Thursday, February 23, 2012

For what it’s worth

I was so depressed when I looked at the photos after getting home from my trip to NYC on Monday. I had thought they would be much better than they were, and have been putting off sharing them because I thought they were just so darn uninspired.

And then I told myself to get over myself. For heaven’s sake, they’re just pictures and this blog is for sharing them with you.

So for what it’s worth, some photos of my trip to the other end of Manhattan down by Canal Street (the East section, by Little Italy and Chinatown).



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Most of these shots were taken while walking along Canal Street. I wasn’t prepared for the seediness of it all but some things I found quite cool, like the bushes growing along the rooftop above.




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We had lunch in Little Italy and then hit the shops along Canal Street where I got to observe my friend, Peg, in action. With the street vendors, the girl’s haggling skills astounded me.





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Trying to be artsy. And failing.


* snort *




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I liked the streetlights along this pretty section of Little Italy.





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Peg’s two friends came along and all three of them work together for the postal service in NJ. So we thought it would be fitting to take a photo of them in front of the huge post office on Canal Street.




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Hi there!




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Small film crew here, but it was the shutters that caught my eye.




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Love love me do.




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And finally, I have no idea what happened here. I was trying to capture the lights of the city as we were driving away and boy, did I have the settings wrong. So wrong that the shutter opened and stayed open. I turned the camera around to see what was up, which created all the craziness.

I am just such an amazing photographer sometimes.

But at least I can laugh about it.

: : :

Thanks for stopping by. It’s always a pleasure to see you here ~

123 Signature[5]

49 comments:

Ellen said...

That last photo reminds me of topstitching and decorative stitching on blue jeans.

I love you photos. You have an eye for beauty that many of us lack.

Mary Ann said...

I'm pretty sure Ansel Adams and other greats had bad days too. Try not to be so hard on yourself and thanks for posting. I always enjoy your blog. Mary Ann

Hilary said...

I love those crazy photos of light at the end.....did some myself leaving the city a few years ago.
And you're right to share, we're all gonna love the photos.......

Gone Country said...

The photos have a painterly quality to them. Kinda cool. I even like the last shot! Thanks for sharing them.

Meryl Baer said...

I like the fire escapes (film crew pic). Don't be so hard on yourself - just have fun!

Kerri Farley said...

That street lamp is so cool! And I love the shots of the "girls" on the steps!!

JC said...

I like them. The alley one though is my fav .. I like the all the stairs.

Cheryl said...

Some days I am so frustrated with my photographs.... I know what you mean. I think we have such expectations for ourselves. Others really do appreciate what we capture, even if we disappoint ourselves.
You always seem to amaze me with what you take!!!

Anonymous said...

I'm so glad you posted these..I've NEVER been to Little Italy so I really enjoyed your visit. And I don't have enough fingers and toes to count the number of times I've come away from a place/time/event where I thought I got some great photos only to find they were so mediocre. Then, someone comes along to point out the good features of the photos and everything is better...until my next mistake - LOL

Christie - Fine Lines said...

I think those lights are pretty cool, too. The photo I really loved was the one with the shutters and all those fire escapes -- we don't have many buildings with fire escapes like that around here. I like the contrast of the tall buildings and vertical lines with the horizontal rungs of the ladders:))

Rambling said...

I like your photos - you are too critical.

Chesapeake Bay Woman said...

They're all good, but I especially love the last one even if (and perhaps especially because) it was a mistake.

Country Gal said...

Your photos are fantstic . I find that some photos are better if not perfect adds character to the photo ! I love the 3rd one of the fire hydrent I think it has a lot of character sometimes to really see a photo you have to look past the perfection ! Have a great day !

Unknown said...

I love them.
And for what it's worth I just watched your Snow Day in January twice and still am left breathless. We are supposed to get a storm tonight , this winter that hasn't been and now might.. we'll see. But instead of getting all crazed I like to live in your video.
Thank you so so much .

Low Tide High Style said...

You are hella hard on yourself, I loved these, and that last one is way cool!

Kat :)

Reena said...

You are a silly woman ... I love all your photos. I don't know what you do to get that soft effect, please tell me! And that last one! even that one is cool!

Denise at Autumn Sky said...

I love seeing the photos of New York. How fun to be able to go in there for the day.

Cloudia said...

Know what you mean. I like to be excited by my shots/posts. Some days. . . . But this is a sweet post. they can't all be extraordinary - though 99% of yours ARE!


Aloha from Waikiki
Comfort Spiral

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Michelle said...

I think I might have read this on one of your commenters blogs (or the blog of one of the women you travel with!) but I know you love birds and thought this was fantastic.

http://www.missingthemomgene.com/2012/02/dove-love.html

beth said...

how was that throw pillow to the face i just whacked you with ?

YOU are an amazing photographer....in so many ways...and if i have to throw that pillow one more time....LOL

seriously, these are fantastic....i love the street scenes and only in NY are they really cool.....well, fine, morocco probably has cool street scenes, too.....but you know what i mean.....and i had no idea about the seediness of that area......xoxoo

beth said...

ps....that last photo.....WAY COOL !

Bluebird49 said...

