Miss summer already? You don’t have to let it totally slip away. Here’s a little photo exercise that can help you keep all those good summertime vibes going.
Labor Day isn’t quite here yet, marking the official end of summer. But realistically, it’s already over. Do you feel the energy shift too? It’s unavoidable.
When I wake up, it’s dark out now. I chat with work colleagues in other states whose kids are already back to school. Everyone I run into asks me if I had a good summer.
Well, did I? Did you?
Sure, it’s easy to call out the fun vacation, weekend at the beach or summer BBQ. But what happened across all those other days and weekends? Can you remember the highlights? Or is it already starting to slip into a cloudy past as the fall season approaches.
Let Your Photos Jog Your Summer Memories When faced with this moment, I find it useful to take a little stroll down memory lane via my summer photo collection.
It’s not just the big moments I’ve documented. It’s the little ones that matter too.
Only then can you take it all in and authentically say, “Yeah, I had a good summer.”
I just performed that photo review for myself, and here are a few images that reflect some of my own summer’s story.
Taking in Norwalk’s Memorial Day Parade from My Lawn Chair
That’s my city’s mayor leading the parade (Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling). On this bright, young summer day, I felt part of a timeless tradition. The moment could easily have been from a 1925 parade (wardrobe evolution aside).
Flying My Drone in Cape Porpoise, Maine
I barely knew how to get my new drone in the air, but I knew enough to drag myself out of bed at the crack of dawn and hoof it to the empty beach. Nature’s stunning beauty did the rest of the work for me.
Eating Dinner by The Last Taco StandDuring Sunset
My wife and I enjoyed a few tacos from this special food trailer by the water as the sun set over the Norwalk Cove Marina. It was perfection in a parking lot.
Watching The Boston Symphony Orchestra Perform at Tanglewood
It’s Tanglewood. Enough said.
Experiencing the Music of AJR at Jones Beach Theater
Our 15-year-old son’s musical tastes led us to this amazing experience, As the full moon rose behind the outdoor stage, I knew this concert would be locked into our memories forever.
Walking to Work from Grand Central Terminal on a Hot August Morning
Even the most boring of summer moments like a commute can be turned into a photo exploration. And that’s never hard to find in New York City.
Doing Nothing but Watching the Flames from Our Solo Stove
For someone who’s always on the go, I find that slowing down to stare at a fire’s glow is essential for any summer.
Your Photos are Your Secret Portal Back to Summertime Though I’ve shared some of my own pictures here, creating this type of photo collection is more for the creator than anyone else. This little portfolio reflects a larger set of stories, because of what’s behind each photo. Only the photographer can know them.
And each image doesn’t have to be stunning. It should simply bring back the experience of your happy memory.
I highly recommend trying this photo exercise as you wrap up your own summer.
This Marvel movie about a superhero family from an alternate, retro-future Earth had all the right ingredients but was still doomed to underperform. Here’s my review.
My son and I went out to the movies to see “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” shortly after the box office turned against it. (Ticket sales plunged 67% during its second weekend in the theaters.) What looked like a big hit was proving to be just a moderate success. It received great reviews. So, what went wrong?
After the post-credit scene, my son looked at me and asked if I liked the movie. I half-heartedly said, “Yes.” He agreed in a similar tone. Clearly, neither of us were enthusiastic. I think we both wanted to enjoy the movie more than we did. (He eventually admitted he liked “Thunderbolts*” much more.)
Not that I’m an ‘official’ movie reviewer (although if you know me, I’ve been chasing that dream since I was in college), but I think I know what’s going on here.
The Alternate Reality of Earth-828 If you’re a Marvel fan, then you’re hoping for a hit, just like me. (It’s been something of a dry spell.) We all wanted “The Fantastic Four” to succeed.
And there’s a lot to like about it. It’s fresh. It’s different. It’s retro futuristic.
But while the 1960s design choice is visually appealing, it also creates an energetic void that limits the movie.
Our main characters are effectively stuck in a type of “WandaVision” faux reality. The movie is so intent on setting up its alternate universe for this Earth-828, it takes up more screen time than it should. We even get to see fictional Saturday morning “Fantastic Four” cartoons, as if this cements the connection.
We get it.
Blast Off to Yesterday’s Tomorrow This movie works hard to remind us of a ‘better,’ more optimistic and wholesome time in our history. And this nostalgic hook does have some payoffs.
For me, one of the best moments comes during the rocket launch sequence. As we get a beautiful Apollo-type liftoff, complete with rousing music (by Michael Giacchino), we can spot “United States” etched in the ship’s frame and perfectly positioned in the shot.
Yes, I felt a little jolt of adrenaline as the cool ship ascended from its hip New York City launch pad.
Many parts of this movie are designed with a bright, optimistic feel. And to a certain extent, it works.
Family Friendly Directed by Matt Shakman, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” looks fantastic. But it plays too much like an after-school TV special.
The overall theme is about ‘family’ (though it’s actually more about parenting). There’s a layer of connection and warmth that permeates through the entire film. (Even the spectacle of our heroes’ superpowers is more of an afterthought for much of the movie.)
