Photo
February 21, 2013
627 notes
The New York City skyline with Financial District skyscrapers in lower Manhattan.In the winter, there is a clarity and edge that is carried on the frigid fingers of icy air and crystallized exhales. —-I have been really getting into long exposures. There is something incredibly zen about the experience of setting up, and taking long exposures. The waiting is interesting. It forces a pause in the process. You start to be hyper-aware of the movement of clouds and light transitions. In the winter especially, it’s a commitment. The minute or so of waiting seems to encompass an eternity of thought(s). —-This is a 30 second exposure of the lower Manhattan skyline featuring the skyscrapers of the Financial District and Pier 17 taken with the Sony a99. The Freedom Tower (also known as 1 WTC or One World Trade Center), New York by Gehry, the Woolworth Building and the spire of the Municipal Building can all be seen here. —-View this photo with a comment thread on my Google Plus page—-View “New York City Skyline - Financial District Skyscrapers” in my photography portfolio here, email me, or ask for help.

The New York City skyline with Financial District skyscrapers in lower Manhattan.


In the winter, there is a clarity and edge that is carried on the frigid fingers of icy air and crystallized exhales.


—-


I have been really getting into long exposures. There is something incredibly zen about the experience of setting up, and taking long exposures. The waiting is interesting. It forces a pause in the process. You start to be hyper-aware of the movement of clouds and light transitions. In the winter especially, it’s a commitment. The minute or so of waiting seems to encompass an eternity of thought(s).


—-


This is a 30 second exposure of the lower Manhattan skyline featuring the skyscrapers of the Financial District and Pier 17 taken with the Sony a99. The Freedom Tower (also known as 1 WTC or One World Trade Center), New York by Gehry, the Woolworth Building and the spire of the Municipal Building can all be seen here.


—-


View this photo with a comment thread on my Google Plus page


—-


View “New York City Skyline - Financial District Skyscrapers” in my photography portfolio here, email me, or ask for help.

Tags: new york city nyc new york city photography manhattan financial district black and white long exposure skyline nyc skyline new york city skyline manhattan skyline lower manhattan skyscrapers urban landscape nyc skyscrapers

Photo
February 06, 2013
146 notes
Stone Street. New York City’s first paved street. Financial District.Stone Street is a narrow cobblestone alley that was first developed by Dutch colonists in the 1600s. Its claim to fame is that it is New York City’s first paved street and as such it is recognized as a historic landmark. It’s the main part of an area currently known as the Stone Street Historic District. Nestled among skyscrapers in the Financial District, it’s something of a time machine back into another era of New York City’s history. The street is the site where British merchants traded and sold goods, where American colonialists passionately spoke of independence and where tracts of land were purchased and sold (completely disregarding the earlier inhabitants of the area). The Dutch West India Company first sold this area to European property owners in the mid 1600s. It was around 1658 that the street was paved. The name Stone Street actually came about in the late 1700s. Prior to being named Stone Street, this alley was called Hoogh Straet and then Brouwer Street and also spent some time as Duke Street. Since the street is so close to the waterfront, it was the site of a tremendous amount of commercial activity for two centuries. In the mid 1800s, the area was destroyed by the Great Fire. Even though the Great Fire leveled hundreds of buildings in the area, the Stone Street district bounced back due to New York City having the leading maritime port in the country. However, in the mid twentieth century the area saw a decline due to maritime activity moving to the west side of Manhattan. In the mid 1990s, funding was secured to restore the area back to its former glory. —-Shot with the Sony a99 a few days ago on a bitterly cold winter day here in New York City, I can’t think of a better time to experience this historic alley. It comes to life in the summer when it is full of chairs and tables linked to the many dining establishments that now inhabit the buildings along Stone Street. But it’s in the winter when the light barely reaches through to the ground and when the breeze from the river cuts through to the bone that it makes an indelible mark on the heart.—-View this photo with a comment thread on my Google Plus page—-Buy “Stone Street - New York City” Posters and Prints here, email me, or ask for help.

Stone Street. New York City’s first paved street. Financial District.


Stone Street is a narrow cobblestone alley that was first developed by Dutch colonists in the 1600s. Its claim to fame is that it is New York City’s first paved street and as such it is recognized as a historic landmark.

It’s the main part of an area currently known as the Stone Street Historic District. Nestled among skyscrapers in the Financial District, it’s something of a time machine back into another era of New York City’s history. The street is the site where British merchants traded and sold goods, where American colonialists passionately spoke of independence and where tracts of land were purchased and sold (completely disregarding the earlier inhabitants of the area).

The Dutch West India Company first sold this area to European property owners in the mid 1600s. It was around 1658 that the street was paved. The name Stone Street actually came about in the late 1700s. Prior to being named Stone Street, this alley was called Hoogh Straet and then Brouwer Street and also spent some time as Duke Street. Since the street is so close to the waterfront, it was the site of a tremendous amount of commercial activity for two centuries.

