Behind the Pipe and Drape--New York City

4:45 AM-- Grand Hyatt Hotel

I am up and about in my room 15 minutes before my scheduled wake up call. I brewed a pot of coffee and sat down in a plush recliner next to my 30th floor window. The sounds of the city serenaded me as my mind started to envision a checklist of things to get done in the next 2-hours.

Camera gear was first on the list.

I laid out a Mark III, Mark II, 70-200, 16-35, 300 2.8, 580 EX, Battery Pack, CF Cards, and a bunch of other random crap I always think I will need.

With the camera gear ready I took a shower, threw on a suit, and did my best to cram all my stuff back into a suitcase. Draped in camera gear I grabbed the handle of my bag, and was ready to check out.

6:00 AM--Checkout

After swiping my credit card I headed out the revolving lobby doors, and into a pleasant city morning. Steam billowed from manholes, construction workers lingered about, a few cabs roamed the streets, and the laughter of couples rang through the air as they stumbled home from a long night out. It was like something out of a movie.

I grabbed a fresh coffee and started the 20 min walk down to the United Nations building. Once I started getting close the streets were closed off, NYPD officers were questioning anyone wanting to pass by. I showed my credential, and was allowed through.

Once I reached the entrance to the UN I took my place in the line of media waiting to get in. There were photographers, and videographers from all over the world, and everyone was speaking a different language---the diversity amongst us was a really beautiful thing.

9:45 AM—The Chamber

Once inside the chamber I was blown away by how big it is. Filling this room were representatives from a majority of the world’s nations---it was a really neat thing to see. From my second story side view booth I could have dropped an egg on the Sudanese reps---they were directly below me.

After two speakers Governor Schwarzenegger approached the center podium and began his speech on climate change. It lasted 5-minutes, after which I was escorted downstairs by a Secret Service officer to meet up with the Gov.

When the Gov came through the door we all headed outside into a tent where we hopped into the motorcade………four black SUV’s and a police escort. We went flying out of the UN parking lot and into the streets of New York.

Our destination---Central Park.

Riding in the motorcade was great; we rallied through town, people on the sides of the streets watched in wonder as we flew by. I watched them through the tinted windows and could tell from their expressions that they wondered who we were.

Once we reached the park we all hopped out so the Gov could do a TV interview on Columbus circle, right next to Central Park. The interview lasted around ten minutes, plenty of time for people to realize what was going on. Before I new it people were screaming and yelling, “It’s the Terminator, Oh my God…..Arnold we love you.”

After the interview he waved to everyone, lit his cigar, and hopped back in the car with a big smile on his face. We were off.

I would love to give you all the breakdown of everything we did that day, however, I would probably have to clear it with communications---I really don’t feel like doing that.

I can say though that there were a few more events spread throughout New York City, and an unplanned stop at Starbucks. We were really moving---I couldn’t believe that I was in the thick of it.

1:15 PM---The Mad Dash

As we exited our last event I ran to the motorcade and grabbed some camera gear, just before the train took off for the airport. My blackberry would not stop buzzing and I had 2-hours to get to the airport.

After 45-minutes in a cab I made it back to the hotel, dropped off my camera bag, grabbed the 300 mm 2.8 lens and started running for Times Square. I had 30-minutes to get back to catch a cab to the airport.

I had borrowed this lens from Reuter photographer Lucas Jackson, with directions to leave it with the guards at the Reuters front desk. Upon reaching them they said there was no way they would take responsibility for it, I had to figure something else out. Lucas was down covering the protests outside the UN, finally I got word from him to take it up to his boss on the 19th floor.

When I got out of the elevator he was waiting for me with a weird look on his face. I could tell he was wondering why the hell I had Reuter’s glass; I handed it to him, said thanks, and hopped back into the elevator. Rather then complicate matters I figured it was better to just let Lucas dig himself out of this one.

Once I was back on the street I realized I had 5-minutes to travel eight blocks. Cabs weren’t an option due to traffic so I decided to hop on a bike cart, this would give me a moment to respond to the many emails I had been receiving. I let out a sigh, lit a smoke, and sent the Sacramento Press Office a note letting them know that I would have the photos from the UN to them in less than an hour….or so I thought.

Note to self—Don’t trust the bike taxis. Once I finally looked up from my Blackberry it was to late, the guy was giving me the run around. I was now farther from my hotel than when I started. After some choice words I just took off running.

I arrived back at the hotel 20-minutes late to find my co-worker waiting impatiently. We grabbed our stuff and headed out the front doors, within 5-minutes we were in a Taxi, and I had the laptop open and started the process of importing the day’s pictures. I inserted my first CF card into the reader and nothing happened. “This can’t be happening,” I kept saying, “this is my worst nightmare coming true.”

To no avail I franticly tried to get the thing to work—I was hosed.

I sat there and all became quiet around me. I silently said a prayer and asked God to make my card reader work. I slowly turned my head to look out the window and low and behold there was a camera store.

Call it Devine intervention, luck, fate, or whatever—all I know is that the powers that be stoked me out big time. Within a few minutes I was back in the cab and successfully importing images.

Before I new it I had made my edit, checked into my flight, and sent everything off to Sacramento. All with enough time to spare to catch my breath and have a beer in LaGuardia Airport before my flight boarded.

As we took off I let the days events sink in. What an experience, I feel very lucky to have been given this opportunity, I will never forget that day in NYC…..