Dirk Eusterbrock: Emotive Pixelations

About faith and other topics...

2012-02-08T19:40:00.000-08:00

Running around today to do location scouting... And then spending some time in the subway... Interestingly today the topic of faith came up repeatedly... There were even some preachers on the train, but I was too slow to capture that...

The image on top is a rosary most likely lost on the ground of a B train... Maybe I should do a blog "Things I found on the subway"? ;)

A (blind?) vet at Grand Central... Sad to see what is happening with vets in this country...

Departing the shuttle...

The lines all work out...

Purpose!

Faith related image #2...

Arriving trains! Love them... Needs loads of trials, but once in a while it's really worth it!

Interesting how the really thick crowds are only for short moments each time...

In thought...

Totally engaged in their conversation...

Looking really calm...

Great faces!

Energy!

What now?

Mmmh...

Finally: A shot in front of the Lichtenstein!

Wonderful colors!

Lots of changes!

Concerned?

O.K.!

Love the styling!

Preacher with support... Can't figure out which of the images I like better... This one?

Or this one?

He was smiling after passing the preacher... Instant enlightenment?

Love the mood and the scarf!

Proud!

Strangely empty although shot at rush hour...

Another case of not being sure: Do I like this one better...

Or this one?

Seems to be a good time for scarfs!

No scarf here!

Why the long faces sugar plums?

This is better...

Another cross... Faith related as well?

Dramatic return to home station...

Rediscovering color!

2012-02-06T19:38:00.000-08:00

A friend on facebook had mentioned how refreshing the color images in between the black and white images were... And I agree...
I revisited my favorite spots today and saw that there was actually a bigger percentage of color worthy images! So, thank you, Shoshanna! :)

The color in the top image helps to set the tone...

Before I forget: Congrats, NYC! Not that I'm much of a sports fan myself... ;)

Style and hair envy! Seriously!

Not everyone was happy though...

Hurry, hurry...

Would be a great set up for a band picture!

Serious business!

Lost...

Looking out!

Lovely flowing red hair...

Happy faces are so welcome!

He was nice enough to pose for me. Not really agreeing with the sign here, but appreciated the effort!

More happy people! Yes!

Sceptical.

Not connected, but partly happy...

Good look!

Red hair #2. For real now!

I'm harmless, I swear!

Strong light, strong pose...

That map is useful. I know!

Underground book club...

Great jacket. Great pattern. Needed color too.

Great way to end the trip! Lovely smile! Thank you! (I love exclamation marks, did you notice?)

Sunday, non bloody Sunday...

2012-02-05T19:47:00.000-08:00

I usually like weekdays better for this project... More densely packed stations and people in a hurry fit better into my mental image of the New York City subway... But I had some time to kill so I took another trip...

Love the top image... He was walking very slowly... Nice contrast to the kids running by... What a face!

Ins't it great how her hair moves...

Difficult conversation partly covered...

Now uncovered...

The light only lights narrow spots on him...

Styling!

Weird mix of expressions here...

So unbalanced that it's cool again! (I think at least...)

Quite a story...

Hurrying to the train...

Having fun in the subway...

Suspicious?

Curious...

Layers...

Great how his jacket renders... And good expressions!

Irish?

4 women.

Where's this train?

More fun...

Is he saying that to me?

Strong stance!

More attitude!

2012-02-04T19:44:00.000-08:00

As mentioned earlier I was getting concerned that there wasn't much more to show in this series... Luckily I've been mistaken! I've come across some more interesting people with lots of attitude...
This is from my Friday and Saturday trips... Enjoy!

Through the glass while entering the station...

Strong...

Attitude x2!

Happy for a change!

Entrance of the grande dame...

Touches me.

Love how the tablet is illuminating her face with cold, harsh light...

Front guy's hand makes the image for me...

Woman in discussion with MTA employee... I think she wanted to know directions... Here it looks more like she's preaching to him... ;)

Style & attitude.

Impressive scarf...

Musician kind of earlyish Saturday morning... Everything before 10 is early on a Saturday!

Back at Times Square... My favorite location for the people part of this series...

Love the mix of expressions here...

Time for weird stories again: She's being followed and in distress! ;)

Very stylish! Asian Matrix?

Like the lines...

Everybody is a photographer! Complete with Leica and all...

Crazy juxtaposition of lonely sax player and manically grinning art work person...

As promised: More attitude!

Love looking into subway cars... Almost as interesting as looking into apartment windows! ;)

Don't know what to say about this one... Still like it though!

Movement while getting on the subway...

Bright eyes...

He reminds me of Jim Caviezel (Person of Interest, Passion of the Christ, etc.) I like the drama of the light...

Female time traveler...

Theater of life: Looks almost like a performance piece...

On my way...

2012-02-02T21:21:00.000-08:00

"On my way" could mean so many things... Quite literally of course I'm on my way in the subway when I work on this series... Then of course there's the path of life... Even when feeling stuck, time is ticking and there is no standing still... Well, the image on top seems to paraphrase my emotions quite nicely... ;) Bear with me... This is a long one again!

Union Square, first of two trips in this post...

Hey you!

I like it... Not sure why...

Intense...

Back in Harlem style...

Start of trip #2... Under suspicion...

125 Street station filling up nicely...

Man of action...

Tight... Rush hour...

As well...

Somehow fascinating: The moment before the doors open or close...

Deep...

Close...

Woman trying to get off the train at Times Square... I bet she was super annoyed, but in this image it looks dreamlike to me...

I think he might be on to me...

He's figured me out as well! ;)

There!

Kick ass!

Emotional...

Mmmh...

Energetic...

I guess this one of the images that I like taking: Beautiful woman at train closing train doors... With sense of abandonment... The stuff stories are made off... ;)

Really like this one... I should have asked if he'd pose for a portrait... I had a second camera body with me... I didn't dare yet... Slowly mustering up my nerve for that...

Waiting...

Time Square art work in use...

Musician taking a break... Voluntarily?

Something is going on here...

Foreground & background synchronizing!

Intense eyes...

Too!

As usual fascinated by people contained by the subway doors...

Just me making up crazy stories about this one... Watching too many police procedural shows... :P

Double analog reading.

Interesting how the light changes even underground...

"Wer zuletzt lacht, lacht am besten!" German proverb about best to have the last laugh... On my way home...

New York attitude!

2012-01-30T16:46:00.000-08:00

I was unsure at first what to title this blog post, but "New York attitude" stuck... The weather is actually surprisingly warm for the season and I have been getting good pictures in the subway today... After rather slim pickings yesterday... (I actually was worried that the series was about to end and I wasn't able to take any interesting images anymore...) But today's results convinced me otherwise...
Happy to report there is still plenty to do here!

We were getting on the train at 72 St station and I was lucky to capture this image on the top... But I think I was lucky too that the train was about to depart too! ;)

The only image I liked from yesterday...

A second display of a very NYC attitude!

I feel not that great with words today... Don't really know why... In any case... I like how the woman in center is in her own world...

Strong...

Love how the column divides the image...

Makes me emotional.

Touches me too.

Metrocard...

Need to shoot more at rush hour!

Good hat!

One of the closer shots...

Motion...

Love when this happens... Unusual composition just by way of fast moving people...

The blue light in the back called for a color version of this image...

Upside down on the weekend

2012-01-28T16:37:00.000-08:00

Weekend in NYC: That usually means bumpy public transportation... Better plan some extra time for your commute if you need to go somewhere... The top image shows just that for me... And the rest is me going from and to aikido class and taking a little (voluntary) detour through Times Square Station...

This morning... Love the three women like this...

Worker... Determined...

14 St Station: 1, 2, 3 lines...

A lot of further away shots today...

Had this one processed as black and white first, but it just didn't show the fabulous gray! Love it!

Visibly uplifted or intrigued woman... (by classical music played live)

Same area I think... Seems unimpressed...

