Zoom is a must. FaeMike said he wanted some stories again. Here's a real one from my recent trip to New York. So I stand at a red light and I do my metering - soon there will be no time to waste. Then the light turns green, I step rapidly into the street, turn my back to the traffic and fire off a few quick blasts, taking in whatever hits my viewfinder at the moment, no time for thought, just aim and shoot, and then high tail it for the safety of the sidewalk! Did this for three more days, didn't even bother to take a close look at the shots until I got home. Several were crap, about half were good and a few were gorgeous. We had just suffered several sweltering days of 105 F temps with 100% humidity in the Bronx. We were cooked. No air conditioning at the conference because we were in a government building and New York law mandates that during a heat wave, government buildings must conserve power for private and corporate use. But now the conference was over and two of us were looking for a brew in the Bronx. We wound up in Umberto's Clam House where we quaffed three pints each of Sam Adam's Boston Lager. Not my favorite "microbrew" but I would've gladly settled for a Bud by then. The tap lady recognized me from having been there two nights before and so she treated us to a round on the house. Nice. Then my friend left to hook up with a graduate student to talk shop. By then I was done talking shop and was in no mood to step out into the horrific heat again anytime soon. I stayed at Umberto's. I had a scrumptious meal of what they are famous for, Clam Chowder. Then it happened. During the hour or so we had been at the bar a huge storm had blown in - unnoticed by either of us engaged as we were in hearty conversation and enjoying our beer. A torrent of water washed from the sky, clearing the stinky streets of Little Italy in a matter of minutes. Water poured onto the parched pavement, instantly cooling the baked concrete and producing a wonderful fine vaporous mist. I wondered if my buddy had made it back to the dorms or if he had been pummeled? Would serve him right for leaving me there on my own, not that I'm not used to it by now mind you. Storm blew over and now it's time to leave. Streets are beautiful, drenched in pure black water; too good an opportunity to pass by. I decide to play a bit of a daring game. So many shots of big cities are from the sidewalk, not many from middle of the street. Time to try something different. Here's one of them. It's from my first rush on Arthur Avenue.