NOTES
There's Nothing Like the Streets of New York City
Photography throughout New York City including the Occulus, 9/11 Memorial and Midtown.
On a recent trip to New York City, I took a couple of days to wander from Midtown to Downtown Manhattan for the purpose of photographing it with 100% focus. I'd previously do these trips half in/half out with a more carefree approach rather than a rigorous work, bleeding out a scene until I got a photo that I wanted. I wanted to put my all into this recent expedition. The street gave back.
It's not a secret, among my close friends and family, of my love/hate relationship with the City. After nearly thirteen years of living in this metropolis, I had developed a reserve of animosity for the place I had once dearly loved. I admit that when I spent those two days out there in Manhattan that I couldn't help but focus on the negativity, the feeling of invisibility among the throngs of people bumping into each other, wearing sullen faces and walking in the shadows of godlike, stone faced buildings. A feeling came to me after the end of the second day, one that I hadn't felt in a long time. It was like the story of The Grinch Who Stole Christmas when his small black heart became filled with love and compassion again. I actually started feeling a pang of "love" for this place that I had been so happy to now be away from. It was an old feeling, an old love.
I hope you enjoy the photos below. There is certainly surreal elements within the framing and juxtaposition. It was a lot of fun doing these and I'm glad I walked away from this mini project with an old flame reignited.
Email: info@carlosdetres.com
Social Commentary Street Photography from New York City
Social commentary through street photography. This week's subject is New York City.
There's a reason why we usually think of New York City when someone mentions "street photography." The architecture make great backdrops to the frenetic energy that affects everything from people to dogs to the pigeons and rats that live together. With up to 12 million people interacting with their environment and eachother every day, there's rarely a moment when anyone notices you. It's the benefit of often being invisible to the crowds of people who are too busy and in too much of a hurry to pay any attention to the photographer walking around taking pictures.
When I go to New York for work, I make sure to take 2-3 days to roam the streets, easily clocking between 10-16 miles of walking through every corner. The Financial District is my current favorite neighborhood to photograph. When I previously mentioned that you are invisible in New York, you are TOTALLY invisible when you're in Lower Manhattan. This part of the City is dually a tourist destination and, obviously, the financial capital of the world.
The photos below are my observation of the disconnect I see between humans living in such dense and energetic urban environments and the tranquility and spiritually invigorating elements of nature. This may evolve into a bigger project but for now, it's what I've been doing during my visits.
Email: info@carlosdetres.com