In the mid 1800s, the area was destroyed by the Great Fire. Even though the Great Fire leveled hundreds of buildings in the area, the Stone Street district bounced back due to New York City having the leading maritime port in the country. However, in the mid twentieth century the area saw a decline due to maritime activity moving to the west side of Manhattan. In the mid 1990s, funding was secured to restore the area back to its former glory.

—-


Shot with the Sony a99 a few days ago on a bitterly cold winter day here in New York City, I can’t think of a better time to experience this historic alley. It comes to life in the summer when it is full of chairs and tables linked to the many dining establishments that now inhabit the buildings along Stone Street. But it’s in the winter when the light barely reaches through to the ground and when the breeze from the river cuts through to the bone that it makes an indelible mark on the heart.


—-


View this photo with a comment thread on my Google Plus page


—-


Buy “Stone Street - New York City” Posters and Prints here, email me, or ask for help.

Tags: new york city nyc manhattan new york city photography nyc photo architecture financial district cityscape city photography urban photography cobblestone cobblestone street stone street historic district nyc history new york history urban landscape lower manhattan

Photo
September 27, 2012
300 notes
The New York City skyline and the Statue of Liberty at sunset as seen from under the Brooklyn Bridge. Every evening, the sun slides slowly down along the sky gleaming and floating above the city. Reaching through the clouds to look at its reflection of liquid gold in the water below, it pauses. And in those brief moments, it’s as if the earth has stopped revolving just long enough for the sun and the city to kiss. —- This was taken while on a boat in the East River passing under the Brooklyn Bridge. The skyline is the lower Manhattan skyline featuring the skyscrapers of the Financial District and Pier 17 at South Street Seaport. To the left in the distance, sits the Statue of Liberty. —- View this photo larger and on black on my Google Plus page —- Buy “The New York City Skyline and the Statue of Liberty at Sunset - Under the Brooklyn Bridge” Prints here, email me, or ask for help.

The New York City skyline and the Statue of Liberty at sunset as seen from under the Brooklyn Bridge.

Every evening, the sun slides slowly down along the sky gleaming and floating above the city.

Reaching through the clouds to look at its reflection of liquid gold in the water below, it pauses.

And in those brief moments, it’s as if the earth has stopped revolving just long enough for the sun and the city to kiss.

—-

This was taken while on a boat in the East River passing under the Brooklyn Bridge. The skyline is the lower Manhattan skyline featuring the skyscrapers of the Financial District and Pier 17 at South Street Seaport. To the left in the distance, sits the Statue of Liberty.

—-

View this photo larger and on black on my Google Plus page

—-

Buy “The New York City Skyline and the Statue of Liberty at Sunset - Under the Brooklyn Bridge” Prints here, email me, or ask for help.

Tags: new york city skyline new york city nyc nyc skyline manhattan skyline landscape urban landscape urban waterfront lower manhattan lower manhattan skyline financial district brooklyn bridge skyscrapers financial district skyscrapers statue of liberty sunset sunset nyc sunset new york city sunset manhattan sunset statue of liberty beautiful pretty ny pictures new york pictures best views new york best view nyc east river view

Photo
September 13, 2012
375 notes
The Brooklyn Bridge and New York City skyline. On hazy summer afternoons when dusk pulls its soft purple veil over the city, the skyline softens momentarily in the dreamy-eyed gaze of the clouds. And as light slides from the sky making its way over steel, wood and concrete towards the disintegrating horizon, bridges and skyscrapers melt with the sun into the evening. —- View this photo larger and on black on my Google Plus page —- Buy “The Brooklyn Bridge and the New York City Skyline” Prints here, email me, or ask for help.

The Brooklyn Bridge and New York City skyline.

On hazy summer afternoons when dusk pulls its soft purple veil over the city, the skyline softens momentarily in the dreamy-eyed gaze of the clouds.

And as light slides from the sky making its way over steel, wood and concrete towards the disintegrating horizon, bridges and skyscrapers melt with the sun into the evening.

—-

View this photo larger and on black on my Google Plus page

—-

Buy “The Brooklyn Bridge and the New York City Skyline” Prints here, email me, or ask for help.

Tags: brooklyn bridge new york city nyc new york city skyline manhattan manhattan skyline nyc skyline lower manhattan financial district financial district skyline city' urban urban landscape landscape architecture brooklyn bridge arch brooklyn bridge wooden walkway ny pictures new york pictures classic new york view iconic new york city beautiful view nyc best view new york city

Photo
September 06, 2012
148 notes
Street art on a store gate. Lower East Side, New York City. Store gates slumber in the folds of the day when the sun and clouds fall over the city like exhaled breath wrapping the cityscape in sleepy thoughts. And on these slumbering store gates, dreamscapes unfold surrounded by the discarded remnants of every yesterday and every today. —- View this photo larger and on black on my Google Plus page —- Buy “Every Yesterday - Lower East Side - New York City” Prints here, email me, or ask for help.

