My last blog post took us through Saturday evening, but there was one more day. This second part is dedicated to Sunday, because that was an incredible end to an incredible few days in the Big Apple. As part of the staff of Out Of Chicago, I was able to choose one of the all day workshops that were happening throughout Manhattan. I chose Steve Simon’s workshop. I have admired Steve’s work for years, he has a very unique vision, and is able to capture the human element like few photographers I have seen. Plus, I have been wanting to do more street photography, so the choice was easy.
We met at the entrance to the High Line. The High Line is a Rails-To-Trails conversion of an unused section of track of the New York Central Railroad. The High Line stretches for 1.45 miles in lower Manhattan, from Gansevoort Street to 34th Street. Some great architecture has sprung up around the High Line, there are great views over several streets, and a great mix of people. For this excursion, I shot predominantly film, Kodak Tri-X 400, and the rolls are yet to be developed. We encountered an interesting slice of life there, but this was just a taster of what was to come. I did get a few digital shots, the one below is looking toward upper Manhattan, looking up 10th Street toward midtown Manhattan.
We had a few more locations to go to, so we left the High Line at 23rd street, and walked to the MTA stop for the F train to go uptown to 57th and 5th. This corner is known as Bill Cunningham Corner. Bill Cunningham was a New York Times fashion and street photographer, and this corner was where he camped out to document expressions and fashion. He passed away in June of this year, and it was a weird feeling standing at the corner where so much of his work was done. But, I quickly realized why he spent so much time there. The gentleman in the next photo came strolling by not long after I camped out there. He knew he was getting attention and he enjoyed it.
Our next stop was Washington Square Park, another very unique New York location. They have everything there, including a grand piano at one end, a comedian at the other doing “Stand Up In The Park”, to Abraham Lincoln, jazz musicians, tarot readers, chess players, and the list goes on. You want to see a cross section of New Yorkers? Go there.
Our last stop was Chinatown. I have seen the neighborhood in countless movies. It was just as I had imagined it to be. Some people wanted their photos taken, but most did not. I got some photos anyway, and our group posed by what was supposedly a Banksy piece of art depicting Donald Trump, although its authenticity as a true Banksy is up for debate.
The conference was an experience I will never forget. I fell in love with New York. As a life-long Chicagoan, spending many, many hours in the Loop, the vibe of Manhattan was extremely familiar. And yet it had a different pace altogether. I doubt I will get used to the insanity of most of the drivers. Maybe if I lived there it would become part of my fiber. Regardless, I will be coming back to New York, sooner rather than later. There is so much yet to see. Also, as with the previous Out of conferences, I made new friends. I met some incredibly passionate and talented photographers, of every level of experience. Some were from Turkey, some were from San Francisco, some were from New York and Long Island. Meeting these folks, and learning from them, seeing things in a new way, sharing ideas, this what it is all about for me. So for this, I am eternally grateful to the Out Of Chicago team- for letting me be a part of the crew, and continuing to inspire me.