Shades too!

Love the constellations...

Might be my favorite tonight! Looks so stylish!

What a wonderful color! Can't remember seeing a winter coat like this!

These were all taken in short succession...

How different the human shape can be...

And the personal styling choices...

Person with hat times two!

Almost done...

Last one of this series... Girls in the minority today... Not in this shot though! ;)

Not too easy to get: View into a car with most people facing... And even some interesting expressions...

My ride ends at 125 Street! See you soon! ;)

Young and confused...

2012-01-26T15:04:00.000-08:00

Not me... At my age I'm mainly confused... ;) Took these while running errands in the city today... And encountered the first person to demand that I erase his images immediately... Mmmh... Wasn't a real good shot anyways... Moving on...

Love the expressions in their faces...

This one touched me thoroughly...

Back home at 125th St (for me at least)...

Back to regular programming!

2012-01-24T21:34:00.000-08:00

After a day of working on more of the shrine files I encountered a hard drive crash... (Have to look more into recovering that data!) Of course I wasn't too thrilled about that, but luckily a good friend was in town and we had a dinner appointment... Good distraction! ;) Here are the two selects from tonight's travels...

Love the her outfit! Glad I caught it!

He reminds me of an old room mate of mine... Love the grit and the coat almost bursting out of the frame...

Change of subjects...

2012-01-24T07:50:00.000-08:00

This is the other long term personal project I'm working on these days... I have to admit, this is a strange one for me... I don't mean the moody, melancholic landscapes... These I know and love... But I'm not really sure I can completely sum up what this series is actually about... I guess I should start at the beginning: A friend (a tax accountant) asked me for prints to decorate her office located close to where I grew up... She loved my style, but felt that using images that I had already created would be unfitting or even pretentious on her end... That got me thinking... If I shot in that area there would be a connection by definition, wouldn't there? But what to concentrate on? Random landscapes of my "Heimat" (Could be translated into "homeland") was not specific enough for me... So I decided to focus on those crucifixes, shrines and other signs of public display of "Volksfrömmigkeit" (could be translated into "popular piety" or "popular devotion") that are so common in the mainly Catholic region where I grew up in... But I was not interested in close up shots of those artifacts, but wanted to look at how they are part of the landscape... How they shape it and are a natural part of it...

All the three images are on my running loop when stay with my dad in Nordvelen... (There some more on that loop, we might get to those in a later installment...)

Part of a Good Friday procession shrine series... Unfortunately only four are still to be found...

This one is part of the same series... Most likely was on the outskirts of the town when built... Love how the town crept up on it... Moody evening shot...

Guy with the golden headphones

2012-01-21T15:41:00.000-08:00

Trying to get back into the routine of shooting more for this series... Thought there would more dark, heavy or moody stuff going on with all the snow out there... But I guess that people were not outside that much today expecting delays or just trying to stay warm... That was why I cut my trip short as well! ;) Above: I had to take this picture... Loved the headphones!

Interesting and moody...

Serious hair envy!!!

Confused by weekend service changes... Just loved her face and the greens... No way I could turn this into black and white...

Don't quite know what he was doing but it looks here like he's about to break into a song...

Seemed like a character from an old spy movie...

Love winter clothing! Almost like armor...

Tricked by the usual weekend switcheroo... The local running 3 was not a 1 train after all...

Out of the dark...

2012-01-20T15:53:00.000-08:00

After some days with a locked up back I was finally able to go out and continue with my project today... Being neither able to move as usual nor work held an unusual dark mood in store for me... I was a little surprised by that I have to say... And am very glad I'm back in better place now... But some of the images seem to neatly capture what I was feeling... Regarding the top image: I'm always glad when the perfection of modern digital photography is somehow getting out of whack... And luckily turns out some great emotional images... Of course one could say that I shouldn't complain since I comparatively live the sweetest life... And I agree this is "Klagen auf hohem Niveau" (Complaining on a high level)... But tapping into what I feel is what I do... I express what I see and feel...

In his own world...

Luckily another interesting person sitting right next to him...

People excited to get on the train...

Less than 5 miles to the Caribbean!

Intense and dramatic...

Not sure why I like this one...

Going back home...

What a good looking man!

Me doing a Bruce Davidson image: Man with red scarf unusually applied...

I first didn't realize that I actually had missed my stop... But am very happy since I got two images I wouldn't have otherwise...

Love how intense weather shows in people's faces...

Androgynous styling...

Pretty much how I felt till yesterday... Not that well styled though!

Glad I can show more than one image per person here... Wouldn't know which one of these to pick...

One of my favorite shots from this post!

Mmmh...

I have to say: It's a strange day today! ;)

Hard to find words here...

Gritty!

Cold, cold weather...

And here: Shades! ;)

Love how the grain / noise renders here!

Great face plus motion blur: I like!

The kid makes the image!

Dressed for the weather...

Ready!

Intense reading!

Close up...

I have to say: There were days with more happy people on the subway!

But here's one!

Masterful mix of patterns...

Something is going on here...

Love how her face under his arm...

Really liked his look. Saw him from across the car...

I do like this moment of tension... When the doors are about to open... Things are about to start to go into motion...

Back in town...

2012-01-13T18:01:00.000-08:00

After a solid time in Germany I'm back in NYC. And back to this series... Love the top image... Such a great face! Happy to be continuing with this!

Love being able to see & capture life in the subway! Using my trip to Whole Foods wisely... ;)

I love NYC!

2011-12-18T23:07:00.000-08:00

I do love this city... So many people to watch! And things to see... Today's post contains images from several days again... I'm very happy with the images that I've been getting! This is going to be most likely the last subway post for this year as I'm scheduled to fly to Germany in just a few hours...
So brace yourselves: This is going to be a long one!
I was on the way to the airport waiting for the M60 bus when I encountered this man wearing this fabulous jacket. Technically not quite part of the subway series, but I still love sentiment!

Woman looking very happy and excited, running into an acquaintance at Times Square station...

Just fascinated by her outfit...

Woman peeking to read the list of upcoming stations...

Older woman reading the paper with younger guy looking on... I really like the contrast in shapes and size...

Great styling!

Styled and tired.

One of my favorites of the whole series... Shows so much trust in the safety of the world around them... And such tenderness!

Coming back from a concert...

A lot of people sleep or at least doze off on the train...

Here my camera switched to the maximum ISO (sensitivity)... Makes for somewhat funky colors and more grain (or noise)... I still like the image!

What a look!

Interesting hat! It even had ears.

One of those images that could tell a lot of stories...

Love him! Such a great look and style... At first I was mad that he wasn't in perfect focus, but I came around: It's great the way it is!

Man sleeping in the 81 Street station... With alligator(or crocodile? I can never tell them apart..)
Interestingly I got stuck at that station while trying to chance cars... But at least I got an image out of it...

This needed to be in color! :)

I wasn't sure if he was a skater or rollerblader...

Liked the scene... Sometimes I can't explain why I liked certain situations... I think here it is the contrast between him all alert / open and the others more in their cocoon...

Happy looking woman on her mobile device getting out of the station... I'm of course drawn to happy people... Who is not?

But I guess I'm drawn to any kind of strong outwardly shown emotion...

Sleeping in station: I love the blues... And the calmness the image contains...

Stretching her legs...

Accessorized well: Hat, cart and bags all in red!

Great faces.

"I'm loving it!" Fabulous when signage or text in the image becomes part of the story! ;)

Lucky short train ride: I got three images out of this situation... Here's the setup... Seeing all the players...

Close up...

From a different angle...

Waiting for the train with Mona. Love this image!

Those poles are sometimes in the way...

Couldn't decide which of the two I liked better...

He looks like he could be an actor... Or singer...

Good hat!

Getting of or on the train is often a great chance to get images with depth... But one needs some patience and luck as things move fast and there's no outside control...

I'm having serious hair envy!

Love the lines...