Street art on a store gate. Lower East Side, New York City.

Store gates slumber in the folds of the day when the sun and clouds fall over the city like exhaled breath wrapping the cityscape in sleepy thoughts.

And on these slumbering store gates, dreamscapes unfold surrounded by the discarded remnants of every yesterday and every today.

—-

View this photo larger and on black on my Google Plus page

—-

Buy “Every Yesterday - Lower East Side - New York City” Prints here, email me, or ask for help.

Tags: street art graffiti new york city nyc new york city photography city city photography urban urban photography ny pictures new york pictures store gate architecture decay urban decay manhattan lower east side lower manhattan

Photo
June 20, 2012
166 notes
The Empire State Building and the buildings of historic Little Italy. New York City. One of my favorite views of the Empire State Building is from a vantage point in lower Manhattan. My breath is momentarily taken away every time I come across the Empire State Building’s spire jutting out in the distance framed by the Little Italy’s architecture. Little Italy is a small area in downtown Manhattan. Currently inhabiting a tiny section of Mulberry Street between Broome and Canal Streets the area recalls a rich history of immigration. Many late 19th century and early 20th century tenements still line the streets and what is left of the area emanates a tremendous amount of history. Immigrants from Italy first settled in the neighborhood called Five Points in the 1850s, finally spreading north into what is now referred to as Little Italy in the 1880s. The Five Points neighborhood was New York’s original and most notorious slum. Located a few blocks below Canal at Baxter Street the neighborhood teemed with gangs, prostitutes, and criminals. A target for reformers of all stripes and an embarrassment to civic planners, the dark and airless tenements of the Five Points were finally demolished in an early urban renewal effort and in their place rose newer buildings which still stand today (and can be seen in this photo). Little Italy has lately been colonized by Chinatown in its southern parts and its northern reaches now host upscale boutiques, bars and restaurants. The remnants of the original Little Italy can be found around Mulberry Street and Mott Street. Some interesting film trivia: key scenes from The Godfather were filmed in Little Italy. These include the christening scene, in which Coppola’s family members acted as extras, and the set representing the interior of the Genco Olive Oil company, which was built on the fourth floor of an old loft building at 128 Mott Street, at the corner of Hester Street. —- View this photo larger and on black on my Google Plus page —- Buy “The Empire State Building and Little Italy - New York City” Prints here, email me, or ask for help.

The Empire State Building and the buildings of historic Little Italy. New York City.

One of my favorite views of the Empire State Building is from a vantage point in lower Manhattan. My breath is momentarily taken away every time I come across the Empire State Building’s spire jutting out in the distance framed by the Little Italy’s architecture.

Little Italy is a small area in downtown Manhattan. Currently inhabiting a tiny section of Mulberry Street between Broome and Canal Streets the area recalls a rich history of immigration. Many late 19th century and early 20th century tenements still line the streets and what is left of the area emanates a tremendous amount of history.

Immigrants from Italy first settled in the neighborhood called Five Points in the 1850s, finally spreading north into what is now referred to as Little Italy in the 1880s. The Five Points neighborhood was New York’s original and most notorious slum. Located a few blocks below Canal at Baxter Street the neighborhood teemed with gangs, prostitutes, and criminals. A target for reformers of all stripes and an embarrassment to civic planners, the dark and airless tenements of the Five Points were finally demolished in an early urban renewal effort and in their place rose newer buildings which still stand today (and can be seen in this photo). Little Italy has lately been colonized by Chinatown in its southern parts and its northern reaches now host upscale boutiques, bars and restaurants. The remnants of the original Little Italy can be found around Mulberry Street and Mott Street.

Some interesting film trivia: key scenes from The Godfather were filmed in Little Italy. These include the christening scene, in which Coppola’s family members acted as extras, and the set representing the interior of the Genco Olive Oil company, which was built on the fourth floor of an old loft building at 128 Mott Street, at the corner of Hester Street.

—-

View this photo larger and on black on my Google Plus page

—-

Buy “The Empire State Building and Little Italy - New York City” Prints here, email me, or ask for help.

