Oyster Bar
Without a doubt, one of my favorite places in the world in the Oyster Bar in Grand Central Station. Had some Cotuits and Blue Points and then a great pan roast before getting on the train to come home.
WTC
I had a good room at the Millenium for my Binghamton University shoot. I was hoping to get on to the WTC site Friday morning for the New York State Museum, but it didn’t work out for now. This is a huge project and they seem to be working through the night. After I took this picture, Peter, Matt and I had a great meal at Les Halles.
Wall Street
There was lots of action downtown because the president was here talking about Wall Street reform. There were tons of tv people doing stand-ups. They always draw a crowd.
Big Pete in NYC
Peter Carroll and I have been working together on and off for a very long time. He is always willing to stand around while I take goofy photographs. We are in New York for a couple of days and just after this we found an amazing falafel stand for lunch. What a sport!
Garden
Every year these plants come up in the garden at about the same time. They are so delicate and lovely, but they never flower (edit: They do have little flowers which I have discovered are refered to as sow’s teats). I have no idea what they are (edit: see comments). It is a nice gray day, so I figured it was about time to take some pictures.
Masonic plates
I started going to the Syracuse China seconds store back in the early 80s when I lived in Ithaca. Back then they sold all kinds of great items. I have a nice set of State of Louisiana Senate plates that I still use all the time. And since my days at the Meadville Unitarian Church, I have loved the kind of kitchens that one finds in churches and meeting halls. I have recently been working on a project for the New York State Museum photographing Masonic Lodges. This shot comes from the kitchen at Western Star Lodge #15. Two birds with one stone.
Jack Gilbert
Another amazing person I photographed for Poets & Writers was Jack Gilbert. He grew up in Pittsburgh so we talked alot about Western Pennsylvania. Along with Franz Wright, he was one of the most interesting and provocative people I have ever spent time with. He talked about love, art, and success and told me wild stories about his life.
Franz Wright
I am uploading some older shoots to my photoshelter site, and looking at my photos of the poet Franz Wright brought back memories of the day I spent with him. He is such an intense and deep fellow but I felt completely at ease. His work is stunning and well worth checking out.
crocuses
Every April these crocuses (I looked up the plural) come out through a pile of pine needles and leaves just out the kitchen window. It seems so improbable that it could happen year after year. After a long winter of burning wood in the stove, and darkness and cold, how this happens is a wonder to me.
Dance
I have been shooting dance for a long time, and Smith College has a great program. I shoot the final dress rehearsal and don’t set up any shots, so it all seems very spontaneous. Every once in a while it all comes together.
Jon Crispin's Notebook 
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