Great glasses and love the open look. And back at my home station.

Weight of the world...

2011-12-14T13:02:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine (Steffen Jahn, a fabulous car photographer, check out his work) told me to immediately continue with this series... And so I did! The title of the post is more in regards to the man in the first image... I love the image... Part of me wanted to go and give him a hug!

What a stylish way to relax on the train! Wonderful!

Isn't the mix of people on the train great?

Blue!!! :)

Love this! Great reflections in her shades!

Couldn't quite figure out how to crop this image... Person on the left was yawning wildly and person on the right studying some magazine... Decided to keep it pretty symmetrical... Fits the shade and the coat!

Part of me wants to know what is in that bag... The other part doesn't dare to think!

Same guy waiting to get off the train...

Potential panhandler switching cars...

In thoughts...

What's happening? And triple sun glasses!

Reading and ready!

Out!!!

Very alert! Or even inspired...

I would call this "Suspicious rock star with Starbuck's coffee"...

Resolve!

2011-12-13T19:13:00.000-08:00

Trying to calibrate monitors, printer and different papers... All while trying to finish up this segment of another personal project of mine... So I was happy to get out of the house and run some errands... And take some pictures on the way... Here's to resolve and trying to get it all done! I just love the expression on his face in this picture... At first I was not too happy with the images I was getting today... I mean I already got some great stuff in this series... So in my mind I have to do better each time... Of course that is only holding me back... Sometimes you just have to show up and try your best, I guess... ;)

I love that both of them do their thing with their hands in this image...

Tone in tone: Hair, bag, seats and add... All color coordinated! And me in the reflection of the window... (I'm trying my best here, Rajat! ;))

Again an example of the camera being smarter than me... Focusing on the hand instead of the face made the shot more interesting...

A special request being filled: At least one image in every blog subway post needs to wear sun glasses! ;)

For me the image works because of his reflection... Of course his hat does its part too! :)

Having lived here a while now there are still some things that don't really make sense to me... (Well, maybe because I'm German where it only became ok again to fly the flag recently...) But I still find it strange to have a flag on a train that is only ever used locally... It's not that it will ever get confused with Italian, Canadian or Mexican trains, no?

Again I was already on my way home when I came across this woman... I'm so happy that I did!

A week in pictures (on the subway)...

2011-12-11T17:39:00.001-08:00

I love this project... These days I've been quite busy with another personal project of mine that still needs a lot of post production... But whenever I leave home I take my little camera with me and try my best to get some new images in the subway... This is my selection of last weeks efforts... Above was taken on Saturday morning on my trip to aikido class...

Love this... I don't think they traveled together, but I'm just intrigued by the stories that come up in my mind when looking at this....

Going through time square... Through the smudged train window...

Last week still was warmer...

So stylish!

I think I tend to like the black and white treatment better for most these people images... This one needed to be in color though!

I wasn't sure about the treatment in this one... The shoes and lipstick were VERY red... But BW won out in the end!

I think this was on the number 7 train...

Times Square seems to become my favorite spot for this series... There's always something interesting happening there...

He looks like a French inspector to me...

With a purpose!

Sometimes I like out of focus images even better than the ones that are in focus... Almost as if they appeal right to the mind without being filtered by the brain too much...

Someone asking for directions and smart phone to the rescue?

I don't know why, but this is a sailor image for me...

I love this city! :)

Man waiting and eating... (Maybe sunflower seeds, I've come to love sunflower kernels... Just wish Whole Foods would carry the unsalted kind more regularly!)

Warms my heart to see this interaction!

This of course too! Happy or super excited people are fun to watch...

On the train...

In front a New Yorker being amused about the visiting group who just missed their stop, but didn't think that was a problem...

Woman in patterned coat studying magazine covers...

Not sure what to say about this one... I still like it!

Auto focus with a mind of its own! In this case this leads to a neat image though!

I still haven't mastered this camera yet... When best to use the auto focus and when to pre-focus... This one I like though...

It turned out that these two were traveling together...

Love his face! Too bad he didn't face me after I sat down...

Cold weather makes everyone look bulky... Or like a captain ready for sea...

Red haired woman looking at her (new?) golden tarot deck on the subway platform... Reminds me of the time when I bought CDs and couldn't wait to get home to read the notes and look at the artwork...

On the last leg home...

Man with red bags and other pictures

2011-12-02T20:43:00.001-08:00

I hope this doesn't get boring for you, but I'm on a roll here... I just love taking the little camera out for a spin in the subway... It allows me to do what I love to best: Look at people and show their humanity... Of course I still have not completely resolved if it's ethically OK to take portraits without people knowing... I hope that I add something by doing this... I hope so at least... A friend told me today about the German photographer Heinrich Riebesehl (1939-2010) and his series "Menschen im Aufzug" (People in in a lift)... What a lovely series shot using a hidden camera... You can check it out here: "People in a lift"
The first one is my first one of musicians & performers on the train... It happens quite often, but I've never been able to get good shots of it before... Quite happy with this one... Some weeks ago a performer came into the car and said "Got bad news: I gotta play!" He got a good laugh out of the people there...
The other situation that I want to catch are subway preachers... I mean I'm quite impressed by the kind of conviction that allows you to go out there and basically try to show the world that they are wrong, living in sin and only your way can save them...

I wonder how long their shifts are... Ringing that bell for hours must be quite tiring!

Love this art work... Must go back and try to get a good shot of every one of the signs...

A little further in...

More performers... Gathering actually quite a crowd...

Actually love the juxtaposition of the beautiful woman exiting the train with style and the man in the back just plainly staring at camera...

Man withe red bags.

Always the exciting moment when trying to squeeze into a packed train... Especially coming in late and being by the door... A lot more relaxing when the door is finally closed and the train starts to move...

I think he figured me out after this one... I'm so glad I managed to get this one though!

Love the scarf!

With a lot of people I see on the subway I'm really impressed by the way they carry themselves... He is just there.

Waiting and not...

2011-12-01T20:15:00.001-08:00

Today's post is the result of three extended "trips"... I sometimes have trouble figuring out how to organize my entries once there are images from more than one date... I guess I need some kind of order... I'm German after all! ;) So, what is this post about, other than "people in the subway"?

I think I'm trying to get closer to what it is that people do in the subway system... Waiting, passing time, sleeping and of course traveling from A to B... This is as well about my path: Trying to figure out how to portray my subjects in this very impersonal space in a personal way... Again: If you find yourself in one of the images, please drop me a line and I'll send you a print!

Tired.

Hungry.

Still tired.

Stylish.

Shades are cool.

Contemplating...

He reminds me of someone... Mmmh...

I love how people dress in NYC... Always fun to look at!

He reminds me of Morrissey...

Subway as shared space for traveling and sleeping...

Man browsing magazine covers...

Great hair cut!

Here too! :D

Love when this happens: The signage makes the picture!

Have I already said that shades are cool?

Waiting! Again!

Grumpy? Suspicious?

Love this! "My" entrance at 127 Street...

Creating privacy through closed eyes and music... (Maybe even noise cancelling head phones?)

I had plenty of good frames to chose from... But this is my favorite... Didn't seem to be too successful to make money right then... He packed up very soon after...

I hope this one doesn't need any explanation.

Running to catch the S(huttle) to Grand Central... (Successfully!)

Stuffed train, ready to go...

Not quite Tokyo's people pusher, but still! ;)

Rush hour is great: People stacked very deep, lots of stuff to shoot!!!

I literally followed this older man around to take his picture... Then lost him before I could get any closer... Still like it... The distance tells a story too...

Love how the incoming train tugs on her hair...

Thankful and colorful...