Tags: little italy new york city nyc manhattan lower manhattan empire state building city city photography urban urban photography new york city photography architecture nyc architecture historic historic little italy historic nyc ny pictures new york pictures tenements little italy tenements buildings best views new york

Photo
May 19, 2012
223 notes
The New York City skyline at sunset in silhouette under dramatic storm clouds. Clouds, which once covered the sky like a thick, dark purple blanket open slowly to reveal the blue hues that breathe life into the day. And as the sun’s flame dips closer to the horizon, its scintillating luster reaches up to the clouds. For, you see, the sun only disappears temporarily to make way for the moon and stars that blush white-hot in thoughts of its splendor. —- View this photo larger and on black on my Google Plus page —- Buy “There Is a Hole in the Clouds Where Light Shines Through - New York City Skyline at Sunset” Prints here, email me, or ask for help.

The New York City skyline at sunset in silhouette under dramatic storm clouds.

Clouds, which once covered the sky like a thick, dark purple blanket open slowly to reveal the blue hues that breathe life into the day.

And as the sun’s flame dips closer to the horizon, its scintillating luster reaches up to the clouds.

For, you see, the sun only disappears temporarily to make way for the moon and stars that blush white-hot in thoughts of its splendor.

—-

View this photo larger and on black on my Google Plus page

—-

Buy “There Is a Hole in the Clouds Where Light Shines Through - New York City Skyline at Sunset” Prints here, email me, or ask for help.

Tags: sunset landscape nyc new york city manhattan skyline nyc skyline new york city skyline manhattan skyline lower manhattan financial district financial district skyline ny pictures new york pictures silhouette nyc silhouette new york city silhouette cityscape nyc cityscape beautiful pretty dramatic moody best views new york city urban city sunset urban sunset clouds storm clouds

Photo
May 15, 2012
248 notes
Summer on Perry Street. Greenwich Village, New York City On summer days like this, the bright summer sun barely cuts through the branches of trees canopies that line the street while brownstones and bicycles revel in the cool shade. Some people flee the city in the summer, preferring cooler climates free of hot cement. For me, there is nothing that comes close to summer in the city. It’s true that often the air is held captive by the high heat and the sun scorches the pavement but when a breeze is allowed free rein to fly through the trees, something magical happens. Streets breathe a sigh of relief and warm tones of muted sunlight cast upon buildings languishing in the shade inspire smiles of contentment. —- View this photo larger and on black on my Google Plus page —- Buy “Summer in the City - Perry Street - Greenwich Village - New York City” Prints here, email me, or ask for help.

Summer on Perry Street. Greenwich Village, New York City

On summer days like this, the bright summer sun barely cuts through the branches of trees canopies that line the street while brownstones and bicycles revel in the cool shade.

Some people flee the city in the summer, preferring cooler climates free of hot cement. For me, there is nothing that comes close to summer in the city.

It’s true that often the air is held captive by the high heat and the sun scorches the pavement but when a breeze is allowed free rein to fly through the trees, something magical happens.

Streets breathe a sigh of relief and warm tones of muted sunlight cast upon buildings languishing in the shade inspire smiles of contentment.

—-

View this photo larger and on black on my Google Plus page

—-

Buy “Summer in the City - Perry Street - Greenwich Village - New York City” Prints here, email me, or ask for help.

Tags: greenwich village west village nyc new york city new york city photography perry street perry street brownstones brownstones bicycles' manhattan lower manhattan summer city summer tree lined street nyc street new york city street manhattan street beautiful pretty gorgeous charming

Photo
May 11, 2012
117 notes
Man with a newspaper on Rivington Street. Lower East Side, New York City. There are moments that seem as if they have been transported from an entirely different era right into the heart of today. This is one of them. The gentleman sitting here in his three piece suit and fedora was casually enjoying his newspaper while sitting next to a few closed storefronts on a rather moody, overcast day. When I first moved to this neighborhood a few years ago, I noted the Botánica which was open for a few hours every day. A few of the neighbors in my apartment building who have lived here on the Lower East Side for decades would frequent the Botánica on a weekly basis. I have noticed that it no longer appears to be open which saddens me. I am unsure if the closure is permanent or merely temporary but I do still wonder where my older neighbors go for their Botánica needs. A botánica is a retail store that sells folk medicine, religious candles and statuary, amulets, and other products regarded as magical or as alternative medicine. Some botánicas also carry incense, perfumes and oils. While these stores are common in many Hispanic American countries and communities of Latino people elsewhere botánicas can also be found in any United States city that has a sizable Latino/a population, particularly those with ties to the Caribbean. The name botánica is Spanish and translates as “botany” or “plant” store, referring to these establishments’ function as dispensaries of medicinal herbs. Medicinal herbs may be sold dried or fresh, prepackaged or in bulk. The stores almost always feature a variety of implements endemic to Roman Catholic religious practice such as rosary beads, holy water, and images of saints. In addition, most have products associated with other spiritual practices such as candomblé, curanderismo, espiritismo, macumba and santería. Source —- This is my weekly mobile photography post. I am @newyorklens on Instagram (view my feed here). You can read about my thoughts on mobile photography and Instagram here and you can check out some of my Instagram photos on Flickr here. Additionally, you can view my phone photography for sale here. —- Buy ” New York City - Lower East Side” Prints here, My mobile photography for sale here, My regular photography for sale here, email me, or ask for help.

