Photos of the Nor'easter - Wed, Nov. 7

Images from the Nor'Easter... Left to right:  Snowed on bikes in UWS; Old Fashioned Car - b/c I was taking this photo, my friend and I avoided the falling tree branch that would have likely hit us had we not stopped; Fallen Tree Branch - missed the car, missed us;  and statue on 59th Street @ the entrance of Central Park (i also lost my glove here)

The Nor'Easter didn't stop people from walking their dog or me from taking photos... 

After Hurricane Sandy comes to NYC, we are experiencing the Nor'Easter - Wed, Nov. 7

NYC 2012 Marathon Cancelled, but that didn't stop some people from running in Central Park

So amazing... Even after the NYC ING Marathon was cancelled, I am glad people decided to run their own marathon in central park.  I know there was a lot of controversy over the marathon -- but many of these runners had trained for months and flew here after Bloomberg initially said the marathon would continue.  So though I am glad the marathon was cancelled, I was happy and supportive of those people who decided to run.  Also, I was happy to hear some of these runners decided to volunteer with the NYC relief efforts, helping those impacted by Hurricane Sandy...

Building community - support one another!

4th day post Hurricane Sandy - What I see around NYC - 5th Avenue, Rockefeller Center, Times Square - Friday, Nov. 2

Photos from my walk from 57th and 5th Ave to Rockefeller Center to Times Square

 

NBC's Democracy Plaza - gearing up for Nov. 6 Election Day Coverage

 

Map of the United States on ice!

Fans eagerly camping out outside the SNL Rainbow room hoping to get tickets for tomorrow nights show. Some have been camping out since early this morning!

 

Who is hosting SNL tomorrow? A comedian named Louie C.K.

 

"The show must go on" @ NYC Times Square

Hurricane Sandy tv advertisement by BAC... Even though things may appear normal, NYCers will feel the effects of this for a long time... So please volunteer, or donate to help those who were impacted from the Hurricane!

How are New Yorkers feeling after the storm? Stories from people in the city on Friday, Nov. 2

Everyone is trying to return to normalcy after Hurricane Sandy.  Below are a few photographs and stories from people I met along my walk from near Grand Central to 57th Street on Friday, Nov. 2 -- and a few heart-warming stories detailing how and what NYC'ers are feeling or how they or their friends were impacted by the Hurricane and what they are doing a few days after the hurricane ...

The New York Post's front page -- Abuse of power ... Per the article, generators are being set up in Central Park as parts of New York City are out of electricity.  There is a lot of controversy over this.

This seafood truck came into the city from New Jersey.  The driver started his journey before 6 am and only just reached New York around 8:00 am.  He noted that it took him 45 minutes to get through the Lincoln Tunnel. 

Meet Abraham, the delivery guy who started his work day at 5 a.m. and is making his last delivery at 8 a.m. He delivers food to businesses throughout New York City, however today, he only had six deliveries, when he normally has an average of sixteen. He mentioned that his deliveries were lower due to the downtown power outages. 

As I was walking around, I began to see a lot more delivery trucks in midtown -- trucks carrying steaks and others shipping in supplies for Duane Reade.

I thought this man had just flown into NYC, but I was wrong.  With his 4+ bags in hand, he decided to evacuate his apartment on 10th street (power went out monday night and its Friday). 

Meet Billy Rohan.  He spent the night outside St. Bart's on 51st and Park.  When asked if he was affected by the Hurricane he said "yes, it was difficult to find transportation back to Edgewater Park in the Bronx."  As for what he plans to do today -- he's going to the financial district to skate (see his skateboard?).  Billy was a very interesting person who invited me to breakfast (but I already ate), told me about his night adventure (um, too x-rated for this blog), and shared with me his thoughts on Obama and other things.  If you're interested in learning more about him, check out this site or you can google him - he has twitter feeds, youtube videos and has been in the press.

Everyone has been impacted by the storm, but we all are trying to achieve some normalcy in life.  I saw the man in the suit walking his dog near midtown before heading into work.  He evacuated his home earlier this week and is currently staying at a hotel nearby.

