Together

Nothing much to say here, but it turned out to be one of my favorite Hipstamatic photos.

The Road to Salvation

Central Park, New York

"Enlightenment must come little by little - otherwise it would overwhelm." Idries Shah

How many times are we walking in the same spot but always see something different? Many of us don't even notice, while some of us do and try to see what is that one thing that is making the same scene look different. 


On this particular day, while I was walking in Central Park, New York I noticed the shadow on the pavement was creating a nice texture. I have been walking here but I honestly never saw it before. Now it's either because I never bothered to look or maybe it was because the sun was hitting the trees from an angle. To be honest I usually go walk late in the afternoon but this picture was taken in the morning. It was a hazy day which you can see by looking at the soft tones on the trees further away in the photograph. 


When I saw this picture I realized that while walking around in New York, you have to keep an open eye. In New York everything comes and goes fast and you can miss seeing that something beautiful in a blink of an eye. This may sound overwhelming to some people who never experienced New York before but for those who live there, I am sure you know what I mean.

This photograph was shot using Hipstamatic on my iPhone and the settings were Lucifer IV/BlacKeys B&W. I converted it to black and white in PS CS4.

One Last View of New York...For Now

Upper West Side, New York

"New York is the only real city-city." Truman Capote

This photo was captured at Central Park in Manhattan, New York and is part of the Hipstamatic photography series of New York, Manhattan.

This morning, while I was taking my usual walk around the Jackie Onassis Reservoir, it hit me and it hit me hard. This was my last day in New York City for a couple of months. That's when the melancholy kicked in and I was looking around me like it was my first time in the city. I wanted to take as many mental images of the city as possible so New York can be imprinted in my mind for as long as I stay away.

What you see in the picture is the famous San Remo building, which is a favorite hideaway for stars in New York. 


The weather was not ideal, because it was a little hazy and there was a slight wind so the reflection couldn't be perfect, but it's still good enough.


The settings on the Hipstamatic camera for this photography series were Lucifer VI Lens/BlacKeys Monochrome Film. Some minor adjustments were done in Photoshop CS4.

Also for those who didn't see my other post - I am hosting a giveaway on my blog. I am giving away My Memories Photo Suite 2.0 to one random person. The ending of this giveaway is Sunday, 18th September at 10am EST and you can check it out here: My Memories Photo Suite 2.0 Giveaway

Emerging From the Clouds

34th Street, New York City

"The skyscraper establishes the block, the block creates the street, the street offers itself to man." Alan Bird

This upside-down photo (explanation below) was captured at 34th Street Manhattan, New York and is part of the Hipstamatic photography series of New York, Manhattan. I don't know the name of the building or what purpose it serves, but as soon as I saw it I got this idea in my head that I am portraying here.


As mostly everyone knows New York is the city of giants. Everywhere you look you see tall buildings that for a child might seem to be touching the the sky. And I guess that is why someone, a long time ago came up with the term 'skyscraper'. They are grand to look at, an architectural feat and they are perfect for photography. Skyscrapers are photography subjects that don't move, they are not fickle and they don't complain and that's why all the photographers I know find it enjoyable photographing these giant structures.

Yes, the picture is upside down. I flipped it that way on purpose. But what is the purpose? When I was walking by and looked up at this New York Skyscraper, in an instant, it brought out the kid in me and even if it was just a brief moment, I actually believed that it was touching the sky.  


If you look at the right hand side of tower panel and go to the bottom, you will notice that it's like the skyscraper is actually emerging from the sky and being build towards the earth.Most skyscrapers have a huge base for a solid foundation but this one has a small base and the higher it goes, the bigger it gets (in the photography, not in real life) It also resembles our life which is almost composed of building blocks. In whatever we do, we start small and work hard to achieve that bigger goal.

The settings on the Hipstamatic camera for this photography series were Lucifer VI Lens/BlacKeys Monochrome Film. Some minor adjustments were done in Photoshop CS4 including the Black and White conversion.

Chaotic Order

Lincoln Center, New York City

"Chaos and order are not enemies, only opposite." Richard Garriott

This photo was captured at Lincoln Center on the Upper West Side in Manhattan, New York and is part of the Hipstamatic photography series of New York, Manhattan.


It was late in the morning when we were walking around here. It was a beautiful cold, rainy winter day. Those are two attributes that make New York look more beautiful and perfect for Black and White photography. Usually this recreation area is bustling with people but on this particular day it was totally deserted. There was something really peaceful about it.


I couldn't help but notice the symmetry of the trees and the chaos of the chairs. It's like nature is showing us how perfect it is and how chaotic we human beings are. It's almost like an epidemic hit New York and everyone's gone in a hurry trying to run for their lives.


