"It's about reacting to what you see, hopefully without preconception. You can find pictures anywhere. It's simply a matter of noticing things and organizing them. You just have to care about what's around you and have a concern with humanity and the human comedy." ~ Elliott Erwitt
Good morning; afternoon; and evening friends and fans! Namaste. It's been a year, three months and twenty-four hours since I've been on a photography walk. I miss going on photography walks because it's so very therapeutic and relaxing! Last time I've gone on a photography walk was in Long Island City here in Queens (October 2021) and a long story short, I got to see Blue Bloods being filmed not far from the Pepsi Cola sign. Several years ago, I had a dream I met Donnie Wahlberg but it was on a school bus. In this particular scene, Donnie Wahlberg was in a scene with Steve Schirripa (he played Bobby Baccalieri on The Sopranos). Michael Imperioli (he played Christopher Moltisanti on The Sopranos) was also from The Sopranos, and I believe he's had three episodes on Blue Bloods as Robert Lewis. Anyway, it was a pretty cool experience, and it was my second time seeing a scene being filmed. In 2009, I got to see Nicolas Cage film a scene with Alfred Molina in The Sorcerer's Apprentice and Nicolas Cage looks the same in person as he does on television and movies. At the time I seen The Sorcerer's Apprentice being filmed around Worth Street near the birth certificate office. My camera is currently out of commission and if I'm unable to have my trusty sidekick, Minolta X-370 repaired, then I may as well invest in another Minolta [35mm] camera so the 50mm and Minolta 70-210/4 MD zoom lens won't go to waste. I had purchased the Minolta 70-210/4 MD zoom lens at Adorama in 2014 for $49 bucks instead of $59 dollars and it's a pretty cool lens. I'm looking to find a prime lens for film photography. When I've finally paid off any [and all] debt, I'd have to take a trip to K&M Camera on Orchard Street and browse around for a bit and I'm that kind of shopper who will take my time who will take my time because I don't want to go home then realize I forgot something! Going on photography walks can be very therapeutic if gone alone and I'm not afraid to do things alone such as going on photography walks, however, I don't mind the company but would prefer to go alone to clear my mind. Again, I'm not afraid to go alone on photography walks and a great way for me to recharge my mind. Yet, I don't mind extending the invitation but on the other hand, I enjoy my own company a majority of the time. Expect random snapshots of you and I will ask you if you're cool with the idea of me adding you to my project, no one will know who you are if you make the cut. The invitation is only extended to those who are interested in going with me.
"If you photograph for a long time, you get to understand such things such as body language. I often do not look at people I photograph, especially afterwards. Also when I want a photo, I become somewhat fearless, and this helps a lot. There will always be someone who objects to being photographed, and when this happens you move on." ~ Martin Parr
I would love to get back into photography as soon as possible because other than photography; writing is my escape from this reality. Away from my own mother because of how she is and it's impossible for me to have an active social life. I feel like it's one of those: "If I can't have you around than no one can!" so, she tells me: "Who's going to watch your son?" or she'll say "You find a babysitter" when I recently told her that a colleague, Camille and I are planning to go to Atlantic City, New Jersey for several days. I told her I can save up from now until April when she asked me where I was going to get the money and it's a challenge being a single mom with a single income (no support system from anyone), no encouragement from my mother and no financial help from my son's father. I can't do much in a social setting such as having a girl's weekend at Atlantic City for several days. For sanity's sake, if I have to, I'll give my mother some bullshit excuses that I'm going to do live in home health attendant so I can spend several (three to four) days at the casinos. This is a blog for another time.
"If a day goes by without my doing something related to photography, it's as though I've neglected something essential to my existence, as though I had forgotten to wake up." ~ Robert Mapplethorpe
When time permits itself, I'll search for a Minolta camera so the 50mm and 70-210/4 MD zoom lens wouldn't go to waste. I know it's not the right timing to go shopping for a camera and for the moment I'd research which locations to check out. My main intention is to finally finish my project I began spring semester 2013 and I can't wait to finally finish my project. At least (in hopes) that this will give me the head start on where I'd want to go, and this is providing if the vaccine mandate is ever lifted. I've found this article from B&H, by all means, this article is from 2016 titled: Five Great Photography Location In New York City. Another article is 29 Best Photography Locations in NYC; 60+ Best Photography Locations in NYC: Tourist Classics & Hidden Spots. I'm open to checking out Calvary and Green Wood Cemeteries since I have this morbid fascination with cemeteries for the longest. I do want to hold down a photo shoot in a cemetery and hopefully in time I can stop by at Cypress Hills Cemetery in Brooklyn so I can visit my grandparents' graves. Speaking of my grandparents, there's something I need to do and light some tea light candles in order for spiritual work to manifest into reality. Maybe the universe is saying "Be patient, your time will come..." and hopefully with time I get to shop around for a Minolta camera so I can resume with photography walks. I'm very much looking forward in going on photography walks for therapeutic reasons and I honestly enjoy spending time alone. I've found a website for a group street photography workshop on Shoot New York City and for those residing outside of New York City and would like to come to New York City for a day or a week to go work on your photography, best to Google search where to go. My favorite place is Manhattan because there's so many places to check out if you're curious and adventurous enough to check out various different places, second is Queens than Brooklyn and the Bronx.
"There is a creative fraction of a second when you are taking a picture. Your eyes must see a composition or an expression that life itself offers you, and you must know with intuition when to click the camera. That is the moment the photographer is creative. Oop! The Moment! Once you miss it, it is gone forever." ~ Henri Cartier-Bresson
Hopefully by the time I've paid off any of my existing debt, I'll be able to buy a blender so I can make my green smoothies, as well as dropping off the film I've already used at B&H. I also want to focus on other photography projects as well and being able to self-publish on Blurb Books. I have several projects lined up and one of them is music themed book of where I go to several different music venues in the Lower East Side. As I always do, before I check out these places and before I invest my time and energy into going to these music venues, I check these bands on YouTube to see if they're worth my time [and amount of money spent on buying film]. I like the vibe at Rockwood Music Hall on Allen Street and there is another music venue of interest, Arlene's Grocery on Stanton Street. For this particular photography project, it'll be five different music with five different live performances, and it'll be similar but different than my first two projects. It'll be two projects each, meaning two street photography books and two live performances each, two books will be in black and white and two will be in color. Another place I haven't been to in a very long time is Madame Tussauds New York and I've been there once in 2003 (by the way, it was pretty fun).
"The golden rule is work fast. As for framing, composition, focus - this is no time to start asking yourself questions: you just have to trust your intuition and the sharpness of your reflexes." ~ Jacques-Henri Lartigue
With my project I've started during my spring semester of 2013 at LaGuardia Community College and it's going on ten years in March, something I'd want to finish my project. My current issue is that I need a scanner of interest is very expensive but will take several months to roughly set money on the side for and at the time of this blog, the Epson Perfection V850 Pro Scanner costs $1,299 before tax and before manufacturer warranty. If I were to get the Allstate protection plan for three years, it would be an extra $129.99 for three years and not sure about the protection plan. Since I don't have the appropriate space in my bedroom, it'll have to wait until I have a place of my own and for the time being, I can live without the scanner because it's not a national emergency. For now, I'd have to learn Photoshop and best way is to go on YouTube and learn! Until I feel confident enough to take it to the next level which would be booking for photo shoots [as well as looking for employment opportunities in the photography field] and at this point, I'm ready but then at the same time I'm not ready. For now, I'd have to go to Bushwick Community Darkroom to use their scanner and they've relocated from Troutman Street and their new home is on Melrose Street.
Blessed be,
