Not Goodbye, Only See You Later

Summer is not my thing. I am a temperate climate kind of girl, therefore Spring and Fall are my Utopian seasons. However, 2009 has granted us NYC residents the most spring-esque summer someone like me could have asked for. My hair wasn't frizzy, I didn't break a sweat walking from the office to the subway and I could enjoy a day of sun in the park without feeling like a piece of overcooked bacon.


This was just the icing on the cake of my amazing summer and irony struck when it all ended the day I left. My last day in the city I decided to head down to the Lower East Side, Alphabet City to be exact, to capture some of the real New York. The place that, during the day, is just out of reach of tourists, club-goers and bar-hoppers. Needless to say I sacrificed some sweat for my craft, but it was all worth it. Especially when the last image my camera saw of NYC was the urban beauty of the elusive empty subway car.


I think that was a fitting end to a great chapter. Enjoy the last of the Seasons of the City below and here.

Trespassing

The use of color in photography is what intrigues me the most. We are surrounded by so many brilliant shades and it's so easy to take them for granted. Sight is a wonderful gift and capturing this city has made me appreciate it so much.

Each place I visit has such a unique and diverse palate - I am so intrigued about what Asia will present. No where have I been more aware of color surrounding me then at 5 Pointz in Queens. Every time I take the 7 train I catch a glimpse of this graffiti park, staring longingly at it's photographic potential.

Potential transformed into my favorite NYC city shoot, and this graffiti had some stiff competition. Enjoy below and here.

Colors of Summer

I have never spent an elongated period of time in a place which has only one season. Vietnam is a good example of one of these places. Dalat, where I'm going to be living, is usually between 75-90 degrees. I'm excited to experience eternal summer, however it got me thinking about the changes a place goes through during the course of the 4 seasons. Each season has its own color palate, and it's amazing to explore each. Will I miss the diverse beauty?

It reminds me of a scene in Sex in the City where Carrie is describing that moment where suddenly you realize summer is over. That first night that you have put a blanket on your bed to ward off the chill. I hope I find new moments like that, perhaps the first night after the rainy season where I don't have to sleep under a mosquito net? I think that will be even more welcome then a chill in the air!

I took a stroll down 25th Street today to capture the colors of NYC - which cannot be confused with the colors of summer. See the complete set here.

Use the Stairs While You're Young

My time in NYC is winding down, only about 2.5 weeks left, so I have been trying to capture my surroundings more and more lately. With my camera, of course! At lunch today I wandered over to the High Line on 10th Ave. They have an interesting concept, a footbridge + garden. Only in NY would you be able to walk 30 feet above the busy street amongst flowers and greenery, the Hudson River to your left and a sea of brick to your right. It was throughly enjoyable.

What I found to be most enjoyable was a comment overheard by a pair of strolling old ladies. One becomes jaded to insane comments made on the street, there is even a website featuring all of these insanities here. However, today was different, the serene setting, the never ending beeping below, and a old lady loudly broadcasting, "Yea, I used to fall down the stairs a lot". It makes me applaud her for being so brave as to ascend the 5 flights of stairs onto the High Line. On second thought, maybe she took the elevator.

I digress, some of my favs below, and the rest of the pictures here and here.