"Autumn love..."

All I can dream about at this point is anything and everything that has to do with autumn: piles of leaves to jump in, hot apple cider with cinnamon sticks, pumpkin in just about everything, cute scarves and socks, ducking into cozy places to warm up briefly before heading back out to enjoy the kiss of brisk autumn breezes.

Summer, we can always fall in love again next year.

For now, I have a huge crush on autumn.

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New York Photography: Autumn leaves and trees in Central Park.

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You can view this post along with information about where to purchase prints of this image if you wish at my site here:

http://nythroughthelens.com/post/32525088266/piles-of-autumn-leaves-under-trees-during-autumn

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Tags: #photography   #autumn   #newyorkcity   #newyorkcityphotography   #centralpark   #centralparkautumn   #fall   #fallcolors   #autumnleaves   #landscape   #autumnlandscape   #trees   #leaves   #manhattan  
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"Echoes of Monet..."

There are times when nature so perfectly replicates art that so perfectly replicated nature creating a philosophical conundrum for the ages. This was one of those moments.

Here is my little spring tribute to Claude Monet by way of some gorgeous cherry blossoms luxuriating in the sunlight over the pond at the Japanese Hill and Pond Garden located at Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

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New York Photography: Cherry Blossoms. Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

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You can view this post along with information about prints of this image if you wish at my site here:

http://nythroughthelens.com/post/19838259613/cherry-blossoms-hanging-over-a-pond-japanese-hill

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Tags: #photography #nyc #newyorkcity #flowers #cherryblossoms #brooklynbotanicgarden #bbgcherries #pond #reflection #brooklyn
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"Snow-globe..." (snow wishes for New York City)

There is something undeniably magical that occurs as the snow falls

swirling and twirling in the air

until it hits the ground heavy with the weight of a thousand promises:

exultations and dreams held close to the earth

in the stillness between wintry pauses

as the city lays in wait

like a snow-globe resting between giddy shakes of joy.

——

Bow Bridge is one of Central Park’s most iconic structures. It was built between 1859 and 1862 and is shaped like an archer’s bow. This particular image was taken during a snowstorm in Central Park, New York City. Bow Bridge sits covered by a beautiful layer of freshly fallen snow as the buildings that line Central Park West sit in the distance just past the snow-laden trees.

I am a bit giddy because it appears that New York City may actually get some snow tomorrow. I read this highly entertaining piece of writing by Andy Newman in the NY Times earlier: “Tomorrow, It Will Snow, Perfectly” (http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/28/tomorrow-it-will-snow-perfectly/?ref=nyregion) which had me at hello with its opening paragraph:

“The ideal city snowstorm, meteorological Platonists say, blankets the landscape without burying it, beautifies but does not burden, transforms and cocoons without paralyzing or even particularly inconveniencing.”

Of course, I always feel a bit like Winona Ryder in one of the best scenes from Edward Scissorhands (the music from that scene = awesome): (Edward scissorhands in the snow scene) during the first real snow of the winter season here.

Here’s hoping! :)

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P.S. Edited to add that yes, this is the same bridge that Dr. Who ran over in the Angels take Manhattan episode. Thanks for reminding me +Mike Wood !

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You can view this post with all relevant links including where to purchase prints of this image at my site here:

http://nythroughthelens.com/post/39092278742/new-york-city-in-the-snow-central-park-winter

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Tags: #photography   #nyc   #newyorkcity   #newyorkcityphotography   #manhattan   #centralpark   #winter   #snow   #snowysaturday   #centralparksnow   #nycsnow   #newyorksnow   #snowstormnyc   #snownyc2012   #centralparkwinter   #newyorkwinter   #nycwinter   #bowbridge   #snowybridge   #landscape   #winterlandscape   #poetry   #drwho  
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"Autumn..."

Autumn is the start of something new. It’s the promise of briskness followed by warmth. It’s an inviting whisper that lingers in the air and brushes past the skin with its transient presence.

We inhale the earth’s transition deeply into our lungs and exhale hopeful utterances on the condensation of our warm exhaled breaths.

—-

I love Central Park on overcast autumn days. When the elm trees are at their peak and have shed their leaves creating beautiful trails of foliage and the air is crisp, there is nothing better.

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New York Photography: Central Park's elm trees in autumn.

