City of Cranes

Downtown:


Old is replaced by new. Though in this case, we still would have had the old if circumstance hadn't intervened. And whether we like or dislike the finished product that's put on those sixteen acres downtown, they'll be old friends one day.

The big news lately has been that Mars Bar finally closed, or was closed by the health dept, in advance of the building being torn down next month. All of the hip, "save old New York" people are crying and saying that NYC is finally dead. I even read in a blog by one of these people where the person states that, "all my favorite places are closing."

Now I've posted on this blog several times about how I feel about the changing city, and how I feel about the complainers who complain about our changing city, but for the first time, I've realized that it's absolutely selfish to want things to stay the same. "All my favorite places are closing." Isn't it the height of self-indulgence to want everything to stay the same just for you? Now I've said before that I'm not thrilled with all the changes to the city either, but I've come to accept them. I've come to accept that I've lived here long enough so that I had "my city" and my time. Then again, I'm still here and this still is my city.

For every old fart and late 20s early 30s fart who moved here a few years ago and wishes everything would stay in some kind of 1970s time capsule and that nothing would be torn down and nobody would die, there's hundreds of young people moving here for the very first time thinking that New York City is the greatest place on earth (which it is), and in 20 years, they'll be bitching about how all their old haunts from 2011 are now being knocked down for condominiums or windfarms or soylent green processing plants or god knows what.

And yes, I know that the closing of Mars to be replaced by a high rise has nothing to do with the project downtown, but it's my blog and if I want to discuss both in one post, I'm a gonna do it, by gum.

So yes, as I've said before...Cities are always going to change, and the longer you stay in one city, the more it's going to change. And yeah, sometimes change can hurt, but that doesn't mean it ain't gonna happen. Just be thankful you had what you had, and hopefully you didn't take it for granted. And instead of bitching and crying, why not look ahead. If that place and those people meant so much to you, pick up the phone. Keep in touch. Keep those bonds tight if you mean what you say. If you don't, then what was it all really for?

Steel Beam Cross

Downtown:


I don't know if they're going to move this to a more prominent place, or if it'll even be part of the memorial. Actually, I kind of doubt it, since, you know, maybe they want to keep any kind of religion out of what is a national, non-secular memorial. Then again, since our state and our churches should be separate, I'm not sure if there are any national secular memorials. Of course, our money says, "In God We Trust," on it, but nobody's perfect. Then again, the big three all worship the same god. Then again again, there are those other religions and philosophies which have many gods. Maybe, "In GODS We Trust" should be on our money to include them too. Then again again again, there are the atheists who don't want any mention of god on their money, so maybe it can say, "In God, or Gods most of us trust, while some of us don't give credence to that sort of thing, and even less of us actually respect the fact that some people might believe in god and not be some kind of religious maniacs but we're overshadowed by the loudmouth atheists who sound just as dogmatic as the people who believe the earth is only six-thousand years old and the rapture is coming in November, but those aren't the same people, just that one preacher dude who's now in a coma after his first rapture prediction didn't pan out but thousands of people sent him their life savings anyway because truly he needed the dough when he got up to heaven."

Then again, that might be too much to put on a penny. Then again again, how many angels can dance on the head of a pin?

Shooting Dogs

With a cell phone, of course!


I wonder how many people are going to be doing web searches for "shooting dogs" and end up with my page instead. I hate to think what they were looking for instead.

Tribeca Sidewalk

In TriBeCa (to spell it "correctly"):


That's the "TRiangle BElow CAnal" for those of you not in the know. Also, Canal Street was never a canal, but a drainage ditch when the stinking Collect Pond was drained (hence the drainage ditch) and filled in where nice houses were built. But, the soft ground eventually sunk down and the nice little neighborhood became a slum where five streets all intersected and Martin Scorcese made an interesting yet factually incorrect movie about it. And that was your minor little NYC history lesson for the day.

Spirited Photography?

Or just a graveyard of silver halide?


You see what I did there, right? You know, with the words?

