River Bank
by insteps

Comment by tnun:
ah. I want to paddle away the night in an inky pea pod.

River Bank
by insteps

Comment by herfotoman:
Like pilchards. Beautifully alive in death.

River Bank
by insteps

Comment by Melethia:
Excellent contrast! I really like this sort of texture/shape exploration and this is very well done.

River Bank
by insteps

Comment by tate:
in my top 3 in this one. Nice tones and textures.

Be On The Watch
by insteps

Comment by mariuca:
I never got to leave comments on the February essays. Yours intrigued me a lot since it's about the place where I live, the city that I love the most.
I am always interested how other people see NYC. It's always a matter of chance; how many days you stay in a place, in what season, which neighborhood, with whom you travel, where you stay or if the pillow in the hotel was comfy enough to let you sleep in spite of the sirens and noise of the streets.

You looked at one aspect and you saw (or was attracted to) the empty, wet streets and therefore the title. The grit of NY. One facet. How can we do justice to a place that has so many facets?!
Needless to say, I loved your images and, as other commenters noted, the long shadows that are a characteristic of this place.

Donggang
by insteps

Comment by mariuca:
Terrific essay Henry.
I looked first at the images without reading the text and the tension is palpable. This first image that does not seem to have been included to the essay is an excellent cover; one immediately feels that it's about life and death and sharp knives as if the fish tails becomes the weapon of choice.
The first image of the essay where you placed your action is a bit of a let down but then you follow with the tremendous profile of a man ready to be consumed by a wild beast. The fish (profile also) is like a totemic figure as if carved in wood but then, bang, comes the next image and we are in Moby Dick territory!
In rapid succession the other images tell of more horror stories and one gets obsessed with shapes that could be humongous fish or small boats of fishermen that disappeared in horrible storms or bloody battles, and this in a cold like permafrost.
And then the last picture of people looking? witnessing? almost smiling? - I wish you could end with a more forceful image but I feel that there is a continuation of this story.

Do not take a break from creating these essays Henry. You have in me a faithful and curious follower.

Donggang
by insteps

Comment by mitalapo:
I like how clean and reserved this set is, contrasting the situation and events this place is involved in. Even the leading image, which is powerful on the edge of intimidating, is clean and reserved.

p.s. the catch-of-the-day for me would be the "chinese water writing on the floor" image.

Yesterday's Rain
by insteps

Comment by snaffles:
Gorgeous. Top ten finish.

Donggang
by insteps

Comment by primabarbara:
When watching your pictures from Donggang I get a feeling what an essay can be: a documentary and yet emotional view on man and beast and environment. Something to ponder about in many differnt ways.
Even the technical aspect of the pictures is terrific.
There is a lot to learn for me, I can see that very clearly now.

lost in the harbor
by insteps

Comment by posthumous:
suitably mysterious