Meet Louis the UPS man.  Its his first day back on the job and when asked how he was doing.  He said, "I'm doing fine."  After speaking with him for a little while, I discovered that his mother lives in Coney Island and her home was one of the few houses left standing after the Hurricane.  I noticed he was wearing a Cross and asked him about it... He began to share his testimony with me and how he found God - quite an amazing story - he was previously catholic, but somehow got into a dark period in his life where he believed in satanism (inc. witchcraft, astrology, etc), but he reached a low point in his life where, while high on cocaine, he almost took someone's life ... while in shock and realizing he almost took somone's life, he felt a presence over him and that was the moment he found God.   Its been four years since he made this discovery.  If anyone wants to hear more, he handed me a two page, handwritten testimony of his journey in finding God.  Truly heart-felt. 

Meet Magic Al.  I met him on Park Avenue and 56th street and noticed him and his colleague hauling what you see in the photo and another pink suitcase.  Though they were impacted by the Hurricane, they weren't evacuating their home, rather they were on their way to a child's birthday party.  Al's business has been impacted by the storm - with many halloween party and birthday party cancellations.  Today was his first performance since the Hurricane and he will be providing magic tricks and face painting at the birthday party.  What a perfect solution to keeping kids occupied and smiling during this tumultuous time of returning to normalcy after Hurricane Sandy.  For more info about his works, you can search his website -- Magic-Al.com.

And finally, meet Roy, a security guard.  Roy was the last person I spoke to before heading into the office.  He ended my walk to work with a very profound statement.  When asked about how he was feeling, he said -- "On the outside we have to appear 100%, but on the inside, we feel sad, scared and not right...  We have to be strong on the outside to offer our strength to other people."

There is a lot of truth to Roy's statement and I believe it was fate that he was the last person I spoke to before concluding my search of figuring out how New Yorkers are really feeling during this time... a little like Cinderella Man or like me who wants to feel a sense of normalcy?     


Outtakes from my walk:

three people walking into work

Long lines inside coffee bean

Seems like nothing happened in the city... People are buying coffee and breakfast at Dishes before heading into work ...

Signs had fallen after the Hurricane and many signs still remained on the ground.

This Waldorf Astoria bell man is counting his tips from the day.

NYC Waterway Ferry bus heading to the west side to drop off passengers as they commute to work.

A random deli with people buying their morning breakfast.

Video of area without power after Hurricane Sandy, near Empire State Building on Thursday, Nov. 1

Complete darkness; Actual image was slightly more lit, but this is what my iPhone captured.

What I see around NYC - Thursday, Nov. 1

Long lines as people wait for their buses home - to Brooklyn, New Jersey, Queens

Plenty of water at Duane Reade -- NICE!

Darkness in the areas without power ... but buses are running

Another location where people are lining up for buses to go home

Halloween - October 31, 2012, 2nd day after Hurricane Sandy

 

I am glad to see parents were taking their kids out for Halloween trick or treating... But for some adults, it probably feels like a trick has been played on us with the effects of Hurricane Sandy still lingering...

But you gotta smile with this cute astronaut!

Thank you parents for providing kids with some normalcy and bringing a smile to NYers like me!

PHOTOGRAPHS - Steve McCurry, Irving Penn, Cindy Sherman, Robert Frank, Sebastiao Salgado

Phillips de Pury & Company is auctioning approximately 260 photographs taken by a few well-known photographers. After stumbling upon this exhibit, I realized just "how well known" some of these photographers were. Irving Penn, Diane Arbus, Cindy Sherman, Robert Frank, Edward Weston, and Steve McCurry to name a handful of them. Upon seeing the photographs, you could quickly figure out why it was theirs -- it was because of their style, because of what they chose to photograph, and because some of them are iconic images.

There were other photographer's work that I did not immediately recognize, however, when you walk up to the description, you may chuckle as I did as I realized "aha, yes, of course!"... And they were equally as well-known and famous as the others ... it was the works of Henri Cartier Bresson, Richard Avedon, and Sebastiao Salgado. Other photographers who I am not familiar with their works include Desiree Dolron, Peter Lindberg, Elger Esser, among others are present.

A few photographs that I enjoyed viewing included:

• Sebastiao Salgado - Chinstrap Penguins , with an opening price of $12,000-$15,000. I saw some of his works during my photography walking tour where he photographed a group of workers along a hillside and made it look like an ant-farm. This picture of the elephants was no different, he had the same style and, in my opinion, witty sense of photographing everyday people/objects to make it humorous. Another interesting one was An Elephant Ghost World.

