benhider.com/blog

There was very little impact on our apartment, and my parents house didn’t lose electricity, so all in all we didn’t get affected much by “Irene”

I’ve been thinking about shooting some pictures black and white recently. Maybe I’ll do that this week

and now for it’s close up

It seems like America has been able to move forward from the 9/11 attack when there is someone selling tickets to a comedy show right outside of One World Trade Center

iPhone photo converted with “CrossProcess”

I photographed MTV executives ringing the opening bell at NYSE this morning. Usher came as a surprise guest, which added an unexpected level of chaos but also a few more photo opps than I was originally expecting.

It was a year ago that I photographed the Jersey Shore cast at the NYSE, and it was the day before I began working there full time. It was nice to be reminded of the year, and see the difference in the quality of work. I’ve definitely learnt a few things, upgraded some equipment, and am on better terms with all of the people working on the trading floor.

(It’s unusual that I can show my NYSE photographs on my blog, but this was hired through MTV, so I don’t have the same restrictions on ownership)

Is this a good idea? Probably not… but I was looking through my old harddrive today and found a big selection of these from various events.

This morning I attended the first meeting of George Parrino’s students since he died. It lasted for over 2 hours and was the best tribute to how amazing of a person he was. There was not a dry eye in the room, and every person had a story to tell about how George changed their lives. It was an incredible thing that I’ll never forget. His teaching style, ability to penetrate through all the bullshit and his general lust for life has changed all of us who studied under him. We all fear the gingerbread man, one liners and the sucker punch.

Probably the reason I travelled so much in my early 20’s was because of my love of films like “Indiana Jones” and “Romancing the Stone.” Before I left for my year in India in 2002 I picked up a cheap imitation of the hat, and spent the year wondering around India looking like a bit of a tool.

Looking at ridiculously expensive umbrella’s online today ($500 is crazy), I came across this British leather goods store called Swaine Adeney Brigg that made the original Indiana Jones Hat after meeting with Harrison Ford and Steven Spielberg. I have to admit that I want one.