The Big Apple

All of a sudden, I have realized that saying that one inhabits "The Big Apple" automatically labels one as a worm (because who else lives inside apples?)
I do not like this concept.

Every moment in New York inspires me, and every day contains some element of serendipity in the form of a conversation, a smile, a realization, or a variety of other possible events. I've begun to notice patterns everywhere: from the crisscrossing of escalators, to the rows of people's faces on the subway, to the elegance of crosswalks. If I had an eye for symmetry (which sadly, I do not), I would love to capture this photographically.

Here are a couple of photographs representing my experience in the city. For now, I will bravely post the unedited versions.

A picture-perfect child in Union Square:
A wonderfully colorful adolescent, also in Union Square:
A couple that has obviously been married for quite a while, again in Union Square:
Beautiful, beautiful Riverside (I can't believe that I get to look out at this every day):
Three lovely ladies, friends of 20 years, in Washington Square Park:
Washington Square Park again:
Not sure where I took this, but I love it:
The amazing grandmothers (and grandfathers) against the war, protesting somewhere in Midtown:

Identity Crisis

Yesterday's experience in Chinatown consisted of many hostile glares and, paradoxically, several incidents of warmly amicable behavior in spite of language barriers. It is a thoroughly interesting location to shoot in, albeit a difficult one because of the suspicious attitude of many of its inhabitants towards a person with a camera.

Alas, I am in a state of turmoil; for quite a while, I have been noticing that my photography has become stuck in a rut of unchallenging optimism. It is ironic that my photographs end up so sweet, because that is not at all how I see the world! Certainly, I see a great deal of beauty, particularly in the vibrant world of New York City, but that does not mean that I neglect the complex, unpleasant aspects of life - in fact, I am rather familiar with them. I have no idea why I have not been able to portray this in my work, and it frustrates the hell out of me. Of course, it is never pleasant to hear that your photographs resemble glorified senior pictures (as Kevin said when I consulted him), but I simply can't disagree, and have been thinking the same exact thing for months.

I suppose that I (and anyone who ends up reading this) will have to deal with the messy results of the experimentation that I will hopefully be doing from now on. After all, I don't want to create bland photographs - my inspirations are Irving Penn, Richard Avedon, and August Sander, not some random photographer who does crowd-pleasing wedding and baby photography.

Coulrophobia

Mascarpone The Clown

I have never understood the fear of clowns that pervades the American culture. Perhaps it is the result of films like "It" and the legacy of John Wayne Gacy, but clowns are often perceived as murderers and perverts in disguise.

I, however, appreciate the complicated role of clowns, the combination of joy and clumsy confusion that they represent. With the discovery of this clown in Union Square (a man from Argentina who calls himself Mascarpone), I found numerous photographic opportunities - bewildered children, fluorescent equipment, and that amazing, intentionally imperfect powdery makeup.

I got quite a few nice shots (with surprisingly few difficulties with focusing, my usual handicap), some of which I hope to send to him. I hope very much that he likes them.

Oh, and also:
Happy Birthday to me
Happy Birthday to me
Happy Birthday dear me-ee
Happy Birthday to me

I have officially begun a new decade in my life. Now I can legally do everything except rent a car.

(Edit: and run for Congress/President.)