The past month of my life has been a complete whirlwind.

When it began, my wife, Carrie, and I were still traveling across Turkey.

 

Sunrise over Kapadokya, Turkey, with hot air balloons
We watched the sunrise from a hot air balloon ride over Kapadokya before saying goodbye for two months

 

Turkish Bath Ruins at Olympos, Turkey
I love photographing ruins and architecture, so Turkey was a dream-come-true for me

 . . .

On May 19, Carrie and I said goodbye at a Turkish airport.

She went to France and I came home to spend three weeks with family and friends.

I went home to visit my mom and dear friends on Roosevelt Island in New York City.

. . .

This is Roosevelt Island. It’s on the East River between Manhattan and Queens

 

Roosevelt Island divides the East River in half and is accessible to vehicles via a bridge from Queens
Roosevelt Island divides the East River in half and is accessible to vehicles via a bridge from Queens

 . . .

Roosevelt Island is in New York City,

which meant my shutter was in constant motion as I wandered around the Big Apple.

 

New York City Skyline From Long Island City
New York City Skyline From Long Island City

. . .

I cheered loudly for the Mets at three baseball games.

Two of them were Subway Series match-ups versus the Yankees.

The Mets won both.

 

A rain delay at Citi Field during a Subway Series game between the Mets and Yankees
I cheered the Mets on at three games; including this rain delayed Subway Series matchup against the evil Yankees

. . .

I had my first-ever food photo shoot.

My buddy Jay is starting a business selling deep fried risotto balls filled with meat ragu.

They’re called arrancine and they taste like amazing.

 

Secret Recipe

. . .

My art was featured in an exhibition.

25 Cents . Local Calls was selected to appeared in a group show during Bushwick Open Studios.

 

25 Cents . Local Calls is the first piece of the Symmetry Project to be displayed on a gallery wall
25 Cents . Local Calls is the first piece of the Symmetry Project to be displayed on a gallery wall

 

The Beginning of a New Era exhibition at 56 Bogart Street in Bushwick, Brooklyn

. . .

It meant so much to me to share the moment with dear friends and family.

Mom, Melanie, Gianna, Kat, Micheil, Randy, Jay, Sarah, Brent and Emily….

you all rock!

 

Thank you for coming Melanie, Gianna, Kat, Micheil, Randy, Jay, Sarah and Brent. Plus, of course, my Mom and Emily who were out exploring when we snapped this
Thank you for coming Melanie, Gianna, Kat, Micheil, Randy, Jay, Sarah and Brent. Plus, of course, my Mom and Emily who were out exploring when we snapped this

. . .

Now, I’m leaving for South Korea,

where I will film a TV program

with National Geographic Channel.

 

I’ll take the road less traveled,

meet locals,

photograph everything I see

and react to whatever dramatic curveballs the producers throw my way.

. . .

 

The Empire State Building — as seen from 34th Street and Fifth Avenue
So there I was, waiting for the bus with my mom, when I decided to look up for the first time. And what did I find towering above me? Why, it’s the good-ole Empire State Building!

. . .

But, in the mean time,

I still have a few hours of gazing out at this view.

It’s from the balcony at my mom’s apartment and I snapped this photo on the night I wrote this post.

 

The Rivercross courtyard on Roosevelt Island, NYC
This has been the view from my bedroom window since 1996

. . .

So that’s about it.

Sometimes I think I didn’t do much this past month.

Then I look at these photographs and realize that I haven’t actually stopped moving.

 

The view of the Queensboro Bridge and Roosevelt Island from the aerial tramway
The view of the Queensboro Bridge and Roosevelt Island from the aerial tramway

. . .

Be sure to follow me on Facebook, Twitter and RSS for photos and stories from Korea.

Filming starts on June 11th.

. . .

 

Sunset over Yankee Stadium during a Subway Series game versus my Mets

. . .

Now, without further introduction,

here are a few more of my favorite photos from this past month.

All of them were taken in Turkey or New York, using either a Nikon D7000 or a Fujifilm Finepix F900.

 

The view from Tlos: an ancient ruin in Turkey
The view from Tlos: an ancient ruin in Turkey

 

Spent a day riding roller coasters with my childhood friends at Six Flags Great Adventure

 

Skyscraper windows on 59th and Second Avenue – New York City
Skyscraper windows on 59th and Second Avenue – New York City

 

Puddles behind Westview on Roosevelt Island, NYC
I love walking alongside the Manhattan side of Roosevelt Island the night after a thunderstorm

 

Rivercross apartment building
Rivercross. My home since 1992

 

A new monument to FDR has gone up on the Southern tip of Roosevelt Island. This is the view of the Four Freedoms Park from Long Island City in Queens
A new monument to FDR has gone up on the Southern tip of Roosevelt Island. This is the view of the Four Freedoms Park from Long Island City in Queens

 

A truck drives down the street on Roosevelt Island
It rained a lot while I was home on Roosevelt Island. Or at least it feels that way now

 

Goats grazing at the Kayakoy ruins in Fethiye, Turkey
It was so kind of these goats to make my photo of Turkey’s Kayakoy Ruins a bit more interesting

 

A family crosses the river on a beautiful day in Olympos, Turkey
Carrie and I spent a few days in Olympos, Turkey

 

A camera phone photo of the Roosevelt Island subway station
A camera phone photo of the Roosevelt Island subway station

 

36th Avenue Bridge to Roosevelt Island – New York City, USA
36th Avenue Bridge to Roosevelt Island – New York City, USA

 

Aunt Joan and her amazing styrofoam tray art
Aunt Joan and her amazing styrofoam tray art

 

Moments later we got a ride from two dudes – the passenger was drinking a beer – Goreme – Cappidocia, Turkey
Moments later we got a ride from two dudes – the passenger was drinking a beer – Goreme – Cappidocia, Turkey

 

Out antiquing in Milford, PA, with my wonderful mother, Bonnie
Out antiquing in Milford, PA, with my wonderful mother, Bonnie

 

Huiseyin Tekin holds up a piece of the Symmetry Project at his ice cream stand in Olympos, Turkey
Huiseyin Tekin holds up a piece of the Symmetry Project at his ice cream stand in Olympos, Turkey

Can I tell you about the Symmetry Project?