New York: South Street Seaport
Inspiration: "The great omission in American life is solitude; not loneliness, for that is an alienation that thrives most in the midst of crowds; but that zone of time and space, free from the outside pressures, which is the incubator of the spirit." Marya Mannes, American Author, Vogue Editor, 1904-1990.
There's something quite consistent and incredible about the alchemy that occurs between people and bodies of water.
There's a school of thought that believes we evolved from water(Evolutionists).
Maybe it's true.
That quote from Vogue is going to stay with me for a while now.
Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: The Nyanzi Report | March 26, 2010 at 03:07 AM
Mmh, the second man looks in fact lonely. It's the expression on his face. Maybe he had a bad day and misses his loved ones?!
The first one on the other hand just seems to relax and enjoy the calming effect of wide open spaces and the water.
Posted by: San | March 26, 2010 at 05:36 AM
Nice pictures; with a lot of space - emphasising the solitude (or is it the loneliness? we can guess there is a vibrant life in NYC a few yards away!)
http://davidikus.blogspot.com/
Posted by: davidikus | March 26, 2010 at 07:18 AM
yes, being alone near the water is a great experience. this is really inspiring to me. the water makes me prone to meditation, i suppose it is a most shared feeling. me, leaving new york this summer, makes me sad, but going to live by the beach is a joy for this reason. beautiful pictures.
Posted by: Carole | March 26, 2010 at 08:25 AM
There is something intangible about being alone and the calm that comes with confronting yourself outside social contexts.
Photographers have such a fascination with solitude because photography is best done alone. The eyes get distracted just as easily as our other senses but they are more sharpened with focusing on one subject in one context.
Thank you.
Posted by: Enrique | March 26, 2010 at 08:52 AM
Enrique: I could not agree with you more. Going out on the streets with my camera is for me what meditation and yoga is to other people. And it is best done alone. Thanks for your insightful comments. I love reading them.
Carole: You lucky duck - going to live by the beach is JOY. And as much as I love the city, I would leave New York any day for a summer by the beach. Where are you going?
Posted by: The Photodiarist | March 26, 2010 at 08:59 AM
Wow love those 2 pictures! There is just so much things those two man are saying...
love your blog :)
Posted by: kadri-ann | March 26, 2010 at 10:25 AM
wonderful photographs. wonderful quote.
Posted by: Citizen Rosebud | March 26, 2010 at 12:44 PM
The second breaks my heart a little. The expression, the hunched back, the hands between the knees. There's definitely a timeless feeling in this shot. For me that is how good photography is- it moves the viewer every time it is seen.
And I like this: "Photographers have such a fascination with solitude because photography is best done alone."
Posted by: minor keys | March 27, 2010 at 02:11 PM
Your pictures are just AMAZING ! Even if you're just capturing ordinary moments, you exactly know when you have to shoot those moments ! And i just like it !
Posted by: Neguine | March 28, 2010 at 02:35 PM
Alone but not lonely.....I always find that I am drawn to water when I am troubled-I find it comforting. These two photographs are beautiful- quietly beautiful, PD
Posted by: Vanessa Jackman | March 29, 2010 at 02:03 PM