Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Flags

Someone recently asked me if I alter or enhance my photos before posting. The answer is YES - almost always! At the very least I'll adjust exposure (any combination of levels, shadows/highlights, white balance, dodging/burning) and sharpening. Often, I'll adjust perspective to straighten buildings as much as I dare. And, in rare cases, I'll add a sky. Today I did all of the above. Some might say this is not reality. But, I think it could be. Here's the results followed by the original straight from the camera.



Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Seeing buildings like this always makes me wonder what it must have been like to be in those rooms at the top, back in the day when the space was used as originally intended. Today, most (maybe all) of this building at the north end of Union Square is a Barmes & Noble book store.

Monday, March 29, 2010

Friday, March 26, 2010

Spring

There are many things that mark the beginning of spring each year. On our block, this tree is the most visible.

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Back Alley

Back to back fire escapes in Sunnyside, NY (Queens)

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Monday, March 22, 2010

Work Train

Some weekend repairs being done on the subway (A Line).

Saturday, March 20, 2010

East River Park Reconstruction

Reconstruction of the waterfront promenade at East River Park has been going on for years. The section just north of the Williamsburg Bridge (1st photo) is nearing completion. Benches and railings are in place. There's still some paving and landscaping to be done. The section south of the bridge (2nd/3rd photo) is another story!


Thursday, March 18, 2010

Midtown Skyline 2

Another shot from the same location as yesterday's. The two tallest buildings in the background from L to R are Chrysler Building and Citicorp Center. The 3 dark buildings at the far right background are the Waterside Plaza apartments (a 4th building is hidden). The white narrow slab to their left is the south side of the United Nations Secretariat and the tall black tower to its left is Trump World Tower. The endless wall of brick buildings extending almost the entire width in the near background is Stuyvesant Town.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Midtown Skyline

Midtown as seen from the Lower East Side (Grand Street). The building with the clock about 1/4 in from the right is Red Square on Houston Street. The building with the clock in the background about 1/4 in from the left is the Consolidated Edison building on 14th Street. The Tallest building is, of course, the Empire State Building. The gold-topped building in front of it is the New York Life Building and the gold-topped building to its left is the MetLife clock tower.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

New York Savings Bank

I was rushing to meet someone when I turned to look behind me and noticed the dome atop the building on the corner that I had just come from. With not enough time to walk back to get a better shot, I used the zoom instead. Damn those pesky, distracting streetlamps and cables! The New York Savings Bank is long gone! But, the building is a designated landmark. So, it should live on pretty much as-is.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

New and Old New York

Looking past the older brick buildings on Varick Street towards the new glass tower that I believe is Trump Soho Hotel.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Late Afternoon Sun...

...lighting the tops of "the round building" (well, that's what I call it) and Stuyvesant Town in the background. The round building is part of the Beth Israel Hospital complex.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

MLK Jr. Community Garden

The Martin Luther King Jr. Community Garden at the Henry Street Settlement (Henry Street at Samuel Dickstein Plaza).

Monday, March 8, 2010

The Funnest iPod Ever ??

Walking down the stairs at the subway station at 8th Ave & W. 14th street, one comes face to face with this billboard for the iPod Touch. Is "funnest" even a word?

Friday, March 5, 2010

Brickwork

The blue tarps covering brick repairs create some visual interest on what are otherwise very plain-looking buildings. These are LaGuardia houses along Madison Street, named after mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia who was instrumental in creating the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA). NYCHA built and continues to manage these apartments.

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Melt Down!

Just 4 days after nearly 20" of snow dumped on us, the temperature rose and the snow is almost gone, except for some dirty reminders along the curbs. Some more snow is in the forecast for today. But, nothing like last week. I'm so looking forward to spring!

Monday, March 1, 2010