2011-11-24T15:57:00.001-08:00

Colorful opposed to black and white that is... Just to make sure that there is no misunderstanding! In any case today I took another trip on the subway, trying to get more images for my project... And when I got home I decided to try to process them in color... Not that I didn't like the contrasty black and white look of my last post... But I wanted to find out if I can do this in color as well to match my non people subway images... I like the opening image... I'm cranky today as I had loads of sugar last night and am still pretty tense... So this image puts me at ease... Relaxes me... I think I want to listen to this guy's story... He seems happy and content!

I missed the point when this passenger actually made his lighter work... He spent the next five minutes trying to fix it... Maybe more... But I got off the car by then... ;)

Walk by shot... Didn't actually see the dog until it was too late, but luckily I had the shot already...

Guy with great hair carrying a big box... Maybe a cake? Yummy!

This is at Times Square... It was actually quite busy there today... I was pleasantly surprised... In this image I like that the guy created this calm spot in this super crazy environment just by submersing himself into a paper...

Love this: The lines, the arrow, the styling and the profile...

They were so cute together! Young love! ;)

He reminds me of a Danish photographer I know... But I doubt he would wear shades in the subway...

They noticed me... But they didn't mind... Me neither!

Shades again!

Reminds me of another friend of mine... But with more spiky hair (More belongs to spiky here!)

Love the way she looks up above me?

More people interacting with smart phones...

After this one I was happy to return home... This might be my favorite of the day!

People in the subway keeping me distracted...

2011-11-23T22:21:00.001-08:00

I was trying to figure out how to approach the people part in my subway series... This is a test with a smaller camera... Not really in the mood to write at the moment but working on the images helped as a welcome distraction... So far I think that I like where this is going, but I most likely should get a longer lens as I feel I could be closer to my subjects... In general I like the grittiness of the black and white, as skin tones in that light are kind of tough... Don't know though if that is not an easy way out... I guess I have to just keep at it...

After having gone through the images again I'm actually quite happy with the new images... This was a 4-extended-trip post and I feel that this is a good start... Next: Longer lens and more rush hours or rainy days... More extreme weather tends to show in peoples' faces...

And here's an offer: If you find yourself in one of these images and would like a print, please leave a comment or send me an email...

I love to look at people in the subway... Of course then the idea was: How to capture what I see? But always felt I was facing a dilemma: Either approach them and have them behave not "real" or just take their picture which was tough with a "normal" camera... With a smaller camera the second option becomes more viable... But still contemplating if it's morally ok to do so... I just loved this guy in his suit... So formally dressed... But not at rush hour or so... The stories one could make up...

A couple sightseeing... Maybe exhaustion taking over...

Older couple apparently in love getting looks from woman passing by...

Girls boarding the train... Hard to catch the crowds on the subway as most views get blocked...

This feels more akin to the non people images... In this case, to fit into this post, I made it black and white... Might use it in color later...

Can't say why I like the image... Guy on the left obviously makes the shot...

I think smart phones are great... As are books and iPods... Gives me more room to play... Although... Who really wants to see the 25th pic of someone on a phone?

Love the depth... And the bag makes me curious about her...

I had pix with her face unobstructed, but this one is clearly stronger!

So moved by this image... Could have been closer... But I actually like the sense of space and abandonment here...

Love it!

Sometimes I like to figure out what is happening in the picture... Do they know each other? Where are they going?

Love this!

Mmmh...

MTA employee...

Man on smart phone... Love the not perfect symmetry...

Man listening intently to subway musician at Times Square...

Note to self... Autofocus is not quick enough to pick someone up who is walking by that closely... As well there is going to be motion involved in this scenario... I still like the image... She looks confident and content...

I had seen this guys face on the platform and had to take his picture...

Love the different layers here...

I love when the images have depth... Of course as one cannot control the environment in a situation like this one can only shoot more images... And hope for the best...

I was on the to picking up some equipment I had left behind... Not quite as big a bag as this one, but I was already dreading schlepping it home... I guess I was not the only person who didn't like schlepping big bags...

This morning... This has an almost timeless feel to it... Don't know why... Still like it!

Actor, Firefighter, Muslim... Superman!

2011-11-15T19:54:00.000-08:00

This entry is about a shoot I did for the 9-11 issue of the German weekly newspaper Die Zeit: A portrait of Muslim firefighter and actor Hisham Tawfiq... He was interviewed about 9-11, being a firefighter on that day, being a Muslim in the US since and so on... Originally our shoot was scheduled very short notice for that evening... But he was tough to get a hold of for me... So I almost had him down as "one of those subjects"... But it turned out that he was actually filming that day and they were running late but not giving out info as freely as one would have hoped for... In any case we decided to shoot the next morning and meet at his station at 7am instead... We got great images (I think!) and I really enjoyed our conversations... Hisham turned out to be really down to earth and a great guy to work with...
I even got invited for a tour of the station later that night... What's not to like? ;)
Maybe I should explain the title of this entry some more: As I was learning more and more about Hisham through our conversations I became more and more impressed by his story: Living in the Middle East, becoming a Marine, working as a corrections officer then firefighter... And finally breaking into acting... Wow, that truly sounds like a lot of hard work! Good luck making it!

Trying to capture some of a typical New York City feeling...

Love this one... Looks to me like a poster for an action movie!

Sitting on the stoop of an abandoned building in Harlem actually very close by where I live...

Close up time... Same location...

A dog, another dog!

2011-11-09T12:31:00.000-08:00

This is another image from the trip to the Baltic Sea... A shot of the young hovawart puppy Atos... My dad's new dog... Really neat when he doesn't try to grab your hand with his teeth... ;)
Anyway, I tried to take his portrait numerous times... But he still has tons of energy, always moving around... So I got him here in the trunk of the car... Really like his attentive look...

I was actually quite surprised how much of the clouds were reflected in here... I don't remember noticing that when shooting... I guess I got lucky again! ;)

Back from the Baltic Sea...

2011-10-11T12:49:00.000-07:00

I'm back now from a trip to Germany and getting used to being in the city again... Part of this trip I spent at the Baltic Sea... Interesting experience to have the next public internet connection a 20 minute drive away... It really slows you down... ;) But it's beautiful there!

I'm usually not one for unicorns and rainbows and such... But this was just too pretty not to shoot and show...

Close to the the smallest town in Germany, Arnis, if I recall correctly...

Pier and harbor stuff...

More pier and harbor stuff...

Landscape...

More landscape... I love how you can see nature adapting to the strong winds...

Even more landscape...

Lot's of landscape...

Reminded me of the similar ugly buildings on top of a mountain close to Aspen... Don't really know why this spoke to me... Most likely because it looks lonely & solitary...

Traffic sign for giants! Most likely not! :P

Apologies!!! And an image!

2011-08-29T20:00:00.000-07:00

First off: Thank you to those who have expressed that they want to see new installments here! It really helps to get feedback like that when contemplating of posting images or not... Luckily I have been busy with assignments recently and will hopefully be able to post some of those images soon... Here is one image of an assignment I did last week... I was invited to Atlanta and met Sherlock there... A small dog with a big personality and loads of talents! I don't think my recollections will do him justice, so I will wait for his mum to chime in if she wants to...

PS: I somehow forgot the apology: Sorry for not posting more recently! I'll try to improve the frequency of my posts!

I really like this image of Sherlock. He looks very smart and alert especially considering his age...
He definitely made me change my mind about small dogs! This image was originally taken to show Sherlock in relationship to his mum, that's why I actually like him partly obscuring her leg as if to guard her... Thank you both for opening up and sharing your life with me!

Busy summer...

2011-07-27T05:54:00.000-07:00

As it was so super hot in the city in the last weeks and I was luckily quite busy with other things I have not been in the subway to continue my project in a while... I have one more big installment that I shot some time ago... Will post that soon too... But for now two images that have not much in common other than that I shot them at night in the city...

I shot this one last night... View from our bedroom into the night sky... I was actually ready to go to bed when I saw the clouds and decided to capture the moment... Of course it took longer than I thought it would... (I wanted to light up the room ever so slightly and the red velvet curtain a lot...) Has a weird, kind of poetic feel to it... Couldn't really tell that it was shot in the middle of the night...

