Tom Keefe

This evening I was photographing the exterior of an upcoming...

Wed, 08 Aug 2012 00:30:00 -0400

This evening I was photographing the exterior of an upcoming listing in Greenpoint, and this incredible sunset over Manhattan pulled me away in the middle of my set-up. I know how this sounds, but I really think this was the most amazing sunset I’ve seen in my ten years in New York.

This week, I photographed a new listing at 135 Prospect Park...

Fri, 04 May 2012 13:26:00 -0400

This week, I photographed a new listing at 135 Prospect Park West in Park Slope. After shutting off the lights, I took one last look at the apartment and noticed how beautiful the natural light was, and I saw what I thought could make a great photograph. I knew it wouldn’t even closely resemble a traditional property shot, but as a photographer, it’s impossible to turn down the chance to capture an image that jumps out at you.

This main image is a 30 second exposure at f/22 or f/16. However, I had to flash the flowers on the nesting table because it was in shadow. I did this using the pocket wizard, which I am really into, and the Canon Speedlite 580EX II. I had a Flex TT5 on the Speedlite and the camera body, and I triggered the shutter and flash with the Mini TT1.

I really like the photograph. This apartment really has a great feel when the lights are off in the afternoon, and I hope that reads with people when they see the listing.

Here is an exterior shot of a new townhouse I am listing in...

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 12:10:12 -0400

Here is an exterior shot of a new townhouse I am listing in Williamsburg in Brooklyn at 94 Jackson Street. I was really excited about photographing this house because I thought the brown siding would contrast really nicely with the warm interior lights - and I think it did!

This is a combination of 3 exposures. The first was taken to capture the sky about an hour before sunset, the second exposure was set to get the actual exterior of the houses just before sunset, and the final was taken when it was dark to get the interiors without any glare.

One of the pleasantly surprising results of starting a career...

Sun, 27 Nov 2011 19:18:00 -0500

One of the pleasantly surprising results of starting a career selling real estate is that I’ve started to get back into photography. Most people are surprised when I tell them that I went to college for photography, but indeed, it is true.

Recently, I watched this video on Strobist about real estate photography, and I was so impressed with the final images that I decided I needed to figure out the technique. Fortunately, this coincided with being home for Thanksgiving, my Dad completing his new house in Wisconsin, and my brother getting married to a photography teacher who is an ace with photoshop. I bought some new equipment, as used in the video, and set to work. I’m very happy with my first attempt and look forward to applying this to my listings back in New York City.

Park Slope Brooklyn Renovation Before & After

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 11:52:00 -0400

Who doesn’t enjoy a good set of Before & After photos? Below, I have posted 3 sets from a property I just put back on the market at 243 8th Street in Park Slope in Brooklyn (full listing here). After trying to sell the property in the “Before” state, I was finally able to convince the owner to make the changes necessary to sell the property. We kept all of the good features (of which there were many - great layout, custom A/V systems, high-end kitchen appliances, etc) and fixed the problems (of which there were also many - blue marble floors, faux marble walls, yellow crown moldings, etc). I think we got it right because everyone who has seen the apartment since it was finished has loved it. I was involved with every step of the renovation, so if you would like specific information about the process, please contact me directly.

Living Room - BEFORE

Living Room - AFTER

Aside from re-staging, the two main changes we made were replacing the blue marble floors with 4” wide white oak and repainting the walls, crown molding, and trim. We also installed Top-Down/Bottom-Up shades because the apartment is on the ground level.

Master Bedroom - BEFORE

Master Bedroom - AFTER

In the bedroom, we replaced the carpet with the hardwood, repainted, and moved the bed to the other side of the room. We also replaced with window treatments, installing the Top-Down/Bottom-Up shades.

Kitchen/Dining Room - BEFORE

Kitchen/Dining Room - AFTER

Overall, I think the photos speak for themselves. The space is now warm and inviting and you can truly appreciate the open layout. I wasn’t planning on taking the final image above, but as I was sitting on the couch, taking it in, I realized how great the apartment looked from this angle. For the first time, it struck me that I could imagine living there.

Building Exterior and Private Outdoor Space

thecorcorangroup10amspecial: August 26, 2011 - Highly Desirable...

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 10:40:38 -0400

Living Room

Living Room

Living Room

Kitchen

Master Bedroom

Bedroom

Bathroom

Common Roof Top

Building Facade

thecorcorangroup10amspecial:

August 26, 2011 - Highly Desirable Conversion

259 21st Street - Apt: 4B
Brooklyn, Park Slope
$1,990,000 | 2.5 Bedrooms | 3 Bathrooms | Approx. 2,800 sq. ft.

