What happened to the Brooklyn Banks?
A tour of the old Brooklyn Banks in Manhattan.
Check out this video tour of the current state of the former Brooklyn Banks. Today, this historic skate spot is renamed as Gotham Park after a lengthy abandonment and an even lengthier renovation. It is still under construction at some parts, but Gotham Park is open to the public and it includes many of the same iconic skate ramps and rails as well as nice new places to play basketball and other recreational activities.
Video of the mass damper at 432 Park Avenue in action
This is the device that keeps a building from swaying wildly during high winds.
This is pretty neat and I don’t think most people ever get to see anything like this. Here’s the building damper at 432 Park Avenue in NYC at work. This residential tower in Manhattan is currently the 3rd-tallest residential building in the world and 5th tallest building in NYC. The building has had some negative press lately due to shoddy construction and despite its luxury labeling seems to not be so luxury in comparison to its counterparts around the city.
If you don’t know, a mass damper is the weighted device that works similar to a pendulum and keeps a building from swaying wildly during high winds.
Exploring the abandoned VITAS Healthcare building in Downtown Miami
The only video I’ve seen of the abandoned inside of the VITAS Healthcare building.
I really wish I had more time to see this place before I left Miami recently. It’s in the process of being completely demolished and this video from just a few months back looks to be the last time it will be seen on video all graffiti’d up.
Braided USB-C tether cable
A test of a braided USB-C tether cable for extreme durability on set.
One of the most common issues I encounter as a tech is having my very expensive USB-C tether cables go kaput because of extreme bending due to the use of a cable lock or tether block. Sometimes, there isn’t much I can do as the cable is just a tool to complete a job (there’s no way I’d be telling a photographer to stop holding a camera a certain way or anything), so in the end, I end up trashing way more cables than I’d like. Of course, on big jobs, this just ends up being seen as a consumable good and that’s fine considering all the other things rented on a shoot.
However, I still don’t like the waste of it all so I’ve been testing my own braided USB-C tether cables and so far they are really preventing the extreme bending through the design of the cable itself. It’s the best case scenario! The braided cables are a lot more durable and actually physically cannot be bend backwards onto a tether block due to the construction of the braided fabric sleeve. It’s designed this way for durability and no photographer I’ve used it with lately has even noticed the change in cable. It’s invisible design at work!
I’ll do some further testing before opening it up to the masses but honestly, this looks like the solution I’ve been searching for for over 5+ years.
JUSTICE - Generator (live at Accor Arena)
One of the best concert lighting designs in recent history.
I’m posting this live JUSTICE show from Accor Arena in 2024 because it’s the closest official video link to their live IRIS show that is available.
JUSTICE randomly posted the IRIS full concert on their page sometime in the last year but has since removed it entirely for no apparent reason and I just want everybody to see how incredible this stage and show design is (not to mention it’s such a great mix of JUSTICE songs).
Modern stadiums are actually getting smaller
How modern stadiums aren’t built for mega-fans.
I’m not entirely surprised here as more and more of the western world becomes driven by statistics and an obsession on return on investments. In this Wall Street Journal video, an architect explains how modern stadiums are actually less about packing in a ton of fans and more about convincing people with money to feel exclusive about their ability to attend an in-person game.
Architects and designers do this by trying to squeeze every penny out of you after you’ve already paid for and entered the stadium with concessions that persuade you to purchase quicker and more often and with seat options that are more luxurious (hint: it’s not really).
Final days at the abandoned VITAS Healthcare building in Downtown Miami
A final look at the VITAS Healthcare building in Downtown Miami before it gets demolished.
I am in Miami for a few days and I had to take some time out to see the former VITAS Healthcare building in Downtown Miami with my own eyes. This place was bombed with graffiti from crews worldwide in nearly 1 night several years back during Art Basel. It was one of those huge graffiti “campaigns” similar to the abandoned Oceanwide Plaza in Los Angeles.
As of this post, the VITAS Healthcare building is monitored 24/7 by private security on all sides across the street and most of the building is scheduled for complete demolition within this year. This is a very last look at it before it becomes dust.
Images from ‘Super Saturday’ in NYC Chinatown
A few personal photos from Lunar New Year celebrations on Super Saturday.
It was a fun and chaotic day this past Saturday in NYC Chinatown as many came out to celebrate “Super Saturday” for Lunar New Year. I’ve missed this particular day the past few years due to travel so I was glad to be home for it this year. Super Saturday is always just a fun and free way to enjoy NYC as the entire city descends upon Chinatown to launch confetti, mini firecrackers, and noise makers in an unofficial Open Streets way (no vehicular traffic is allowed in Chinatown during this day).
Cars were gone and people filled nearly every inch of public space at times, especially on Mott St near Pell. I even bumped into some family and friends!
HDR in modern film making is making our movies look worse.