Originally this photo was shot in color but I converted it to Black and White to make it look more dramatic. Converting to Black and White also brought out an emphasis on the line of light you see where the trees on both sides meet which is in the center of the photo.

The settings on the Hipstamatic camera for this photography series were Lucifer VI Lens/BlacKeys Monochrome Film. Some minor adjustments were done in Photoshop CS4.

Towards The Light

"We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light."

 

 

Plato

This photo was captured outside a New York apartment building on the Upper West Side and is part of the Hipstamatic photography series of New York, Manhattan.

I still remember the first time I came to New York and looking up towards those buildings I couldn't see any beauty. Actually I thought they were rather ugly. My eyes were accustomed to the pale limestone color that they use for buildings in my country, Malta. 

A few years have gone by since I first set foot in Manhattan, New York and nowadays I can't stop looking at these architectural masterpieces. Whether it's just a red stone, or a black fire-escape ladder I always see something interesting and worth to be collected into my photography archives. 


New York is the city of dreams. Many come here to achieve their dreams, to walk towards the light, the highlight of their life. But I am also sure that New York shatters many dreams too and drags people to a dark pit. But no matter what, we should not be afraid in seeking the light. After-all what's the worst thing that could happen?


So whether you are a model trying to make it happen or maybe a photographer who is trying to build that terrific photography portfolio or maybe an accountant who is trying to make it into the big leagues, New York has something to offer to you. Just don't miss the opportunity because in New York opportunities appear fast, but they vanish even faster.

The settings on the Hipstamatic camera for this photography series were Lucifer VI Lens/BlacKeys Monochrome Film. Some minor adjustments were done in Photoshop CS4.

Statue of Liberty - Fire in Her Hands

Statue of Liberty, New York City

"I've always had a strong feeling for the Statue of Liberty, because it became the statue of my personal liberty." David Antin

This photo was captured from a New York Water Taxi and is part of the Hipstamatic photography series of New York, Manhattan.

I have always found myself wondering how many tourists visit New York without actually seeing the Statue of Liberty. I have met some that actually forget about it. Most people come to New York for shopping and it's sad to see such materialism obscuring such beauty. 

The Statue of Liberty is one of the most treasured possessions for New Yorkers and North Americans alike. It symbolizes freedom and liberty. It always makes me wonder how immigrants that sailed to New York felt as soon as they saw her.

One thing that most people ask about is her foot. Why is it raised? It's raised as if she is continually on the move, forever bringing freedom to others.

For those who always wondering what's written at the base of the statue here it is:

"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me.
I lift my lamp beside the golden door."

So if you are in Manhattan, New York make sure you pack your camera and head to downtown Manhattan to see this majestic beauty.  You will not only experience the beauty of the statue but you will also have some photography in your collection that you can be proud with!

The settings on the Hipstamatic camera for this photography series were Libatique 73 Lens/BlacKeys SuperGrain Film. Some minor editing was done in Photoshop CS4.

 

Manhattan Bridge

Manhattan Bridge, New York City

"Bridges are perhaps the most invisible form of public architecture." Bruce Jackson

I had to entertain a few friends who came to visit me in NYC and we decided to go take a water taxi to the Statue of Liberty. When we set sail it was the most perfect day but by the time we arrived at Lady Liberty it all turned around. It was one of the biggest, fastest storms I've ever encountered. Rain or not, New York City still looks beautiful!

Photo was shot using Hipstamatic on iPhone. Settings were Libatique 73/BlacKeys SuperGrain. A few minor adjustments were made in Photoshop CS4. 

Floating Candy

South Street Seaport, New York City

"Candy is dandy but liquor is quicker." Ogden Nash

Coming towards this guy, from a distance I thought that the cotton candy was actually floating in the air. When I get closer I could see that they were attached to a stand that he was holding. It was a dark gloomy day and the vibrant colors of the cotton candy created this magnificent contrast with the surrounding area.  This was shot at South Street Seaport in Manhattan.

Photo was shot using Hipstamatic on iPhone. Settings used were Buckhorst H1 Lens/Pistil Film. Some minor editing was done in Photoshop CS4.

Home Sweet Home!

86th Street Station, New York City

"We are dangerously close to accepting the homeless situation as a problem that we just can't solve." Linda Linge

86th Street Metro Station in NYC is one of your everyday metro stops but for this man it's his home. I have came across him several times but not once he had asked for a donation. He is either reading the newspaper or sleeping. 

Picture was taken using the Hipstamatic app on iPhone. Settings were Libatique 73 Lens/BlacKeys SuperGrain Film. Some minor editing was done using Photoshop CS4.