• Henri Cartier Bresson's - Brie, with an opening price of $8,000-$12,000. The photograph is of Alberto Giacometti working. I thought this photo was intriguing, particularly since I have seen Bresson's work at the MoMa, and while his pieces were at the MoMA, Giacommetti's scultpure work was downstairs. So this photo, at least to me, reminds me of that exhibit and made me chuckle because of how decades later both their work were exhibited in one location.
  

• Irving Penn - Miles Davis, with an opening price of $25,000 - $35,000. The photo is of a "hand" holding a trumpet, with a few fingers extended. This photo may not say anything at first viewing, however, after reading who the hand belongs to, you'll understand the significance of this photo because it is Miles Davis' hand.
  

• Lastly, I truly enjoyed seeing Steve McCurry's "Afghan Girl", with an opening price of $10,000-$15,000 (image is not signed). I enjoyed seeing this piece because he came to speak at the David Alan Harvey "At Home" Workshop and spoke about this one image among his many other photographs taken in Asia. Additionally, the Afghan Girl was the cover on the National Geographic Magazine in 1985 and the photograph has been republished in numerous books and posters. In 2003, National Geographic found the Afghan girl, and to her surprise, she didn't realize her face was made so popular. For more info on that story, click here and for more info about the photo used as cover for national geographic, click here.
  

With that being said, you will have to go and see it for yourself, and hopefully, you'll find some works that you may know and enjoy. The auction viewing will be made available until April 8th, with opening hours Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm and on Sunday from 12 - 6 p.m. The auction for the photographs will be held on April 9th. There is an "opening reception" held today from 4-7 p.m. where cocktails and hor d' oeuvres will be served.

Enjoy!

Phillips de Pury & Company
450 Park Avenue (cross street is 57th Street)

Auction will be held April 9 with the first session at 11 am and the second session at 2 pm
Online viewing of items to be auctioned.

Photo of the Day: Lady at the Bus Stop

In this photograph, a lady stands inside the bus shelter on 34th street and 9th avenue to escape the rain.

Her expression is unique and is why I decided to take a photo of her ... - is it angst, sadness, lost, annoyed or something else ?

side note: The bus stop is outside of B&H.

What are New York Women Wearing on their feet?

If you've watched Sex and the City, you know that Carrie Bradshaw's biggest love next to Mr. Big is her Manolo Blahniks - I mean, how can you not? Ok, really, I don't own a pair and haven't had a desire to own a pair either -- but seriously, is that what New Yorkers are wearing around the city? Well, maybe that's what people are wearing at night, along with their Christian Louboutin's... but, what are people wearing during the day, in their everyday walking shoes?

I thought of this idea as I was walking in Herald Square and I saw a lady (photo above) with these brown high heeled shoes. First thing I noticed was she looked extremely uncomfortable wearing them (um, fashion before comfort?) and she didn't "zip" the back of her shoe which probably made it even more difficult or dangerous for her to walk in. So the following images represent my photographic essay on "what women wear during the day as they walk around the city".

The following photos were taken this past Thursday from 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in various parts of New York City, including Herald Square, Chelsea, Union Square, and Chinatown.

Here are some of my favorites photographs:

"Classic Boots"

Left: "#6 - Step on the Bend"

"Legs in Love" :Right

"Legs and Cigarettes"

... two sisters tattooed the word "family" in Syrian

"Family"

... and below are some other examples of what New York women are wearing around the city! Click on the image below to enlarge!

"She's got legs and she knows how to use them" -- ZZ Top




"Walk like an Egyptian" -- Bangles



"Don't have a song for these photos" -- Susan Lee

... if you're wondering how I went about taking these photographs -- let's just say it was a fun and exciting experience. I asked most of the people if I can take a picture of their feet. Some thought it was strange -- who can blame them ? And others were willing participants -- as if it wasn't a strange question to ask! However, I did eventually start telling people -- really, I don't have a foot fetish, I am just doing a little project with my iPhone... :D and yes, I'm a photographer. :D

Surprisingly, I only had one person say "no, I think that's kind of weird" and walked away from me. Ha ha!

and while I was on my mission to photograph all the interesting/weird/cute/ugly shoes worn by New Yorkers -- I thought to myself -- if I was a guy, I would think of a random project like this and take photos of women in New York -- great pick up line? or too strange? ha ha... I don't know... someone gave me their number though. Ha ha!

to the women i photographed: thank you for participating in my project and please leave a message!


** all photos were taken with my iphone **

Photo of the Day: Elderly Lady in the Window

I would say this is more of an editorial piece -- but, I saw the elderly lady sitting inside the restaurant and I knew I had to take the photograph. I wonder if the image makes you think of anything, or if it makes you think of nothing at all...