Walking to the subway after a late shoot I finally checked out the High Line that has been open for the public for a while now... I love the overall tone... And then the people in the front breaking out of that palette...

Elmo in action!

2011-07-13T17:30:00.000-07:00

I'm running around in the city quite a lot these days... Most of the times I even had my big camera with me... But not a lot of good stuff happened then... The good stuff happened when I only had my iPhone with me... This is all in New York close to the ICP... One day I saw Elmo running around posing with people asking for tips... I thought that was some kind of PR stunt... Today I went to that area again and coming out of the subway I saw Elmo only half dressed taking a break... Surreal! Taken with my iPhone, then messed around with in the iPhone and then final adjustments in Photoshop.

Sunday eve's double portrait

2011-06-28T07:55:00.000-07:00

I took today's image on Sunday after having dinner with friends...
Dan and Sarah showed us their Aspen... The light in the restaurant was beautiful and I asked if I could take their picture... This frame is my favorite... It happened when they stopped paying attention to me... I love how it shows their relationship as newlyweds!

Stars, lots of stars...

2011-06-26T21:24:00.001-07:00

Relaxing in and around Aspen was fun this weekend... Photographer Dan Bayer and his lovely wife Sarah took us up to Independence Pass to star gaze... And he was super generous regarding tips on how to capture them as well... I don't think I have seen quite as many stars before... It was cold but a fabulous experience! Thank you!

It was of course pitch black up there, but I used my new LED light on a stand to light up some of the details like this sign here... On super minimal setting of course...

Weather station at Independence Pass.

Glow of a town on the right side and in the middle a car coming up the road...

Restrooms. Profane, I know, but I just loved the symmetry and had to capture this.

Summery Aspen and me!

2011-06-25T07:54:00.000-07:00

Today's post is about my stay in Aspen. Not too much to write... Figuring out what precisely moves me about this place... And of course trying to avoid creating images that are too touristy or "pretty"... And that's not easy as I don't really know the place yet and it is really beautiful here!

On top of Aspen Montain.

Just outside Aspen Airport last Sunday... My plane was the last one coming in that afternoon... Tornado warning in Denver...

Clouds around Aspen.

More clouds around Aspen.

Same!

Writer Assaf Gavron with snow and trees.

Taking the last gondola down...

Final image so far... But there are a few days left here...

Fur ball attack!

2011-06-13T11:27:00.000-07:00

On my recent trip to 242 St - Van Cortland Park station I was approached by a younger guy while I was taking pictures of the station... "Do you want to take a really good picture??", he asked... Usually I'm quite skeptical of these kind of offers... I - of course - know what makes a good image, don't I? But one of the things that I learned doing this series is to be more open and fluid enough to check out what presents itself, since things cannot really be planned here...
It turned out that he was a park ranger who was taking a 6 week old squirrel to the animal rescue station... Apparently it had been abandoned by its parents or at least been found and presumed to be abandoned by park visitors... He showed me this cute fur ball and I have to admit: It made a good shot after all! ;)

The ranger told me that this young one would need about six more weeks in care before being able to fend for itself....

Love how it's just rolled into a furry ball... Feet hiding part of the face...

Beyond the sun and the moon

2011-06-09T20:35:00.000-07:00

I hadn't fully thought through that today was going to be super hot... I was just so happy to be well enough to continue with the subway series... I decided to make my way to the other end of the 3 train: New Lots station... Although I have to report there aren't going to be images from that station... As with most outdoor stations there wasn't much that I wanted to capture... But at least I was there! ;)

I shot this actually on my way back... (I have a tough time figuring out how to structure my posts here... My instincts tell me to go in the sequence I shot the images, but that usually doesn't give me the best flow...) This is at Crown Heights - Utica Ave station... I couldn't quite figure out what was happening as there were numerous images of the moon and the sun in that station... It is part of the piece "Good Morning and Good Night, 2004" by Hugo Consuegra. So this sun is greeting the travelers on the way to the trains... Manhattan bound platforms have suns as well...

I guess the artist took the normal work day of commuters in Brooklyn as inspiration...
Rise early with the sun to travel to Manhattan and return to Brooklyn as the day closes...

I like how the shape of the sun is repeated in the flowers...

Just before exiting the station... Moon is sleepy!

Aliens! And moon concerned!

The cow that jumped over the moon... Almost!

Lovely to see this old style grate preserved in this renovation... I actually have to say that I really like the job the MTA did on this station! I like the playful art and the vivid yellow!

Signal at that station...

Rockaway Ave station... I like the building shapes lined up next to the tracks...

Borough Hall station... Lovely how the tile is fitted right into the curved wall... Wow!

Outside same station... Nothing is hinting at the beauty of the station decals below...

Hoped to find more of those lovely (or strange) tiles when I got off my train, but at least got this shot...

Only a few feet from the shot above... That always throws me off... I can never figure out how this is determined: "OK, we'll just tile to right there and leave the other stuff for the rest of that station??" Really?

I actually got off the train when I saw this... Don't know if this happens often at this station (14 St station, 1, 2, 3 line) but it was the first time for me to see this: Sunlight coming through the air shafts... I always had sunlight and underground stations separated into different worlds in my mind... Mmmh...

More sunlight!

The end! Detail of sunlight in underground station...

Under Construction

2011-05-26T08:08:00.001-07:00

Yesterday's trip was traveling into the past... Starting from a station that I used to travel to on a very regular basis: 14 St station on the F (and now M) line. The MTA seems to be true to their slogan about improving the system: There sure is a lot of construction going on...

I bet a lot of New Yorkers know this sign... Not to be ignored! I once ruined a perfectly fine jacket because I didn't see the sign as it was taped to the reverse side of the column I had chosen to rest against... :P

One of the entrances to that station. Honestly I had never fully realized how ugly it is... But I guess it is in a "so ugly it's interesting" kind of way...

Underground again.

A bump in the wall? No problem, let's just tile around it! ;)

I love when people interact with ads and posters...

Signal detail...

I don't know, but I guess I'm deeply fascinated by the weird shapes walls can have... And how neatly tiled up it can be...

On my way to another old home station... Changing trains at Broadway - Lafayette station...

A few days before I had managed to take a great iPhone image of this station... So I wanted to go back there trying to replicate or improve on that to document the changes being made... And if the shape of renovations done to many outdoor stations in Brooklyn are any indication of what is to come I really have to conserve what was here...

It feels that outdoor stations seem to be harder to keep in shape due to the more direct weather influence...

Love the mirrors! I didn't get the shot of that impressive 3 escalator bank though... All of them were working... I guess I have to recheck as I need the middle one out of order for my intended shot to work... That shouldn't take too long in my experience though... Escalators in the city don't seem to be too sturdy for some reason...

Real signs of construction.

Love, love this!

What's not to like: Rusted steel and a cloudy sky!
Well, I remember the roof was super leaky...

Playing with shapes...

Still Smith - 9 St...

I hardly ever exited at this station... It's under construction now as well, but it must have been beautiful when it was originally built... This metal arc is great... Unfortunately there was no way to show the complete shape...

Second part of arc...

Underpass at 4 Ave station (F & G line): Looks almost like a hospital to me...

Not too fond of the brick color, but love the curved beam!

Arriving at 7 Ave station.

Construction here as well... I saw several people hesitate before entering this quite narrow hallway... Understandably so!

Symmetry is to be found in the strangest places!

Here as well! Apparently it was just the end of the school day... Had to wait quite a while to get this one...

End of trip... Well not really, but end of the photo taking part of the trip! ;)

The image that was not.

2011-05-23T21:15:00.000-07:00

I went out today to find people in the subway to take pictures of... But you can see in today's post there are no people images... That is one thing about this series... One cannot really predict what is going to happen...