Doom

In the newly redesigned Washington Square Park, there's a little shady patch on the southeast edge of the central area which has been adopted by the denizens as their home base. I had the Rolleiflex hanging around my neck and walked through hoping someone would say something about my camera. This man obliged my unspoken desire. It was a quick, pleasant, nameless and painless interaction.

SLOW

For a diptych:


Taking a peek never hurt nobody...

Youthful Pride

She's waving it like she just don't care:


I find it hard to believe that this young girl actually grasps the full meaning of the flag she's waving, or of the entire parade. She has no idea of what happens when two men meet, and when one of those men gives the other a hands-free prostate massage. Where was I going with this? I don't know. I spent most of this 90+ degree day outdoors.

Get Down On It

That's not Kool, so it must be The Gang:


So maybe I didn't go with my all Kiss blog title idea. I wonder what tomorrow will bring. Then again, tomorrow never knows...

Strutter

I know a thing or two about her....


I'm not sure this was what Paul Stanley had in mind, but why not? I think I need to title more of my pictures after Kiss songs. Now there's a gimmick that's sure to catch on!

Roxy on the Roof

ISN'T HE THE CUTEST????


I love that little guy. The picture is from two years ago. Yes, this is an archive shot. My scanner started acting up tonight for some reason and I'm too tired to get into any really heavy fiddling with it. But seriously, how can you not love that face?

Jesus Lives Here

Yes, here:


I bet you thought Jesus would have much different digs. I mean, he wasn't the ostentatious type, but I don't think he'd live on a bicycle, at least not an ostentatious bicycle.

I've been busier than the busy busy world of Richard Scarry today, hence this trip to the archives. And I'm still not done being busy. There's miles to go before I sleep, I tells you.

Pride on Gay

Gay Street, that is:


This is a shot from the archives, from two years ago. I'm sure you can tell since it's sunnier, and the colors are nicer. And I'm way tired right now. Long day, but a good day. I got out of the city (which is a rare thing). I ate gyoza in Huntington, Long Island. And you know what they say....

What gyoza round, comes around.

Thank you.

Bikes on Gay

Gay Street, on Gay Pride Day:


Were they dykes' bikes? I don't know. Though that one in the front is a girls' bike and does have a basket. I didn't check the basket to see if there were any 4 Non Blondes CDs in there (lesbians still ike 4 Non Blondes, right?).

Say No to Crack!

Say yes to hack lines!


There are certain people (usually straight people) who say that displays like this work against the whole thing that homosexuals are just like any other people you meet, and works against their "cause." I say, who the fuck cares. The people who can't accept homosexuality won't be changed whether there's a black dude with his ass hanging out on the street, or even if they just know that somewhere, two men (or women, or maybe even more than two) are getting together performing all sorts of "unnatural" acts in the privacy of their own homes and not bothering anybody (unless the apartment walls are thin), and god forbid if they're in NY State, they might even get married!

PS: I like that the flag seller on the right is also in the shot.

Pride Profile V

And the hits just keep on coming!

It's a TCM kind of night.

Pride Profile IV

This man was (and probably still is) a cameraman for NBC. I like this shot. My first scan I did in black and white by accident, and I liked it way better than this one. But, I'm not going to desaturate just for the sake of something looking better. No, I'll give you my crappy color job on scanned Fuji Provia 400 slide film and hope that the "auto" button on the curves feature in photoshop (CS4) does its job reasonably enough.

Pride Profile III

I don't remember what precipitated this photo (did I use that right, "precipitated?" This is a "tired day" for me). I mean, I forgot how it went down between us with me resulting in taking his picture, but somehow it did. But was he nice? Of course he was nice. He let me take his picture, so why wouldn't he be nice?

There's a grilled cheese and bacon, a side of fries, and a 20oz Coke Zero with my name on it. Now all I have to do is pick up the phone...