Man with a newspaper on Rivington Street. Lower East Side, New York City.

There are moments that seem as if they have been transported from an entirely different era right into the heart of today. This is one of them. The gentleman sitting here in his three piece suit and fedora was casually enjoying his newspaper while sitting next to a few closed storefronts on a rather moody, overcast day.

When I first moved to this neighborhood a few years ago, I noted the Botánica which was open for a few hours every day. A few of the neighbors in my apartment building who have lived here on the Lower East Side for decades would frequent the Botánica on a weekly basis. I have noticed that it no longer appears to be open which saddens me. I am unsure if the closure is permanent or merely temporary but I do still wonder where my older neighbors go for their Botánica needs.

A botánica is a retail store that sells folk medicine, religious candles and statuary, amulets, and other products regarded as magical or as alternative medicine. Some botánicas also carry incense, perfumes and oils. While these stores are common in many Hispanic American countries and communities of Latino people elsewhere botánicas can also be found in any United States city that has a sizable Latino/a population, particularly those with ties to the Caribbean.

The name botánica is Spanish and translates as “botany” or “plant” store, referring to these establishments’ function as dispensaries of medicinal herbs. Medicinal herbs may be sold dried or fresh, prepackaged or in bulk. The stores almost always feature a variety of implements endemic to Roman Catholic religious practice such as rosary beads, holy water, and images of saints. In addition, most have products associated with other spiritual practices such as candomblé, curanderismo, espiritismo, macumba and santería. Source

—-

This is my weekly mobile photography post. I am @newyorklens on Instagram (view my feed here). You can read about my thoughts on mobile photography and Instagram here and you can check out some of my Instagram photos on Flickr here. Additionally, you can view my phone photography for sale here.

—-

Buy ” New York City - Lower East Side” Prints here, My mobile photography for sale here, My regular photography for sale here, email me, or ask for help.

Tags: botanica lower east side nyc new york city city urban new york city photography city photography instagram mobile photography street photography nyc instagram instagram new york city iphonography iphoneography ny pictures new york pictures lower manhattan

Photo
May 06, 2012
175 notes
Crossing Lower Broadway. Greenwich Village, New York City. In keeping with my promise to post a photo every week taken with my phone, here is this week’s mobile photography post. I am @newyorklens on Instagram (view my feed here). You can read about my thoughts on mobile photography and Instagram here and you can check out some of my Instagram photos on Flickr here. As I experiment more and more with photo-editing apps for phone cameras, I find myself falling more and more in love with mobile photography. I branched out this past week and tried out Photoforge2 and VSCO and it was something of a revelation to me. Photoforge2 has quickly become one of my core editing apps for my phone images. It has many of the same tools you would find in Photoshop and/or Lightroom and its features are staggering in their editing and creative capacities. I still also tinker around with Snapseed and Noir. As my editing app arsenal has grown, I have found myself deeply interested in how the current crop of photo-sharing networks differ from each other. I really love Instagram. The community (or I suppose I should say ‘communities’) there is/are enthusiastic and very welcoming. I can’t remember the last time I had such a high response to things I have shared relative to the amount of people following me. People seem far more invested in the people they follow on Instagram than on other networks I have tried out so far. However, my trials are limited since I have literally only been dabbling in phone photography for a little over 3 weeks and I have only been using a few of the newer networks I have tried for 1 or 2 weeks A few people I know via other photography communities online turned me on to the world of EyeEm (you can view my limited feed and my EyeEm account here) a few weeks ago and I have been on Streamzoo for as long as I have been on Instagram. I came across this article last week: Is Instagram Defining, and Therefore Ruining, Mobile Photography? which made for interesting reading in light of my photo-sharing network dabbling. While I feel that some of the author’s points are a bit muddled, there are some interesting points made that could probably be applied to all networks online in terms of the democratization of all forms of photography, mobile or otherwise. One thing that I think the author may have wrong is that there are some very vibrant, serious mobile photography communities on Instagram that are focused on the art of mobile photography. Instagram is the most popular out of all of the photo-sharing mobile networks though and with multitudes of users comes an increase in noise. I think this is where EyeEm shines for people who are interested in viewing and sharing mobile photography that transcends snapshot-status. I find the talent on EyeEm to be staggering. However, I think that the interface design (specifically for iPhones) is a bit lacking and in some cases non-intuitive. The community is also very small in comparison to a service like Instagram and it can be hard to break through and find other people to interact with. I will continue to post to all 3 networks though for now. I find that each network has its own strengths and weaknesses. I do enjoy the random spontaneity of my Instagram feed and slipping in a cat photo (or two, or three…or ten :) ) doesn’t feel like an assault to the people following me versus on EyeEm where the level of photography is higher and I feel compelled to post more serious photos! —- Buy “New York City - Cloudy Day on Broadway” Prints here, My mobile photography for sale here, My regular photography for sale here, email me, or ask for help.