I loved the shutter and fire escapes best, I think. I hate to pick one, because I thought the last one was really interesting, Sparkle-Girl! ;) I thought it was interesting that NONE of the people walking by the "vendor thingie" were wearing a scarf that looked at all like that vendor was selling! Maybe they needed pashimas. lol

The Weaver of Grass said...

I love that street lamp and I love that last accidental shot - blow it up[ and put it on the wall!

troutay said...

Love the frenetic photo at the end.

Sort of sums up NY, doesn't it?

Anonymous said...

Even if you weren't impressed w/your photos of NYC, all of us that read your blog still enjoyed them. It encourages me to know that GREAT photographers like yourself can also get discouraged with the photos they take. Sometimes I'm tempted to stop trying for that "perfect" shot and then realize we all continue to learn. Thanks for the trip to NYC's Little Italy.

Karen thisoldhouse2.com said...

This is a really cool gritty capture of the day. No kidding.

Canal street took me by surprise too, the vendors who chase you, try to get your attention...and the obvious struggle their life probably is. Some good deals and funky stuff though.

A New England Life said...

Glad you got over it, Kate ; )

NY, NY, you crazy town you! I'd love to photograph Little Italy and China town. I actually still have a bunch of images from China town the last time we were in NYC, but I've never published them. Maybe one day. And then you can say, 'I recognize that!' Ha!!

Linda said...

Your "so darn uninspired" photos are great! I LOVE the light poles and buildings in Little Ittaly and your artsy fire hydrant. The Oops! night lights, wrong shutter setting photo is way cool!

Daryl said...

psst . there is no Canal Street East .. just sayin ... and these photos are fun, you're just not used to urban landscapes ;-)

Melissa Marie Head said...

I think those pictures are great. I love NYC!

Lili said...

What strikes me is your ability to bring us the things you notice about a new place. It's with new eyes and I find it fascinating. The one with the film crew is my very favorite, before I read the caption I immediately thought it looked like a movie set. Noticing flowers on a rooftop in a seedy area tells me you are a 'imagine the possibilities' kind of person, which I already knew you were. I'm so glad you shared these with us. xo ~Lili

abb said...

I'd say you're too hard on yourself. Well, at least you're laughing... :)
xo

Sarah said...

Good thing you got over yourself! Otherwise, we'd never have seen these photos, and I would have hated to miss them - I especially loved the one of the film crew, not for the shutters, exactly, but for the fire escapes along the sides of the buildings.

And it's nice to know that a GREAT photographer doesn't always please herself with her shots. That's me over 90% of the time!

Deb said...

sometimes the unpro shots are the best shots...in my little humble mind...

Unknown said...

I fell into a period when it seemed like nothing I shot was any good. Then a friend told me that every shot I took was a unique perspective and it just might be that I missed something in the shot that struck a chord in someone else. Now I no longer worry about the technical stuff and just shoot whatever catches my eye.

alphabet soup said...

I think that crazy night shot is hilarious - but then I would wouldn't I? I mean there is no way in the world you could replicate that shot. I keep looking at it and thinking there's something you can do with that. No, no, not ditch it, do something creative with it. And as for the birds in the previous post - wonderful. I think bird photography and other close-up work is your forte Kate.

Ms Soup

Mental P Mama said...

So...which one of these is the bad one???

Ocean Breezes and Country Sneezes said...

Even if you didn't enjoy the photo's I did - but more importantly you had a good time!

spindrift,maine said...

RE: your last photo. I call these photos the ones my camera takes all by itself. I have some lovely abstracts that I've culled and fooled with from these shots my camera particularly likes to take. I've also learned from them. I now sometimes purposefully take shots of lights under low speed, and intentionally move the camera to see what happens. Motto: A 'bad shot' is simply a remarkable one that has yet to be augmented into a spectacular one. xo

JaneK said...

if you don't share any of your "failures" (they really AREN'T but I'm just going with it) then we won't think you are real :) and that's one thing I like about you, Kate, is that you can laugh at yourself :) I like the crazy ones.... they make me smile...

Andi said...

LOVE the film crew picture! I have a HUGE fascination with NYC fire escapes, and the sheer amazing-ness of their height and symmetry and scariness all at the same time. :)

Dawson Cattle Company said...

i like the pictures, and sometimes the best ones are the ones that we dont plan on getting. take care!

BB said...

Love seeing the world through your eyes... did you have trouble with the white balance? That's always my downfall when I don't pay attention to my settings... Still felt like I was there with you, enjoying your friends and The City.
:-)
BB

Ruth Andre said...

The last photo is my favorite. Truly lovely.

Donalyn said...

I've had this happen a lot of times Kate - think I have some great stuff on that card, and then when I look at them on the computer, I'm like "ugh". There are days when I think I should sell my Nikons on ebay and buy a nice little point and shoot. :)

Jill of All Trades said...

A good time was had by all I think. Sometimes experimenting leads to discovery!

Hilary said...

I like the mood of these images.. particularly the last three. That final shot.. if it was taken by Daryl, I'd be looking all over for the dedelstein. ;)

The JR said...

I need her when I go shopping.

Caroline said...

OK...are you seriously kidding me here??? These photos totally rock! Really bummed I got stuck with babysitting duties...would have been fun to shoot with you!!!