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You can view this post along with information about where to purchase prints of this image if you wish at my site here:

http://nythroughthelens.com/post/32047976949/autumn-leaves-central-park-new-york-city

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Tags: #autumn   #nyc   #photography   #newyorkcity   #newyorkcityphotography   #landscape   #fall   #fallcolors   #autumnphotography   #autumnphotos   #centralpark   #centralparkautumn   #writing   #prose   #nature  
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"Dream sputters..."

In the silent stillness of winter the world stops rotating temporarily.

All sound, speech and thought is muffled as the earth slumbers briefly under a blanket of freshly fallen snow.

In each snowflake rest the hopes and dreams of all who have ever felt the warmth of an anticipatory heart-flutter: dream-sputters that wrap the earth in the weight of their desires.

—-
Built between 1859 and 1862, Bow Bridge is one of Central Park’s most iconic structures. This image was taken during a snowstorm in Central Park, New York City.

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New York Photography: Bow Bridge in the snow. Central Park.

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You can view this post along with information about where to purchase prints of this image if you wish at my site here:

http://nythroughthelens.com/post/29698420375/bow-bridge-in-the-snow-central-park-winter-new

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Tags: #photography   #nyc   #newyorkcity   #newyorkcityphotography   #centralpark   #centralparkwinter   #bowbridge   #architecture   #landscape   #snow   #winter  
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"For two..."

That chill in the air wrapping itself around trees like an overflowing scarf , the crispness on the breeze chilling faces with its autumn kisses, trees displaying their decorated limbs in golden shades of serenity: Autumn.

Cinnamon sticks resting languidly in steaming mugs of hot apple cider, pumpkin-orange colored wishes carried on the scent of firewood, frosted sighs of contentment exhaled in long cool breaths, leaves sounding their crackled whispers of surrender, earth reeling from summer preparing for its long engagement with the snow-covered proclamations of winter: Autumn.

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New York Photography: Bicycles in autumn. Central Park. 

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You can view this post along with information on where to purchase prints of this image if you wish at my site here:

http://nythroughthelens.com/post/30165892154/autumn-central-park-new-york-city-that-chill

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Tags: #photography   #nyc   #newyorkcity   #centralpark   #autumn   #centralparkautumn   #prose   #writing   #fall   #fallcolors   #trees   #nature   #landscape   #manhattan   #nycautumn  
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"Sorrow-soaked..."

There are days in Central Park during the autumn when the weather is deliciously ominous. These are the sorts of days when grey clouds do their best to compete with the sunlight for the spotlight. I love the quality of this sort of contrasting light. During moments when the sun does manage to peek through the gray blanket of clouds, the foliage seems to reel in the bits of scattered sunlight.

This is a vista that seems to come alive in the autumn and winter due in part to Central Park’s beautiful willow trees. There is a quality to the placement of the branches that is reminiscent of theatrical stage curtains in a persistent state of dramatically opening to reveal the landscapes that are just beyond their grasp as if they are revealing a show that comes alive in the final two acts of a performance that spans a year.

In the autumn, these sorrow-soaked branches frame the sprawling autumn landscape that surrounds the lake and in the winter when the lake is covered in snow, the same branches hold multitudes of icy tears framing the towers of San Remo perfectly.

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New York Photography: Central Park in autumn.

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You can view this post along with information on where to purchase prints of this image if you wish at my site here:

http://nythroughthelens.com/post/31587960663/central-park-autumn-landscape-overlooking-the-lake

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Tags: #photography   #nyc   #newyorkcity   #newyorkcityphotography   #centralpark   #autumn   #landscape   #centralparkautumn   #writing   #prose   #newyorkautumn  
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"All of summer's sunsets..."

The graceful limbs of autumn’s trees cling to all of summer’s sunsets searing their leaves yellow, orange and red with the sun’s heat.

With golden leaves stoked by the last of summer’s fleeting flame, summer’s fire extinguishes itself in a carpet of brilliantly colored embers on the ground below.

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New York Photography: Central Park in Autumn.

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You can view this post along with information about where to purchase prints of this image if you wish at my site here:

http://nythroughthelens.com/post/31119969725/autumn-central-park-new-york-city-the

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Tags: #photography   #nyc   #newyorkcity   #newyorkcityphotography   #centralpark   #autumn   #landscape   #landscapephotography   #autumnphotography   #poetry   #prose   #writing   #trees   #elmtrees   #fall   #fallcolors  
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"Weightless..."

At the edge of winter sits the reflection of spring.

