Photoset
February 09, 2013
1,343 notes

Winter storm Nemo in New York City. Blizzard set of photos from the Lower East Side to Times Square.


My entire set of photos is up here on my Flickr (there are around 40 photos including a lot more of Times Square in the snow):


Winter Storm Nemo - New York City - Blizzard 2013


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I live for snowstorms in New York City. So you can just imagine how bummed I was last winter season when we barely got any snow. Growing up in New York City, I remember quite a few blizzards and its with fond nostalgia that I always wish for at least one great snowstorm during the winter. New York City is extra beautiful when covered in a blanket of freshly fallen snow.


When I heard that winter storm Nemo (also known as the Blizzard of 2013, February snowstorm and other terms) was going to deliver some gorgeous white flakes from the sky I was more than ready for it. The photos in this set are not edited the way I would normally edit them. I just basically imported them into Lightroom and adjusted some contrast in a few cases from the RAW files. I will most likely go through the photos here plus others that I am not posting and give them the Vivienne treatment at some point. I am just floored at how incredible it was to shoot the snow with the Sony a99. I did go out of my way to protect it despite it being weather-sealed since it isn’t technically my camera and since my lenses also needed protection. I must have been quite a sight in my ski-mask, enormous scarf, giant winter boots and a camera covered in plastic. :) It seemed like I had an easier time shooting in this snowstorm than in the two blizzards that I took photos in back in 2010 and 2011. I think it’s because the wind was far more manageable and because I was out before the blizzard hit with full force. While the snow was heavy, the winds were easy to deal with in some respects since the gusts were few and far between.


I decided to walk from where I live on the Lower East Side all the way to Times Square since I do this particular walk frequently and know all of the spots I have always wanted to capture in the snow. I had a blast! The wind did get stronger and stronger as I got closer to Times Square and by the time I made my way home it was full-on blizzard conditions so I think I went at the optimal time. I somehow managed to take photos in the East Village, around Union Square, Chelsea (in truth, I had really hoped that the Empire State Building would be visible but it was completely hidden by the snow and lack of visibility), 5th Avenue, Midtown, the New York Public Library on 42nd Street and 5th Avenue, Bryant Park (which was absolutely ethereal in the snow) and finally Times Square.


And so, the photos here are pretty much almost straight out of the camera save for a few tweaks to levels, no fancy tinkering (but I can’t wait to do so!). And now that I have consumed more hot chocolate than I anticipated, I am off to dream about snow.


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View my photography portfolio and store, email me, or ask for help.

Tags: new york city nyc manhattan nemo winter storm nemo nyc blizzard blizzard 2013 blizzard new york city nemo new york city nemo nyc snow nyc new york snow times square snow winter city city photography new york city photography

Photo
January 16, 2013
113 notes
Times Square. New York City. Times Square is its own universe. It’s New York City filtered through cinematic dreams and commercially-tinged aspirations wrapped up in flashing lights and colorful billboards. There is a familiarity to it that is tinged with a wild-eyed estranged quality that makes it all the more alluring. And when a yellow New York City taxi cab drives by at the speed of light under all the flashing lights, it’s hard not to smile. —- Taken with a Sony a99 using the Miniature setting creative style. The Sony a99 has around twenty different creative styles and while I usually shoot in RAW format and do my editing after the fact, I have to say that the Miniature setting was just way too fun to play with especially in Times Square! The results are similar to a Tilt Shift Lens (or I suppose a Lens Baby as well) and you can adjust where you want the focus and blur to end up. —- View this photo larger and on black on my Google Plus page —- Buy “Times Square - New York City” Posters and Prints here, email me, or ask for help.

Times Square. New York City.

Times Square is its own universe.

It’s New York City filtered through cinematic dreams and commercially-tinged aspirations wrapped up in flashing lights and colorful billboards. There is a familiarity to it that is tinged with a wild-eyed estranged quality that makes it all the more alluring.

And when a yellow New York City taxi cab drives by at the speed of light under all the flashing lights, it’s hard not to smile.