(click on image if you'd like a bigger image)

So, have you thought about what it says to you or what it reminds you of?





For me, it reminds me of elderly people and the association of elderly people taking advantage of "early bird dinner specials". The photo was taken around 4:00 p.m. at a restaurant off of Sixth Avenue.

Ever get stopped by a police officer while photographing something on public streets?

Have you ever been stopped by a police officer while taking a photo in a public place? If the answer is yes, then you should read this article from the Washington Post.

"Courts have long ruled that the First Amendment protects the right of citizens to take photographs in public places. Even after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, law enforcement agencies have reiterated that right in official policies.

But in practice, those rules don't always filter down to police officers and security guards who continue to restrict photographers, often citing authority they don't have. Almost nine years after the terrorist attacks, which ratcheted up security at government properties and transportation hubs, anyone photographing federal buildings, bridges, trains or airports runs the risk of being seen as a potential terrorist..."

Last year, New York City police sought to clarify the rules on photography with a directive to all officers. It said that photography is "rarely unlawful" and that officers have no right to demand to see photos or to delete them. Like Washington, New York is a potential terrorist target but also a major tourist destination, and as a result, the directive said, "practically all such photography will have no connection to terrorism or unlawful conduct."

For more info, Carlos Miller's website, has posted commentary on the subject as well.

Personal Tip:

A few years ago, I happened to be at a cafe on Prince Street when a fire broke out across the street. I of course had my camera so I decided to take photos of the fire (keeping a safe distance, of course)... but as I was photographing everything, a police officer came by and the following transpired:

Police Officer: What are you doing?
Susan: Just taking photos.
PO: Do you work for a newspaper?
Susan: No, just taking photos for fun. Just taking it for school (um, wasn't in school)
PO: Are you going to sell these photos?
Susan: No, just doing it for myself. (silence...) Do you want to see a few?
PO: Sure...

I started talking to them in a non-threatening way ... And that was the end of that... I think the point is -- the police officer wanted to tell me I couldn't take photographs; I, however, knew that I could since it was a public place. However, some police officers just want to tell you something that you can't do (even if they are wrong) -- its a power trip, in some sense... but if you keep your cool and just show them a little something (PHOTOS) then you may be okay.

Blog posting of the fire: Fire in the City - Prince Street.
Photos of the event: Photos of Firefighters doing their job.

W. Eugene Smith - The Jazz Loft Project in New York City till May 22, 2010

For the first time, a rare set of W. Eugene Smith's black & white work prints are displayed at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center and will be available through May 22, 2010. This collection of prints is called the Jazz Loft Project, where Smith took residence at 821 Sixth Avenue (between 28th and 29th Street) for eight years, recording audiotapes and recording images of jazz musicians, artists and underground characters in their element. Smith's photographs capture the late-night jam sessions, rehearsals, and musicians testing new melodies. The likes of Charles Mingus, Thelonious Monk, Zoot Sims, and Hall Overton were photographed as they practiced in less than desirable make-shift rooms. In addition to Smith's "recordings" of the musicians, on display are also Smith's series of street photographs taken with his 400 mm Canon lens from his loft window.

The collection presented in the exhibit, in my opinion, is less famously known or has not reached as much notoriety as Smith's other works such as The Pacific War (1942-1945), The Country Doctor (1948), The Nurse - Midwife, Dr. Albert Schweitzer (1954), and Minamata (1971). However, the Jazz collection, like his other photographs and photo essays, continue to tell you a story about how it was to see these artists in their natural environment. Smith is like a fly on the wall; his photographs do not show "posed" characters, rather, everyone is naturally going on with their business as if he was not there. There is no doubt that by living among the artists, it allowed him to capture what others would not, the 'human-ness' of these individuals without disrupting the mood in the room. Interestingly enough, a few videos at the end of the exhibit tell you that some of the musicians knew he was around, but no one really took notice of him; and others, didn't even know who he was.

So who was W. Eugene Smith? He was a renowned photographer who during his career worked for LIFE, Newsweek, Parade, Magnum and freelancer at Black Star. During his photographic career he gained notoriety from numerous collections of photos, as mentioned above -- The Pacific War (1942-1945), The Country Doctor (1948), The Nurse - Midwife, Dr. Albert Schweitzer (1954), and Minamata (1971). He captured a great number emotion evoking photographs, but what also made him stand apart from other photographers was his talent as a printer. Funny thing is, in one of the videos at the exhibit, Smith stated that when he started at the age of 14, he hated dark room work, but from the beginning to the end of his career, he obviously overcame that and learned to enjoy working in the dark room as he became a great printer.