I started at Columbus Circle station. Always was fascinated by circles...

No wonder people have a hard time figuring out where to go!

I had shot this before... Now with green leaves... Will most likely be back in autumn! ;)

This series was taken at the 57 St station (F line). This is to me a pretty plain, almost European looking station at least above the platform level...

Imagine a potentially homeless person just standing there... Close to the wall... Dressed completely in (faded) black... What an image! So strong! So sad! But understandably my photo request was denied... But at least I asked!

More exploring the station...

North corner of station.

Downstairs at same station... Interrogation room mirrors!

Upstairs at same station...

I think this is 50 St station (C, E line). I like the emptiness of this set up!

As I was still walking around contemplating how to continue I came across open steam pipes...
Love those... So photogenic... Almost like smoke used to be in bars... Or a gigantic fog machine...

On the same block... Love how the reflections and the steam open up the rigid structure of the beautiful building details...

Rock stars of the subway!

2011-05-13T09:48:00.000-07:00

When I was changing trains at Times Square station I had the pleasure to see Heth and Jed perform... Wow! They are really good, they rock! Incredible for a performance in the subway! They even have a tour page going noting where they will perform next... I'm actually considering to see them again on purpose! To get an idea of what their music is like just check out their page as it has some music streaming... Sorry, if this sounds all fan boyish, but seeing them was really exciting!!!

Liked the set up at Times Square station...

Jed in the rare moment actually looking up and interacting with a member of the audience...

Heth doing his thing with audience... What was so special about this "gig" was that people actually stayed to listen... I usually experience people passing by or paying attention when waiting for the train... But this was different! According to their website stream people are actually seeking out their location to hear them play...

A strange name for great dog

2011-05-10T23:17:00.000-07:00

Here are my images from a recent assignment for the German magazine Junger Soldat (I would love to give you a link, but they don't really have a website). In Salem we met with Geoff Ames (a veteran with PTSD) and his service dog Oprah. The dog was trained and provided to him by Puppies Behind Bars. Apparently Oprah Winfrey is supporting the cause and so the dog was named after her... Asides from this slightly strange naming practice it was an honor to invited into Mr. Ames and witness his story. Although Oprah is a service dog, she was still a lab and a young one at that...

We took a walk through their neighborhood. Love the colors. And the sense of abandonment.

Oprah is ready for her close up! Next image: Her service manual.

Oprah looking attentive while guarding Goeff. A drawer full of meds...

Here you can see that Oprah is still quite young... Details and Geoff's close up.

I liked doing this story although it was a more complex setup... But seeing the two together and how that makes a difference for both of them was really rewarding!

Unusual subject: Ground Zero vigil

2011-05-02T11:17:00.000-07:00

When the news filtered through that there was going to be a candle light vigil at Ground Zero I made sure that I got there a soon as possible... I usually don't do breaking news coverage, but I just had been asked to potentially do a story about Ground Zero on Friday, so I thought it was a good way of easing into the topic...

For me the most iconic image of the series...

One of only two people that actually brought candles... (At least from what I saw!)

Crowd facing Ground Zero.

Kids on phone booth.

Other person with candle...

People rotated on that phone booth as they were advised to get off it, that nobody got hurt...

Tailgate performance...

Girl(s) gone wild, Ground Zero Edition! ;)

View south...

Party people!

Interesting choice of wardrobe!

Soldier in uniform joins the festivities...

Capitalism at its best!

Finally: People and the subway!

2011-04-29T21:29:00.000-07:00

What could be more exciting? I was taking a break from this series as I was sick and needed to change things up... I see this project as a portrait of New York City subway, but so far most of the images have been without people in them... But of course what is the subway for if not to transport people... Looking at a lot of street photography recently I thought about going more into that direction... But trying to find people, convince them to let me take their picture and then have them be relaxed enough again to get natural looking images was a challenge that I felt not ready for... Just shoot and run is not really my style either... Then a friend offered to pose for me in the subway... This started a whole new line of possibilities...

Mona Eltahawy kindly allowed me to take her portrait while riding the subway...
The tough part for me is to show enough of the surrounding at least at this stage of the project...
I love this image... There is such a depth in her view...

Next up was my friend Gustavo Marx, a fellow photographer whose work I deeply admire... Returning from a photo gathering I waited with them for their local downtown train to arrive at 125 St station when he offered to pose for me... Luckily I had my camera with me... I like how the alertness is showing, but not in a negative way...

I did it!!!

2011-03-31T15:19:00.002-07:00

Yes! I got the second super landmark into my subway series: The Brooklyn Bridge! I think I can stop now! ;)
Just kidding! The station is called Brooklyn Bridge station, but it's actually still quite a walk to get to the actual bridge... So I might try it with a longer lens to compress the distance some more, but so far I'm quite happy with what I got... It's subtle and not too obvious, I think...

Brooklyn Bridge: Out of focus and tiny! ;)

I was walking around and found the vicinity maps inside the stations actually of great help... Made it easier to track down the various entrances and exits to this station... Federal building in the background while waiting for the lights to turn on... Like that it's not lit yet in this shot though... The lack of color makes it easier to focus on the texture...

A more Anton Corbijn approach! ;)

Pace University in the background here looks like an evil fortress...

Towards the Municipal Building at 1 Centre St...

More close up...

From a different entrance... What a building! So solid. So imposing. Wow!

And this is a subway entrance of 1 Centre St. No wonder it reminds me of images I have seen of the closed platforms at City Hall station... Felt even more monumental in real life... Mmmh... Might have to revisit this to capture more of that feel...

Brooklyn Bridge station ID older style... (I have seen an even older style in images that have an eagle hugging the double B, looking forward to finding that someday...)

New style ID... So shiny... I can almost see myself reflected here!

One of the many court buildings in the background here...

Same... Like the forms... Like a glove waiting to catch the globe...

Thanks to Wikipedia I now know that this plaque shows the first building of Kings College (later Columbia University) , which was located around the corner on Park Place... Taken at the Chambers St station (2, 3 line)...

One more signal: This time at Chambers St.

Looking down onto the tracks... At Columbus Circle St... On my way home after picking up groceries...

Still in New York, I swear!!!

2011-03-29T21:38:00.001-07:00

I woke up in a grumpy mood today. Don't really know why... I guess it particularly frustrated me as I was in a great mood for last few days and had hoped that this would somehow last longer... I had shot in in the last few days but couldn't figure out a common theme... I still can't but decided to post some images anyway... I'm going to start with the two images I liked from today's trip...

I'm always fascinated by signs that I can't read. And thankful that I don't need to rely on that particular info. This is at the Grand St. station (B, D line). I sometimes ask myself if this series makes any sense... I mean I like doing it and following to where it leads me, but does it add anything... Mmmh... Maybe that's just moody me thinking!

There are some inbuilt station entrances in the city... Not all are pretty or easy to shoot... I like this one!

This is now from the end of last week... I like the entrance... It somehow looks crooked... Still like it though!

Walking along 57 St...

Other entrance of same station...

Carnegie Hall in the background... Not that easy to shoot as it is one of those buildings that are covered by scaffolding for practically ever! I don't understand how this works in this city... Shops must seriously be in trouble if this happens to them as they almost become invisible...

A new (to me) style of station indicator lamp... Seems not to be that sturdy... Most of the ones at that station were damaged. (The plexi had detached from the metal.)

My timing was not that great... Tons of people waiting to get into the venue to see one of the three sold out Furthur shows...

Still wanted to shoot this then as I'm not in this neighborhood at this time of day that often...

Further down the street...

Closer to Time Square... Display screens lighting up the building in the back...

On my way back home... Lovely 59 St station... Almost there!

After enjoying the image of the 96 St signal immensely I wanted to see what other stations have cool signal setups as well... Finally I found a good use for central-platform stations! ;)

O is for... This is from Sunday morning... Not very early, but at least early enough as I wanted to visit the Time Square area...

