5 nights in New York City with the Leica M10
I love New York. Having been lucky enough to visit twice before, I never feel like I am there long enough and always miss it when I come back. When the oppertunity came to take a very short notice visit to the big apple at Christmas time, I began dreaming of what sort of photographs I may get this time around.
I love New York. Having been lucky enough to visit twice before, I never feel like I am there long enough and always miss it when I come back. When the opportunity came to take a very short-notice visit to the big apple at Christmas time, I began dreaming of what sort of photographs I may get this time around.
It had been seven years since my last trip in 2016. Back then, I had just started using my Sony camera system, was getting quite into portraits and just starting to dabble in this newfound genre of “street photography”. My photography style, interests and gear have changed a lot since then so I looked forward to what I may be able to capture in the few days and nights that I had to walk around the busy Brooklyn and Manhatten streets.
I even made a short shot-list of photos that I wanted to tick off before leaving, full of ideas like “Oculus interior” and “Radio City portrait/silhouette”. I am glad to say I only left a couple of these unchecked, (still didn’t get to the MoMa museum) and I am quite happy with some of the results.
For whatever reason, I was really feeling black-and-white during this trip so shot everything with that in mind. I took 15mm & 28mm Voigtlander lenses with me but ended up using my 50mm Summicron for 90% of the trip.
The highlight of the 5 days was undoubtedly the Strawberry Fields gathering that I took part in on December 8th, the anniversary of John Lennon’s death. Not many people can say they have sang along to their favourite album with 100 strangers in Central Park. It was a special night that I will never forget.
New York is always full of characters and I was glad to meet professional tightrope walker Ryan (who I shot crossing the steam covered road) and smartly dressed crooner Edward (who kindly stopped for me on the way to a gig). I also saw a man playing an ancient-looking Chinese string instrument and a dog with the most amazing but sad eyes I’ve ever seen.
On the way home, we got to stop in the TWA lounge at the JFK airport - a classy retro styled bar and seating area that is famous for welcoming the fab four at the height of Beatlemania in the 1960’s, and keeping the same elegant decor ever since. It’s a place I’d wanted to visit for some time and was, hands down, the most enjoyable time I’ve ever had waiting for a delayed flight, watching torrential rain splashing against the windows whilst listening to The Kinks.
I set off for New York in 2023 expecting it to be the final time I’d visit. As usual though, the days passed all too quickly and I wished I could stay for longer. With its world famous streets and the scale of the skyscrapers - being in New York City feels like walking through a movie full of interesting characters where anything could happen. Every New Yorker has a story to tell and they are just waiting for their chance to tell it.
I don’t think I’ll ever tire of those people and streets. The city that never sleeps, never leaves me disappointed. I only hope I can find my way back again someday.
My 10 Favourite Shots of 2023
2023 was another enjoyable year for my photography journey.
I shot my first music gig, attended a few photography meet ups, completed a six month “1 camera 1 lens” challenge and rebranded this website.
These are my ten favourite photographs of the year and a bit of story behind them:
2023 was another enjoyable year for my photography journey.
I shot my first music gig, attended the first “Framelines” street photography community meetups, wrote a couple of well received blog posts, completed a six month “1 camera 1 lens” challenge, expanded/rebranded this website to feature more of my work, attended a workshop from one of the masters of the genre Mark Fearnly and also met one of my biggest inspirations Alan Schaller.
These are my ten favourite photographs of the year and a bit of story behind them.
In no particular order:
1 - Keeping an Eye Out
Taken on my spring trip to Venice, I love the dapper look of this Italian waiter and the shifty look in his eye. I tried to incorporate the foreground to frame the image and create a voyeur-like effect.
2 - Upstream Colour
After unboxing my 50mm lens, I went for a brief scenic walk and captured this scene of two rowers down the river. I like the way the waves make the water look like a blue piece of creased paper.
3 - Road Runner
I had a few images in mind before departing on my trip to New York this winter and I was glad to be able to capture this one of a pedestrian running across the smoke covered and headlight-lit road. Not an easy one to capture but an image that you can only get in NYC.
4 - Entrapment
Taken at a temporary art exhibition this spring. A very busy room with a real lack of available light, I was happy to get this shot when a gentleman crouched down in the perfect spot.
5 - Walking Through Hoops
After being inspired on a photography workshop, I was playing around with framing in boring looking locations when I came across this elaborate gate and waited for the perfect subject to walk into the gap. My thigh muscles paid the price, but the final result was worth it.
6 - Brave New World
Taken at the London Science Museum, I loved the design of this room and imagined being on a futuristic space hotel looking down on the earth below.
7 - Venetian Pigeon
I was composing a high contrast shot of the top of St Mark's Basilica in Venice when this pigeon entered the frame and I was able to catch him at the perfect moment about to take flight.
8 - Coronation Boy
King Charle’s III’s coronation was a busy affair with many lining the streets brandishing their Union Jack flags. I spent the morning walking up and down The Mall capturing history and noticed this smart chap in the middle of the bustle. Thankfully, this was taken before the heavy rainfall came and turned the place into a sea of dark umbrellas.
9 - Steps and Boxes
I noticed the minimal and beautiful design of this staircase and seating area in an Apple store in the city. I usually would not like the mess of the bottom section but feel the pleasing colours and original design of these seats, adds to the overall image.
10 - Finishing Touches
For a limited time earlier this year, there was a gigantic statue of the Japanese contemporary artist Yayoi Kusama outside Harrods. I went there with the idea of getting an interesting shot of her peering into the store windows at the shoppers but ended up preferring this photo of her painting the shop front.
In 2024 I plan to intentionally shoot a bit more regularly, continue taking street portraits. limit myself to B+W only for a a period, experiment with film again, organise a few portrait shoots, create and print a new low-cost zine and get a photo or project of mine featured on a prominent photography blog.
I guess we’ll see how much of that I can pull off this time next year.
Happy New Year everyone!