Staircase

The Stairs

"I do have a blurred memory of sitting on the stairs and trying over and over again to tie one of my shoelaces, but that is all that comes back to me of school itself." Roald Dahl

I couldn't have found a more appropriate quote than the one included with this photo. In this photo we have a stairway, a stairway at the school I teach at. Looking at the photo makes me wonder how many times I've been up and down those stairs in the last few years.

I don't know if it's just me, but lately I've started to realize that school is not the same as when I used to be the student instead of the teacher. We had more respect towards teachers...we were actually scared of them and discipline was actually a good thing. Today it's frowned upon. I also realized that school, for most parents, is that institution where you can send your kids to to get rid of them for a few hours.

Anyway back to the photo. This school is one of the oldest in Malta and a lot claim that it's also one of the best on the island. When I took this photo I had to do it quick as I had students with me and I had no time to take an elaborate picture...I just had to literally point and shoot.

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.

Take My Hand and Lead Me

Lincoln Center, New York

"There is no elevator to success. You have to take the stairs." Unknown

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.

I have been in New York City for six years and even though I walked past the Lincoln Center several times, I have never actually cared to go look inside. Yes, I know it's really stupid.

A few days ago I was walking the Lincoln Center again and it was raining and we had no umbrellas so we had to seek shelter somewhere. I am so glad this was the place that sheltered us. I could not believe that it took me six years to visit the Lincoln Center and further more I couldn't believe that it had to be rain that actually pushed me to go in there or for that I am forever grateful to you, rain!

The Lincoln Center in New York is very grand. As soon as you see the stairs in the picture you will be immediately taken back into the 60's. I don't know if I was dizzy or not but in my head I was seeing beautiful women dressed up in gowns going to see the opera. 

For those who saw the Lincoln Center can agree with me that the building can betray you a little bit. From an exterior point of view, the building looks very modern and sleek. So one can never imagine that the decor inside is totally different. But that is exactly what I love in New York, you think you've seen it all and yet you've seen nothing.

This is the third stair photograph on this blog. The other two can be found here: Towards The Light and Up The Down Staircase 

P.S. In the next couple of days I will be hosting a fantastic giveaway so keep coming back so you won't miss it! 

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.

Up the Down Staircase

"Life is a series of steps. Things are done gradually. Once in a while there is a giant step, but most of the time we are taking small, seemingly insignificant steps on the stairway of life." Ralph Ransom

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

 This is nothing but an ordinary apartment building on the Upper West Side of  Manhattan, New York. Everytime I visit New York this is the place where I stay and after so many visits to this magnificent city this stairway caught my eyes. In the past I must have been either to busy rushing out and just too brain dead looking at the elevator door waiting to pick me up. But either way I am glad that I have discovered this symmetrical beauty. The marble slabs, even though I am sure are very old, are still in a pristine condition and sometimes I wish they could talk. I am interested to hear some of the stories they have to tell.

This is why it's important that we keep an open eye to everything around us. We never know where we are going to find that beautiful spot. Slowly but surely I am discovering them here in New York, the city that never fails to amaze me.

The settings on the Hipstamatic camera for this photography series were Helga Viking Lens/Claunch 72 Monochrome Film. Some minor adjustments were done in Photoshop CS4.