a new year, a new era.

I turned 40 on Saturday.  The night before, myriad friends came together to ring in my new year.  They also came bearing a rather epic surprise:

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The story goes something like this: my photographer friend Nick, way back last October, emailed me to say that he was going to sell his relatively new Leica M9, in order to make way for a Leica M type 240 purchase, and did I want the M9 at a discount?  Well, sure, I did want that camera at a discount, but the discount was still beyond my budget.  I fretted over IM with my friend Mike, but then decided to pass.  My foray into digital photography would have to wait.

Only here’s the thing: apparently Mike contacted Nick anyway.  And then contacted nearly all of my contactable friends.  And my mom!  And together, everyone chipped in to get me this beautiful camera.  And, perhaps even more epic than the camera itself, everyone managed to keep this a secret.  For months.  EVEN MY MOTHER.

Needless to say, I was beside myself on Friday night when I opened up the present.  And even more beside myself as I realized just how amazing and wonderful and caring and many other wonderful adjectives my friends are.  Don’t even get me started; I’ve been a near basket case the last few days, trying to keep it together in the face of such extraordinary love and kindness.

And now I am the owner of a Leica M9.  This certainly doesn’t mean that I’ve given up on film — goodness, no!  But it does mean that I’m able to think a bit more fluidly and in a more flexible way about what and how I shoot.  Here are a handful of photos I’ve taken over the last few days with the new lady.  (Christening imminent!)

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And on Saturday night, my actual birthday evening, 19 friends came together — even a few who traveled from Philly, Chicago, and San Francisco, just for this occasion! — and we sat down for an epic meal in the private room at Frankies 457 in Brooklyn.  Turning 40 has been nothing short of amazing.  I can’t wait to see what happens next.

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