Eighth Avenue

Today I was once again browsing through my old photos (by old I mean maybe two years old) and I came across this one. At first it looked like a tourist's photograph but then I looked again and saw the potential of a great black and white conversion.

For those who don't know Eighth Avenue is in Manhattan, NYC. This part of Eighth Avenue is very close to Macy's, which is my second favorite area in Manhattan (first is Times Square).

This line is only intended to people who know what I am talking about. Notice the 421? I guess someone was a minute late. :)

Anyway this photograph was shot using a Canon 40D. As far as the lens goes, I can't really remember which one I was using because it's been too long. As for editing and black and white conversion I used Photoshop CS4.

The Girl Waiting For the Bus

Midtown Manhattan

"Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known" Carl Sagan

I was never particularly good in shooting candid street portraits mainly because of the fear of someone snapping at me and embarrassing me but often times I can't resist. This was the case in this photo.

This young woman was waiting in the same bus shelter we were waiting at. She looked like she just got up from her bed and rushed out but she looked beautiful nonetheless. It always fascinates me how some women, even if they try to look bad, they still look amazing, while others no matter how hard they try to look good, they still don't. Some or blessed than the others I guess.

Anyway this photo was shot very close to Macy's which in my opinion is even more chaotic than Times Square but I just love the area. If you have an artist block just head down there and you will quickly overcome it.

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.

Smoke in the City

New York City

"As a remedy to life in society I would suggest the big city. Nowadays, it is the only desert within our means." Albert Camus

This photograph was shot somewhere in downtown Manhattan on the East Side. I can't really remember exactly where.

When I first saw those smoke emitting devices in Manhattan I could not understand why and how they work. I still don't know nowadays but deep in the abyss of my mind they are more acceptable than they were before. 

In real life it might not look pretty, but it sure does bring out more character in a photograph. Apart from that, we can also see some pedestrians, probably on their way to work. 

What's nice about this photograph is that even though it was shot in Manhattan (which is synonymous with busyness) it looks very serene and quiet. 

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

Brothers in the Sky

Columbus Circle, New York City

"The city of New York is like an enormous citadel, a modern Carcassone. Walking between the magnificient skyscrapers one feels the presence on the fringe of a howling, raging mob, a mob with empty bellies, a mob unshaven and in rags." Henry Miller

This is probably one of those pictures that is very close to my heart. It is in my top three all time favorites. It's one of those pictures that is taken in a hurry due to circumstantial events and still turns out to be great. It's one of those pictures that everyone time you look at it you discover something new. 

These two giant skyscrapers can be found at Columbus Circle, Midtown Manhattan. It's one of my favorite spots in all of New York City. The drama never seizes to exist in this part of town and even if you go there a million times you will always discover that new thing that somehow you always missed seeing.

Luckily enough for me, when I shot this picture the weather was terrible. It happens to be my favorite kind of weather and the clouds add more drama to the picture. So now you see why this picture is one of my favorites - dreary weather, Columbus circle, New York City and skyscraper...all subjects very close to my heart. Add those together and you get a picture like the one you are seeing here.

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

The Arches

Central Park, New York City

"Knowledge is the only fountain both of the love and the principles of human liberty." Daniel Webster

The path in the picture, is the path that leads to the Bethesda Terrace and Fountain. We have seen this terrace and fountain in numerous movies, but to stand there, physically stand there and admire it with your own eyes is something completely different. The whole area is beautiful. The stairs leading to this 'hallway' in the picture, the 'hallway', the terrace and the fountain all collaborate together to create this master class scene better known as the Bethesda Terrace.

This picture was shot early in the morning so I was lucky enough to get the picture without any people in it (except for that one woman on the right side.) 

The area is very popular with tourists and New Yorkers alike. It's very serene and I think it's considered as one of the landmarks of Manhattan, New York!

 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