Pictures From Midtown Manhattan (slideshow)

The MTA Network: Working On The Railroad

Bronx River

Everyday when I pass this river on the train, I look at it just to see what’s different about it. It’s really clean these days, but back in the day it was as filthy as the river that caught on fire in Ohio.

I like this picture, it reminds me of some opening scene from an 80s movie in a steel mining town. The Outsiders, Urban Cowboy, Flashdance, Footloose, pick one. I can almost hear the music.

Herald Square

On 33rd and 6th, looking north.

Lantern

I laid on the floor of my my office just to take this shot. I like this lamp, it reminds me of the ocean.

Flashing Lights.

Every time I passed this spot,I’m compelled to take a pic. 40/41th and Park Avenue, looking north at Grand Central Terminal and the Met Life Building. I don’t know if it’s the lights (which are always out) or if it’s the overhead roadway or the statues in the pediment on the GCT entrance, but I have like 40 pictures- day/night, winter/summer.

#shoutout to my ‘patnah in crime,’ @deedarling, who works around the corner: we still got a lunch date at Golosi on the block…maybe on your bday..

Are We There Yet? Nah, Not Even Half Way

190th on the 1 train in Uptown Manhattan. I always have such a feeling of reflection and introspection when I walk through this tunnel. I think it’s the length and the singular-ness of the path. When you get to the end of the path, there’s a great sense of accomplishment.

Cupid

Empire State Building

N-Y-Symmetry

These are two pictures I really like for a couple different reasons.

Yeah that was me who stopped; dead in front of you at the top of the subway steps to snap a picture with my blackberry. Shoot, I don’t care, when I see something that needs to be captured, I do just that. The first picture was taken at the 125th Street on the concourse level going down to the platforms. I think what what attracts me to these pictures and photo opportunities is the shape of stairs themselves: they always create symmetrical pictures, which makes your eyes dance around to find the subtle differences. The stairs also create an interesting perspective, it’s the instant wide angle effect- look how small the guy in the white shirt looks even though he’s only about 15 feet away. The second picture was taken from outside of my school…you would think I went to Pothead Academy, or something based on the name, right?.. You wouldn’t imagine how much of a temperature/atmospheric change it is once you get into that shade at the bottom of those steps. It’s drier and like 5 to 10 degrees cooler, with a breeze. But that’s in the summer, it’s probably 5 to 10 degrees warmer now.

Rush Hour In Mayberry

These are some of the times when I’m really glad I live in New York City. I wasn’t even that far when  I took this picture, but clearly I was a world away.  This is Main Street (Route 45) in Rockland County and despite how much of a hurry that firetruck is in, that train can’t move any faster…  I wonder how often this happens, the train only runs every two hours, you would think they would have some kind of contingency for this…but they don’t. I’m just gladmy bus needed to make a left and not a right.

The Catacombs Of Gleason And Castle Hill

This is one of the sites on my run (if I ever happen to run-damn you winter.) I never get to take a picture because I don’t carry me phone when I run. This building catches my eye every time I  pass it, but it’s usually night. This time, because it was daylight, I decided to bring  my phone with me. The vaulted ceiling along the passageway makes the interior courtyard seem really important because after you travel through that narrow  walkway, youre in the middle of a great garden. It’s a pretty building, I especially like the facade detail on the fourth and fifth floors. They remind me of a Swiss Cottage or the house that Hansel and Gretel live. I always envision a snowfall, a fireplace and cocoa when I see that.