Pride Profile II

This also could have been called, "When SWCs Collide," but this dude was rolling with the viewfinder and a digital back. He also had the latter model with the biogon lens (or is that distagon? I keep forgetting which is which). As I said yesterday, I didn't make much small talk with people or ask them their names when it came down to their pictures. This dude's accent sounded Japanese, or maybe I'm making that generalization because he had a camera. I'm pretty sure this was the first time I saw someone else out with an SWC when I had mine out. Actually, I think this might be the first time I ever saw another SWC out on the streets of NYC.

We're out there...

Pride Profile I

This is on Fifth Ave between 8th and Washington Square North. He couldn't help but smile when he saw me using the Rolleiflex. I think that's my favorite reaction, when people smile when they see that I'm using an old camera. He's a shooter too, but he (obviously) didn't have a camera with him that day. I didn't ask him his name. I didn't ask almost anybody's name of the portraits I took at the parade and surrounding environs.

This begins my series of portraits taken at the parade, which will then be followed by various scenes from that day. I was rolling with the big boys that day; The SWC (3 rolls, one in each back), The aforementioned Rolleiflex T, and the Zeiss Ikon Nettar. Looking at this picture, I'm also reminded that my color blindness isn't helping me much when it comes to adjusting the color in this picture (which I absolutely didn't touch). I know with VS 100 you have to work the blues, but with Provia 400 I have no idea what to work with. So, if my pictures look a bit too green, or brown, or red, or something (I can't tell green from brown, among other colors), feel free to point it out to me.

Or maybe this is exactly how it looked that day, just a few days ago, back when they all took to the streets having renamed themselves, "Cuomosexuals." I'm not sure that's going to take off, though I can see that term being used by some future opponent in a presidential race.

Benchtime Repose

In Washington Square Park:


Those black things on the image is where the emulsion somehow was removed from the film. I don't know how that happened. Also, look at her legs. Or is it just one giant mermaid leg. I'm telling you, if I knew how to scan and photoshop a little better she might actually have two legs and two feet, and not just one giant alabaster slab and two shoes.

Shul

By Gramercy Park:


I have no idea what I'm writing about right now. Oh yeah, tomorrow I'll be getting my slide rolls back from the gay pride parade. I used Fuji Provia 400 on an overcast day. I'm very curious and feeling a bit of dread thinking about how they might have come out.

Stay tuned!

Dapper Dan

Imperial Clothes:


This shot was two years ago. Now it's a bagel store. Yes, a trip to the archives today. Too pooped to scan. Another 4am morning chasing art. Maybe I'll catch it someday.

Diving Diptych

I couldn't decide which one to put up, so why not both?


He was well dressed for the occasion, that being one of thrusting his hand into the garbage to find anything he could drink. But I'm always happy to get dressed up for drinks before dinner too. That is, if I had drinks before dinner, or if I even drank. What am I talking about?

Oh, today I went out and shot gay people. I mean, I went to the gay pride parade and took photographs. It was a gay old time (I'm sorry, I couldn't resist). Every year it's a joyous day, but I don't know if it was me putting something on the occasion, but it seemed everyone was a bit extra happy to be out (as it were). You know, the whole gay marriage thing that went down (that one I didn't even plan) on Friday night. I actually felt a little emotional seeing everybody so happy. No, that's me actually being serious. Most years I go to the parade and shoot, people watch, and wander around. But today it just had more gravitas. It was real, and I felt it. At least I think I felt it. I'd like to think I sensed something more special in the air. It's like 42 years after Stonewall, they have arrived.

Then again, they were always here.

Putting the Finishing Touches on Prison

In Washington Square Park:


It says something about where one comes from if they draw a cityscape with a prison on the end of it.

Wow, I'm so deep.

Reagan

I do believe this dog is named after our 40th president:


And I do believe just out of frame to the left is a Jedi Knight.

Sanford

I think that was his name. I think he also said he was involved with some kind of video editing. God, it's bad enough I forget people's names, but now I'm forgetting what they do for a living. I'm having whole conversations and then tossing them away. I do remember he was nice, and since he has my card, he may eventually see this and perhaps correct me on any of the meager facts I've put forth about him.

