View 288: Destiny USA

The megamall Destiny USA as seen from the Creekwalk  in Syracuse, New York.

The megamall Destiny USA as seen from the Creekwalk in Syracuse, New York on the evening of July 11, 2013.
Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/8s, f/3.5, ISO 320, EV 0, 28mm focal length.

Destiny USA in Syracuse, New York, is a 2.4-million-square-foot megamall with approximately 264 stores, restaurants and entertainment venues, which employ around 5,000 people.  While I still shop here occasionally, these days, I go here more for dining or entertainment. The latest expansion which, added close to a million square feet, has brought in the following entertainment venues:

Pole Position Raceway Indoor Karting

FunnyBone Comedy Club & Restaurant

Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill

Regal Cinemas added IMAX and RPX theaters

WonderWorks 

With even more opening later this year including a bowling alley.

If you are ever coming through Syracuse, make time for a few hours if not a day at Destiny USA for you and your family.

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Summer Links

A woman lounging on the beach at Brennan's Beach RV Campground and Resort near Pulaski, New York.

A woman lounging on the beach at Brennan’s Beach RV Campground and Resort near Pulaski, New York.
Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/250s, f/8, ISO 200, EV 0, 300mm focal length.

Here are a few links for inspiration on this month’s assignment on Summer for you —

General: How to Make the Most of Your Summer (Photography)

Beach: View 32: Ocean City (NJ) Beach

Food: Restaurant Food Photography

Parade: People on Parade

And here is a Re-Mix of the classic Seals & Crofts song Summer Breeze for a little musical inspiration…

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Assignment 26: Summertime

It is Summer in the Northern Hemisphere. This is the time of year we shed our winter layers and get outside under the strange celestial orb, the Sun.  I already have one sunburn this season.

For Assignment 26: Summertime, I am looking to see photos from your hometown and/or vicinity of your favorite summer things to do, places to go, foods to eat and/or special summer events like festivals, fairs, concerts, etc.  Use your skills as a photographer and create images a travel magazine would buy from you.  You can share one photo or many photos. I want to be so compelled by your photos, I will plan my summer vacation with you next year. 🙂

Assignment 26: Summertime!

THE JOYS OF SUMMER! Swimming in the pool, going to Rudy’s Lakeside restaurant on Lake Ontario for sunset dinners, visiting Clinton Square’s fountains in Syracuse, New York and photographing hot air balloons at the Jamesville Beach Ballonfest.

As in the other assignments, do not send me your photos. What I would like you to do is post them on your blog, flickr, Google+ or other photo sharing site, personal website or any place on the Internet where you can place a link to it here by making a comment to this blog entry. Then, we can all visit those sites and enjoy everyone’s Summertime photos.

Please, have your photos posted on or before Midnight (your time zone), Wednesday, July 24, 2013.  Might be a good time to start up a blog or join a photo community like flickr.  As I have done for all the Assignments, I will put together a recap with my comments.

If you have any questions, leave me a comment and I will be happy to answer them. I would truly appreciate it if you would help spread the word about this assignment so we can get lots of people to participate. Blog it, Tweet it, FaceBook it, Google+ it, Pin it, Tag it, email it and talk about it to your fellow photographers, bloggers, friends, family, pets and even those strangers you pass in the night. Thank you!

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View 287: Chicken Spiedies

Another upstate New York summer delicacy, spiedies consists of cubes of chicken, pork, lamb, veal, venison or beef. The meat cubes are marinated in a special marinade, then grilled on skewers. A couple of weeks ago, I enjoyed Buffalo Wing and traditional spiedie sauce on chicken.

Upstate New York summer delicacy, chicken spiedies shown here in Buffalo Wing and traditional sauces.

Upstate New York summer delicacy, chicken spiedies shown here in Buffalo Wing and traditional sauces.

Do you have any special summer foods you enjoy?

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Declaration of Independence

Ben Franklin listens to Thomas Jefferson reading from the final draft of the Declaration of Independence in a scene from the American Adventure in Epcot, Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida.

Nikon D70/18-200VR, 1/8s, f/4.2, ISO 1600, EV +1.3, 31mm (47mm DX) focal length.

Tomorrow, United States citizens will celebrate America’s 237th Birthday with parades, fireworks and cookouts with friends and family. To them I say, have a safe and enjoyable holiday!

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