Trees lifted from their slumber by weightless blossoms make their way out of the twilight of winter’s last icy gasps.

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It’s quite incredible how many trees are already in full spring bloom already. Usually the trees aren’t this far along with their blossoms until the middle of April or even the beginning of May. This particular photo which I took yesterday is of a favorite spring spot of mine in Central Park. It conjures up fairytale narratives and fills my heart with hope.

The blossoms on these trees are so gorgeous when they first bloom. When the wind blows little white and pink petals shed from their blossoms swirling in the air before falling to the ground, a phenomenon I like to refer to as spring snow. :)
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New York Photography: Spring trees, Central Park.

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You can view this post along with information about prints of this image if you wish at my site here:

http://nythroughthelens.com/post/19730592768/blossoming-trees-spring-central-park-new-york

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Tags: #photography #newyorkcity #nyc #centralpark #spring #springtime #trees #landscape #springnyc #centralparkspring #magical
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Winter storm Nemo in New York City  (photos from Lower East Side all the way up to Times Square including a snowball fight in Times Square!)

My entire set of photos is up here on my Flickr (there are around 40 photos): http://www.flickr.com/photos/vivnsect/sets/72157632721986487/

Camera: Sony a99 | Lens: 18-55mm f/3.5- 5.6
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I live for snowstorms in New York City. So you can just imagine how bummed I was last winter season when we barely got any snow. Growing up in New York City, I remember quite a few blizzards and its with fond nostalgia that I always wish for at least one great snowstorm during the winter. New York City is extra beautiful when covered in a blanket of freshly fallen snow.

When I heard that winter storm Nemo (also known as the Blizzard of 2013, February snowstorm and other terms) was going to deliver some gorgeous white flakes from the sky I was more than ready for it. The photos in this set are not edited the way I would normally edit them. I just basically imported them into Lightroom and adjusted some contrast in a few cases from the RAW files. I will most likely go through the photos here plus others that I am not posting and give them the Vivienne treatment at some point. I am just floored at how incredible it was to shoot the snow with the Sony a99. I did go out of my way to protect it despite it being weather-sealed since it isn’t technically my camera and since my lenses also needed protection. I must have been quite a sight in my ski-mask, enormous scarf, giant winter boots and a camera covered in plastic. :) It seemed like I had an easier time shooting in this snowstorm than in the two blizzards that I took photos in back in 2010 and 2011. I think it’s because the wind was far more manageable and because I was out before the blizzard hit with full force. While the snow was heavy, the winds were easy to deal with in some respects since the gusts were few and far between.

I decided to walk from where I live on the Lower East Side all the way to Times Square since I do this particular walk frequently and know all of the spots I have always wanted to capture in the snow. I had a blast! The wind did get stronger and stronger as I got closer to Times Square and by the time I made my way home it was full-on blizzard conditions so I think I went at the optimal time. I somehow managed to take photos in the East Village, around Union Square, Chelsea (in truth, I had really hoped that the Empire State Building would be visible but it was completely hidden by the snow and lack of visibility), 5th Avenue, Midtown, the New York Public Library on 42nd Street and 5th Avenue, Bryant Park (which was absolutely ethereal in the snow) and finally Times Square.

And so, the photos here are pretty much almost straight out of the camera save for a few tweaks to levels, no fancy tinkering (but I can’t wait to do so!). And now that I have consumed more hot chocolate than I anticipated, I am off to dream about snow.



Feel free to view this post along with all relevant links over at my photography blog:

http://nythroughthelens.com/post/42660664770/winter-storm-nemo-in-new-york-city-blizzard-set



Tags: #photography   #newyorkcity   #nyc   #newyorkcityphotography   #nemo   #nemoblizzard   #winterstormnemo   #newyorksnow   #blizzard   #blizzard2013   #nycblizzard   #newyorkcityblizzard   #blizzardmanhattan   #snow   #snowysaturday   #winter   #winterstorm   #city   #cityphotography   #nycphotography  
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The Brooklyn Bridge and New York City skyline

It’s interesting how long exposure photography makes you acutely aware of the environment. This was taken on a cold night as a storm was rolling in. In between stubborn sustained wind gusts as the water from the East River lapped at the edges of Brooklyn Bridge Park gushing over the sides every so often as if to foreshadow what the clouds were hoping to do to the city, I waited for a few eerie moments of unabashed calm.

