Even as a Long Islander, New York City i is old to my eyes. I already feel like I have seen all that there is to see, as do many others whose home is NYC. But through photography and critical thinking I have found the unconventional art in NYC. This is a photo of the almighty Times Square. Famous for its dazzling lights, colors, and major commercial buildings, Times Square gets millions of visitors a year.

The lighting of NYC really is beautiful. If you cover the top portion of this photo with your hand, although you may find some differences, you might find that it looks just like daytime. We have created a city that can actually separate itself from nature. There is almost a sinful aura about it. It is as if we are defying G-d’s work in this world. The lighting might banal to an everyday New Yorker, but it really symbolizes how the human race has developed and how far we are willing to go in creating a world more suitable for humans. Not all humans can afford to sleep when they want. The answer: Create a city that never sleeps.

Again, we can see how NYC has altered nature. Trees and plants are supposed to grow by themselves wherever it is suitable. Because we need space for streets and buildings, we have moved nature and placed it strategically in a way that it can live without affecting the 3-D city of New York. It seems wrong to alter the natural existence of plants and trees but one may see it as an attempt for humans to keep nature alive in a society of concrete and pavement.

The art of NYC is that it was created by humans. Humans created not a portrait, or an admirable pyramid, but an entirely new world that some call home. NYC will always be changing and always further itself from the natural being of things in order to accommodate the ever-changing needs of humanity.

The people of New York City are often complacent in their day-to-day lives. Many people occupy their time with work or school; they busy themselves with their affairs, parsing each day with the same indifference they exhibit in their behavior. If one were to take a look at those who travel by mass transit, he or she might notice the sheer lack of regard for interaction and wholesomeness exhibited by patrons of the MTA. At least half of the patrons have some sort of device affixed to their ears to drown out the sounds of their fellow New Yorkers; others have a large paper to cover their face; and still others prefer to disengage the virtue of humanity with their cellphones or laptops. This pervasive attitude of most New Yorkers is one that may be characterized by the aphorism, “It’s a rat race.”

People rarely stop to genuinely converse with their fellow New Yorkers. They also do not appreciate the inherent beauty that the city has to offer. Sure, many people will purport that they do: they will say something like, “New York is the greatest city in the world;” but upon further inquiry, most people will fail to provide an coherent explanation of what makes New York so great.

Why is this relevant? People have a hard time slowing down in life. Whether by design or ignorance, New Yorkers fail to appreciate things that on their surface look inappreciable.  This notion of intrinsic value in simple things made me ponder the question: Why don’t people look up at the sky at night?

So present is this reluctance for appreciation, that I have never actually seen someone look up at the stars in New York City. Granted, I’m sure some people do, but most, by my observation, do not.  In my photograph, the stars did not show very well because the sky was overcast, but the fact of the matter is, even if it were crystal clear that night, people still would not be very interested in taking a break to appreciate the vastness of space.

Perhaps the sham and drudgery of the “rat race” is too much for some people to handle, and understandably so. However, there is no doubt that those who take time to appreciate the simple things in life, the things that are virtuous in and of themselves, will have a deeper understanding of humanity and intrinsic value moreover.

Make no mistake… this is not a picture of a building. It is what is absent in the picture that allows us to see the main idea and true subject of the photograph.

What at first may seem to be a rather pedestrian photograph – perhaps even something a tourist simply admiring the city may take – proves to be much more substantial as we peel away the layers to reveal, in this case, the essence of New York. Because of the shadowing and angle of the shot, the “structure” of the building(s) can’t be seen. We can not identify a specific building, only that this is undoubtedly a fairly tall building. If asked what I see in this picture, I would respond “New York”, as would many people. That in itself shows the fame and iconic nature of the city – it’s reputation. It is that fame that makes up 95% the substance and glamor of the city (something that one learns rather quickly after living in New York City for a month). The amount of lights on in the building are reminiscent of the popular slogan that New York is “the city that never sleeps”. The high-rise nature of the buildings is indicative of what New York, specifically Manhattan, is known for – its high rises.