At the exhibit there were a few quotes that caught my eye. Upon reflection of Smith's life, Smith stated that while living at 821 Sixth Avenue, it was "great exuberance and just truer quality of seeing", which may explain the quality and "air" about the photos. Additionally, he also stated that during this time period (1958), he was at the peak of his career; it was the best and worst time of his life as a photographer and nadir for human being. For those that do not know, in 1957, Smith left his wife and four kids to live at the dilapidated five story loft building; of which, as a viewer, you will see his work taken over a span of eight years, including everything inside and outside the building walls at 821 Sixth Avenue.

Below is my list of things that should not be missed at the exhibit:

Photographs

• Thelonius Monk. 1959. The printing of this is incredible -- dark shadow, face silhouetted, eyes closed expressing his passion for music and a lit cigarette with smoke coming out from it.
• Robert Ayler
• Roland Kirk - you see him performing on the piano and there is a somewhat ghostly shape of a person watching on the left side of the photo -- (again, Smith chooses what he wants you to see through his printing quality)
  
• Lady getting out of the Car -- there is something sexy about that leg coming out of the car
• Lady searching around in her purse
  
• Mother giving her child gloves
  
• Salvador Dali photo - he's just one of my favorite artists;
  
• Note: Aside from musicians who frequented 821 Sixth Avenue, were other well-known including Diane Arbus, Robert Frank, Henri Cartier-Bresson).
  

Video : Audio Recordings

• Audio recording of when a policeman visits him in his loft
• Audio recording of Smith calling Ziff Davis publishing company --
• Screen #3 - watch and listen to Eugene Smith talking about his projects
  

Inside the Cases: A Must See

• LIFE Magazine -- articles on Albert Schweitzer, the Nurse: Midwife, South Pacific
  
• 400 mm Canon lens

With that said, the exhibit is now on view at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center and will run through May 22, 2010. The exhibit will travel to the Chicago Cultural Center (July 17-September 25, 2010), the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University (February 3-May 22, 2011), the Museum of Photographic Arts in San Diego (May 19-Oct. 7, 2012), and the Center for Creative Photography at the University of Arizona (late 2012, early 2013). There will also be an exhibition of projected images at the Monterey Jazz Festival September 17-19, 2010.

For more info: WSJ article, Jazz Loft Project Homepage

Address & Hours: February 17, 2010 through May 22, 2010

New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center
40 Lincoln Center Plaza

New York, N.Y. 10023-7498

Phone: (212) 870-1630

Tues, Wed & Fri: 11 to 6;
Mon, Thurs: 12 to 8; Sat: 10 to 6

In Honor of Holy Week - Photos of the Old City in Jerusalem, Israel Part 1

I figured since its Holy Week, I thought I would share some of my photos from the Old City in Jerusalem, Israel. After all, Jerusalem is part of the Holy Lands and is the place where many religious sects were born, and inevitably leading to many religious wars/fights stemming from differing religious viewpoints.

So, this is PART 1 for the week, giving you an aerial view of the different parts of the Old City while walking on "Ramparts Walk". I began the journey at the old Jaffa Gate and ended it near Lion's Gate. Through this walk, you will see bits and pieces of people's lives in the four quarters, where their daily routines though may be similar are separated by their religious faith and ethnic backgrounds -- Armenian, Christian, Muslim and Jewish. I ended my walk at the Lions Gate, but also continued forward through to the Jewish quarter, where I discovered the Western Wall, or more infamously known as the Wailing Wall. I hope to elaborate further on the story of the Western Wall and give you a view of the wall that you may never have imagined in a later posting. Additionally, some of my following postings will include photos from Jesus' Christ walk through Via Delarosa, the stations he stopped at, the Holy Sepulcher, and perhaps some photos of his origins - Bethlehem and Bethany Beyond Jordan. But, until then, enjoy the aerial view of the life people lead within the walls of the Old City.

Here is a quick glimpse of the photos within my FLICKR account... These photos are here to illustrate the lifestyle of the people living within the Old City Wall. Click here for more photos on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplyeverywhere/sets/72157623607445109/

For more, remember to check my travel blog: simplyEVERYWHERE