Posts Tagged ‘nyc’

NY/LA Photo Project: Photographer’s Choice (December 2011)

December is obviously a busy month so Paul and I decided to take it easy with our pick and go with “photographer’s choice”. This photo was taken with my phone which I know many will frown upon. I’ve had an idea on my mind for a while now, capturing the view of entering Manhattan from Queens on my morning subway ride. In this case, I had my phone available and quickly snapped the shot. I know this isn’t the best photograph between the glare of the train glass and tweaks with iPhone photo apps but it is sentimental because I get to see this each time I enter the city. Pretty amazing view first thing in the morning in my opinion!

Happy 2012!

NY/LA Photo Project – Memory (September 2011)

Photo: 539 West 162nd Street

For September’s theme, I chose the word Memory because I thought it would be a good challenge and started thinking of various ideas, discarding the first few that were strong in memory but didn’t have any relation to my city.

The idea for the above diptych came about because for the last 6 months I’ve been gathering information, trying to build a family history that I could one day give to my sons. I come from a slew of interesting characters, one of which is my grandfather Edgar Brastow (formerly Alvarenga before being adopted by his stepfather), who was born in New York City and lived just 45 blocks from my first apartment in the city (he on 165th and Broadway and I at 207th and Broadway). I liked the idea of visiting the building/street/neighborhood he once lived in and picturing him as a little boy in this city that we’ve both experienced, just at different moments in time. Sentimental I know. This isn’t my best photograph(s). It’s not particularly creative and there was construction at the entrance that I had to work around but in this case I felt the experience was more important than the end result.

Below is my Great Grandmother Theresa Alvarenga’s Naturalization paperwork where I came across the address they lived at during the 30’s.

Friend and NY/LA Photo Project co-conspirator Paul Kingsley has chosen “light” for October. I’m really looking forward to the challenge of creating something interesting for our next theme.

I have always imagined that Paradise…

“I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library” ~ Jorge Luis Borges

When I got my library card…

“When I got my library card, that’s when my life began” ~ Rita Mae Brown

NY/LA Photo Project – July’s Theme: Landmark

Continuing my project with longtime friend and fellow photographer Paul Kingsley, the theme we selected for July was “Landmark”. Living in New York, I’m surrounded by landmarks – I work just 20 blocks from the Empire State Building and see it each time I leave my office. I wanted to choose something that was still iconic but not on every postcard you find at the local bodega. I chose the Main Branch of the New York Public Library (properly known as the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building). I have a long-standing love of libraries stemming from having free reign of my own local branch all through childhood and my teen years. For some reason, after almost 10 years of living in the city, I’d never visited the main branch, something I regretted the minute I stepped inside. Cool, quiet, the marble practically glowing in certain parts while dark and dim in other spots. Beautiful hallways, incredible architecture, hidden treasures. I wandered into different rooms, the click of my camera seemed deafening in an environment where the only noises were pages being turned, quiet clicks of keyboards, the occasional throat clearing. Down one row of books I found a stretch of old card catalogs and that is where I took my photo for July. This photo taught me that I need to improve on my depth of field skills when working in low lit areas without a flash. Still, I think it’s an interesting shot. More photos of my visit to follow…

Southern Delicious…

Last month, I participated in a class at the Institute for Culinary Education and on the first day, one of my classmates led a few of us to the temporary Madison Square Food Court. It was there that I was introduced to the Pies ‘n Thighs “Chicken Biscuit”. Simply named, it is a piece of deep-fried chicken, dipped in hot sauce and stuck between a flaky biscuit dripping in butter. It was messy and slightly spicy and incredible! I ate one on Friday, I ate one on Saturday, the following weekend, my husband and I went back and I had another. The reason for this gluttony? Pies ‘n Thighs is permanently located in Brooklyn and since we live in Queens, it’s a long trek to get there. I had to get my fix while I could. Check out their website for what they describe as “southern food with lots of mexican and hippie influence”. You can find their menu here. I think it goes without saying that I highly recommend you go!