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Taken with a Sony a99 using the Miniature setting creative style. The Sony a99 has around twenty different creative styles and while I usually shoot in RAW format and do my editing after the fact, I have to say that the Miniature setting was just way too fun to play with especially in Times Square! The results are similar to a Tilt Shift Lens (or I suppose a Lens Baby as well) and you can adjust where you want the focus and blur to end up.

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

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

Tags: times square new york city nyc new york city photography midtown times square at night new york night nyc night city photography taxi cab yellow taxi broadway billboards times square lights

Photo
June 19, 2012
70 notes
My photography in Times Square for Artists Wanted. 43rd and Broadway. Midtown, New York City. Yesterday was quite a day! It started off when I was notified that this article/interview with me about my photography was published online which then went (mildly) viral during the course of the day: Shooting New York City, heart, art and soul . To top it all off, I ended up taking a little trip in the evening uptown to Times Square to view my photography on a nice size screen in the middle of 43rd Street and Broadway as part of the Artists Wanted contest! I wish I had known which screen my photo was going to show up on because I would have positioned myself on that side of the (very crowded) staging area but this photo will have to do. I was so stoked that I burst into a huge and slightly ridiculous joker-smile that must have been so over-the-top that a woman standing next to me nudged me and said “Oh! That must have been your work up there, eh?” with a grin. I guess I couldn’t quite hide my crazy excitement :). You can view the photo of mine that was chosen from the portfolio I submitted here. I was really pleased that they chose this particular photo out of the nine photos in my contest portfolio since it holds a lot of sentiment. —- View this photo larger and on black on my Google Plus page —- Buy “In Another Place and Time - Chinatown - New York City” Prints here, email me, or ask for help.

My photography in Times Square for Artists Wanted. 43rd and Broadway. Midtown, New York City.

Yesterday was quite a day! It started off when I was notified that this article/interview with me about my photography was published online which then went (mildly) viral during the course of the day: Shooting New York City, heart, art and soul .

To top it all off, I ended up taking a little trip in the evening uptown to Times Square to view my photography on a nice size screen in the middle of 43rd Street and Broadway as part of the Artists Wanted contest!

I wish I had known which screen my photo was going to show up on because I would have positioned myself on that side of the (very crowded) staging area but this photo will have to do. I was so stoked that I burst into a huge and slightly ridiculous joker-smile that must have been so over-the-top that a woman standing next to me nudged me and said “Oh! That must have been your work up there, eh?” with a grin. I guess I couldn’t quite hide my crazy excitement :).

You can view the photo of mine that was chosen from the portfolio I submitted here. I was really pleased that they chose this particular photo out of the nine photos in my contest portfolio since it holds a lot of sentiment.

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

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Buy “In Another Place and Time - Chinatown - New York City” Prints here, email me, or ask for help.

Tags: artists wanted artists wanted times square artistswanted new york city nyc times square vivienne gucwa vivienne gucwa photography times square vivienne gucwa photography new york city photography ny pictures new york pictures awesome

Photo
May 29, 2012
197 notes
Manhattanhenge Sunset Overlooking 42nd Street and Times Square. New York City There is nothing quite like the intensity of seeing the sun spread it’s light like wildfire through the streets of midtown Manhattan. The red light glows with the ferocity of a supernova showering its splendor onto the urban landscape. In honor of tonight’s Manhattanhenge sunset which may or may not be hidden by storm clouds since New York City’s weather has been highly unpredictable and stormy as of late, this is a photo I took exactly a year ago during last year’s Manhattanhenge. The buildings in this photo are the buildings in Times Square (you can make out the Madame Tussauds sign). Manhattanhenge is a semiannual occurrence in which the setting sun aligns with the east–west streets of the main street grid in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. The term is derived from Stonehenge, at which the sun aligns with the stones on the solstices. It was coined in 2002 by Neil deGrasse Tyson, an astrophysicist who is the director of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History. —- I was really overwhelmed by the response to my post yesterday about the difficulties of monetizing photography (or anything) online. I posted it, thought about deleting it more than a dozen times, walked away for a few hours last night to get some things done and came back to a flood of responses. I am mostly floored by the experiences shared with me that are so similar in scope to what I have been through. You can view the nearly 200 comments and interesting ensuing discussion over at the post on Google Plus if you wish. I will reply to all the comments and emails today and tomorrow when I have the time. I wrote the post because I saw a lack of discourse on the painful realities of social media and online marketing. I didn’t realize how much it would resonate with people. Thank you so much to all who weighed in on the discussion. —- View this photo larger and on black on my Google Plus page —- Buy “Manhattanhenge Sunset Overlooking 42nd Street and Times Square - New York City” Prints here, email me, or ask for help.