Office...

In front of the Playwright Tavern...

People... In Time Square... But it definitely shows that I was there early...

I walked further south to 34 St and made my way back from there... Another one for the signal series...

Another signal setup at 34 St.

Signal at 125 St (A, B, C, D line)

And finally the last signal of this post... Stop!

Beavers and blue skies

2011-03-23T16:03:00.000-07:00

To counterbalance another gray day I decided to post images of my Sunday trip... When I showed one of my aikido teachers my project she told me about the 8 St - Astor Place station and that she was especially fond of some of the tile work there: An image of a beaver... I was happy to go and check it out as I don't use that station much... I'd rather take the 8 St. stop on the N, R line since it is so close by... (By the way, I can never really figure out what the difference between the N and R is... Almost like the 1 and 9 in the old days...) Anyway, it was a great sunny morning with blue skies... A little cold, but pretty... I usually prefer more subdued light when working as I can bring up the contrast later if I want to... But I guess that's what this project is about: Adapting to different circumstances...

Sunday mornings are great for taking pictures in the streets of New York... Although the city apparantly never sleeps, it is definitely quite slow early on Sundays... But since the trains are scheduled not as frequently people tend to get stuck inside the stations longer... So note to self: Getting up early on Sundays is good for this project when the weather is right! Above image is from the entrance to Astor Place station.

Another detail from the same entrance.

I haven't seen an entrance quite like this before... The iron work (scales? feathers?) on the roof I have encountered before though... In gray at the Wall St station (4, 5 line) and in black at the Borough Hall station in Brooklyn... Beautiful!

Scale structure against window structure...

A friendly person pointed to the mirrored building and remarked that it would make a great shot with it reflecting the older buildings around... At first I was not convinced as I didn't see how to connect it to the subway... I guess I came around after all! Thank you, kind person!

The red K is in the back! Not sure if the composition is really working, but decided to post it anyway... This project is a work in progress, the images and the selections are not really finalized yet...

Shapes and color...

I sometimes hesitate to use this kind of image as I learned in my formal training that this is not the official way of shooting architecture! Things should be straight! And not at weird angles... But sometimes I find that straight angles don't quite give me the content I want and I try to embrace this more photo journalistic look...

The famed beaver! Lovely indeed!

And finally some more modern art... By this time the day had progressed too far to shoot inside in peace and I headed home...

The only one

2011-03-21T21:08:00.000-07:00

I don't know... Today was somehow a crappy day... The heating stopped working in our building and I know it's supposed to be spring now, but the weather doesn't seem to know that yet! As well it was rainy and gray... And I'm trying to change my nutrition and the first days of that are usually not fun... Nevertheless I went out to take some pictures... This is the only one which made it through my selection process... Most of the others will need to be reshot or best forgotten! :P With this one I'm quite happy though... (Maybe if in a better mood I'd be ecstatic, who knows!)

Signal at 96 St station (1, 2, 3 lines).

Going in circles... (mainly in Brooklyn)

2011-03-17T01:36:00.000-07:00

In today's post I'm going to show images from yesterday's trip... Originally I wanted to go to Delancey St station... From my time living in Brooklyn I still recalled the station being quite dark and grimy... Somehow I decided to stay on the A train that I happened to catch at 125 St all the way to Jay St... I know it was not the quickest route, but I wanted to check out what changed in that station since it was renamed Jay St - Metro Tech (and had the R line added). I have to say, it used to be a mess in the past, but the renovation looks so perfect that I felt its soul had been ripped out... Maybe I'll just have to give it a few years... ;)

The R line part of Jay St - Metro Tech station... Hadn't seen a station with black walls yet...

Yet another mirror design...

Fabulous building at Jay St station exit...

Close up of globe light in front of same building...

Across the street from the beautiful building before...

Closeup of globe with statue...

Globe in front of a store called "Destiny"... Are globes my destiny?

Still exit of Jay St station...

I find that area of Brooklyn quite confusing... I love the buildings, but have a hard time navigating down there... (hence the title for this post)

This area at Jay St has been under construction for a long time now...
Can't really recall these lamps from earlier visits, but they are different and I like that!

Beautiful iron work outside Borough Hall station... Light was not ideal for more shots... Have to go back!

Wow! Isn't this something? I'm really impressed by that station ID!

Not quite sure what this is about... Entrance to Borough Hall station...

From Borough Hall station I walked to High St station hoping I'd catch a good view onto Brooklyn Bridge... But nope, that's a no go! Still happy I went: Love this shot!

I walked by the Clark St station which is set up in the same building as the defunct Hotel St. George... Crazy layout! Need to look into ways of making that look good... So I walked some more to Court St station where I found this lovely setup of pre-globe lanterns and a back lit church...

Other side of the street... So much detail in that building!

Same building...

Downstairs...

Back to Borough Hall station... Quite a different feel this time around...

Newer (rare) style of partition... Fits well with the box light though!

Inside station ID.

Getting closer to the station that I had originally wanted to check out... East Broadway station... Still looks somewhat run down... Lovely!

Had to wait for a while to get a clear shot... Am very happy with this one!

Chinatown is calling...

Different exit, same station...

Full on back light at Delancey St station: I finally made it to my original destination!

Looking west...

Essex St part of the station: J, M, Z lines...

Station ID.

I was quite shocked to see this station being transformed with brighter lights and lots of art work... Not quite what I had come for...

Interesting guard for the stairs!

More fish!

And here: Uptown fruit... Mmh!

The last shot of that trip... Generous D for Delancey St... With F train arriving...

Fabulous Uptown!

2011-03-15T16:39:00.001-07:00

Back to regular programming: More subway images! ;) This is a collection of my trips on Friday and Monday... I'll start with Monday's images: I made my way slowly up the C line...

As I said: It was Monday... Interesting mix of modern LED interfaces and run down ceiling paint... Love the texture!

Rust at 155 St.

More rust...

I guess advertising isn't selling too well uptown these days...

More ceiling texture...

I'm always really happy when I happen on those weird combos... In this case: Grates, station ID and a weird ad that works smoothly in the square format!

Only the 3 left, 1 & 6 gone...

Bench & station decal setup... Love the shadows on the ceiling...

Regards from Wall-E!

Serene corridor into the light!

No ads here either.

Quarter mirror...

Outside of 168 St station (A, C, 1 lines): Green globe in front of New York Presbyterian Hospital...

Another building of same hospital...

Other exit, same hospital...

Variation of above...

Fabulous part of 168 St station (1 line): Only accessible by elevator... Didn't want to check it out at first as I do not like the elevator setup in subways that much... Glad I did though!

Newer part of the 1 line platforms... Definitely brighter than the older parts...

Newer style wall decal and design...

This felt like stepping out of a time machine...

Detail of above...

Flower detail...

Another flower detail...

Row of globes used in the older part of the station... Combined with newer light mounted a little higher up... Must have been really dark before that!

View from the bridge from one track to another... Lighting was super contrasty...

This seems to be my most challenging shot... 127 St entrance of 125 St station (A, B, C, D lines)...
This is good, but the shot in my head is still better... The ideal image would be a little earlier in the day with a more detailed sky! I will keep trying!!!

These shots are all from last Friday... At same location as above... Maybe former store location?

59 St - Columbus Circle station (A, B, C, D, 1 lines), Central Park West entrance... Love that lantern!

Same station different entrance... Trump hotel...

Globes, same station different exit...

Old style meets new style architecture...

Me at the United Nations!

2011-03-14T22:14:00.000-07:00

I just returned from an event at the United Nations... What an interesting location! Lovely to be there! Here are my impressions taken with my iPhone:

UN logo... Actually taken on the way out, but I thought the logo would make a good opener for the story... (Reversed, because shot from the inside!)

