Fall in New York City

Fall in New York City was in its peak over the past couple of weeks, and I was determined to capture its colors with my camera. It's easy to get lost in your everyday routine but you have to make time to explore some pretty places (parks, cute neighborhoods, forests) and just wonder around with a camera.

Ok, it sounds pretty easy to wonder around with your camera. But sometimes I feel like I'm missing a nice shot because I don't use the moment to stop and snap, or I don't want to look like a tourist in NYC, or I don't feel like carrying my slightly heavy camera everywhere with me! Excuses, you will say. And they are! I got over them the moment I found this adorable street in Chelsea (see the picture above). I was so captivated with capturing the moment that I didn't care about how I look anymore, what people thought, and how heavy my bags felt. After this lesson I happily proceeded to take pictures of Central Park with a mantra: "just wonder around and click away!"

Photos are taken and edited by me

Sky is the Limit

I remember as a child learning about different types of clouds from my science book. But I don't remember ever being as fascinated with the sky and clouds as much as I am now. I used to be surrounded by nature when I was growing up, and now sky is the biggest part of nature as I spend most of my days on the fourteenth floor of a research building with huge windows. Sky fascinates me immensely... Blue sky with big puffy white clouds just brightens up my day in an instant, while fast moving storm clouds exert mesmerizing powers. My beautiful view of the sky is my refuge during a long day in the laboratory. Whenever I need a moment to clear my head I just have to look outside.  

Recently, there have been so many messages coming my way. The universe is reminding me that I have to be happy in this very moment, I have to seize the opportunities, work hard, and be a carrier of kindness in this brutal world. And I'm so happy and lucky to be doing what I love: science, even though it doesn't always give positive results, is such a fascinating and satisfying process for my mind. This little blog has also brought so much joy, and I'm so motivated to develop it even more. Our life is like sky: it can be blue and sunny, or it can be dark and stormy, or it can be sown in stars. It's ever changing, and we can only observe it, not always control it. What we have to do is to stay true to ourselves regardless of the weather.

I think we grow to appreciate the sky more as we get older. We get to realize its vastness, its eternity, its changing nature. And we have to look up to it more often, and understand how lucky we are to be alive and well, how we should chose to be happy this moment, how many kind acts we can do, and how many opportunities are out there for us to seize. 
Sky is the limit...

Photos are taken with iPhone 4S and Nikon D5200

Apple Picking

I feel that I'm on top of my fall activities because last weekend we went apple picking with my family. Apple picking is no cherry picking - you get your bucket full in no time. And I must admit that I might have picked just one apple, if any, because I was the photographer for the day. You see, I received my first early birthday gift - Nikon DSLR - and I can't let it go from my hands now! I'm still learning a lot but for now this camera is everything that I've been dreaming about! 

Before the start of each season I try to decide what kind of things I want to do, how I can best enjoy the season. Here's my list for fall:

- apple picking (check!)

- enjoy fall colors on a hike

- catch fall in the city with my new camera

- explore new parts of NYC

- see Waiting for Godot with Patrick Steward on Broadway

- dress up for high tea

- attend Metropolitan Opera's The Nose and Tosca

- make spicy butternut squash soup

- see Shakespeare's Sister at La Mama theater

- go for lots of morning runs and walks

How are you planning to enjoy fall?

Pictures by me and my sister Oksana

Puerto Rico Love

I'm back from my little trip to Puerto Rico over Labor Day weekend, where we attended a wonderful and most fun wedding! Sorry for the lack of posts but right after my return I had to jump back into research and last minute preparations for the Genetics department annual retreat, which ended this Saturday. I'm happy to report that I have picked out new stylish scientists for the future posts there in addition to listening to a full day and a half of super interesting science talks, presenting a poster of my research and having fun with fellow students and professors.

Back to Puerto Rico - this getaway was so necessary, relaxing, and just wonderful. It was my very first trip to the Caribbean, and I'm in love! We spent early mornings walking on the beach, doing yoga, swimming, relaxing all day long, reading, enjoying internet-free time and just staring at the sea. We took a short trip to Old San Juan to attend the beautiful cathedral mass on Sunday - and I'm telling you that this city is adorable! Narrow streets, colorful buildings, peaceful places - I would love to return and wonder around a bit more. And another note that I'd like to make: people of Puerto Rico know how to party! Every night everybody was out: from young to old, dancing salsa like they are pros. We did tons of fun dancing at the wedding as well: the DJ was so good and the music was even better - I couldn't stop for a minute!  Thanks to Catherine and Adam for having their wedding in Puerto Rico - it was truly an unforgettable and special experience!

In general I'm a fan of an active vacation but these couple of days in Puerto Rico were so relaxing for me that I'm adding this type of lazy vacation to my annual must-have. I didn't even take that many photos but I'm delighted to share with you some that I did take. I hope they will make you relaxed even if just for a minute ;)

All pictures are taken by Joe and me. 

Sunset paintings

Sunset is a magical time of the day, and the images above prove it. Can you believe that some of them have not been edited or edited just to a limited extent? Also this is the view from my apartment in the north of Manhattan - I know I'm very lucky to have such a view of Hudson river and beautiful sunsets. There have been so many sunsets (I miss a lot of them unfortunately); all of them are one of a kind, special, unbelievable, breathtaking... I love to see my apartment wrapped in golden burning light, and I love to feel the warmth of the setting sun enveloping my being. I love to take a minute to enjoy these peaceful quiet moments - it makes this life so much more wonderful!

These photos were taken by me over a period of two years. 

Please, give credit and link to this page if you would like to use them.

The Heart of Ukraine

I'm very happy to share some of my original pictures from my recent trip to Ukraine. Not only it's exciting to share my original photos but it's even more exciting to show you my favorite places in my native land. Yes, it's as beautiful as it looks, and I hope all of you will get a chance to visit!

Yaremche

Ivano-Frankivsk'

Karpaty (Carpathian Mountains)

Kamianets'-Podilskyi castle

Khotyn castle

Ukrainian fields

All pictures are taken by me, except last  photo is by Sviatoslav Stasiv.