The same school-of-thought that is initially used in art, where not everything is captured at a first glance, it often requires critical thinking and a closer look, is reflected everywhere throughout New York City. New York City itself IS art. If you look long enough and hard enough you just may see it, maybe in what you don’t see.

I’ve never enjoyed the type of photography that begs you to find some unworldly meaning. I believe there are many types of photography, but two in particular that are most well known. There are photos that are beautiful, such as landscapes and cityscapes and nature. Then there are photos that tell a story. Sometimes these types can merge, but most often I see people trying to find too much meaning in a photograph that is just beautiful.

I could sit here and write to you about this picture of the inside of a garbage can. I could say it signifies the waste of the human population. I could say it shows how the human race is selfish and against preserving nature. These pretentious statements are nothing more than an effort to make myself sound like I put time into the thought of the photograph and the moment. But how could I do that? I didn’t place the trashcan there, nor did I place any of the trash. The most I could do was create an angle to display the garbage. It was nothing other than a candid photograph taken on a Friday night.

I was sitting outside my apartment smoking, staring at the same trashcan that I am faced with every time I sit out front. It’s interesting to watch how people utilize this staple. I see people put their cigarettes out on it sometimes. Others use it for the basic purpose of throwing away their trash. Some see it as a treasure though, digging through the trash with dead eyes, just looking for another bottle or can to recycle. I knew I had to take a picture, and I thought I might as well take it of the trashcan. It’s just one of the thousands of trashcans put on the city streets, however the insides are rarely seen by those who have no business in them.

I’ve always enjoyed the grittier things in life, especially when it comes to photography. I find that the most unconventionally beautiful photographs are those that are simple, realistic, and sometimes ugly. Is this photograph beautiful, does it tell a story, or is it both? To me it just snapshots a memory of the place and the people around it. To others is could cause some sort of emotion, or a recollection of a moment in time. It does not however, have any significant meaning and I won’t try to bullshit you into believing it does.

To complement my rant on photography that tells a story, here are the rest of the photos that I enjoyed from Friday, October 11^th.

What does one think of when they hear ‘New York City’? Does the person imagine large groups of people crowding around to get in the train station, or yellow taxi cabs picking up individuals to get them to their destination and to make a few bucks. One may interpret NYC in any way they want- the fact of the matter is that we are all different. We can all associate the big apple in which ever way we please.

The thing with this photograph is that it contains many of the features present in this great city. This includes, but is not limited to, various modes of transportation, large-scale buildings, open streets and sidewalks heavily populated by a diverse number of people, food stands, and much more. But in the case of this photo which I took for Snapshot Day, the two main focuses clearly appear to be the two things that many New Yorkers have come to recognize and understand and the things that would grab the attention of most people who look at this photo. These are the Columbus Circle Globe and Central Park.

Now, me being a New Yorker myself, I take the train to John Jay College on a regular basis. Even though I have come to the point where I basically take these things for granted since I am used to seeing them all the time, I came to the conclusion that these landmarks deserve to be appreciated. It is no secret that anyone who lives in or comes to Manhattan regularly would take these things for granted. The bottom line is that I chose this photo for Snapshot Day because: 1. I feel that it symbolizes NYC and 2. Every portion of it has its own unique ability to both blend into and stand out from the rest of the photograph.

For example, the globe being situated at the center, serves as the punctum. With its rather large size and shiny steel framework, the Columbus Circle would easily grab the attention of any person who looks at this photo. The globe, I strongly believe, serves as a symbol of Columbus’ voyages. Standing in back of the globe to the left hand side of the photo is the Trump International Hotel Tower high-rise building. Designed by Thomas E. Stanley and built in 1969, this amazing structure stands at 579 ft. This site is frequently visited by many tourists and also features hotel rooms as well as residential condos. But to me, the real reason why I believe this building is unique is because it stands out in contrast to the rest of the photo; the darkness of its windows and overall design brings it out from the other vibrant colors that are present. The height of the Trump Hotel/Tower, as well as many of the other skyscrapers one would find scattered throughout the city, allude to big dreams. Dreams that some people have of coming to this great big city for a better life. Aside from this, the Trump Hotel is also present in popular culture, being set as the location of the 2011 crime-comedy film Tower Heist.