Shortly after sunset as storm clouds moved in and the increasingly darkening sky turned various shades of purple and blue, there were a few minutes of calm silence. And as the water played nice and the wind decided to run its own marathon elsewhere, 4 seconds were there for the capturing before the skies unleashed their watery exclamations in the form of rain.

This is one of the more popular vantage points for photography of the Brooklyn Bridge. The skyscrapers belong to the Financial District. Prominent structures and buildings include: the Woolworth Building, New York by Gehry (at 8 Spruce Street), One World Trade Center (also known as 1 WTC and/or the Freedom Tower), Pier 17 and the South Street Seaport.

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You can view this post with all relevant links over at my photography blog here:

http://nythroughthelens.com/post/47832183894/the-brooklyn-bridge-and-new-york-city-skyline

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Taken with the Sony A99.

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Tags: #photography   #newyorkcity   #newyorkcityphotography   #nyc   #nycphotography   #newyorkcityskyline   #nycskyline   #brooklynbridge   #cityscape   #longexposure   #longexposurephotography   #nyclongexposure   #sony   #sonyphotographers   #sonya99   #skyscrapers   #cityphotography   #city   #nyccityscape   #urbanphotography  
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"Moments that flicker like fireflies..."

There are moments that remain etched into time: moments that aren’t easily forgotten no matter how much time passes between the yawning gaps in between memory and dreaming.

The ability to capture uniquely experienced moments is at the core of photography. Cameras become jars with which to capture moments that flicker like fireflies.

Photographers are moment collectors and dream catchers.

Every collected moment and every captured dreamscape is the result of the tiny flicker that catches the photographer’s eye in such a profound way that it becomes an impossible feat to deny the urge to embrace the moment by capturing it in a photo.

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After my awesome interview last week for +Photo Talk Plus (here: http://goo.gl/nrLj7 ), a few people messaged me privately about this photo since I talked about it on the show. Since it is an earlier photo of mine and it is positively gorgeous outside today in NYC, it felt like a good time to re-share it. Enjoy! :)

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New York Photography: Bow Bridge, Central Park.

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You can view this post along with information about prints of this image if you wish at my site here:

http://nythroughthelens.com/post/19180604370/sun-rays-pouring-over-bow-bridge-in-the-late

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Tags: #photography #prose #newyorkcity #nyc #centralpark #sunlight #writing #bowbridge #newyorkcityphotography #manhattan #romantic
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"The urban forest primeval..."

Weary after a long slumber, the urban forest primeval stirs.

Trees, in resplendent garments of ivy, stretch their graceful limbs towards each other as the dance of spring begins: a prelude to summer’s grand symphonic poem.
—-
This particular path in the Conservatory Garden located in Central Park is one of my favorite spot. It makes me feel as if I have escaped the city all while still feeling tied to it in an inexplicable yet endearing way. I fall in love with it a little bit more each time I come across it.

Last week, when I took this photo, it was no different. The trees which had been frozen in winter’s sleepy embrace were newly adorned with tiny spring blossoms and deep green ivy and it seemed as if all life in the city halted to watch them dance with their graceful limbs if only for a moment.

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New York Photography: Conservatory Garden in the spring. Central Park.

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You can view this post along with information about how to purchase this image as a print if you wish at my site here:

http://nythroughthelens.com/post/20170245942/tree-lined-path-in-spring-conservatory-garden

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Tags: #photography #newyorkcity #nyc #writing #prose #poetry #trees #landscape #park #centralpark #spring #springtime #manhattan
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New York City - Skyline Sunset

There is something really extraordinary about the shift between day and night in New York City. It’s gradual and at the same time abrupt in its magnitude. The lights on the skyscrapers flicker on as the night sky pulls itself over the city while the sun is still dancing with the horizon. I love this time more than I love the moments when the sun disappears for the night.

It’s this sort of in-between time that seems to suit a city full of people who feed off the frenetic energy and constant shifts that occur on a momentary basis. New York City rarely dwells in absolutes. Its landscape and structures only seem to remain still.

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This is a 20 second long exposure taken with the Sony a99 from the highest desk on the Top of the Rock (also known as 30 Rock and the top of Rockefeller Center). The skyscrapers of midtown Manhattan sit in the foreground leading up to the Empire State Building and further in the distance sits the Freedom Tower and lower Manhattan.