But that also takes the edge off… just about everything. (Sure, the world may end, but gosh darn it, we’re all going to stick together, right?)
I feel the best scenes occur off world where we’re not reminded of the ‘good-old-days’ era of Earth-828. Deep in the cosmos, our characters are finally allowed to react more authentically to the dangers that confront them.
Where’s the Conflict? Said another way, there’s just not enough tension in this story. Our Fantastic Four family barely argues. Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards just worries a lot. Joseph Quinn’s Johnny Storm is way too nice for his brash character. Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s ‘Thing’ is so polite and sweet, you just want to squeeze him. Even the evil Silver Surfer played by Julia Garner (minor spoiler alert) has a soft spot.
Fortunately, Vanessa Kirby’s Sue Storm powers the movie’s major themes. The story orbits her struggles.
This is really a movie about motherhood and doing anything for your children. And it’s beautiful. The movie’s high points all surround Sue Storm.
But I’m not sure this is enough to be at the center of a Marvel movie.
Too Charming to be Believable A family of superheroes without disfunction is a different formula, and it’s not one that’s powered Marvel’s biggest hits.
Our favorite Marvel characters are flawed. They’re often funny. Sometimes inappropriate.
Chris Evans’ Captain America was the obvious exception. But his character was always a fish out of water, and that was the storytelling strategy. And it worked.
These Fantastic Four are pretty-darned perfect and live on an easy-breezy Earth-828 with analog tech from the 1960s that can somehow power a spaceship faster than the speed of light.
It’s simply fantastic (and skews dangerously close to fantasy).
It’s just not realistic. I know this is science fiction, but good storytelling needs to be grounded in a reality you can believe in and relate to.
Moms, Assemble! I think parents (especially mothers) will connect most to this movie. And those old enough to remember the good vibes of the ‘60s.
And that’s simply not Marvel’s core target audience. For my 15-year-old’s generation, this movie must be culturally confusing. It doesn’t really feel like a Marvel movie.
To be a blockbuster, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” needs to connect with just about everyone.
First Steps was Bound to Stumble “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” is not a bad movie. It’s good. Just not fantastic.
And in an era of declining box office returns and growing fatigue with mediocre Marvel films, it’s no surprise “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” underperformed.
Silver Lining Here’s the good news: If you’re generally not a big Marvel movie fan, because there’s too much violence, or you’ve lost track of the extended storyline that links all the films together, then this is the perfect Marvel flick for you.
It’s a standalone story in its own corner of the multiverse and doesn’t even deserve its PG-13 rating (maybe it’s a bit intense here and there).
“The Fantastic Four: First Steps” is a solid summer movie for someone who doesn’t like the typical sci-fi blockbuster.
The 1960s Never Looked So Good The movie’s earnest energy and gee-wiz sense of wonder may not totally wow everyone, but Earth-828 in the MCU is still swell and groovy.
You can frame a cool photo of New York City right from your seat on Amtrak. If your train is traveling at sunset, just look out your window. It’s a spectacular view. Here’s how to optimize that photographic opportunity.
It’s hard to miss this famous skyline as your Amtrak train nears or leaves the Big Apple. And sunset is a particularly special time. So, it warrants trying to take a photo or two…
The weather conditions have to be right. Plus, there’s only a six-minute stretch when the train is close enough and oriented correctly with its windows directly facing the east side of Manhattan.
The Best Views of New York City Then, take out your smartphone. Press it as close to the window as possible to avoid reflections from the inside of the train. (The fact that your phone’s lens effectively lies flat with the phone’s body will protect it from accidental bumps into the glass due to your train’s jerky movements.)
And then start snapping away.
As much as I always want to zoom closer with my iPhone 15 Pro Max’s 2x or 5x lens to better frame the skyscrapers, the wider shots are better. I think you need that foreground in the shot to help tell the visual story. Plus, the train’s motion is less of a problem for your phone’s camera if you’re not zoomed in.
Just Another Bonus for Taking the Train Yes, it’s an amazing vista to take in, but you should temper your expectations for your photos. Remember, you’re shooting through glass, and the train is moving.
Still, it’s worth a shot.
I go for it whenever I’m on Amtrak’s Northeast Regional or Acela heading back to Connecticut from Washington, D.C. (These photos are from my recent trip.) In the old days, it would be when I was heading out of New York City back to Boston. (So, I’ve been at this for a while.)
And yes, I do prefer taking the train vs. a plane between these destinations. It’s much more convenient and relaxing. (The door-to-door time comparison is similar after you bake in the extra hours spent at the airport.) But I digress…
Enjoy the Show Sunset isn’t the only time to try to capture these photos of New York City. (Shooting directly at the sun can really confuse a camera and isn’t especially great for its sensors. But a few brief clicks shouldn’t play too much havoc with the electronics.)
These magic sunset minutes always call out to me as the deep orange light bathes the landscape.
It’s both unearthly and entirely natural.
And you’ve got one of the best vantage points of this city a photographer could hope for.
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