However, the biggest part of this photo, and probably the most important and influential area of NYC which most people, including myself, would relate to NYC, has got to be Central Park. This large public park lies at the center of Manhattan. Central Park officially opened in 1857 and spanned 778 acres (now it is 840 acres). This historical landmark serves as the site of many events, garnering approximately 35,000,000 visitors annually. Horse carriages ride through the park, people go jogging through there, and the NY Philharmonic gives concerts there sometimes as well. And who could forget the Central Park Zoo. In all, Central Park serves as a place for individuals to relax and escape from the stresses of the big city and immerse themselves into the lush, green plant life and laidback setting.

In conclusion my opinion is that this photograph ultimately succeeds in both representing and symbolizing this great city; With the iconic yellow taxi cab, the trees in Central Park, the large building, the globe, the people minding their business, and even the street lights. It all comes together to give the photo a certain atmosphere associated with NYC. There is definitely a lot to be said about this. You know how the old saying goes- a picture is worth a thousand words.

Nadejda Dimitrova

Professor Calirman

October 14, 2013

Snapshot from NYC blog

New York City is the cultural capital of the world. It’s the most densely populated city in the United States of America. It’s the big apple. It’s the city that never sleeps. And it’s where I live. And almost everyday when I walk over the Queensboro Bridge to get into Manhattan and come to John Jay I see this view. It’s a view at the end of the bridge overlooking 1^st Avenue, and it encompasses a great part of my vision of New York City.

It shows an avenue that is part of NYC’s amazingly organized grid system of streets. On the avenue, and in my photograph, you can see the iconic yellow New York taxis speeding up and down the road. You see plenty of other cars too, with their bright lights shining through the night. These lights seem to continue infinitely illuminating the darkness, as you cannot see the end of the avenue.

You also cannot see the end of the buildings. They appear to go on lining the edge of the road that goes on. And their lights brighten up the space as well. In the picture, the skyscraper on the right is cut off and you cannot view how high it truly goes. This symbolizes the limitless potential of New York City to keep reaching higher, for a better tomorrow. Plus, the construction on the left side of the picture symbolizes progress in the city and all the work put into it. And all the buildings represent organizations of art, business, research, technology, and more.

On the other hand, the tree in the photo stands for nature, and how it is still a part of the city. It serves as an image for the natural order of things, including human nature. And even though you cannot specifically see any people in the picture, you know that they are the most important part of it all. Because if not for the people, the rest of it wouldn’t exists where it is now. Furthermore, the fact that you can’t see any person in particular adds a sense of universality to the picture, which accurately represents New York City, since all kinds of people live here – including me.

My snapshot from NYC captures just one moment in one place at one time, but with the energy of billions.

New York City. Everyone’s first thoughts, whether inhabitants or tourists, include tall buildings, the never-ending bustle of the streets, bright lights and suits. From my earliest memories, all I can remember is being a part of this. It was all fast-paced, flashy, carefully thought out and slightly pretentious. But, I remember being exposed to where my extended family prefers to reside; the rural parts.

I wasn’t raised anywhere near New York City. My home was Gdansk, in the tri-city of northern Poland, the part that touches the Baltic Sea. I remember vividly the trips we made, hours away from vast amounts of public transportation and conveniently located shopping centers, to the countryside overflowing with absurdly gorgeous fields of flowers and crops, a home to the many domesticated animals found roadside. As a young, indecisive and naïve child, taking in everything around me with questions and comments ready, I found a love for both scenarios. I became torn between the city life and the country life, a dilemma I cannot find a solution to. It doesn’t matter which city it is or which countryside it is, the feel of both are the same universally and I connect with both.