Manhattanhenge Sunset Overlooking 42nd Street and Times Square. New York City

There is nothing quite like the intensity of seeing the sun spread it’s light like wildfire through the streets of midtown Manhattan. The red light glows with the ferocity of a supernova showering its splendor onto the urban landscape.

In honor of tonight’s Manhattanhenge sunset which may or may not be hidden by storm clouds since New York City’s weather has been highly unpredictable and stormy as of late, this is a photo I took exactly a year ago during last year’s Manhattanhenge. The buildings in this photo are the buildings in Times Square (you can make out the Madame Tussauds sign).

Manhattanhenge is a semiannual occurrence in which the setting sun aligns with the east–west streets of the main street grid in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. The term is derived from Stonehenge, at which the sun aligns with the stones on the solstices. It was coined in 2002 by Neil deGrasse Tyson, an astrophysicist who is the director of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History.

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I was really overwhelmed by the response to my post yesterday about the difficulties of monetizing photography (or anything) online. I posted it, thought about deleting it more than a dozen times, walked away for a few hours last night to get some things done and came back to a flood of responses. I am mostly floored by the experiences shared with me that are so similar in scope to what I have been through. You can view the nearly 200 comments and interesting ensuing discussion over at the post on Google Plus if you wish.

I will reply to all the comments and emails today and tomorrow when I have the time. I wrote the post because I saw a lack of discourse on the painful realities of social media and online marketing. I didn’t realize how much it would resonate with people. Thank you so much to all who weighed in on the discussion.

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

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Buy “Manhattanhenge Sunset Overlooking 42nd Street and Times Square - New York City” Prints here, email me, or ask for help.

Tags: manhattanhenge times square new york city nyc new york city photography manhattan sunset nyc sunset manhattanhenge times square beautiful intense pretty ny pictures new york pictures city urban cityscape urban landscape

Photoset
October 15, 2011
323 notes

Occupy Times Square. Part of the Global day of protest worldwide related to Occupy Wall Street called Occupy Everywhere. Times Square, New York City.

Hobbled over to Times Square earlier to attend the Occupy Times Square protest. It’s still early but estimates seem to indicate there were anywhere from between 15,000 to 20,000 protesters that filled Times Square today. It was part of a global day of protest worldwide known as Occupy Everywhere related to the Occupy Wall Street movement that has spread. The protests today took place in 1500 cities worldwide.

The event coincided with Zombiecon, an annual gathering of zombies and so zombies showed up to protest along with the growing crowds of protesters. :)

If you would like to see all the photos I have (which are around 50 or so), feel free to go through the album on my Flickr:

Occupy Times Square Flickr Set

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Alternatively, as I always do, this post is cross-posted to Google Plus where you can view the full album of photos large and on black over there:

Occupy Times Square on Google Plus

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View my store, email me, ask for help, or subscribe to the mailing list.

Tags: city photography demonstrations manhattan midtown new york new york city new york city photography nyc occupy everywhere occupy movement occupy times square occupy wall street occupy wall street occupy worldwide occupywallst occupywallstreet ows protestors times square times square protest zombiecon zombies