He did ask me if there was enough light for the photo. I actually went a bit darker on this shot in Photoshop. I experimented with a lighter one, but for some reason this darker version just worked better for me.

Hopefully for you too.

Name Forgotten (l), and Name Not Given (r)

He was the one who commented on the Rolleiflex. He told me he was a fashion designer. I asked the young lady next to him what she did, and she said, "nothing." In turn, I told her that I had a healthy respect for doing nothing.

Probably too healthy.

PHOTO NOTES (oh goody!)
I was happy this picture came out at all. Before I took the shot, I took care to take a meter reading. After the shot I realized I hadn't bothered to actually adjust my aperture, which had been stopped down from shooting in sunlight just before. I figured developing in Diafine added with a little boost from Photoshop might do the trick. I'm sure the Diafine helped, but I actually didn't do much with Photoshop, just a little bit of my own custom brand of linear contrast. I liked this one the best out of my three candidates, the other two being brighter.

Are you bored yet? I'm bored. I've bored us all.

Renovations

In Gramercy:


I like that I got that silhouette there.

I didn't see Bob Vila anywhere.

Darn.

1887

Another day, another year. Isn't that how the saying goes?


Unlike yesterday, I'm not sure I can relate any of my relations to the year 1887. I was up at 4am this morning all in the pursuit of art. Am I tired now? You bet.

There hasn't been much long form writing around here lately. I seem to say that every so often. And every so often I even do something about it, but not today. Though I did spool up some film I'm to be developing in the near future, including a found roll of VP 120, so who knows.

I never told the story of my little adventure a few weeks ago, but not tonight...I gots to lie down and commune with my pillow. Maybe I'll put one of my Ansel Adams books underneath it and the knowledge will seep into my head and onto this website.

Sure....

1939

Set in stone:


It's also the year of my father's birth. I'd have written that even if today wasn't Father's Day, which it is. We never went in much for these invented holidays, but I called the old man today nonetheless.

13th Precinct Station House

The sign don't lie:


Though that emblem could use some reapplying.

Jockeying

For position:


Are they still lawn jockeys if they're mounted on the side of a building?

Wall jockeys?

Junior's Police Equipment

In Gramercy, more or less:


Wait...Is Junior the guy whose place this is, or is this police equipment for "juniors?"

Okay, okay, I saw the correctly placed possessive apostrophe.

But still, a boy can dream...

Bleecker and Carmine

At Bleecker and Carmine, of course!


Something about this shot bothers me. The stuff way in the background is out of focus by just a bit. I'm going to assume that I just had the focus still set for closer objects and forgot to readjust for this wide shot.

Or I could look at the other shots from this roll, that being the easier thing to do. Easier than assuming? No, making an assumption is way more easier than having to take the time to look at something.

Oh blessed laziness, where would I be without you?

Not here, probably.

Back to Boyce

Institute!


I developed a roll that had been sitting on a forgotten 620 spool, and when I saw the negatives, I remembered that I had shot a roll at the Boyce Institute on the Medalist! So there is a very good chance more of the Boyce Institute will be showing up around here. However, I have some rolls I should be developing tomorrow that I know have some people pictures on them. Yes, I always say I'll develop them tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow...

Rat Bones

I ran into Rat Bones last Sunday at the 25th Street flea market. He was doing his usual ritual of checking out what comic books, and other lost artifacts of youth he could bring home for his collection. I've actually known Rat Bones for quite some time. He's a midwesterner originally, but I got to know him as part of the New York Hardcore scene in the mid-90s. Eagle-eyed viewers of Project Runway (season five) might recognize him as the boyfriend of designer Stella Zotis (and sorry girls, they're still together).

Whether it was back in the day or now, I'm always happy to run into Rat Bones.

Indio

At least it sounded like he said, "Indio," the two times I asked him what his name was. "What are you doing today?" I asked him.

"Selling!"

Behind me there was a table with various odds and ends of merchandise: records, books, bric-a-brac...

He had noticed the SWC and didn't hesitate to say yes when I asked him if I could take his picture.