Crossing Lower Broadway. Greenwich Village, New York City.

In keeping with my promise to post a photo every week taken with my phone, here is this week’s mobile photography post. I am @newyorklens on Instagram (view my feed here). You can read about my thoughts on mobile photography and Instagram here and you can check out some of my Instagram photos on Flickr here.

As I experiment more and more with photo-editing apps for phone cameras, I find myself falling more and more in love with mobile photography. I branched out this past week and tried out Photoforge2 and VSCO and it was something of a revelation to me.

Photoforge2 has quickly become one of my core editing apps for my phone images. It has many of the same tools you would find in Photoshop and/or Lightroom and its features are staggering in their editing and creative capacities. I still also tinker around with Snapseed and Noir.

As my editing app arsenal has grown, I have found myself deeply interested in how the current crop of photo-sharing networks differ from each other. I really love Instagram. The community (or I suppose I should say ‘communities’) there is/are enthusiastic and very welcoming. I can’t remember the last time I had such a high response to things I have shared relative to the amount of people following me. People seem far more invested in the people they follow on Instagram than on other networks I have tried out so far. However, my trials are limited since I have literally only been dabbling in phone photography for a little over 3 weeks and I have only been using a few of the newer networks I have tried for 1 or 2 weeks

A few people I know via other photography communities online turned me on to the world of EyeEm (you can view my limited feed and my EyeEm account here) a few weeks ago and I have been on Streamzoo for as long as I have been on Instagram.

I came across this article last week: Is Instagram Defining, and Therefore Ruining, Mobile Photography? which made for interesting reading in light of my photo-sharing network dabbling. While I feel that some of the author’s points are a bit muddled, there are some interesting points made that could probably be applied to all networks online in terms of the democratization of all forms of photography, mobile or otherwise.

One thing that I think the author may have wrong is that there are some very vibrant, serious mobile photography communities on Instagram that are focused on the art of mobile photography. Instagram is the most popular out of all of the photo-sharing mobile networks though and with multitudes of users comes an increase in noise. I think this is where EyeEm shines for people who are interested in viewing and sharing mobile photography that transcends snapshot-status. I find the talent on EyeEm to be staggering. However, I think that the interface design (specifically for iPhones) is a bit lacking and in some cases non-intuitive. The community is also very small in comparison to a service like Instagram and it can be hard to break through and find other people to interact with.

I will continue to post to all 3 networks though for now. I find that each network has its own strengths and weaknesses. I do enjoy the random spontaneity of my Instagram feed and slipping in a cat photo (or two, or three…or ten :) ) doesn’t feel like an assault to the people following me versus on EyeEm where the level of photography is higher and I feel compelled to post more serious photos!

—-

Buy “New York City - Cloudy Day on Broadway” Prints here, My mobile photography for sale here, My regular photography for sale here, email me, or ask for help.

Tags: greenwich village east village lower manhattan new york city nyc instagram new york city instagram city urban ny pictures new york pictures mobile photography iphoneography iphonography iphone photography phone photography phone photography apps mobile photography apps phone photography editing

Photo
May 03, 2012
144 notes
Skyscrapers. Financial District, New York City. When I was very young, I remember learning about vast mountain ranges that existed in what seemed like universes beyond New York City. I would regale myself with images of these towering feats of nature trying to imagine what it was like to come in contact with such powerful natural wonders. I used to think to myself “There is nothing like this here in the city, all we have are buildings.” It wasn’t until my teens when I lived in New Mexico for a little over a year and more specifically when I got to experience the majesty of Taos that I was able to understand how infinitely small everything seems in comparison to the vastness of the world. And yet, while I was in school there in Albuquerque, other students would ask me daily to tell them what it was like to live amongst buildings that soared to the sky. It never occurred to me before that time that the man-made feats of architecture that I viewed on a regular basis were for these students what the images of mountain ranges were to me before I had the experience of seeing mountains with my own eyes. When I moved back to New York City, I carried that new knowledge with me like a precious gift, tucking it away for safe-keeping. And it wasn’t until I discovered photography, that I took that knowledge out from where I tucked it away for many years and started to view my own city with new eyes. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t recall the time when I realized that New York City is its own man-made land of enchantment. —- View this photo larger and on black on my Google Plus page —- Buy “Enchantment - Skyscrapers - Financial District - New York City” Prints here, email me, or ask for help.

