Abraham Lincoln Statue, Union Square, NYC

by Posted in Black & White, Things Leave a comment
lincolnstatue-1

This was taken around 10:00 am and the light was already bright and contrasty. I thought I’d avoid the probably most common view of the statue i.e. from the front and take my picture from the side. The color didn’t add much value so I started to think in terms of black and white. I was having trouble with lack of dynamic range when the idea of a silhouette came to mind. I had a picture of those paper cutouts that were popular at one time. I could isolate the statue against the sky and frame it with the buildings and the leaves.

Dolls on Display

by Posted in Things Leave a comment
dolls-1

Or at least doll’s heads. Seen at a local craft fair. I liked the colors and the slightly surreal look to the “dolls” (e.g. bodies made of old jars; strange costructions on the heads etc.) If I had it to do again I’d move the camera to the right. I think there’s too much room on the left side and not enough on the right.

Figure on an Escalator

by Posted in Black & White, Buildings/Structures, People Leave a comment
figureescalator-1

Taken in February, 2012 before I got serious with this blog (there are only three posts prior to February 2012). Shot inside Grand Central Terminal. For some reason I really like this picture. In fact I like it so much that I have a print of it on my wall. I’m not entirely sure why: it’s underexposed, completely out of focus and noisy. Somehow with all of these things out the way only the composition comes through: the diagonal line of the escalator leading down to the figure carrying the suitcase. Then from there I think the eye goes to the two figures to the top right. I think it also helps that much of the escalator (including the figures on the left) is in darkness while the man with the suitcase and the other figures at the top are all in the light. As the book title suggests “it doesn’t always have to be in focus” (Why It Does Not Have to be In Focus: Modern Photography Explained by Jackie Higgins).

Taken with a then quite new Sony NEX 5N. I don’t recall what lens. The metadata does not provide a lens so it must of been an old legacy lens and judging from the timing I believe it was a Canon 50mm f1.4 in Leica Thread Mount. The camera was fairly new then and I wasn’t familiar with focus peaking and focus magnification so I mis-focussed quite a few shots (particularly at large apertures) until I figured out how it worked.

Stonecrop Gardens – Conservatory

by Posted in Black & White, Buildings/Structures Leave a comment
conservatory-1

According to a brochure Stonecrop Gardens on the Hudson River Valley Institute site:

The Conservatory at Stonecrop has four wings. Each wing has the ability to maintain a unique
environment with climate control systems. It was completed in 1997, and is used as a display house
in the winter and spring. At that time of year, the display house consists of non-hardy plants and various blooming bulbs, trees, and shrubs. In the summer, most of the plants are moved out into
the garden, so the Conservatory becomes a space for special projects. The heart of Stonecrop is The
Potting Shed, where visitors check in, pick up maps, pay the admission fee, begin their tour, and
have the opportunity to purchase some plants for themselves.