San Remo From Central Park

From the very first time I've seen this building I was fascinated by it and I didn't even know who lives in it yet!

Almost everywhere you walk in Central Park you could see it. You could see it there standing like a giant amongst the trees. Whether it's a cloudless clear day or a stormy sky, the San Remo building looks in character. It screams New York City, the posh life in New York City.

I took this black and white photograph last Summer on my last day visiting the fantastic city. For some reason, the photos I take on the last week or day are the photos that I hold close to my heart. I know this one is not one of my best black and white photographs but still I felt like showing it, as the San Remo building is one of my favorite in all of New York City (have a I said that already?)

This photo was taken using a compact Samsung camera. Edited and converted to black and white using Photoshop CS4.

Colors of New York City

New York City

“Every person on the streets of New York is a type. The city is one big theater where everyone is on display.” Jerry Rubin

This is my 84th photograph and I have never faced such dilemma. Today I couldn't decide whether to work with the color photograph or convert it to black and white. I liked both pictures and couldn't just pick one so for today we have a double entry...two versions of the same photograph.

One thing I instantly fell in love with when I first arrive in New York City was the architecture and the colors. Coming from a country where the buildings are bland and all limestone yellow this was beauty to me. I love the contrast that these beautiful buildings create...a red building with black fire escape ladders or darker buildings with white ladders. Add a beatiful clear blue sky, (or for a better effect I prefer a dull, greyish one) and the colors of the trees and you will be walking among art.

When I was younger, I never thought that it'd be possible to fall in love with a city, but New York City was love at first sight and it's the kind of love that will never die.

This photograph was shot with a compact camera. Editing, including the black and white conversion was done in PS CS4.

Futuristic

Midtown, New York City

"May the dreams of your past be the reality of your future" Unknown

I must have walked across this building a hundred times and never actually cared to look up. This area (around 32nd Street) is so busy that if you stop to admire the area be prepared to get walked over. Yes I am exaggerating but I am sure most of you know how busy the Midtown area is.

When I took this picture it was raining so the streets were not that busy and after beating myself up after I realized what I have been missing I took out my iPhone and snapped a picture. This particular building is surrounded by a lot of old New York City buildings so this design really does catch your eye (if only it was not high up.)

This black and white photograph was captured on my iPhone using the Hipstamatic app. Some minor editing was done in PS CS4. Settings for Hipstamatic were BlacKeys B&W/Lucifer IV

Ansonia

Architectural Building, Upper West Side, New York City

"Architecture aims at Eternity." Christopher Wren

Opera singers and this apartment building in the picture have a long history. This famous building which is called the Ansonia, was designed by Stokes, who had no architecture training but gave strict rules to a European architect he hired for the job. A lot of famous people lived in this building and I am sure it contains a lot of secrets behind its walls. 

The Ansonia building stands 18 stories high and this massive structure boasts 1,400 rooms over 50,000 square feet. 

The first time I was told that the Ansonia building was the home for a lot of opera singers I immediately asked why. It's clear enough why, but I am so immersed into looking at this facade that my common sense was lost. The building has very thick walls, therefore musicians could sing or play instruments all they wanted without bothering their neighbors.

Of all the awe-inspiring, historically significant buildings that make the Upper West Side of Manhattan so aesthetically pleasing and popular to the masses, perhaps few are as architecturally exuberant or hold such colorful history as the Ansonia building and hotel. 

This photograph was captured on my iPhone using the Hipstamatic app. Some minor editing was done in PS CS4. Settings for Hipstamatic were BlacKeys B&W/Lucifer IV