Photo
October 15, 2011
133 notes
V-J Day in Times Square re-imagined. Brooklyn, New York City. We live in times where other eras are referenced and re-appropriated rapidly and with wild abandon. One could potentially craft dozens upon dozens of essays critiquing our post-post-modern times (and many great critiques already exist). I came across this rapidly decaying piece of street art last year in Brooklyn. It barely stood out since it was on a store gate that was almost entirely enveloped in shadows. This image is of the famous V-J Day in Times Square photo taken initially by Alfred Eisenstadt on on August 14, 1945. V-J Day was a day in 1945 when the surrender of Japan occurred resulting (loosely) in the end of World War II. It was one of the first times that Japan’s Emperor Hirohito broadcast anything publicly to the Japanese people over the radio and it was to announce the surrender. I am currently taking a class called Asian American Memoirs where we have been covering this time period in a rather intense fashion from the point of view of Japanese Americans. It’s a sobering experience and it makes my heart swell with sadness. This enduring image has come to represent elation, victory, romance, abandon and joy. However the context is important because when you peel back the layers you realize that history isn’t so tidy and that there are many sides to the story that unfolds with this kiss and subsequent image. One could argue that over time this eternal image of a kiss between a sailor and a nurse has come to develop its own meaning detached from what the subjects were celebrating. It seems fitting that this image was re-appropriated as a paste-up decaying rapidly yet captured by the same snap of a camera much like the original image was captured. —- View this photo larger and on black on my Google Plus page —- Buy “Eternal Kiss” Posters and Prints here, View my store, email me, ask for help, or subscribe to the mailing list.

V-J Day in Times Square re-imagined. Brooklyn, New York City.

We live in times where other eras are referenced and re-appropriated rapidly and with wild abandon. One could potentially craft dozens upon dozens of essays critiquing our post-post-modern times (and many great critiques already exist).

I came across this rapidly decaying piece of street art last year in Brooklyn. It barely stood out since it was on a store gate that was almost entirely enveloped in shadows. This image is of the famous V-J Day in Times Square photo taken initially by Alfred Eisenstadt on on August 14, 1945. V-J Day was a day in 1945 when the surrender of Japan occurred resulting (loosely) in the end of World War II. It was one of the first times that Japan’s Emperor Hirohito broadcast anything publicly to the Japanese people over the radio and it was to announce the surrender. I am currently taking a class called Asian American Memoirs where we have been covering this time period in a rather intense fashion from the point of view of Japanese Americans. It’s a sobering experience and it makes my heart swell with sadness.

This enduring image has come to represent elation, victory, romance, abandon and joy. However the context is important because when you peel back the layers you realize that history isn’t so tidy and that there are many sides to the story that unfolds with this kiss and subsequent image. One could argue that over time this eternal image of a kiss between a sailor and a nurse has come to develop its own meaning detached from what the subjects were celebrating.

It seems fitting that this image was re-appropriated as a paste-up decaying rapidly yet captured by the same snap of a camera much like the original image was captured.

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

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Buy “Eternal Kiss” Posters and Prints here, View my store, email me, ask for help, or subscribe to the mailing list.

Tags: street art new york new york city brooklyn new york street art art city city photography urban urban photography v-j day in times square kiss in times square times square times square kiss sailor kissing nurse sailor kiss times square eternal

Photo
July 08, 2011
78 notes
Toys “R” Us Ferris Wheel. Times Square, New York City The 60 foot ferris-wheel in the Times Square flagship Toys “R” Us is just one of the surreal things contained in the huge store. There is also a 4000 square foot Barbie dollhouse and a life-size T-Rex dinosaur that roars. View my store, email me, or ask for help.

Toys “R” Us Ferris Wheel. Times Square, New York City

The 60 foot ferris-wheel in the Times Square flagship Toys “R” Us is just one of the surreal things contained in the huge store. There is also a 4000 square foot Barbie dollhouse and a life-size T-Rex dinosaur that roars.

View my store, email me, or ask for help.

Tags: times square toys r us toys r us times square toys r us ferris wheel ferris wheel indoor ferris wheel surreal new york experiences new york city ny nyc city city photography toys toy store ny pictures new york pictures

Photo
June 25, 2011
164 notes
Times Square - Movement. Midtown, New York City. Buy “Times Square - Movement” Posters and Prints here, View my store, email me, or ask for help.

Times Square - Movement. Midtown, New York City.

Buy “Times Square - Movement” Posters and Prints here, View my store, email me, or ask for help.

Tags: midtown times square new york new york city ny nyc city city photography urban urban photography new york city photography ny pictures new york pictures billboards street lights lights landscape architecture neon neon signs

Photo
June 22, 2011
134 notes
The lights are always on in Times Square. Midtown, New York City. View my store, email me, or ask for help. Hustle and bustle.