No longer a child, I find it is necessary to prioritize, making a plan for myself and moving ahead in life. I am filled with wanderlust – the overwhelming ability to travel, to see and to discover. I can never figure out if my problem lies in trying to figure out whether I plan to stay in the city, enjoy the constant buzz of life, or move into the rural areas, with a relaxing aura to surround me. But I do know that New York City will always be considered home.

I found that my first thoughts of New York City are rather different from the popular opinion. I think of the rustle of leaves and sound of gravel underfoot while reading on the grass in Central Park. I think of the whistle of wind and my hair flying in every direction sitting on a rock formation about everyone in the park, watching mothers with strollers and kids playing ball. My thoughts are of a slow paced, cozy aura.

The photograph that best represents this is that of the lake I always go to after class. I’ve always loved long walks, and one day, without a purpose or direction, I found myself sitting in Central Park, face to face with scenery I thought I could only ever find miles outside of this metropolis. It’s now one of my favorite places to think, or to write down my thoughts, or read without distractions, or to simply enjoy the view without any interruptions. The peace I find in the middle of such a busy place reminds me that New York will always hold what I dream of; ambition and excitement with a taste of comfort and joy. I hope other people find the true worth of New York City, not in its business and its wealth, but in its duplicity as the greatest city on earth and home. 

I have always been the type of person that absorbs all the details in the world around me. Whether these details are that of a particular person or a general scene, my mind is always asking questions, always curious, and always learning. If you were to walk around with me, especially when in the city, you would notice I am often looking up and around. I always stare at the buildings and their different aspects. I look at the designs and just the organization of an infrastructure my eyes may come across. I often catch myself gazing at buildings I come across everyday on my way to school. I also look around at things at normal level and I am very much into perspective. The way the world around me falls into place has always been something to think about.

Ever since I came to college, I have developed a unique sense of art I thought was impossible for me to obtain. This new sense of art has sparked my brain to think even more than I would when encountering the world around me. For example, as I walked around downtown Manhattan, I casually crossed the street at an intersection. Looking to my left and then to my right, I see a very distinct view from where I am walking. Mesmerized by the view, I decided stop in the middle of the street and snap a picture with my phone.

When I looked at my photograph I had taken, I realize it is not a very fancy picture whatsoever. I had simply taken a photo of a street that I walked across. It was then that I realized this is what the concept of art is about. Art isn’t always going to be huge murals or golden statues or extremely valuable paintings by famous artists. In our society, the word ‘art’ denotes all of these ideas, which are implanted into our mind. Instead, art is meant to raise questions and show different perspectives the viewer may admire or dislike.

Paying attention to detail, I acknowledged the photo I took was a form of art. I noticed the color contrast of the dark area where I was, between the tall buildings, and the bright sky further down the road. I noticed the yellow light on the far right, which was the streetlight for the street parallel to me, and how close I was to the light turning green with me still in the middle of the road. I also noticed the road and how it rides out into the bright part of the picture. Of course, the infrastructures also stood out, creating the road in a valley of buildings that I was in.

The point of taking a picture of the city and sending it into Macaulay was to show how we all see the city. I feel this photo I took exemplifies New York as a whole and explains how I see this “city that never sleeps.” I see New York City as a place where honking cars and nonstop motion is present all around. We are merely small people bustling around in the large city we built. It’s the place I try to show the viewer, using this photo, how crowded and overwhelming life can be, both mentally and physically. Nonetheless, I use this picture to show just one of the many sights I see in the place I have learned to truly call my second home.

This is a steel globe at the Columbus Circle subway station on 59th street. It was created by Kim Brandell, who has made many of these stainless steel globes for Donald Trump. This piece of artwork really represents Manhattan to me. My “Snapshot” of New York City is this piece of art because it embodies what Manhattan is all about: cultural diversity. It reminds me of just how much cultural diversity we really have right here in Manhattan. People from all over the world come to visit Manhattan everyday. There are so many people of different ethnicities, religions, and sexualities that are able to coexist in Manhattan.