I do like the perspective down the sidewalk, but I still feel (as usual) there could have been a little less headroom in the shot. Maybe I should start using the detachable viewfinder for portrait work with the SWC after all...

W Hotel Clouds

From Union Square:


These clouds were way more impressive in person than they turned out to be on film. Ansel Adams I ain't. Maybe I should read those books he wrote about taking pictures. I have them over here. They look really nice on the bookshelf...

By the way, I developed that Verichrome 620 roll that I shot in the Medalist a few days ago. I went 5+5 in Diafine at about 28 degrees celsius (room temperature), and I got NOTHING. I'm not sure if it was the film or the developer. I just developed some 127 Efke 100 in Diafine and it did just fine. Maybe I'll go back to the Ilfosol 3 for developing old film shot in modern times.

Fascinating stuff...yeah right.

Forced Smile

Forced smiles are just about the only kind you'll get from artists in Union Square Park lately, now that Bloomberg and Benepe's system of having a limited amount of spots for artists to set up and sell their creations. It's not just in Union Square, but in other parks around the city too. Too many artists for not enough spots that are in ill-thought out or even outright dangerous locations (dangerous because of the proximity to automobile traffic, not like bad neighborhood dangerous).

The sad thing is (among many sad things) is that there doesn't seem to be any legal remedies on the horizon. There are a few cases going to court to fight it, but that won't be for a while. So, for the foreseeable future, the artists will have to make due with limited spots, showing up to the park at 4am to get a spot they'll sit in until at least 6pm (and you know how much art gets sold on the street between 4am and noon...), and bemoaning the position the mayor and the head of the parks department has put them in.

But the artists will find a way. I have to believe that the artists will find a way. That's what creative people do.

Wild Paisley

In vivid, living black and white!


I feel like I'm somewhat coasting with the pics. Well, I somewhat am. However, I did shoot a roll of Verichrome 620 (expiration unknown) in the Medalist yesterday and I'm curious to see how they'll come out. It'll be my first time developing vintage film that I shot in Diafine. If I get my lazy act together I might even do it tonight.

Do I mean lazy act, or lazy ass?

They're both apt.

And by apt, I mean apt, not apartment.

OH YEAH!
We have a new blog friend. If you look over to your right you'll see "De la couleur" has been added to the family. Actually, they added us first (what "us" am I referring to? It's only me here), and it's my pleasure to reciprocate.

Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Waiters Wait,

And customers custom!


This world needs more nouns forced into verbs and less verbs forced into nouns.

"sourced"
(the) "reveal"

and the like...

This Man

This man does not like his photo being taken, but granted me his consent.

As for the consent to being on the blog....let's just keep this our little secret.

Catching Rays

On Broadway:


I think the flare actually adds to the image.

Coveting

I get the same way around ice cream too:


No story today about yesterday. I'm so goddamned tired and not feeling entirely that hot right now.

I ate quinoa for the first time today. How about that.

I'll Give You One Guess,

No, two BIG guesses why I took this photo:


Well, it finally happened. I missed a day and I don't have any technical difficulties to blame it on. However, I'm not even going to take the blame myself. I mean, I'm not going to be guilty about it. I had something of an unexpected adventure today. Well, it wasn't really an "adventure," but it was something definitely worthwhile, even worth more than getting that blog post in by midnight, which I knew I wouldn't accomplish once I decided my course of action earlier today. I'll write about it more in tomorrow's post. That is I mean, the second post later today to make up for the lost day.

I think it'll be a nice story. I hope so. It was a good day.

Side View Shoe

Just for you:


You didn't think I forgot about the NYC foot/shoe project, did you?

Annie Miller

As represented by a shirtwaist, with the building she leapt to her death from in the background:


She was only sixteen years old, but I'll let the Cornell University Triangle Fire Site do the telling.

Affixing His Pin

At the 100th anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire:


Is it me, or is that Willem Dafoe doing his best Spencer Tracy cum Father Flanagan impression on the right?