Photos Archives

David Beckham and the LA Galaxy were in town yesterday, but D.C. United dispatched them 4-1 at RFK Stadium. I'm going to watch the TV broadcast tonight or tomorrow to see if I made it on TV. I actually hope I didn't, I had towels and all sort of shit draped on my head because of the heat. Not exactly the cutting edge of fashion if you know what I mean.

Best part of the game, hands down, was the return of Ben Olsen! More shots of him kicking the ball with his tongue out! It's about time.

Taking photos in the mid-day sun is unbelievably difficult. There are different lighting conditions all over the field and the shadows are really tough to deal with. I did OK, but it's not something I want to do again any time soon. Give me a game under the lights any time.

More photos of Beckham (including a topless one for all of you ladies) after the jump.

I had the best birthday weekend ever, if I do say so myself. After arriving in NYC, we hustled over to 52nd and 5th, where I scored a retro Celtics championship shirt at the NBA store, shortly before a very satisfying, although by no means socks knockingoff, performance by My Morning Jacket at Radio City Music Hall. They're close but not quite their yet as far as playing big venues. They are missing that last little bit, where they can make a big place feel real tiny. I was also a bit disappointed they didn't do anything special for the show, like break out the hula dancers or something. The new stuff off of Evil Urges sounded great though. We also had an early dinner with young Jbergs, a class act if there ever was one and who's work I have admired for quite some time. Can't wait until he's running the photo department at Rolling Stone, maybe then I can find some work.

After the MMJ show, we headed out to Billysburg to see Teddy Thompson at the Music Hall of Williamsburg. It's amazing what they've done with the former Northsix space. It's all shiny and new and basically a smaller Bowery Ballroom. Very nice. Teddy was sort of a more guitar-focused Rufus Wainwright.

We started Saturday out at MOMA, taking in Olafur Eliasson's spectacular Take Your Time exhibit / collection, and it was top notch. A gelato in the Sculpture Garden was even better.

Later we tooled around SoHo, checked out the former CBGB's space (now a John Varvatos store) and then saw the Morrison Hotel's brilliant collection of rock photography by Bob Gruen. Some incredible stuff there. His shots of The Clash were very inspiring.

After that we hopped across the street to catch the second half of the Netherlands loss to Russia in a very crowded Irish bar full of ex-pats from the Netherlands (watching football in NYC is the best!) and then meet some friends for dinner.

Sunday we hustled home to take down my Artomatic photos before heading to the Pearl Jam gig. I left before the second encore and got home around 11:30. Finally made it to bed around 2 A.M. or so after editing photos. Then I worked until 8:30 last night.

Whew.

Now on to San Fran. Back to 505 and all that. Mr. Pink is not very happy with me right now.

PS - You better believe I'm making a trip here while I am there.

Read my full review over at DCist. Definitely one of the best PJ shows I have ever seen. Really intense and the crowd was amazing. Just as good as the band actually.

I respect Pearl Jam a great deal. Even more so after signing their photo waiver, which basically makes you fill in your name and publication and says "Our crew is working while you take photos. Listen to what they say, stay out of their way if they ask you to and have fun." Respect.

E-mail friend Ted Leo was awesome too. Obvs. He played some killer new songs. Can't wait to hear the recorded versions. The next album is already soundin' pretty good.

Full photo gallery after the jump.

I had totally forgotten about this photo until I started looking through Flickr for all my photos tagged "NYC."

It's very apt. I turn Paul Pierce years old today. In order to celebrate, The Future Mrs. Leaf and I are spending the weekend in NYC. You can bet one of our first stops in the Big Apple will be at the NBA Store, where this photo was taken in 2007. I need me some 2008 Champs gear.

Also, My Morning Jacket at Radio City tonight!