This city just has such an accepting environment and that is something that has always stuck out to me about Manhattan. People can dress, act, and say what they want without being judged and criticized for who they are. This city is one of the few places I know where people can come from all over the world and coexist together in harmony. There are a few exceptions, but for the most part people are very accepting of all this diversity. In my neighborhood on Staten Island, everyone is pretty much the same and there is little diversity. Coming to Manhattan has really exposed me to a lot of different people and ideas, which I think is a really important aspect of Manhattan. Manhattan to me isn’t about the buildings, stores, taxis, or food stands. It’s about the people. This globe represents the people of Manhattan. I may not love the traffic or people shoving me out of their way to get to their train, but one thing I do love is that no matter who you are or what you look like you can be accepted in Manhattan. The tolerance for different cultures is what has allowed so many different types of food places and stores and ideas to be in Manhattan. So many different ideas and ways of thinking have come to Manhattan because of all the diversity in the city. Cultural diversity has brought so many new things to Manhattan and I think that’s what makes Manhattan great.

About two months ago, I was walking back to my apartment pretty late at night.  As I was crossing the bridge, I decided to look around to make sure no one was following me (my neighborhood is quite sketchy at night).  As I was looking back, something extravagant caught my eye.  It was simply the view from the top of the bridge.  I had crossed this bridge millions of times during the day and never had the slightest interest in the view.  This was the first time I had walked back home so late and all I saw was simply car traffic: nothing really special.  Yet, there was something extremely different this time and I knew that this would be the perfect picture to take for the Macaulay NYC Snapshot.  After stopping to look at this amazing view, the first thing that came to me was life’s journey.

Personally, I felt that this picture was perfect.  As I was processing the view, many things came to my mind.  The many cars in the photo represent us as human beings, racing through life’s journey, making decisions and trying to reach a common goal: success.  Almost everyone, whether student or graduate, has a desire to reach success.  The traffic symbolizes the obstacles and hindrances in life that prevent us from becoming successful and achieving our goals and dreams.  In order for us to reach our desired destination, we need to learn to maneuver through these obstacles and learn to persevere when we are faced with difficult circumstances.  The traffic also represents how it is necessary sometimes for us to wait and be patient.  Not everything will come when we want.  It is important for us to realize that there are times when you need to take a step back and patiently wait for the best.

The other thing that came to mind was the big picture in life.  I felt that the holes in the fence represent how we as humans cannot see the big picture.  There is no way for us to know exactly what we will happen; all we can see are glimpses in the big picture.   None of us knows what the future holds, what jobs we will have, if we will ever become successful or how many days we have left on this earth.  The best things we can do are work our hardest and take advantage off all opportunities.  The blur and darkness in the night also represent how our visions are limited.  Sometimes, we may not get what we want or something undesirable may happen such as not getting a job.  However, I believe everything happens for a reason and undesirable circumstances may be blessings in disguise.  For example, not getting a desired job may be positive because you may eventually end up finding an even better one.

Overall, I think that life is more complicated than we perceive it to be.  Some days will be happy and others will be sad.  Occasionally, we get what we want and other times, we end up getting the complete opposite.  We as human beings need to realize that it is impossible for us to guarantee positive outcomes.  All we can do is to put in our best efforts and hope for the best.

For the longest time, I have been searching for the perfect chocolate chip cookie. When I finally found it, I knew that I had to share it within the Macaulay sphere, and as many say, art is subjective, and for me, food is art.

When looking for a picture to choose as my “Snapshot”, I purposely chose to find a place that oozes warmth and welcome, even in photograph form. My work shows how we, as a modernized society seek comfort in even the most banal of things, such as cookies and coffee.

On a moderately cold, cloudy, rainy day, there is nothing more comforting then the warmth of a cafe, or the taste of a perfect, still warm, chocolate chip cookie. With this photograph, I am allowing the viewer to feel and connect with the same warmth that I felt when I walked into this espresso bar. Immediately walking into this area, the aroma of fresh ground espresso and every manner of baked goods embraces the senses. I was looking for a refuge from the rain and found it tucked away off of 6th Avenue, beckoning me.

