Day 51 (Tuesday, August 1)

This running through Central Park in the morning is real cool. It sets the pace for a cool day.

Just like yesterday, I met w/ Brian (Detroit) for a 6:30 a.m. jog. There were two things different today. Frankie (Las Vegas) joined us. Also, the humidity level was very high. It was a lot more warmer today, too. Whew! It was a good workout.

I must admit that being in seminars and workshops and listening to speakers could be a slightly boring thing. Today we were lucky to have some really cool people come speak to us. So, because of that, the meetings and seminars were a lot of fun. Especially when Scott Johnson from the graphics department talked to us. He was very energetic and his facial expressions made the workshop fun.

He kept everyone entertained. Above Regional Photo Editor for the Midwest Cliff Schiappa (right) listens to Johnson's description of the importance of the graphics department. On the left, Celina (Boston) stays focused during the workshop.

From left, Khristopher (Louisville), Oskar (L.A.) and Celina (Boston) listen to Johnson.

I think Khristopher found something on his finger. Some of the workshops felt long. But I learned a lot from them.

Above, Will Chang makes a photo as Johnson continues to talk about graphics.

There are some interesting bios among the group of interns. There are 24 interns who are based all over the U.S. They are all very talented and have done something extraordinary in order to set themselves apart from anyone else. It's humbling to be around them.

Eric (Sioux Falls) grew up in Oklahoma and he told me that he is 1/16th Native American as we chatted during a small break between workshops. He has an official card that states his Indian bloodhood.

Today I walked back to the hotel again after the long day at headquarters. This time I took 8th Av., so that I could see something different. During the walk, I saw a lot of cool places to hang out. A few restaurants and small bars. I even came across Scruffy Duffy's, the place I hung out w/ the SPJ interns during our project here in 2004. It sure brought back a lot of good memories.

The photo interns had a chance to hang out a little more tonight. Cliff Schiappa took us out to a Cuban restaurant on 51st Street. We had some good food, including that good old Cuban coffee that I miss so much from Florida.

We talked career plans and life goals. We talked about those in the business. But the most interesting conversation of the night was when Cliff Schiappa told Celina (Boston), Ben (San Francisco) and I about the early days of image filing from location. He talked about the first scanner and transferring machine the AP used. Cliff Schiappa was one of two photographers who was able to file from location in the business. It's very inspiring to hear all of this. Today we shoot digital photos, put them on a lap top and file from anywhere in the world. But to get a chance to have dinner w/ the first person who ever did that is very inspiring.

After dinner we all split up as we each had different plans to spend the rest of the evening. I went to Times Square to take in the whole madness in New York. Times Square is a zoo anytime of day.

I caught up Brian (Detroit), Oskar (L.A.) and Sonia (Dallas) who were hanging out with Jaime Holguin, a former New Mexico intern who got his job in the digital department at headquarters 10 years ago.

We went to a very interesting place that did not have a name. It was a small bar in a place that looks a lot like someone's entrance to the basement. The bar is very small and the cool subtle lights give this place a very lay back feeling.

The place even has a skeleton on the wall. Pretty cool, huh?

Oskar (L.A.), left, and Brian (Detroit) talked as they hung out in the bar.

Sonia (Dallas) picked Jaime's brain about digital. Meanwhile, I took photos of this cool place. The above photo came out really weird. It's like a double exposure. I was trying to take a test shot w/ my flash. That's really what it was. And no, this is not how I saw things because of alcohol, like you might be thinking.

The above photo is what I was trying to make. I was trying to use the small available light in order to create some cool streaks.

That's when it hit me. I have been taking a lot of these photos for the last three weeks. I decided to explore light in a different way. So, I spotted things that allowed me to experiment w/ light.

The "WC" on the restroom door was kind of cool, giving enough light to show the sign and enough to make a cool interesting photo of the letters.

Candles were all over the place. And i figured I'd play w/ that light, too.

We headed out and Brian (Detroit) wanted me to take a photo of him at Times Square. So, whenever we got close enough to Times Square I made his image.

Ben (San Francisco) told us about a cool place to hang out. So we went over there. We couldn't find it because the directions given to him were not legit. It was a cool late-night walk, nonetheless. Brian (Detroit) got a little tired and he broke the law by loitering and sitting in New York.

We wound up walking into a small joint that had some cool red lighting. We sat down and had a few drinks. I caught up on the day's sports scores while I met April (seen in the back), who happens to be from California.

Sonia (Dallas) decided to take some photos of me and I used my off-camera flash to make a cool image. I was very inspired to play w/ light today.

During our day at headquarters we had the pleasure of talking w/ Santiago Lyon, APs top photo editor. He showed us a video w/ some of the most amazing photos the AP has ever shot. I was humbled. So much great work. Wow!

Later in the day, I met for a one-on-one w/ Santiago Lyon. We had a great conversation about the internship as we engaged in a Spanish conversation.

Santiago Lyon has my dream job. He oversees roughly 500 AP photo staffers across the world. I was very lucky to snatch away 20 minutes of his time, being that he's got a lot of important things to take care of.

AP photographers do amazing work. They explore light and they capture moments. So, tonight I tried on playing and exploring light.

Yesterday - Main - Tomorrow