Skyscrapers. Financial District, New York City.

When I was very young, I remember learning about vast mountain ranges that existed in what seemed like universes beyond New York City. I would regale myself with images of these towering feats of nature trying to imagine what it was like to come in contact with such powerful natural wonders. I used to think to myself “There is nothing like this here in the city, all we have are buildings.”

It wasn’t until my teens when I lived in New Mexico for a little over a year and more specifically when I got to experience the majesty of Taos that I was able to understand how infinitely small everything seems in comparison to the vastness of the world.

And yet, while I was in school there in Albuquerque, other students would ask me daily to tell them what it was like to live amongst buildings that soared to the sky.

It never occurred to me before that time that the man-made feats of architecture that I viewed on a regular basis were for these students what the images of mountain ranges were to me before I had the experience of seeing mountains with my own eyes.

When I moved back to New York City, I carried that new knowledge with me like a precious gift, tucking it away for safe-keeping.

And it wasn’t until I discovered photography, that I took that knowledge out from where I tucked it away for many years and started to view my own city with new eyes.

There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t recall the time when I realized that New York City is its own man-made land of enchantment.

—-

View this photo larger and on black on my Google Plus page

—-

Buy “Enchantment - Skyscrapers - Financial District - New York City” Prints here, email me, or ask for help.

Tags: skyscrapers architecture new york city nyc new york city photography city urban buildings manhattan lower manhattan financial district financial district skyscrapers skyline cityscape nyc skyline new york city skyline sky ny pictures new york pictures

Photoset
May 02, 2012
75 notes

My photos on the cover and inside of the inaugural issue of The Lo-Down Magazine. Lower East Side, New York City.


I was thrilled when I was asked by one of my favorite neighborhood news blogs, The Lo-Down, to take photos for their inaugural issue of their new print magazine. As a Lower East Side resident who is invested in the community, I can definitely say that being asked to take photos for such a venture is one of the proudest recent moments in memory regarding my photography.


The task was to capture the area South of Delancey Street at the foot of the Williamsburg Bridge which is known as SPURA (Seward Park Urban Renewal Area). Currently, and for many, many years as far back as I can remember, the area consists mainly of city-owned parking lots usually filled with trucks in various stages of wear and tear. It’s an area I pass by daily since I live very, very close to it and for many community residents it is now an extremely hot topic due to the development plans and proposals. You can read a bit about SPURA here on the Lo-Down if you are interested.


I am really proud of the Lo-Down for launching their new magazine which is being sent out to thousands of Lower East Side residents this week as well as many of the local stores, cafes and retail establishments in the area and happy that I could contribute to their venture with photos of the neighborhood I love so dearly, the Lower East Side.


You can view the photos used in the magazine (and a few more that are part of the same set that I just love) larger either on my Flickr here:


SPURA - Lower East Side


… or you can view all of the photos including scans of my photos in the Lo-Down Magazine on my Google Plus profile here:


The Lo-Down Magazine - Photos of SPURA - Lower East Side


Enjoy!

—-

View my photography for sale here, email me, or ask for help.

Tags: nyc new york city lower east side spura delancey street lo down ny lo down magazine vivienne gucwa photography vivienne gucwa photography in print lower east side magazine gritty nyc ny pictures new york pictures lower manhattan manhattan city city photography urban urban photography graffiti nyc graffiti truck graffiti

Photo
April 30, 2012
258 notes
Afternoon sunlight on fire escapes. Greenwich Village, New York City. The afternoon yawns with its mouth full of sunlight before it slips into the shadows of evening. Fire escapes catch the sun’s gleam: staircases for dreamers propelling dreams skyward. And the trees bow graciously in the lingering glow of sweet sunlight: courteous hosts beckoning wanderers to bask in the shared glow and warmth of the city. —- View this photo larger and on black on my Google Plus page —- Buy “Afternoon Sunlight on a Greenwich Village Street - New York City” Prints here, email me, or ask for help.

Afternoon sunlight on fire escapes. Greenwich Village, New York City.

The afternoon yawns with its mouth full of sunlight before it slips into the shadows of evening.

Fire escapes catch the sun’s gleam: staircases for dreamers propelling dreams skyward.

And the trees bow graciously in the lingering glow of sweet sunlight: courteous hosts beckoning wanderers to bask in the shared glow and warmth of the city.

—-

View this photo larger and on black on my Google Plus page

—-

Buy “Afternoon Sunlight on a Greenwich Village Street - New York City” Prints here, email me, or ask for help.