Walking in, I immediately started thinking how I should take my photograph. I eventually waited for my perfect opportunity to capture not only the fresh-baked, still steaming cookies, but also the menu with the various types of coffee on it. I took this photograph because I love the taste, smell, and texture of a perfectly brewed mocha; the feel of a crispy, buttery cookie in my hands, and the chocolate chips, melting in my mouth as I take a bite of it.

My goal was to convey those same feelings that I receive when I walk into a great coffee shop like this one, and I did. I hope that looking at this picture makes the viewer want to walk into the photograph, order a coffee or a cookie, and sit down and unwind. I did not want to just take a picture of a random cup of Starbucks coffee, or even of the city that I love so much. I took a picture that showcases just one of the thousands of places that people go to; seeking shelter from the cold, looking for a place to relax after a long day.

Walking up to the Apple Retail Store feels awkward. I never went into one or even passed by one. Even though I have a MacBook, an iPod Touch, an iPad, and an iPhone, I have never walked into an Apple Retail Store. Why? I never had to. My brother and parents would buy the Apple product I want, but I never went with them to buy it. However, today, I had to go to the Store personally. There was something wrong with my phone’s camera and my brother suggested me to go to the Apple Retail Store. After all, how am I going to fix my phone when I do not even know what is wrong with it? When I walked up to the Upper West Side Apple Store, the store amazed me. I did not think it would be entirely made of glass and built in a special way that awed me. I thought it would be like any other store with its concrete or metal walls that surrounded the store and you cannot peek in to see what is going on. But here, this Apple Store allows you to look inside and feel astounded that they would use such a design. Considering the number of expensive products they have in the store, building an open-view design is an unthinkable idea. What if someone curious peeks in and decide to rob the Store? The assumption would be to surround the place with concrete or solid walls so that it will be difficult to sneak in, but this Apple Store is different. The design was made so everybody will know what is being sold as if saying “please come in and be our customer.” I think it is a daring design for the Apple Store and which is why I chose it.

I am unable to upload the photo because the file size was too large and so the link:

http://macaulay.cuny.edu/gallery/index.php/Snapshot-2013/2013-10-11-14_40_22

My artwork is a deceptive view of urban areas, such as New York City. I rely on the viewer’s adult experiences and childhood memories to carry them through my photo. As a child, The City always seemed like such a large, beautiful place where marvelous things happened to everyone that lived there. As I grew up and gained knowledge, I learned that is obviously not the case. My artwork does not strip this fantastical idea of beauty, but rather, it builds it up.

Living only three blocks away from the Brooklyn Promenade, I often go there after my Starbucks run to take a walk and clear my head. The Promenade looks out over the East River to the NYC skyline. On one of my walks, for a fleeting moment, the skyline reminded me of my childhood fantasies. The picture I snapped embodied the contrast of the differing inside and outside view. It makes The City look almost unreal; like it was a painting of a memory and not a photograph. The photo looks deceiving; the city looks sleepy and almost glittery from the outside, yet the city is always filled with bustle at all hours of the night, and it is definitely not as glittery on the inside. The viewer can see a gorgeous sunset to the left of the photo, which bathes the buildings a nearly ethereal glow of soft sunlight. In reality, the inside of The City is already under the cover of darkness.

The picture was taken in color, which captures the essence of the photograph. The natural lighting and sunset give the photo a quality that would not be captured in a studio. It gives the photo beautiful light, whereas the inside of the subject is completely dark.

My goal is to make the viewer see the contrast of light and dark in relation to memories. I have done my job as an artist if this photo is not merely a pretty picture to hang on a wall, but a photograph that makes the viewer feel unexpectedly and delve into lost memories.

