NYC Reflection

We spent a busy weekend in New York City, experiencing all the sights and sounds of the "city that never sleeps" and photographing it all. New York is such an exciting and different place that it is hard to choose the best parts of the trip. Everything we did could be a highlight. One of my favorite things, though, was definitely the Highline walk. The walk offered a completely different view of the city, looking down on the streets rather then being on them looking up. I also liked seeing the trees and plants along the walk, as well as its interesting design. Unfortunately, I had unknowingly switched my camera to shoot in black and white. I was frustrated to realize this because I had been thinking about my photographs in color rather than black and white. Luckily, some of the photos still turned out well. I think New York is a city that has a black and white feel to it; the monochrome subdues the craziness of the city and brings out its essence. However, I do wish I had been paying more attention and been aware that I was shooting black and white.

I also loved walking over the Brooklyn Bridge. Just being in Brooklyn and getting to see Manhattan from a more distant view was something I had never done before. My only view of Manhattan has been on the streets looking up, and I've never seen it all from afar. The bridge was crowded and crazy but it was fun to see the view change as we left Brooklyn. I was also shooting film while we were in the park and crossing the bridge. The bridge was an interesting place to photograph, especially in black and white film, because the patterns of the bridge (the lines of the cables, the outline of the arches, the line of the bridge extending into the distance, and the Manhattan skyline) are so distinct.

Over the course of the weekend, I improved my efficiency with manual settings and my ability to get the photograph that I had in mind. I also learned to consistently check my work for correct exposure, focus, and to be sure I captured what I wanted. At times, I would forget to adjust the settings and end up with a series of under-exposed or out-of-focus photographs. This was frustrating, especially when we were moving at a fast pace and the moment had passed. As a result, though, I quickly became more careful in my work and more attune to my camera settings. I had such an incredible time in New York, seeing everything that we did and having the chance to photograph everything. I took a crazy amount of photographs and am happy that many turned out well (hopefully the same goes for my film!).