The Photodiarist

Leopard Magnetism

New York: Mercer Street, Soho

Inspiration: What's with me and leopard prints? Just like I can always find the shopping district in any new town I visit without a map or directions, I always gravitate to the person wearing spots.  In any event, this is Christine.  She's an art curator in New York. She seemed to be in a bit of a hurry, so it was lovely of her to stop for a photograph.

Winter Style II

New York: 17th Street between Park Avenue and Broadway

Inspiration: The reason why I stopped her for a photograph is not evident in this picture. So you will have to check out The Photodiarist in Color to check out her yellow leggings/long socks (I am not sure what to call those). In any case, after I took this photograph, I discovered that Amy is an actress and a wonderful milliner. Check out her whimsical hats here. 

Winter Style

New York: Bleecker between Lafayette and Bowery Streets

Inspiration: When it's 20 degrees Fahrenheit outside, most people are inside. And those who are outside are bundled up so much that you can hardly see their faces, much less their individual style.  So when I spotted Jennifer, just before she popped into Maria Cornejo on Bleecker, I was thrilled. Clearly bundled up and warm but with some edge. I ♥ that jacket and her scrumptious looking hat. For a color photograph, check out The Photodiarist in Color.

Afternoon at the Museum

New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Yesterday morning, as we parted ways for a few hours, he told me he'd text me with an address at which I should meet him in the afternoon. So, in the hours in between, I headed up to the park near the Metropolitan Museum of Art to take some photos. A couple of hours later, as I stood outside of the Met, I got his text. He said: "Meet me at the Met." So funny. I looked up at the banners hanging outside of the museum. His surprise was to take me to the exhibition of photographs by Steiglitz, Steichen and Strand. I didn't even know about the exhibition before that moment. I love that he loves my love of photography and that he feeds my passion for image making whenever he can.

Flash Life

New York: All over lower Manhattan

Inspiration: One theme in my photography is street art . . . graffiti to some, pure art to others. I look at street art largely from a documentary point of view. I don't always like the work but the fact that the piece exists in that moment is worth a photograph and a spot on my blog.  

The Dueling Photographers

New York: Central Park

Inspiration: One day in late November, I was walking through one of the tunnels in Central Park when I spotted a musician I wanted to photograph.  As I was photographing him, she came up and began photographing him from the other side. Suddenly, the focus of our respective lenses shifted to each other and in a flash, she and I were engaged in a standoff. It was like a duel between photographers. No worries. Everything ended peacefully.

The Dancing Man

New York: Washington Square Park

Inspiration: So here's the story. I am in the park taking a few photos of fountains and stuff. This guy rolls in with his supermarket cart filled with his belongings, including a few broom sticks and a boom box blasting Michael Jackson. He stands quietly for a while as if he is trying to figure out where to go. Then he leans over the cart, fingers reaching for, and then twisting, the knobs of the boom box. The bass is now booming. But he stands motionless, as if meditating.

Suddenly . . . he busts a move. Then another. And another.  To my happy surprise, my otherwise uneventful day was transformed for a few minutes. Now I was watching a fully choreographed performance. I took dozens of photographs, yet he was totally oblivious to the click click click of my shutter. He was intoxicated by the music and his dance. He glided into one move and practically fell into another. One minute his hand was in the air triumphantly and in the next, both arms were outstretched plaintively. And the emotion on his face was something to behold. I found the whole thing funny, dramatic, sweet and touching all at once.

And then. . . the song ended. I thought he was going to move into the next one. But he didn't. Instead, he got behind his cart and rolled out of the park as awkwardly as he rolled in. One song. One performance. One special moment that I most likely won't witness again any time soon. I love these photographs because they remind me of a few reasons why I love this town so much. It's the randomness of the place. The sanity of the supposedly crazy people and the craziness of the allegedly sane people. The wildly mad creativity and intensity that fills the air. Not to mention the performances, which sometimes erupt spontaneously when you least expect it. That every street, park, and corner is as much a stage as it is a street, park or corner.

Snowy Fountain

New York: Washington Square Park

Inspiration:  It snowed again last night. I cannot wait to get outside to see the pileup! From my window, it looks like about 6-8 inches. If only I could play hooky from work and just spend the day outside with my camera! Alas, I have a very busy day today. So, like the little boy in the fountain, I've got to run!

One Winter Afternoon

New York: Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn

Inspiration: I took this on Sunday in Brooklyn. It was late afternoon so the air was even crisper and colder than usual. This winter has been quite harsh so far. But periodically we are treated to bright sunny days like this one so that we don't go insane. While I dislike feeling cold, the grayness of the skies is the part of winter I truly detest. Alas, somuch for that. We are expecting another monster blizzard in New York this evening. And my refrigerator is bare. I would go stock up on some food but for the good fortune of having a 27/7 deli next door which is open no matter what the day, weather or circumstance. For a color shot similar to this one, check out The Photodiarist in Color.

Girl in the Hood

New York: Thompson Street

Inspiration: I haven't been doing as many portraits lately because I've been too slow/lazy to stop people and ask. But when I walked by this lovely girl chilling out in the bitter cold warmed by this gorgeous scarf-hood-snood, I felt compelled to seek her photograph. The light was gorgeous and she was an absolutely patient and sweet subject. Not to mention that I've been hankering for a hoodie like this since I spied something similar on the head of the fabulous Tamu, creator of the blog, All the Pretty Birds. Doesn't it look snuggly and warm? If you want some color, check out her portrait on The Photodiarist in Color.