This week I shot a very cool installation at the Park Avenue Armory for Curated Mag. The artist is Ryoji Ikeda. See the full set of images over here. I also put together a short video, below. Don’t watch it if you are prone to seizures. It runs through Saturday. So if you are in NYC, definitely check it out in person.

This morning we went to Girona to visit our friend Stefanie. We were going to rent a car and drive the coast, but opted to just take the rail, since we would have had to turn in the car the same day (we fly out super early in the morning). It is a pretty awesome little town. There is stuff over there that isn’t much younger than the bible.

We had an awesome time and we are super stoked to do it again. We are equally as stoked to get home and hang out with the Pipster.

Yeah, we went back to the tower, this time early in the morning and armed with a tripod. These are some of the results.

Here are some more shots from today–

We hit Luxembourg Gardens on Sunday. It is a beautiful spot.

This was after we went through the Paris Catacombs (thanks Jon). The place is crazy. There are the remains of some six million Parisians down there.

These shots are kinda crappy because is was super dark down there and no flash is allowed. But I think that they give a sense of what it is like. I was blown away. Reagan was creeped out.

Here is my favorite shot so far– Reagan with a baguette sticking out of her backpack on our way to a picnic in the park.

One more day in Paris, then back to Spain.

In the morning, we hung out at the Louvre and the adjacent garden. Reagan took a ride on the carousel.

We sat by a fountain.

We saw Notre Dame

And a bunch of other stuff, but I’m kind of out of steam at the moment.

Europe is 220v, so the above fire hazard is our current power situation. It seems to be working ok, so far. This place is so visually stimulating. One could spend weeks just taking in all of the minutia that a single block or alley has to offer.

We already have 1000 photos like the one below. I’m sure that we will have 1000 more before we head home.

Reagan and the Arc de Triomf–

Chillin on the veranda

From a parc up on the hill–

Las Ramblas-

Saturday evening, we took a stroll in Central Park. Not long after we entered the park, there was a micro burst, followed by some awesome evening light. Above: Reagan flipping her hair around; Below: from behind.

Reagan, her parents, brother and aunt at the bandshell:

When I said awesome evening light, I wasn’t foolin’ Reagan wasn’t too happy about posing for these shots, but seriously, check out the light.

One more of the light–

Finally, the obligatory Times Square visit. Reagan was expressing her amazement of all of the sites.

Tomorrow: pack for Europe.

Saturday was Piper’s birthday. I can’t really even believe it, she turned 4. We headed up to her house bright and early, and arrived just as she was waking up. Reagan dressed her in her new little yellow dress and flowery crown (that Reagan made, btw). She was also rocking some new little sunglasses from her grandma b-holt. The weather was phenomenal for hanging around outside. So we sat out on the lawn and chatted/played for a while. When it started to get overcast, we took PJ inside and played with her until she was all tuckered out. It was a really fun time. It was especially cool to have her Baker grandparents and her uncle Jesse in town, as well as her great aunt Gail, who Piper met for the first time. There are a boat load of photos below. There are even more over here.

Do you ever have those days that you totally expect to go a certain way, but then they don’t and it is super deflating? That was me yesterday. It was so packed. Super packed. I was really excited when I left the house in the morning, until I walked out into the pouring rain. The day ended up being almost a complete bust. It is possible that the non-stop monsoon caliber weather had something to do with it. I’m not going to go into the inanities of yesterday’s shortfalls. But let’s just say that there was a saving grace toward the end of the evening. I always enjoy the soiree’s that Kiehl’s throws, because my home ZT is there to hang out with.

Pharrell also came through (above), and gave me a “star trak” (no, not star trek) “v”. Meanwhile, pouring rain.  All of these shenanigans are part of the 160 year birthday celebration that Kiehl’s is currently having. Do you use any Kiehl’s stuff? Reagan and I are both huge fans. As a part of the hooplah, they designed some throwback packaging, check it-

Anyway, thanks Zack, Kiehl’s and Pharrell for salvaging and otherwise crap day. I really hope that we can have a bit of a reprieve from the rain, soon. Because… dude!

In unrelated news, apparently we will be arriving in the Eurosphere just in time for some Spanish protesting in Barcelona. If I’m lucky, maybe I can get a shot of a dude getting hit with a tear gas canister, or something.

I have had this idea for a little while now, that I wanted to try to do a portrait of me, together with the City. It sounds really corny, I know. What better time to do portraits, than when we are both having an “ugly” day, right? Ok, in honesty we have both been having a lot of ugly days lately. I need to get a haircut and some sun, like nobody’s biz. Thank goodness that the vacay is right around the corner. As for the City having ugly days, it’s not really her fault. It is spring. Rain happens a lot in the spring. Despite all of that, it is kind of hot the way that the unfinished 1 WTC disappears into the clouds.

So, NYC and I went into kiddie candids together and asked for some portraits. This is how they came out.

For the most part I’m pretty happy with them. But I want to try it again some time with a different setup. I’ll keep you posted.

Part II of le post–

Linda wins the Rag & Bone x Timberland notebook. Congratulations! This actually makes things very easy for me, since I can just pass it off to Zack tomorrow night.

I’m going to put the giveaways on hiatus for the next few weeks, while I’m out and about. But, I’ll be coming back with a banger. For those who love Italian made photography gear, you might want to get in on this one.