Live and entertain in style in this convertible loft/duplex with 18’ ceilings and sweeping Manhattan views. Located a short walk from Prospect Park on 21st street between 5th & 6th Ave in the highly desirable St. John’s Condominiums, the unit is on the top floor of a superbly managed elevator building. This spectacular home comes with two private gated parking spaces, and access to a massive common roof. Upon entering the apartment, you will find yourself in a huge eat-in kitchen with luxury appliances (Miele, Sub-Zero, Viking). Just off the kitchen is a massive living room with soaring 18’ ceilings and two 12’ x 10’ picture windows with sweeping views of Manhattan and the skyline. Upstairs is the Master Bedroom with exposed iron beams, a huge walk-in closet, and a spa style bathroom including a 5 Head Shower Column and a two-person Jacuzzi style bathtub.

For more information about today’s 10am Special, please visit corcoran.com.

Wedding kiss in DUMBO

Sat, 04 Jun 2011 19:24:00 -0400

Wedding kiss in DUMBO

Sometimes a groomsmen needs a little ice cream after the group...

Sat, 04 Jun 2011 19:21:59 -0400

Sometimes a groomsmen needs a little ice cream after the group shot.

Biking can be a little treacherous in DUMBO!

Sat, 04 Jun 2011 19:20:32 -0400

Biking can be a little treacherous in DUMBO!

Lounging in the Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Sat, 04 Jun 2011 19:18:58 -0400

Lounging in the Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Here’s one of DUMBO’s premiere converted lofts...

Sat, 04 Jun 2011 19:16:36 -0400

Here’s one of DUMBO’s premiere converted lofts buildings, The Clocktower. This building is also home to the highest priced condominium on the market in Brooklyn, currently asking $23,500,000. It’s the entire top of what you see in this photo. Check out the official listing!

Today’s location was DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan...

Sat, 04 Jun 2011 19:10:13 -0400

Today’s location was DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass). I actually neglected to take photos of the Manhattan Bridge, mainly because it has some pretty stiff competition nearby in the form of the Brooklyn Bridge.

DUMBO is kind of like Brooklyn’s SOHO with its cobblestone streets and converted lofts. For some reason, it’s also always swarmed with wedding photographers. This shot captures most of everything I think of when I think of DUMBO: the Brooklyn Bridge, cobblestone streets, converted lofts, and wedding photography.

Today was the first nice Spring Day we’ve had in a while, or at...

Thu, 21 Apr 2011 08:45:55 -0400

Today was the first nice Spring Day we’ve had in a while, or at least it felt that way. I met with Adam at Blackbird in Williamsburg, and we discussed marketing over coffee. He reminded me of one of the original ideas I had when I started working real estate: to maintain a blog updated with photos and videos of Brooklyn. It’s been a whirlwind, and I’m glad he gave me a jolt to start it again, whether he knew it or not.

So, I decided to get over to Park Slope to take advantage of the Spring tree blossoming, and the beautiful, diffuse light. I spent a couple hours around 3rd & 8th Avenue, and came back with these images.

Stoop Photography

Thu, 21 Apr 2011 08:44:23 -0400

Stoop Photography

Stoop Reading

Thu, 21 Apr 2011 08:43:15 -0400

Stoop Reading

Strolling on 3rd Street

Thu, 21 Apr 2011 08:42:16 -0400

Strolling on 3rd Street

Brownstone Line-up

Thu, 21 Apr 2011 08:41:10 -0400

Brownstone Line-up

Will Ridgewood Queens become the next destination for budget...

Sun, 30 Jan 2011 11:36:56 -0500

Will Ridgewood Queens become the next destination for budget seeking renters who want to live off the L train? The jury is out, and I’m still getting to know the area, but I think so. Here’s why:

Dekalb is the 7th stop on the L (the Seneca stop on the M is also here)
Rents are low, generally well under $1600 for a 1 or even 2 bedroom apartment
The neighborhood is largely residential, with many delis, laundromats, grocery stores, etc.

This is the exterior of 17-25 Harman Street in Ridgewood, a building that houses 3 apartments I am in the process of renting (interior photos forthcoming). Here’s a Google map of its location:

http://bit.ly/fYeuJx

Thoughts on Ridgewood?

Check out the crazy amount of snow on Noble Street after last...

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 09:44:28 -0500

Check out the crazy amount of snow on Noble Street after last night’s big storm! No idea how much snow fell out here, but as you can see, the cars are once again buried and people are walking in the middle of the street! I still can’t get over all the lightning strikes last night. As my friend Alex Reeves said, Thundersnow. Indeed.

Sometimes the ESB looks best when you can only see some of it....

Sun, 14 Nov 2010 21:41:11 -0500

Sometimes the ESB looks best when you can only see some of it. This seems to happen fairly often, and I’ve been waiting for a night when the clouds are just high enough to see the bottom of the lights. This is a long exposure, so I’m able to pick up the reflections of the buildings on the clouds, but wait until I get a shot just after a big snow. That’s when the city glows all night.