The lights are always on in Times Square. Midtown, New York City.

View my store, email me, or ask for help.

Hustle and bustle.

Tags: times square midtown broadway new york new york city ny nyc city city photography new york city photography ny pictures new york pictures lights street lights billboards neon signs advertising manhattan

Photo
June 16, 2011
220 notes
Times Square lights and marquees. Midtown, New York City. Buy “Times Square - The Crossroads” Posters and Prints here, View my store, email me, or ask for help. The lights of Times Square never fail to illuminate the street even on a cloudy and dreary day.

Times Square lights and marquees. Midtown, New York City.

Buy “Times Square - The Crossroads” Posters and Prints here, View my store, email me, or ask for help.

The lights of Times Square never fail to illuminate the street even on a cloudy and dreary day.

Tags: times square midtown new york new york city 42nd street marquees lights street lights billboards new york city ny nyc city city photography urban urban photography new york city photography ny pictures new york pictures cars glitz glamour

Photo
June 01, 2011
416 notes
Manhattanhenge sunset over 42nd Street and Times Square. Midtown, New York City. Here is another photo of Manhattanhenge. The view is looking straight down 42nd Street as Manhattanhenge occurs over Times Square. The various signs are lighted billboards and advertisements in Times Square including the famous sign for Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum. In the center you can see a crowd of people on the Pershing Square overpass which is next to Grand Central Terminal. —- Manhattanhenge Sunset New York City Posters and Prints are available for purchase by clicking here

Manhattanhenge sunset over 42nd Street and Times Square. Midtown, New York City.

Here is another photo of Manhattanhenge. The view is looking straight down 42nd Street as Manhattanhenge occurs over Times Square. The various signs are lighted billboards and advertisements in Times Square including the famous sign for Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum. In the center you can see a crowd of people on the Pershing Square overpass which is next to Grand Central Terminal.

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Manhattanhenge Sunset New York City Posters and Prints are available for purchase by clicking here

Tags: times square midtown manhattanhenge manhattanhenge 2011 new york new york city ny nyc city city photography urban urban photography new york city photography ny pictures new york pictures sunset landscape urban landscape architecture

Photo
February 11, 2011
125 notes
Times Square, Manhattan. Breaks in the flow of the hustle and bustle of New York City life are captivating. It’s the loose, semi-vacant spaces framed by frenetic movement that are at the heart of the city. (Clicking through the photo will take you to where it is located on Flickr where you can see larger versions and/or more information.)

Times Square, Manhattan.

Breaks in the flow of the hustle and bustle of New York City life are captivating. It’s the loose, semi-vacant spaces framed by frenetic movement that are at the heart of the city.


(Clicking through the photo will take you to where it is located on Flickr where you can see larger versions and/or more information.)

Tags: manhattan times square new york new york city ny nyc city city photography urban urban photography street neon sign nyc subway traffic hustle and bustle metropolis

Photo
February 08, 2011
105 notes
Times Square, Manhattan. If you have been enjoying this Tumblr click here to recommend me. :) (Clicking through the photo will take you to where it is located on Flickr where you can see larger versions and/or more information.)

Times Square, Manhattan.

If you have been enjoying this Tumblr click here to recommend me. :)

(Clicking through the photo will take you to where it is located on Flickr where you can see larger versions and/or more information.)

Tags: manhattan times square new york new york city ny nyc city city photography urban urban photography advertising broadway billboards neon pinhole lomo taxi cabs street

Photo
January 25, 2011
104 notes
Times Square, Manhattan. If you have been enjoying this Tumblr click here to recommend me. :) (Clicking through the photo will take you to where it is located on Flickr where you can see larger versions and/or more information.)

Times Square, Manhattan.

If you have been enjoying this Tumblr click here to recommend me. :)

(Clicking through the photo will take you to where it is located on Flickr where you can see larger versions and/or more information.)

Tags: manhattan mid-manhattan midtown times square lights billboards city city photography urban building buildings architecture architecture nyc bright lights big city

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