Ode to facial hair

I was in the Brooklyn Museum the other day to see the excellent exhibit of photographs by Edward Burtynsky. The show is titled Manufactured Lanscapes and it runs only until January 15, 2006. Go now.

While on my way to the exhibit space I saw this pair come down the hallway. I knew immediately that I wanted to make a photograph of them. Fortunately they were willing to stand for a quick portrait. They were visiting from Vancouver and wanted to see the Brooklyn Museum.

Photographic: A new gallery in lower Manhattan

While out looking for photos yesterday near the Brooklyn Bridge, I happened upon a new art gallery specializing in photography. The gallery is called Photographic and it's at 252 Front St., not too far, but fortunately not too close to the Seaport. Their website says they're open Wed-Sat. 2-9pm, Sun 12-7, or by appt. Their phone number is 212.252.2280.

The debut exhibition features two photographers, Keith Van Sickle and Barbara Mensch. The Van Sickle photographs are from Paris in 1955 and from New York in 2005. I prefer the black and whites of the Paris photos, but there are some interesting city perspectives and moods in the recent photos as well.

Ms. Mensch's photos are terrific portraits of the workers at the since relocated Fulton Fish Market. The collection is a mix of candid and posed (or placed) images. The images successfully and beautifully convey the flavor (odor?) of the characters at the market.

Walking the Manhattan Bridge, and others

The above photos were taken while walking across the Manhattan Bridge.

I love walking across the bridges around the city, both for the photographic opportunities, but also for the great vistas of the city and its waterfront areas. There is always something happening. My plan is to walk across every city bridge that has pedestrian access, which many do. So far I've walked across the Brooklyn, the Manhattan, the Williamsburg, the George Washington. I've biked across the Queensboro bridge during Bike New York. I wish one of the New York City bridges had tours like the Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia.

The following photo was taken underneath one of the off/onramps to the Brooklyn Bridge.

Signs, big and small

I'm a big fan of the Kentile Floors sign that is a prominent feature of the Third Avenue landscape. It's well known certainly to all riders of the F-Train who travel between the Fourth Avenue and 9th St./Smith St. stops. The Kentile company is no longer, but you can read more about the Kentile Floors sign and others at the terrific Forgotten-NY site.

Stillwater

Looking across a mostly forgotten corner of the Gowanus Canal to Manhattan in the background. What will this scene look like in ten years as development continues to boom in Brooklyn?

industrial reflections

afternoon reflections along the Gowanus Canal.