the punk-pop band the Runaways, she wrote and recording many songs, including, "I Love Rock n' Rock" additionally, she founded Blackhearts Records which continues to produce and promote female singers and bands.

With her early band, the Runaways, was a hard rock sound in the age of disco.  However they help set a trend of five women singing about sex, rebelling and partying.  Jett appeared in what is now her trademark, red leather jumpsuits.  The band faced an uphill battle of breaking into mainstream music but they persisted, they had many music successes,  their song "Cherry Bomb" was a punk hit. They gained notoriety in Japan, with three gold records.

Microphone stand 

After 1979, Jett and her band the Runaways disbanded.  Going solo was a hard road, 23 different record companies rejected her new album.  Thus she founded Blackhearts Records in 1980 with her producer partner, Kenny Laguna.  With help from, "The Who" Their first album Bad Reputation was picked up by Boardwalk Records.  Although her sound didn't catch on, the second album with "I Love Rock n Roll" with the title track reached #1 on the pop charts in 

1982.

The way people view concerts with their phones

She continues with her three cord rock and roll, and has continuously worked on writing and producing music & releasing albums.  Her last studio album Unvarnished was in 2013.  In 2015 she was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Her record label still promotes "girl bands" and female artists.  Jett also participated in USO/Armed Forces Entertainment tours.  

 

Fans rocking to Joan Jett in the big tent celebrating the Best Buddies Challenge

Copyright 2017 Laurence L. Levin

All Rights Reserved. 

www.LLLevin.com

IG @larrylevin

GABC Maifest

Former German Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger keynote speech

May 10--Top of the Hay, Hay-Adams Hotel, Washington--The Washington DC Chapter of the German American Business Council. 12 annual Maifest Dinner to present the GABC Leadership Award.  The award recognizes commitment to fostering strong transatlantic partnership.

Ambassador Ischinger with Leadership Award Honoree Dr. Stefan Oschmann, Chairman of the Executive Board & CEO of Merck KGaA, and GABC Chairman Lynn Taylor 

Senator Mark Warner spoke to the group. 

Copyright 2017 Laurence L. Levin

All Rights Reserved. No Publication Rights Granted. 

www.LLLevin.com

Photos made with Nikon D810  24-120mm Nikkor and 70-200 mm Nikkor Lenses

Maria Shriver Testimony

March 29--US Senate--Washington, DC--The senate hearing room was standing room only.  Every seat was filled.  The senators were in their seats waiting for the last senator to arrive.  As she came out of door, the audience in unison rose to their feet and gave her a standing ovation.  In the many years of attending congressional hearing, rarely does a senator get that type of reception.  As Senator Elizabeth Warren approached her chair, she took out her iPhone to photograph the audience.

Senator Elizabeth Warren, photographed from the well in the Senate Hearing Room. 

This hearing was a Special Committee on Aging, to discuss “The Arc of Alzheimer’s: From Preventing Cognitive Decline in Americans to Assuring Quality Care for those Living with the Disease”  Members of the Alzheimer's Association were in attendance. The first panel speaker was Maria Shriver.  She is part of the Women's Alzheimer's Movement.  Her testimony described the destroying elements of Alzheimer's as she experienced from her father's affliction.

Maria Shriver receiving a standing ovation after delivering her testimony.

Copyright 2017 Laurence L. Levin

All Rights Reserved. No publishing rights granted.

www.LLLevin

Shot with Nikon D810, 24-120mm Nikkor, ISO 4000

2017 Cherry Blossoms

Tidal Basin, Jefferson Memorial 

March 27--Tidal Basin, Washington, DC--Each spring seems different, through the years of rising early to capture the cherry blossoms, there are times of perfect skies, bright sun, overcast sky or as in the case of this year a thick fog and limited visibility.  Every time you hope for something different to make the images unique.  In 2017 was an incredible day that made wonderful images. 

Early Light, 6:09am

Look Close, See the Washington Monument

 Stopping, waiting & patience, the photo comes to you.

Copyright 2017 Laurence L. Levin
All Rights Reserved. No Publishing Rights Granted.
www.LLLevin
Shot with a Nikon D810, 24-120 mm Nikkor and 70-200mm Nikkor Lenses

The Optical Society--Winter Leadership Meeting

Eric Mazur, President OSA

February 7--Washington, DC--The Optical Society holds an annual Leadership meeting bringing in notable speakers to discuss current trends, findings and technology developments.  Podium shots can look the same, the goal is to work each situation, searching for angles and capturing moments that make the speaker look good and interesting.

Dr. France A Cardova 

Rush Holt

Walter Isaacson

Copyright 2017 Laurence L. Levin 

All Rights Reserved. No Publishing Rights Granted

www.LLLevin.com

Colors in Havana, Cuba

Looking up

January 2017--Havana, Cuba--One of the magical places on earth, one can see the majestic architecture that is still flourishing.  Although, some renovation is needed, you can see the potential.  You notice the craftsmanship in the structures.  Colors are everywhere. they are saturated in the bright Cuban sunlight.  Cuban architecture was influenced by diverse colonialization over the centuries.  Blues, Art Deco, stained-glass windows, then a Modernist Movement, Cuban Style of native artists and materials enriching the city.  You can't help to find incredible images everywhere you look

Old Havana

Open Door in Old Havana

Mural Art

US Embassy 

Malecon, know officially as Avenida de Maceo, is the esplanade,
 seawall and roadway along the Havana coastline 

Transportation #1

Transportation #2  Chevrolet Bel-Air Taxi

Transportation #3

Copyright 2017 Laurence L. Levin

All Rights Reserved.

www.LLLevin.com

Special Olympics Maryland and UMD Terrapins Basketball

January 21--College Park Maryland-- The University of Maryland Men's Basketball team held a basketball clinic for players from Special Olympics Maryland.  The day began with stations with both  UMD players and coaches providing skills training.  Then unified play with both SOMD athletes and UMD players.  A fun and inspirational day.

Together we are better

UMD and Special Olympic MD Athletes 

My referee partners

Copyright 2017 Laurence L. Levin
All Rights Reserved. No Publications Rights Granted with Written Permission
www.LLLevin.com