New York City! - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

08/05/2003 04:01:17 PM · #1

It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words, but I also believe that a thousand words can sometimes say more than a picture ever could, but if you want to skip the narrative, the photos are HERE.

Country Boy Goes to Big City

I just got back from New York City last night, and I had a delightful time. As soon as I arrived, I was out of money, so I contented myself to walking all around Manhattan for the duration of my time there. My impression is that in many ways, with the tourists gawking and the excitement in the air, New York is like Disneyland, but without any happy animals walking around. It is also a city that is comfortable with being itself. It celebrates itself quite humbly, I feel, and celebrates all parts of itself: from glitz to grime. It is very aware of the deep history and heritage found within its past, and I found myself being embraced as with clumsy arms (that's a metaphor, by the way) by the architecture, the atmosphere, and the humidity.

I'm glad I walked and did not drive. Where I come from, we actually use the little white lines painted on the streets (they are called *lanes*). At first I was a bit put off by the constant honking in the streets, but then I discovered it was all part of the exciting and death defying game of what I can only call *driving* because it happens in cars. I'm sure that honking technique and skill is a requirement for a driver's license in NYC.

As I was nearly out of money, I ate the street vendors' faire: hot dogs, shish-kebabs in hot dog buns, gyros (pronouced *Jie-rows* there--*Yee-rows* here), knishes, felafels. The best gyros were worth the short walk to the Rockefeller center to the street vendor there. His secret?--*Izza de ONIONS! Ya! De Onions!,* he told me. For my one exciting meal, I ate at Roxie's Deli in Times Square and ordered the famous Sturgeon and Onion Omelet. I thought it would be an exciting epicurial experience because I'd heard from several sources that I just HAD to try it, but I found it just tasted like scrambled eggs with onions and fish in it.

On Friday and Saturday, I just strolled around and saw some of the sites in the Theatre District. When I was near the Empire State Building, it began raining. Hard. By the time I got back to my hotel, I was soaked through. My clothes never dried until this morning when I washed them and put them in the dryer!

On Sunday, I walked to and over the Brooklyn Bridge, but I wasn't feeling very creative, I guess, and only got a few shots here. From there I walked to the Staten Island Ferry, and again, did not get any really good shots. My timing was of in terms of sky, there was a lot of haze, and my skyline photos turned out poorly, as did my Statue of Liberty shots. But the ride was enjoyable, and I got some much needed rest with the ocean air wafting on my face as I napped.

From here, I impetuously decided to begin a long journey and walk back up Broadway to the hotel instead of taking a cab as I had originally planned. I began at approximately 4 pm and arrived at my hotel at around 11 pm. It was quite a journey, and I have the blister on my foot to prove it. As I began my trek, I decided to give myself a challenge: to photograph something on every city block on the way back. It was a fun challenge, and it actually did challenge me. I think I learned a lot on my journey. As you go to the portfolio, there is a separate portfolio for this Broadway Project.
THIS image has a more detailed description.

All in all, it was an exciting and memorable trip. Thanks to your input before I went!

I'd love to know what photos you like best, as well as the ones that don't do anything for you. Many of these photos use techniques and skills and an eye for photography that I had never used before, so your feedback is most helpful!

Thanks and Enjoy!

David

KarenB

Canon EOS-70D

08/05/2003 04:34:12 PM · #2

Nice, David. I left a comment on one of your photos. Looks like NYC is multifaceted - including full of history.

Fayech

Nikon D80

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 18-135mm f/3.5- 5.6G ED DX

08/05/2003 05:07:46 PM · #3

glad you enjoyed yourself. now that i'm done with your thousand words, i'll gonna go peek at your pics. :o)

p.s. *pat on the back* for all that walking.

Message edited by author 2003-08-05 17:10:28.

Remie

Nikon D70

08/05/2003 05:23:23 PM · #4

I'm not much of a New York fan, but I enjoyed reading your story.

Just had a look at the photo's and I think the one titled 'Obligatory Empire State Building Shot During Storm #2' is the best. It gives a very good impression of the height of the building. The building is actually scraping the sky :)

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

08/05/2003 06:01:36 PM · #5

Originally posted by Fayech:

glad you enjoyed yourself. now that i'm done with your thousand words, i'll gonna go peek at your pics. :o)

p.s. *pat on the back* for all that walking.

p.s. *pat on the back* for all that reading!

wewillexplore

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

08/05/2003 06:05:11 PM · #6

LOL It looks like quite the trip! I wish I'd been able to work out getting down there, but just not happening...moving in a few weeks (again) so hard to do things I WANT to. LOL

Good pictures - I like the stuff you took on your walk. Sometimes it helps to remember to just shoot, not to think about "perfect" shots you "could" have taken. Your storm shots at the top of Empire are GREAT!!! :)

M

scab-lab

Canon EOS-D60

08/05/2003 06:21:21 PM · #7

Nicely done David, the Broadway project is awesome.

Message edited by author 2003-08-05 18:21:30.

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II

08/06/2003 12:07:27 AM · #8

Some folks here at home have mentioned that some/many of the shots are too dark. I happen to like dark shots, and the saturated colors and tones that go with them. However, I'm willing to change my ways. What think ye?

pncowley

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

08/06/2003 12:46:45 AM · #9

Originally posted by dsidwell:

Don't change a thing! I happen to like your lower-key shots, and in fact, have tried to emulate some of the same techniques in my own work. I have found that while I don't have any control over the aperture, that by adjusting the white balance and using a negative exposure compensation that the colors are indeed more saturated and the subdued tones are quite pleasing.

wewillexplore

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

08/06/2003 12:48:08 AM · #10

I don't see many "dark" shots in there - I like the tones and colors you've produced here. I wouldn't change them.

M

magnetic9999

Canon EOS-20D

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX Aspherical DF for Canon

08/06/2003 08:07:28 AM · #11

glad you had a good time david, given some of the pre-trip comments.

i enjoyed your pictures very much, particularly the brooklyn bridge, the empire state, the word 'magic' and the broadway project.

crabappl3

08/06/2003 09:25:52 AM · #12

I read and viewed it all.... nice work. I really like the Broadway series... very photojournalistic. When I was 17 I left my Telephoto lens on the Statin Island Ferry, I wasn't even off the ferry when I went back to get it and it was gone :-(

The Broadway series makes me want to go do a similar thing in downtown Dallas :-)

bod

08/06/2003 09:51:04 AM · #13

I looked through the first set late last night. Good stuff and a nice write up too. The Brooklyn bridge shots grabbed me, and nothing appeared too dark to me.

I'll go through the Broadway series when I get home (they *will* look dark on this monitor!) but it sounds like a great self-improvement idea.

bod

08/07/2003 07:23:13 PM · #14

Finally got round to looking through the Broadway Project. What sounded like a great idea turned out to be a superb idea. There's some cracking shots in there.
I went in intending to leave one or two comments along the way - I think I got a little carried away : )

Glad you enjoyed the trip David, and thanks for sharing.