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You can view this post along with all relevant links (including information about how to purchase this image as a print) over at my photography blog here:

http://nythroughthelens.com/post/43191752521/new-york-city-skyline-cityscape-at-sunset-there

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Tags: #photography   #newyorkcity   #newyorkcityphotography   #nyc   #nycphotography   #architecture   #cityphotography   #urbanphotography   #empirestatebuilding   #skyscrapers   #skyscraperphotography   #sunset   #urbanlandscape   #sony   #sonya99   #a99   #sonyphotographers   #sonyfullframe  
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"Into the light..."

Central Park, New York City.

Over the glistening cobblestones in the late summer haze, the twinkling lights of oncoming cars cast their glow like fireflies in a dense urban forest.

This is when the city dreams.

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You can view this post along with information about prints/posters if you wish at my site here:

http://nythroughthelens.com/post/9862646648/summer-night-central-park-new-york-city-over
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New York City at night - Queensboro Bridge and Manhattan skyline

When the night falls hard onto the city’s shoulders and the sky drapes a dark blanket over the skyscrapers and buildings, it’s hard to contain the effervescent charm that bursts forth after the sun has retreated.

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This is the Queensboro Bridge which is known by a few other names depending on where you are from and how long you have lived in New York City. Despite growing up in Queens, I will always think of this bridge as the 59th Street Bridge because I think I belonged to one of the few families in Queens that for whatever reason associated the bridge more with 59th Street in Manhattan. It’s also known as Queens Bridge which is a shortened form of Queensboro Bridge. Its current official name is the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge, named after the now deceased former mayor of New York City who held office from the late 70s to the early 80s. He was definitely a “character” (as we say ;) ).

The vantage point is from Roosevelt Island and this is the result of a 30 second exposure taken with the Sony A99. It was taken on a bitterly cold night in the beginning of March (you can tell how rough the wind was by the roughness of the water despite the long exposure time) while I was having a spirited conversation with one of the Roosevelt Island security guards regarding the abandoned smallpox hospital further down the island. I tend to love to shoot long exposures alone but it was great to have the company (and quirky conversation) that night. It’s those type of moments that make me love the city: little bursts of spontaneity and brevity while watching the lights sparkle in the city’s eyes.



You can view this post along with all relevant links over at my photography blog here:

http://nythroughthelens.com/post/47247185743/new-york-city-roosevelt-island-tram-view



Tags: #photography   #newyorkcity   #nyc   #nycphotography   #nycskyline   #nycphoto   #newyorkcityphotography   #newyorkphoto   #longexposure   #nycnight   #city   #cityscape   #urban   #cityphotography   #newyorknight   #nycnight   #59thstreetbridge   #bridge   #citylights  
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"Manhattanhenge..."

This was taken during last year's Manhattanhenge sunset.The experience was rather intense. Even though I got to the overpass an hour and a half before sunset, I was told that many photographers had set up their equipment as early as 3 pm. When the sun started its very dramatic descent all that could be heard was the sound of cameras clicking away. It's definitely a phenomenon I don't plan to ever skip now that I have experienced it.

While the sun's dramatic dip only lasts for a few minutes, it's enough to take one's breath away for the entire duration. The city is bathed in the light from the sun and the most beautiful red glow is cast through the streets.

Manhattanhenge is a semiannual occurrence in which the setting sun aligns with the east–west streets of the main street grid in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. The term is derived from Stonehenge, at which the sun aligns with the stones on the solstices. It was coined in 2002 by Neil deGrasse Tyson, an astrophysicist who is the director of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History.

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New York Photography: Manhattanhenge sunset, Tudor City Overpass and 42nd Street

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You can view this post along with information about purchasing prints of this image at my site here:

http://nythroughthelens.com/post/22589765215/manhattanhenge-overlooking-42nd-street-and-tudor

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Tags: #photography #nyc #newyorkcity #newyorkcityphotography #sunset #manhattanhenge #manhattan #chryslerbuilding
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"Sun-kiss..."

Every evening, the sun slides slowly down along the sky gleaming and floating above the city.

Reaching through the clouds to look at its reflection of liquid gold in the water below, it pauses.

And in those brief moments, it’s as if the earth has stopped revolving just long enough for the sun and the city to kiss.

—-

This was taken while on a boat in the East River passing under the Brooklyn Bridge. The skyline is the lower Manhattan skyline featuring the skyscrapers of the Financial District and Pier 17 at South Street Seaport. To the left in the distance, sits the Statue of Liberty.

