Up, Up, and Away! Helicopter Flight...

This past week I took my first ever flight in a helicopter. Sponsored by the U.S. Marines, this flight exercise took place at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, NY. This gave regular folks like me the chance to fly in a real live chopper. I was amazed at how smooth the flight was. I was expecting a pretty choppy ride, but my commute home afterwards turned out to be the bumpier than the helicopter. The fact that you're not flying as high as a jet and not moving as fast, allows you to see more during the flight and makes for some pretty good photo opportunities as well.

I'd like to thank GySgt Lionel Saulsberry and Captain David Kim of the United States Marine Corps for allowing me to go up and capture these image. Thanks guys....OOO-RAH!


The Cockpit


Taking off...



Nassau County's North Shore


New York City skyline from a distance


USMMA Boat Basin



Aerial view of the USMMA campus


Mariner's Chapel


Kings Point, New York

LIHCC "Cigar Night"

I shot another Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce event earlier in the week. This one was the LIHCC's "Cigar Night". Another fine event that featured a great group of people, good music, and good food.

The centerpiece on each table consisted of a rose arrangement placed beautifully inside an empty cigar box. Designed and assembled by events coordinator Karen Cerna, they were the talk of the night. My begging paid off when she decided to give me one to take home.