Trask Avenue

It amazes me what some people can produce when they photograph in New York City. It takes a certain kind of genius to capture little moments in a city larger than life in such a way that makes the viewer react on a purely gut level. With their photos you can literally feel the sights and sounds of a particular neighborhood or connect with the emotions of the people on the street. Man, being able to portray the City in such a human way through photography is an enviable talent.

On the other hand photographing New York City is an absolute a challenge for me. Maybe it’s the non-stop activity, maybe it’s the overwhelming number of fast moving people, maybe it’s the sheer magnitude of everything. It’s probably all this and much more. I know part of the problem has been that I never go into the City with clear sense of what I want to shoot. Free association may be an effective technique to spark writing creativity, but with photography it leaves me frustrated. When I start pointing the camera at random stuff without a well-considered vision the results are predictable.

I’ve been told I’m too hard on myself – and not just when it comes to photography. That’s probably true. Nevertheless, on occasion I have managed to take a photo or two in New York which doesn’t make me retch. That’s not being too hard on myself, is it? 😉

On this freakishly cold October night with several inches of heavy snow on the ground I thought it’s as good a time as any to share a few of these shots with you. I hoping looking at random photos from warmer days will somehow lessen the chill in the air!

Oh, and just to be perfectly clear, I appreciate your good and encouraging thoughts (as always). However, this is NOT, I repeat NOT, a plea for reassurance or affirmation. Instead I will happily take cash.