Tags: greenwich village nyc new york city nyc street greenwich village street trees tree lined street nyc tree lined street manhattan street manhattan lower manhattan ny pictures new york pictures city urban new york city photography sunlight sun spring spring nyc spring trees

Photo
April 29, 2012
130 notes
Late afternoon in Little Italy, New York City. I haven’t forgotten about my promise to post one phone photography image a week! This was taken yesterday in Little Italy during some of my adventures. Little Italy is a small area in downtown Manhattan. Currently inhabiting a tiny section of Mulberry Street between Broome and Canal Streets the area recalls a rich history of immigration. Many original tenements still line the streets and what is left of the area emanates a tremendous amount of history. I am @newyorklens on Instagram. You can read about my thoughts on mobile photography and Instagram here and you can check out some of my Instagram photos here. Most of my phone photos are now processed in Snapseed and/or Noir first and then tinkered with in Instagram depending on my mood. I am still on the fence about how I feel when I see photos posted to Instagram that aren’t taken with a phone. I see more and more dSLR (and other) camera photos in my stream there and it is a bit jarring. I prefer to stick to posting photos of New York City to Instagram taken only with my iPhone 4s because it’s my own personal challenge to translate what I am seeing with only my phone camera and the few phone camera editing apps I use on my phone. I feel like I have all sorts of other sites to post my regular New York City photography to and the spirit of Instagram seems to be primarily for mobile photography (in my own mind anyway). I am sure my feelings on this may change over time but for now, I am all about using Instagram as an outlet purely for phone photography. —- View my photography for sale here, email me, or ask for help.

Late afternoon in Little Italy, New York City.

I haven’t forgotten about my promise to post one phone photography image a week! This was taken yesterday in Little Italy during some of my adventures. Little Italy is a small area in downtown Manhattan. Currently inhabiting a tiny section of Mulberry Street between Broome and Canal Streets the area recalls a rich history of immigration. Many original tenements still line the streets and what is left of the area emanates a tremendous amount of history.

I am @newyorklens on Instagram. You can read about my thoughts on mobile photography and Instagram here and you can check out some of my Instagram photos here. Most of my phone photos are now processed in Snapseed and/or Noir first and then tinkered with in Instagram depending on my mood.

I am still on the fence about how I feel when I see photos posted to Instagram that aren’t taken with a phone. I see more and more dSLR (and other) camera photos in my stream there and it is a bit jarring. I prefer to stick to posting photos of New York City to Instagram taken only with my iPhone 4s because it’s my own personal challenge to translate what I am seeing with only my phone camera and the few phone camera editing apps I use on my phone. I feel like I have all sorts of other sites to post my regular New York City photography to and the spirit of Instagram seems to be primarily for mobile photography (in my own mind anyway). I am sure my feelings on this may change over time but for now, I am all about using Instagram as an outlet purely for phone photography.

—-

View my photography for sale here, email me, or ask for help.

Tags: black and white iphone iphone 4s photo iphone photography iphonography little italy lower manhattan manhattan mobile photography new york city new york pictures ny pictures nyc nyc street instagram

Photo
April 13, 2012
111 notes
Chinatown on a rainy evening. New York City. I used to imagine that I could stop time in tiny increments by blinking my eyes. Each blink had the potential to open up an entirely new narrative and universe. It wasn’t until I fell in love with photography that I realized that every photo also opens up an entirely new narrative and universe of possibility. On evenings when rain washes over the city each moment becomes a solitary frame broken ever so slightly by the movement of umbrellas, the blink of an eye and the click of a camera. —- If you didn’t see my initial contest entry post for the current Artists Wanted photography contest, you can still help me out by going to my contest entry page and clicking collect me —- View this photo larger and on black on my Google Plus page —- Buy “The Gleam in the Eye of the Clouds - Chinatown - New York City” Prints here, email me, or ask for help.

Chinatown on a rainy evening. New York City.

I used to imagine that I could stop time in tiny increments by blinking my eyes. Each blink had the potential to open up an entirely new narrative and universe. It wasn’t until I fell in love with photography that I realized that every photo also opens up an entirely new narrative and universe of possibility.

On evenings when rain washes over the city each moment becomes a solitary frame broken ever so slightly by the movement of umbrellas, the blink of an eye and the click of a camera.

—-

If you didn’t see my initial contest entry post for the current Artists Wanted photography contest, you can still help me out by going to my contest entry page and clicking collect me

—-

View this photo larger and on black on my Google Plus page

—-

Buy “The Gleam in the Eye of the Clouds - Chinatown - New York City” Prints here, email me, or ask for help.

Tags: chinatown pell street chinatown nyc nyc rain new york city rain rain new york city nyc manhattan lower manhattan moody moody nyc noir nyc nyc noir new york city noir alley nyc alley new york city alley alley in the rain ny pictures new york pictures

Powered by Tumblr. Minimal Theme designed by Artur Kim.