Words on Walls

Words, a set on Flickr.

Over the past few weeks I have been trying to sort through hundred of photos, both digital and film, to see if I can sort them out by theme rather than date which is how they are currently sorted.

I finished this one last night, a collection of words on walls and signs in NYC, Long Island, London. I am sure I will add to it as I am always taking photos of random words that I see in random places.

On one of my walks I was taking pictures of a mural on Myrtle Ave, in Bushwick going towards Ridgewood. The mural took up the whole of a deli wall, and said "Jesus Saves Brooklyn". A couple of guys stopped to tell me that "Jesus Saves" was actually a grafitti artist and that was his name. So there... If you ever see "Jesus Saves" on walls around town, it's not someone telling you that Jesus saves, just an artist signing off on his work.

Anyway, to be continued...

Photography: Little India, Jackson Heights, Queens

Little India, Queens, a set on Flickr.

This week has been a mix of really good days and really bad days. Today was one of the latter, with an early start over to Jackson Heights where there is a small Indian community. I love it there, but don't make it out there often enough. The colours, the smells and the sounds, bring me right back to the time I spent in India. I love that country so much and can't wait to go back again.
I spent the morning walking around with my friend Holly, taking photos, enjoying some excellent conversation with sweets and chai.
I know I have been on a black and white kick these past few months, but this was definitely a day for colour, as there was so much of it. If one day I were to leave Bushwick I would maybe consider moving to this neighbourhood.

The only thing missing were tubs of grains to stick my hands in... Oh and maybe a delicious samosa. Maybe next time. I am considering buying the green tunic one day though, it was seriously gorgeous.

Spring in January

Spring in January, a set on Flickr.

Nearly 60 degrees Fahrenheit in NYC in the beginning of January is rare. Very rare. The sky was blue, the views were gorgeous and the day was beautiful.

2011 in images (make up your own stories)

2011 in images, a set on Flickr.

I couldn't bring myself to write a post about 2011 - so much happened last year, and I feel that everything has already been said and done and written about in some form or another. Therefore, I am just posting a set of pictures that I took over the year, some with my phone, some with my DSLR, others with with film cameras. All in all they describe this year somehow in my head.

Happy New Year!

Bushwick Ave to Broadway

Bushwick Ave to Broadway, a set on Flickr.

From nothing for weeks to three sets in three days... I suppose I've been more inspired these past few days, taking my camera out every time I go for a walk or run some errands. I love walking down Bushwick Avenue to the Post Office at Gates Ave and Broadway. The street is lined with beautiful old buildings, some well kept, others in various stages of dilapidation. There are many different churches along the way, often facing each other on opposite sides of the street. And then there is the bustle of the walk back along Broadway, under the elevated subway tracks: fried chicken, 99 cent shops, launderettes, delis, African supermarkets, dust, noise, colours and different languages.
Lastly, a photo of the house that I have always wanted to own, from the moment I moved to Bushwick. It's so intriguing...

Bushwick To Ridgewood Via Myrtle Ave

Bushwick To Ridgewood, a set on Flickr.

It was a beautiful, warm day today, and there was no way I could sleep through it, even if I didn't get to sleep until 5am last night. I had a few errands to run so I took my camera out and took photos all along Myrtle Avenue, going through Bushwick to Ridgewood, where the nearest branch of my bank is. Today was a colour day, I needed to capture the colours of the murals, the shop awnings, the gaudiness of the Christmas decorations and the skyline.
This is my neighbourhood... I love it. I feel at home here, and always have done, ever since I moved here from Manhattan over 4 years ago...

From the trash on the street to the Wanted posters on the signposts to the street art to the colourful cheap shops to the crazy traffic to the mix of Dominican/Puerto Rican/Mexican/Indian/Polish/Ukranian food, to the elevated subways and the gorgeous skylines, I love this place.

Highline & More Nov 2011

Highline & More Nov 2011, a set on Flickr.

I've been lacking in photography inspiration recently, for no real reason I can think of. I walked along the Highline with Miriam and Larisa today, dodging the many people who had decided to do the same thing and captured some images. I'm still shooting mainly black and white, just because I love the starkness of it. I miss film, but I just can't afford to develop rolls and rolls of it at the moment, so I will wait a while before going back to my trusty AE-1.
I'm still working on a new set of portraits, it's not happening as fast as I would like it to, but that's only because I can sometimes be too shy to ask people if they mind me taking a shot of their face while they go about their day...

Maybe I will become more confident with time.

In the mean time, enjoy these images.

Autumn Walk

Autumn Walk, a set on Flickr.

Some random pictures taken around my neighbourhood. Autumn leaves, painted walls, words and skylines.I've seen this neighbourhood change so much over the past 4 years, but there will always be something really special about it.

Manhattan views, Autumn 2011

I took these on Saturday - it was a beautiful Autumn day and I found myself on the Williamsburg waterfront, with my camera. I have always loved that old 1930's black and white colour, a little overexposed, a little stark, and always try to reproduce it somehow. I don't know if it actually worked, but I like these.

Halloween @ 200 Orchard

Halloween 2011, a set on Flickr.

Here are the photos from last night's Halloween party at 200 Orchard... Yes, we are creepy, and scary, and a little bit in love with the camera. Or something like that.
I now need to remember that I am not Wednesday Addams anymore and will go back to staring at people normally again. And smiling.