There's Nothing Like the Streets of New York City

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