New York: The Original Gotham. Southern View from the Empire State Building
Inspiration: Earlier this summer, I decided to be a tourist in my city. Isn't it often the case that the longtime residents of a city know the least about its landmarks? One of the first places most tourists head is the fabled Empire State Building. On the day I went, throngs of people lined up to take the elevators to the top, cameras in hand. While I waited in line, a guide yelled out that it would take about 3 hours to get to the top unless one used the express line. Three hours?? Really? Seriously? I realized why most New Yorkers haven't been to the top of the Empire State Building. No one has three consecutive hours to give up in a line for any reason. No one blinked an eye (except for me) and no one moved. Why? The express line costs twice as much. I looked at the empty express line and thought "That's mine." So I hopped out of the long line and into the empty express. VIP all the way. I was in, on top of, and out of the Empire State within 45 minutes. The result: A shot that is probably quite ordinary. Nothing breathtaking, creative or powerful. Except for the City. A tangled, "in your face," "take it or leave it," uncouth, beast of a city. A character in its own right.
The city really goes on and on in that jumbled way.
Posted by: The Stuffed Eskimo | September 1, 2009 at 12:57 PM
I know. I had never seen it this way before (except partially, when in a plane).
Posted by: The Photodiarist | September 1, 2009 at 01:28 PM
I love what you are capturing with your photos. Serious equipment choices as well. Thanks for sharing your work with us.
Posted by: Rodney | September 1, 2009 at 02:27 PM
the black and white really makes this composition much more dramatic... certainly "a beast of a city" ... great shot! :)
Posted by: nora | September 2, 2009 at 02:45 AM
WOW. I've got to thank '-h', of Pret a Porter P, for choosing yours as site of the moment. I love your work, the simplicity of how you don't use words to post, but when you do: man, you can write, too!
I see you don't do blog link swaps, but I'm linking you to my blog roll this minute, if for no other reason than I want to see your blog regularly. If you have a moment, please check out mine:
http://streetstylelondon.blogspot.com/
, but the one that will probably be more your taste is one I've just started, called endless summer:
http://summerpicsbypolkadot.blogspot.com/
many thanks, looking forward to visiting again, it's brilliant.
Posted by: dot | September 2, 2009 at 09:12 AM