Known by its diversity and driven by its people’s motivations, New York City is one of the greatest cities in the world. To be classified into a world city, there must be certain standards and criteria met. Criteria include, diversified food, multiple modes of transportation, unique aspects that distinguish it from other cities, and most importantly a storied history that can be felt along every avenue and block. New York City meets all of these standards and goes far beyond its expectations, something I’ve realized on my daily commutes to the greatest city on Earth.
Not only is New York City the Concrete Jungle, but it can also become an oasis of nature for those seeking the shade of trees and warmth of the grass. The City has the power to allow people to transport in a multitude of different ways. From walking, to biking, to taking a bus, car, train, subway, horse carriage or even a ferry, New York City is the most versatile city when it comes to its transportation sector. From its main staple of food, thin crust pizza, to its diversified small ethnic restaurants, New York City has some of the greatest tastes in the world.
This Photography Portfolio of NYC focuses on these main components, to depict to viewers the diversity of The City that makes it so great. Themes such as food, transportation, and nature began to stand out to me as connecting factors that made New York City what it is. Photography helped me to capture these 3 unique factors to create a portfolio that I believe makes a city a true World City.
On my twenty-minute walk to Baruch from Penn Station, there are a multitude of restaurants and fast food chains. From local dollar pizzerias to very high end outdoor restaurants. The food options in New York City are endless, with the ability to satisfy every craving imaginable at any given time. A company called Seamless recently began its “How New York Eats” campaign around Penn Station so that inspired me to capture the diversity of the food culture of The City. Upon my journey, my attention was immediately drawn to a local pizzeria named Broadway Pizza. The Neon light outline of the pizza was something that stuck out to me because it reminded me what a staple Pizza was of the New York Diet. Overall, food is a craving many tourists and New Yorkers alike have on a daily basis so it’s vital to have options like you do in The City.
Transportation is also a vital part of daily life in New York City. Ranging from taxis, to buses, to Citi Bikes, all the way to the Subway, millions of New Yorkers depend on different modes of transportation to get from place to place. Personally, Pennsylvania Station is a location for me that gives viewers the taste of a true World City. Trains that run to the ends of Long Island, go all the way to New Jersey and other locations help to show that New York City is a hub and location of work and tourism for millions of people each day. The photo of the sign that prohibits bikes from being chained to the fence help to display the rebellious attitudes of New Yorkers. Although not allowed to chain the bikes there, dozens of commuters forgo the warning and chain their bike anyway. This personally captured the mentality of New York City for me, it showed me that New Yorkers don’t take no for an answer and always push the mold.
Often called the “Concrete Jungle”, New York City still places a large emphasis on preserving nature. There are multiple parks around The City that draw crowds of people every day, from parents with kids, to couples trying to enjoy a picnic, to young kids just trying to play catch. Madison Square Park is a local park to Baruch and many students pass through the park every day. The photos of nature in my portfolio are all taken from or around the park because it helps to visualize the fact that New York is a very diversified location, from skyscrapers to tall oak trees, New York has it all.
The “Empire State of Mind” is a common phrase used to describe the mindset of New Yorkers. The grit, determination and constant drive to reach the top, are characteristics I tried to capture through my other photos. Photos of the Empire State Building and Flat Iron Building truly help to capture this idea that New Yorkers are unique and will do anything to reach the ultimate heights.
Therefore, this photography portfolio was able to capture the different aspects that diversify New York Cit. The fact that New York City has different ethnic foods, many modes of transportation, and incorporations of nature into its concrete jungle help to make it one of the greatest cities in the world.
– Abishek Johnson (AJ)