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New York Photography: The New York City skyline and the Brooklyn Bridge.

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You can view this post along with information about where to purchase prints of this image if you wish at my site here:

http://nythroughthelens.com/post/32396638037/the-new-york-city-skyline-and-the-statue-of

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Tags: #photography   #newyorkcity   #newyorkcityphotography   #nyc   #manhattan   #skyline   #cityscape   #nycskyline   #newyorkcityskyline   #sunset   #brooklynbridge   #prose   #writing   #sunsetnyc  
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"Urban layer cake..."

This is another one of my favorite views in lower Manhattan. It’s a small segment of an entire universe that exists above millions of New Yorkers.

Layers of colorful graffiti cover the rooftops of these Chinatown apartment buildings as rooftop doors blow open in the wind and colorful clothing sways on clotheslines high above the city below.

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New York Photography: Chinatown rooftop graffiti

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You can view this post along with information about prints of this image if you wish at my site here:

http://nythroughthelens.com/post/18386950253/chinatown-rooftop-graffiti-two-bridges-new-york

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Tags: #photography #newyorkcity #graffiti #chinatown #chinatownrooftopgraffiti #nyc #city #cityscape #urban #urbanlandscape #architecture #decay #urbandecay
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New York Winter - Snowy night on 42nd Street


New York City resembles a snow-globe when snow first falls.

As the snow swirls, the trees reach over the city streets as if they are trying to catch snowflakes with their bare, graceful branches.

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This was taken at night during a winter storm in New York City that dropped enough snow to turn the city into a winter wonderland momentarily. This is the area on 42nd Street next to Bryant Park across from the Grace Building which can be seen partially on the left-hand side of the image.

It’s one of my favorite spots to snow-gaze at night.

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Taken with the Sony A99.

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You can view this post along with all relevant links over at my photography blog here:

http://nythroughthelens.com/post/44949202563/new-york-winter-snowy-night-in-midtown-manhattan

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Tags: #photography   #nyc   #newyorkcity   #newyorkcityphotography   #nycphotography   #newyorkphoto   #nycphoto   #blackandwhite   #sony   #sonyphotographers   #a99   #manhattan   #snowysaturday   #snow   #winter   #nycwinter   #nycsnow  
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"Memories..." (about this photo - this is a long post)

The sun's light dances on the tops of leaves blushing red in autumn's embrace. And the earth glows remembering summer's long days and endless promises of warmth.
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This is one of the first round of photos I took back when I started to seriously take photos. It's of a beautiful early autumn view of Bow Bridge in Central Park, New York City.

I go back to this photo every year around this time and think a lot about that day, almost exactly two years ago to this date.

The air was bitingly crisp and the leaves had barely started to fall from the trees. I didn't really know what I was trying to capture. In reality, I remember thinking that I would be happy if I could just get the colors of the leaves right with my humble camera (it was a point and shoot that barely had any controls), I would be over the moon. 

This image has gone on quite a few journeys: as prints to many people (it still remains, to this day, one of my most popular), to clients for commercial work in ads, and on various websites. 

I used to beat myself up about this photo since it feels like I have traveled a large distance in photography since I first took it and I can obviously see in my mind how the scene would look if I had taken the photo now. 

I didn't know it back then but what I have found to be most valuable element of photography is the ability to capture unique moments and distill their essence into something that resonates in some way with even as little as one person (which could just be yourself). 

And you know what? I have gone back to this spot hundreds of times since then and I have never once seen it look exactly like this again. 

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Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux designed Central Park in 1858. Bow Bridge, shaped like an archer's bow, was built between 1859 and 1862. It spans more than 60 feet of the Lake. The ornamental iron railing incorporates elements of Gothic, Neo-Classical, and Renaissance design.

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New York Photography: Central Park autumn. Bow Bridge.

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To view this post as well as information about where to purchase prints of this image, feel free to go here to my site:

http://nythroughthelens.com/post/33013119365/bow-bridge-in-autumn-central-park-new-york

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Tags: #photography   #newyorkcity   #newyorkcityphotography   #nyc   #autumn   #autumnleaves   #fall   #fallcolors   #autumnfoliage   #centralpark   #centralparkautumn   #manhattan   #landscape   #writing  
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"Whisper..."

You exist, this I am sure of with only slightly wavering certainty that vibrates with nothing but the tiny memory of a breeze.

