“Winter’s Tale” was the match that lit the spark. I was working in NYC as a a concierge in a building of tenants who I still adore to this day. It was a cold winter night, and I went out for my nightly walk to Jackie Robinson Park, literally two blocks away. The sight that greeted me was picture perfect, and after snapping the shot I ordered a canvas print. When the print arrived I put it in the corner behind my desk discretely at work for feedback, and one of my tenants bought “Winter’s Tale” within an hour of displaying the canvas. I was shocked, nervous, giddy and a 1,001 other emotions - I hadn’t expected my first sale - I was expecting a few critiques maybe a compliment. “Winter’s Tale” was the match that lit the spark for my love of photography, that my work had value outside of “Likes” and “Thumbs Up” on social media. To this day it is still one of my favorite pieces. I’ll never forget the night I took the shot, nor the night I sold it on canvas.
I Love the Bronx
This picture was taken two years ago today. It was a full day of exploring my beloved Bronx - The Lit Bar, Beatstro, piano factories and so much more. As I rounded a corner to continue my journey on foot into other boroughs, I was greeted by a this sentiment shared by so many others - “I Love the Bronx.” The upside down heart is the crowning touch - Bronxites are tough, strong and will not conform to society’s standards, let alone expectations. The Bronx is so near and dear to me, if only others could or would explore this unique, historical, cultural and fascinating borough. Oh, did I mention the cuisine?!? I too, love the Bronx.
Electric Blue
“Electric Blue” was taken in the middle of the night whilst I was filling in as concierge at another location on break. The streetlight and the newly formed drops atop the park table was just too much irresistible. This is what I mean when I speak of “finding the extraordinary in the ordinary-” we, life and the world sometimes moves too damned fast that we refuse to just slow down, even for a moment. Yet when I took a fifteen minute break away from work, lo and behold there was a shot already prepped for me and a lifetime’s memory. Slow down once in a while…
Pastel Sunset
Working in the Battery Park section of lower Manhattan gave me the opportunity to see a variety of gorgeous sunsets, including this one above the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian and the Bowling Green subway station.
Empire Taxi
The origins of “Empire Taxi” occurred in June 2013 shortly after I had moved to Manhattan from Jersey City. As happens so often I was out for a walk one evening, glanced to the left and I just happened to be at the right place at the right time. There is just something about the majesty of the Empire State Building’s glow, the world famous NYC yellow cabs in the foreground and the long exposure of a passing car that pulls this all together quite nicely.
Marcy Avenue Station
I had originally seen a picture similar to this posted on my Instagram feed, and I immediately knew that I wanted to recreate it in my own vision. It was one of those shots that took some preparation, such as calculating when the sun set that evening, how much time it would take to get to the Marcy Avenue Station in Queens, and the right place to be on the platform for when the next train came rolling in. While much of photography is very much spur of the moment, taking the time to set up a perfect shot is just as rewarding for me.
Coney Island Sunrise
It was one of those rare days when I decided to awake extra early, ride the train from the Bronx to Brooklyn to capture the sun rise. Watching the sun rise with the flying gulls as the skies turn golden - it’s the perfect time for self reflection, slowing down a bit and enjoying the small things in life.
Topaz at The Museum of Natural History
Sometimes it is hard to believe such precious gems and stones have taken billions of years formation within the crust of the earth, only to come to full fruition through the evolution that only Mother Nature can provide. The Museum of Natural History is an amazing experience that (at least for myself) at least two days to fully explore.
A Different Point of View
I had pulled a double and filling in at a different building for the second shift. My desk mate was kind enough to let me go to the roof of this 30 story apartment building. I had been hoping to capture a spectacular sunset as dawn broke, but I did get a consolation prize, as I had always admired rain spattered windows. Sometimes in life we don’t get always get what we want, but more often than not there is a silver lining, if you’re willing to open yourself to it.
Kryptonopolis
It had been a wet and rainy evening, but my need to get out of the house trumped any atmospheric precipitation. One of my favourite haunts to take pictures is on the waterfront of Long Island City, a part of Queens. The rain had stopped by the time I came upstairs from the subway, but their were gorgeous repercussions. Mother Nature and man had pretty much compiled the image for me - the golden mist of the sky met the fog enshrouded skyscraper to produce a “picture-perfect picture,” if you will. The name of this photo comes from “Superman: The Movie” and is an updated homage to Krypton’s capital city. The fate of Superman’s homeworld is already foreshadowed in the image by the glowing green light atop one of the skyscrapers.