I took this photograph for Snapshot of NYC because it represented where I was on October 11, 2013. Every day I walk to and from John Jay College and this monument goes unnoticed. I take the D subway train and the station I get off is in fact 59^th Street Columbus Circle but the exit I get off does no justice to this piece. I get out of an entrance that blocks this whole monument. This entrance is not like ordinary entrances/exits that just have stairs leading underground. It is essentially a constructed building with an opening to go inside for connection to the MTA trains. This black building hides Columbus Circle from my view, and from thousands of other people who use the same train station. The only way you’ll see this place is if you intentionally look for it or if you connect to the trains from another entrance. I only found this piece looking for a place to sit and relax after a long day of class.

A hidden gem, this monument has been sitting at Columbus Circle ever since 1892. It was created by Italian sculptor Gaetano Russo in honor of the 400^th anniversary of Christopher Columbus landing in America in 1492. This monument is created with marble, granite and bronze. Columbus is crafted from marble sitting on top of a granite column. On the side of the column are bronze etchings of Columbus’ 3 ships: Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria. At the bottom of the column is an angel holding a globe. This could symbolize the long journey Columbus made arriving here in America. There could’ve been a higher figure watching over him to ensure safe travels, thus explaining the angel at the bottom of the column.

Columbus Circle itself was completed in 1905.  It was designed to control traffic in that area by William P. Eno. It was renovated again in 2005. Fountains, plant life, and wooden benches were the new additions. These new objects give a more natural element to Columbus Circle as a whole entity. It is not only a place where cars travel by; it is a place where people can visit. The water spraying out of fountains with plants surrounding the circle gives off an earthy feel. It takes people back to the environment and the benches let us sit and bathe in the natural aura. New additions to the circle from 1905 lead to what we see today; a beautiful area to relax with a strong symbol in the center.

New York City can often seem like a foreign country to me. I have lived in the Village of Farmingdale out on Long Island for my entire life. The town is nothing like the city. Not a skyscraper for miles; no home that is ever more than two stories high. Its a peaceful place to live, very unlike the city, where on every street you would see hordes of people hustling from point A to point B.

Also unlike the city is the lack of architecture. On every street in the city, there is a building with some sort of sculpture on it. Sculpting has appealed to me more than any other art. The precision on every detail tells a story of its own. Sculptors can make the simplest  of materials come to life, right before your very eyes. I always take a moment to appreciate any building with sculptures on it. In Farmingdale, there is only The Library Cafe, a restaurant and bar whose entrance has a trio of animals to greet you at the door: Two lions adjacent to each other, and a golden bird overhead.
I spent all Friday afternoon in what is becoming my second home. I look at all the buildings as I walk around Lower Manhattan by Bowling Green. Out of nowhere something hits me. I turn on the spot, and hastily walk back to where I was just moments ago. There is this marvelous building in front of me. How did I overlook this the first time I walked by? I know nothing of what the significance of this building is, but captivated by its features – specifically the statues lined along the front – I’m inclined to take a picture.
       
Upon my arrival home, I am still caught up in my own fascination for this building. Hours ago, I had no clue this building even existed. Now, I’m using all the resources at my disposal to learn what this building is. I discover it is the century old Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House – a National Historic Landmark.

Today, the Custom House is home to National Museum of the American Indian New York City branch and the National Archives in New York City. As what is located inside the building is sure to be important to a number of people, what is on the outside is what is most significant to me. It is an art style nothing like I see at home. Even though I’m seeing more NYC architecture everyday, its brilliance will never cease to amaze me.

Through my photograph I attempt to examine and portray the phenomenon of both popular culture and urbanity’s affect on the creative mind.

New York City or Gotham City?

What began as a personal day of exploring – as I always do, – quickly morphed into a lapse of time that contained a sudden moment of creative realization when I glanced at the New York City skyline from The Brooklyn Heights Promenade and saw Gotham City, the metropolitan of Batman. This moment did not last long in reality – for only a few seconds or possibly a minute – but it will last forever, metaphorically speaking, thanks to my HTC Radar Windows Phone.