You, a whisper in the night on lips that mouth your name swollen with hope.

You, a whisper that launches forth dreams on the backs of my eyelids.

And I exist too, this I am sure of with quivering certainty that holds steady in the presence of the strongest of wind gusts.

I, the whisper your lips haven't yet come across.

I, the branch that sways in the warm embrace of possibility.

I, the whisper that dances delicately in the night.

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New York Photography: White spring blossoms, Central Park.

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You can view this post along with information about purchasing prints of this image if you wish at my site here:

http://nythroughthelens.com/post/21686370267/white-cherry-blossoms-against-a-white-cloud-filled

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Tags: #photography #poetry #poem #prose #centralpark #spring #springtime #nyc #newyorkcity #centralparkspring #trees #flowers #beautiful
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New York City Skyline. Night

In the blink of an eye the city’s lights twinkle like stars in a universe that rises up from the ground to the surface of a darkening sky.

And all at once, everything else seems to fade away.

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This was taken on a frigid evening with the Sony A99 at Gantry Plaza State Park in Queens with wind gusts roaring across the river to the rocks I was teetering on with nothing more than my tripod and utterances of hope that the wind would let up for just a few seconds.

It didn’t.

But as I stood there frozen in place for what seemed like the longest 30 seconds of the night, the city’s glow rivaled that of a roaring fire and everything else seemed to pale in comparison.

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This was shared to my large photography album of New York City photography here but it is bugged. If you wish to see the rest of my photos, here is the album:

https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/108527329601014444443/albums/5659738011979308065

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You can view this post with relevant links over at my photography blog here: 

http://nythroughthelens.com/post/51263102675/new-york-city-skyline-night-midtown-in-the

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Tags: #photography   #nyc   #newyorkcity   #newyorkcityphotography   #newyorkcityskyline   #empirestatebuilding   #chryslerbuilding   #longexposurephotography   #city   #cityscape   #sony   #sonyphotographers   #sonya99   #skyline  
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"Contentment..."

On summer days like this, the bright summer sun barely cuts through the branches of trees canopies that line the street while brownstones and bicycles revel in the cool shade.

Some people flee the city in the summer, preferring cooler climates free of hot cement. For me, there is nothing that comes close to summer in the city.

It’s true that often the air is held captive by the high heat and the sun scorches the pavement but when a breeze is allowed free rein to fly through the trees, something magical happens.

Streets breathe a sigh of relief and warm tones of muted sunlight cast upon buildings languishing in the shade inspire smiles of contentment.

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New York Photography: Perry Street, Greenwich Village.

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You can view this post along with information about purchasing prints of this image if you wish at my site here:

http://nythroughthelens.com/post/23103193874/summer-on-perry-street-greenwich-village-new

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Tags: #photography #writing #nyc #newyorkcity #poetry #prose #manhattan #greenwichvillage #newyorkcityphotography #city
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"Suspended..."

Summer’s memories sit suspended like words caught in the throat of winter: stifled, muffled utterances barely able to escape in the form of speech.

But in the wide open expanse of dreams, words take flight.

Summer’s memories break through shards upon shards of branches making their way past the ice-kissed lips of winter conjuring up the outline of buildings and cityscapes on the condensation of winter’s frozen breath.
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New York Photography: Central Park in the winter.

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You can view this post along with information about prints of this image if you wish at my site here:

http://nythroughthelens.com/post/19066099231/summers-memories-sit-suspended-like-words-caught

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Tags: #photography #prose #poetry #writing #snow #winter #newyorkcity #nyc #centralpark #centralparkwinter #landscape #beautiful
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Coney Island Mermaid Parade 2012

I attended the 30th Annual Coney Island Mermaid Parade yesterday. I was so excited about the set that I edited them already. How’s that for efficient? This year’s King Neptune was Jackie “The Joke Man” Martling and the Queen Mermaid was Annabella Sciorra and there were plenty of pirates, mermaids, mermen, jellyfish, and sea monsters parading around in their best parade attire as well as vintage cars.

I ended up standing on the sidelines (which I prefer over roaming around in the parade itself) with an absolutely awesome group of people who all knew each other from CouchSurfing, a website that connects travelers with local communities. I couldn’t have asked for better companions to stand with! One of the women had a sign promising “free hugs” and I think 80% of the parade ending up gravitating towards us for some hugs. I haven’t smiled so much in ages.

