Lens Artists Challenge #157: Getting Away

Bridges, I used for this photo essay because I think they symbolize getting away

Bayonne Bridge (connects Staten Island to New Jersey)

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  Bay Bridge, San Francisco

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco

Brooklyn Bridge (notice waterfall underneath which was an artist display–not usually there)

Verrazzano Narrows Bridge (Photo taken from Midland Beach, Staten Island)

Lens Artists Challenge #156: Black and White

Black & White photo I took on the set of the TV show ¨Fame¨ (1984), which I later used as the cover photo for my novel ¨That Smooth-Faced Gentleman¨

My hand-colored version of the B&W photo I took on the set of the TV show ¨Fame¨ (1984)

I wanted the colorized version for my cover but my book as it appeared with my photo in B&W

Weekly Photo Challenge: Dance

Pigeon on Anderson Avenue, Staten Island, NY

Weekly Photo Challenge: Seasons

The 4 Seasons in Staten Island

 

Spring at High Rock Park

The Floor of the Greenbelt in June when covered with ferns

Autumn at Wolf’s Pond

Winter at the Sea Breeze Pier at Midland Beach, South Shore of Staten Island

Optimism During a Snow Storm

In response to the Post Weekly photo challenge: Optimistic

Since a snow storm is supposed to happen tonight, I have snow on the brain.  These are photos of people showing optimism during a snow storm.

This person is optimistic that he can push his car to get it going again.  He better call AAA.

These people are optimistic that they will be able to get to where they want to go in their car.  Dream on.

 

 

Weekly Photo Challenge: Weightless

In response to the Post Weekly Photo Challenge:  Weightless

The first thing that came to my mind on this subject, and of something that I might have a photo of, was clouds.  Especially clouds at sunrise.  When it’s a new day and the weight of the world has not yet hit us.

These photos I took on Raritan Bay in Staten Island, NY, where I used to take my dog for walks early in the morning and watch the sun come up.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Now

This looks like a man standing on top of the Flatiron building on 23rd St. and Broadway in NYC, but it’s actually a statue by Antony Gormley. People on the ground looking up at it thought it was a man about to jump.

Since I live alone–but, I have a cat, who claws up my furniture–in a building for seniors only, in Staten Island, yet, my life may not be too adventurous.  Like many things I say off the top of my head, that’s not true at all.  My life now is more adventurous as it’s ever been.  I’m doing more art now than ever before, and making art is the greatest adventure of all.  Also living in Staten Island, I’m less than an hour’s bus ride from Manhattan, The Big Apple, the greatest city on earth, which I still find as exciting as when I first moved to New York, 31 years ago.  I feel as though I have Manhattan at my feet without having to pay the high prices.  Staten Island is so much less expensive than Manhattan it’s ridiculous, but a person can still partake of all that Manhattan has to offer.

My latest hangout in Manhattan. The New Whitney Museum of American Art. Opened 5/1/2015. Member since 5/1/2015.

New York City is so gigantic that I’m still exploring it and finding new places all the time.  I seem to go through different periods, switching from an absorption in nature and the rural part of New York, where there are deer and the like, and the opposite, taking in the big city.  NOW, my fascination is with the urban side of New York City, and especially the art world.  My first attraction to NYC came when a teenager in Los Angeles, when on my lunch hour, I would go to my highschool library and read about the New York Art Scene in the New York Times.

Check this out:  The 50 Coolest Places in New York City Right Now.

 

Weekly Photo Challenge: Oops!

In response to the Posts Weekly Photo Challenge:  Oops!  This is supposed to be a photo that was a disaster.  Usually my disasters, I delete immediately, but this one (above)  I kept after the fact.  As soon as I looked at it in my camera, I thought to myself “I think I’ve got a photo to fit the Oops! photo challenge.”

At first, I had no idea what that blurry object is in this photo, but now I can see that a man on a  Citi Bike rode by me just as I snapped the photo, which I took to show Santa Claus walking down the street. Also notice the man sitting inside at Starbucks.  He looks like his legs are cut off at the ankles. Taken in the East Village. NYC (photo is far more interesting if you click on it to enlarge.  You can see the people’s faces.)

Today was SantaCon Day, which occurs every year in NYC around this time.  That’s why there’s a Santa Clause in the above photo.  People dress up in Santa Costumes and go to bars and goof off. This event began a few years back as a much bigger way with venues in either Central Park or the streets of the West Village, but it’s popularity has really dwindled into just people going to  a few bars, that cater to the event, and getting drunk.   The event has gotten a lot of bad publicity in recent years because sometimes fights break out with so many people drinking.  The day keeps the police busy with a lot of stupid things.

Below are three photos that came out a little better.

One of the best dressed women I saw in the Village.

Young New Yorkers celebrating the annual SantaCon pub crawl 2015, The East Village.  It was so warm today, some people were wearing shorts and tee shirts.  I’ve never seen it like this before so close to Christmas in NYC.

Life is a Cabaret on the annual SantaCon day on Broadway in the East Village.  K-Mart was selling Santa Hats for $3.00.  

Weekly Photo Challenge: Eye Spy

In response to The Daily Post’s Weekly Photo Challenge

Above photo Hawk in Central Park.

“Look at me! Look at me!” An exhibitionist pigeon gets in front of my camera.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Transition

IN AMERICAN ART, AMERICAN ARTISTS, ART, WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE
In response to The Daily Post’s Weekly Photo Challenge

On the Staten Island Ferry heading into Manhattan.  In this photo the new World Trade Center, on left with black top, is just about half done.