Living in Brooklyn Heights, I often venture to The Promenade, – whether walking or running – to view the dazzling skyline of New York City. Urbanity can simply be defined as “urban life;” however, to the creative thinker and attentive observer, it is much more than that. To those, urbanity is an art composed of all of the intricacies of urban life. The art is that cities are constantly changing and evolving, every minute and every second. Regardless of interior or exterior forces, the city is a place that never ceases to morph into something new instant by instant.

This moment, when I was standing on The Promenade having an epiphany of the brief resemblance between my view and the scenery of Batman, is an example of the art of urbanity. I have seen the skyline on many occasions; – at different times of the day and during varying weather conditions – yet, only once have I seen the city appear as it did in this photograph, and never again will it look exactly the same as the photo depicts, for the city is constantly changing, due to outer and inner forces. For example, the chances of the clouds having the same values, textures, depths, and positioning as they do in this photo is exceedingly unlikely.

The fact that the clouds and the gloominess they generated were what caused my mental connection between my view and that of Gotham City proves the unfavorable odds of that exact image, and possibly even resemblance, ever being produced again. The setting of the sun, in addition to the clouds, added to the overall hue of the sky, and thus the mood it gave off to the viewer – and continues to give off in my snapshot.

Internally, the odds that the same office and apartment lights, that are on in the photo, will be on at the exact same time in the future – without any added office or apartment lights – is also particularly unlikely. The Freedom Tower – which is still undergoing erection – does not look the same today as it has any other day, and neither will it tomorrow, for they are constantly building it up, adding to it; and thus, changing its overall appearance daily. The bottom of the photograph, which shows the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge Park, changes every day as well.

Never again, in reality, will the New York City skyline from The Brooklyn Heights Promenade ever look precisely as it does in the photograph; – there are too many changing variables, thanks to urbanity – but, through art, the image has been captured, and will incessantly be present figuratively. This is the art of photography and urbanity working hand-in-hand. Photography allows us to capture the beauty of brief moments that urbanity brings to life for only a short time, and permits us to then be able to hold onto these momentary memories – that will inevitably be lost, psychologically speaking, at some point – for as long as the photograph lives.

If the popular culture of Batman did not exist neither would my photograph, for the main reason for my capturing that precise moment was because of the resemblance the scenery had to that of Gotham City. Those with a creative mind and knowledge of Batman might just make the same resemblance between the view in my photograph and the one from the piece of popular culture.

New York City or Gotham City?

This is art – capturing a moment in time that would have otherwise disappeared forever, its beauty and memory included.

On this dark and gloomy night, my block’s street carnival managed to change the night into one of light and happiness, bringing joy to the people on the block and whoever happened to pass by. The night was filled with laughter, smiles and cotton candy. Although this street carnival meant that I would not be able to sleep until late at night, I was filled with joy by all the smiling children and adults. The darkness and immense amount of clouds in the sky, usually associated with gloom and sadness, could now, or at least in this moment and night, could be associated with joyousness and never-ending laughter.

Photography is often looked at as just a way to record memories or to express one’s self. This level of professionalism verses amateurism rises. However, I believe that any photography no matter the level of professionalism can be interpreted to hold meaning for the audience or the subject, or the person behind the camera. This artistic form of expression to me is more of an amateur thing but pictures help me to capture significant moments in my life At the time I may not be able to see the significance or the meaning it may hold but looking back at a picture, I can begin to interpret the meaning of the picture. Similarly to the picture above, I took the picture because it was pretty. The lights were glimmering and the noises filled my house.

However, looking back on this picture three days later, I can see that this picture represented the highlight of my day. The weather usually has an impact on my mood so as predicted, I wasn’t the happiest of people that day. However, after seeing how much joy this little carnival was able to bring to people, I began to think about how such a little thing like the weather managed to bring my whole spirit down for the day. Sometimes all it takes is for a little spark or event to bring the joy back to my day. It’s silly that it took a carnival and instagram for me to come to this realization.