You can view the full set (with over 50 photos!) here in my Flickr set:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/vivnsect/sets/72157630259778732/

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New York Photography: The 30th Annual Coney Island Mermaid Parade. Brooklyn.

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View this post over at my site if you wish:  

http://nythroughthelens.com/post/25768934192/coney-island-mermaid-parade-2012-brooklyn-new

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Tags: #coneyislandmermaidparade   #mermaidparade   #parade   #nycmermaidparade   #newyorkcity   #nyc   #brooklyn   #coneyisland   #mermaids   #mermaidparade2012   #coneyislandmermaidparade2012  
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"Blush response..."

As the steel exoskeletons that wind along city buildings bask in the glow of springtime, fresh-faced blossoms blush in the warmth of the sun tilting their heads skyward hoping for a kiss.

And the earth swoons.

—-

Spring definitely ‘sprung’ in New York City this past weekend. Trees are already blooming nearly a month ahead of schedule which is unusual but also beautiful to witness after enduring what seemed like a long and rather dreary winter.

These are some of my favorite spring blooms. They are Magnolia Liliiflora also known as the Japanese Magnolia. The tree is actually native to China, but was also cultivated for centuries in Japan. It was introduced to English-speaking countries from Japan and so the name of Japanese Magnolia has stuck even though the tree is not technically native to Japan.

I love how lush the blossoms are when they first open. They are quite delicate though and don’t last for very long so it’s a special and rare treat to catch them when they first bloom.

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New York Photography: Japanese magnolia blossoms. Stuyvesant Square.

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You can view this post along with information about prints of this image if you wish at my site here:

http://nythroughthelens.com/post/19573450227/japanese-magnolia-blossoms-spring-stuyvesant

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Tags: #spring #springtime #flowers #japanesemagnoliablossoms #springblossoms #nyc #newyorkcity #pink #writing #prose #manhattan #springnyc
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*Central Park winter landscape..."

Summer's memories sit suspended like words caught in the throat of winter: stifled, muffled utterances barely able to escape in the form of speech. 

But in the wide open expanse of dreams, words take flight as summer's memories break through the shards of branches conjuring up the outline of buildings and cityscapes on the condensation of winter's frozen breath.

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New York Photography: Central Park west seen through snow-covered trees

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You can view this post along with information about where to purchase prints of this image at my site here:

http://nythroughthelens.com/post/38386131510/central-park-winter-landscape-san-remo-through

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Tags: #photography   #newyorkcity   #newyorkcityphotography   #nyc   #nycphotography   #manhattan   #centralpark   #winter   #centralparkwinter   #snow   #centralparksnow   #newyorksnow   #newyorkwinter   #nycwinter   #winterlandscape   #landscape   #poetry   #prose   #sanremo  
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New York City - Sunset

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I never really get tired of this view.

I know I have expressed that sentiment many times but it’s absolutely true. There’s something incredibly breathtaking that occurs when you are above the rooftops of the city. It’s as if the city shrinks below a vast sky in a huge universe and everything that once seemed impossible seems effortless and within the realm of possibility.

It’s so easy to forget that sort of thing when you live in a large city like New York City. When you are in the thick of it all, it can feel like the you are alone in a never-ending maze of cavernous streets as everyone else’s dreams and hopes fly past you at the speed of light. But when you take yourself out from the middle of everything and change your perspective, it’s as if the city holds its arms out to you beckoning you to come back and put your own dreams out there so they can spread their wings and fly up to the sky towards the horizon leaving a trail of hope in their path.

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This was taken from the top of Rockefeller Center (also known as Top of the Rock) with the Sony A99. It’s probably one of the most popular views of the New York City skyline since it includes the Empire State Building and the skyscrapers of midtown Manhattan. The view is looking south towards One World Trade Center (also known as the Freedom Tower and 1 WTC) and the skyscrapers of the Financial District.

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You can view this over at my photography blog with relevant links if you wish here:

http://nythroughthelens.com/post/46636734379/new-york-city-sunset-over-the-skyscrapers-of

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Tags: #photography   #newyorkcity   #nyc   #newyorkcityphotography   #nycphotography   #empirestatebuilding   #newyorkphoto   #nycphoto   #skyline   #cityscape   #nycskyline   #newyorkskyline   #architecture   #skyscrapers   #sunset   #sunsetsaturday   #sony   #sonyphotographers   #a99   #sonya99  
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