That's what brought me there: US premiere of Julian Schnabel's movie Miral.
I really cannot see what was so controversial about it... Thought it could have been shorter, but had a good time watching it and after...

Great architecture of the general assembly hall...

Ceiling... Love the detail and shapes! (Interestingly enough it even came out prettier than in real life!)

Wall...

Look who was there too: Fabulous writer & public speaker Mona Eltahawy.

Divided ear pieces... Usual status quo in these halls?

We could be friends!

Testing: 1, 2...

Yes, no, maybe?

Pump up the volume!

Good, old Philips design! Love!

Seats in retro design... Or vintage?

Fancy blue seats!

Multi colored seats...

Phone booths and out...

Brooklyn, baby!

2011-03-10T16:16:00.000-08:00

A Facebook friend mentioned that I had not covered her home station yet, so I felt inspired to take the trip to the Flatbush Ave - Brooklyn College station, endpoint of the 2, 5 lines... And I really enjoyed my trip! So, I'd be happy to take more requests! ;)

This was not in Brooklyn though... This is the 127 St entrance to the 125 St station (A, B, C, D lines). I could have shot this almost everywhere but I went there to get another shot and almost succeeded... Love the detail on this one though!

M for museum...

Interesting that they picked the "M" for museum as the station ID.

Flatbush Av detail... Amazing detail!

Same plate, more close up!

Station decal...

Looks old style, but is as above (and below) part Muriel Castanis'
"Flatbush Floogies" (1996)...

Lovely texture and colors! The air shafts seem to be in part responsible for this...

Detail of art piece...

Other side of the piece... No faces!

And another detail!

Exit from one into two stairways...

Making my way back to the island... Some stations have this style tile still left in some of the more remote parts of their layout...

N is for Newkirk Ave station (2, 5 lines).

Maybe this is part of said new church?

Usual layout. Not that common though in the more outer stations of the network as the stations seem to be more narrow there...

Two sticky stripes! Orange and yellow!

A toilet or restroom or whatever you want to call it... Unfortunately closed at this station... There was a usable one though at Flatbush Ave...

Beverly Road sounds fancy, doesn't it? I mean the Beverly part at least! ;)

B for Brooklyn! Err, no: Beverly!

Original mosaic was destroyed (would be my guess) and replaced by random other mosaic?

B, B and exit...

Outside that station... Not too fancy here!

Old style bench? Have not seen this before! I have been told that the recent style benches were designed to prevent people from sleeping on them, this style has more space between the dividers...

Stairs! Really? I mean I'm a big fan of good signage and icons, but putting a stair icon on the stairs themselves?

Spherical mirror, type 2: Seems more efficient but less sturdy, usually only installed in locations that are more prominent and under supervision...

C - hurch Av: Quite fancy tile work under station ID!

Fancy yellow stripe and additional green tile...

LED exit sign...

Old bank building... Lovely, but unfortunate use of signage!
I guess this is the other extreme that warrants exceptions to the subway theme... Really pretty or really NOT!

Winthrop St station...

Old meets new...

I like the mosaic exit signs!

Double stairwell on Brooklyn bound side... Unusual!

Sterling St station... Bench neatly mounted between doors...

Sterling St station...

Formerly white tiles at Sterling St...

Was trying to get a "stairway up" shot like this for a while now... This time the layout worked... Sometimes the setup is just too narrow or just not interesting at all...

Generous exit!

President St station: Usually I find middle platform stations not as interesting as the design and decoration tend to be more simple... I like this though!

Looking up at fire escapes...

I guess I'm a sucker for not straight layouts... I guess the irregularity makes me pay more attention somehow...

Still at President St station...

Botanic Garden station (S line)... Too many people for any other shots at that station this time... Need to revisit at some point...

Outside the Franklin Ave - Botanic Garden stop... Big station with really interesting outside settings...

Another one at said station... Need to revisit as well!

I love this! And this is part of the recently renovated Atlantic Ave station (actually combined with the Pacific St station it is enormous: B, D, N, Q, R, 2, 3, 4, 5 lines and access to the LIRR).
So I just stopped by very quickly as there were tons of people traveling at that time...

Mosaic detail at Atlantic Ave station: Wow! Remembering the mood of that station before the renovation rose and flowers would have not come up, that is for sure!

On the same platform. Weird combo of old and new style... Not too sure about this one...

Last station in Brooklyn before packing up...
Clark St station on the 2, 3 lines... This is a very curved tunnel and it's very unevenly lit...
Even with today's technical advancements hard to shoot hand held... Love the detail though... Was tough to see in person but quite stunning actually...

Sticky stripes orange and yellow, part 2: This time though on newer style floor tiles... This seems to fit to the 70s tile style that's still left over in some stations...

On my way home I saw a great guy on the train... Wiry, older man... Coming home from work... Carrying a worn out leather case on his knees... Hands stained... Worn out and somewhat grumpy, tired looking... I would have loved to photograph him... He actually got off at my station, but I didn't have the heart to ask him then... I didn't want to bother him... Maybe I will meet him again... He would have been the perfect subject to start the portrait part of this series...

Down, down, down on the 6

2011-03-08T13:25:00.000-08:00

OK, not all the way down... Only from 116 to 68 St... I skipped 125 St station (4, 5, 6 lines) as it was already too dark for outside shots and inside it was still crazy... I don't use that station too often as it's the longest walk from our place and most locations I go to are more on the west side of Manhattan... But when I use that station I'm always surprised how busy it is! and it seems to be pretty thoroughly renovated as well... Need to look more into that station at some point though! I didn't shoot too much outside either as it was already pretty dark, but will revisit some stations in that area...

Actually not too much to say about this one.

I don't know: I like the crispness of this design... I mean some of the older, almost baroque, 3D signs are lovely too, but each style holds its special charm for me...

Amazing wall detail just outside 110 St station!

Station decal...

Love how the "70s" tiles frame the older (looking) details... As well: Note the not white tiles behind the bench!

Really like this! Feels crammed!

A new installment of "Exits & Stairs"!

Not really sure about the history of the bumpy tiles... I would guess that this was used before the yellow ones I showed earlier... These are as well not right up to the edge of the platform either...

Standard shot. Some of the stations though are too narrow to allow for this...
At times I'm standing all the way on the edge of the platform to get the image...

Interesting variation of the station ID... With decoration in the big print version... Have not seen this before!

Have not seen this before either. Pretty though!

Very fitting! Very round numbers make much more sense in a circle!

Tiled around the corner! Much more pretty and most likely more labor intensive as well...

A flying pig: Part of Laura Bradley's "City Suite", 1994

Same station and artist... Not sure what this is? Flying trash can? I think it could be a skyscraper...

Love this. Part of same piece! Simple, but elegant! And patriotic too! ;)

Colors are weird... Still like this one!

Had to wait for quite a while to take this one... Busy evening at that station!

When looking at this I couldn't figure out what this bump guard was for... And I still don't know!
But I really like how it looks!

Weird stair & exit combo... We're at 68 St - Hunter College station (1 line)...

Wow! Love the font here!!!

Had to grab the detail as well! Might want to go back to reshoot earlier in the day though... Light was really dim here...

Had not seen 4 of the debit / credit card metrocard vending machines in a row before...
I guess cash is out with the young at the college here...

Could not have invented this any better! ;)

Round numbers in a square. Back to normal programming! With bulb on top... Curious if they still work... Maybe just emergency lighting... But in some places the bulbs were missing from their sockets...

Really need to speak to someone who has been around the subway here a long time... I would guess that this style renovation (keeping with the old mosaic station decals, etc.) was after a period of "let's just put new tiles over everything" approach... Mmmh... In any case: Here's the bench & station ID combo at 68 St - Hunter College. Interesting how they just recreated missing parts with paint...

I would think this is an early version of the bumpy tile... I call it sticky stripe...

70s tile in action... I think that this was part of a former renovation that still can be found in some stations, apparently only remaining in far out corners...