2024: NYC

Summer of 2024, I received a fancy DSLR from my dad, as well as two lenses to go along with it. I was really excited to go use it right away and then... I got covid. I took a few pics with it mid-July once I had recovered, and then... I got covid again. And then more stuff happened, and I got covid a third time, which is all just a big excuse for why I only did the two weekends with the DSLR in New York City instead of more, with the rest being scattered shots on iPhone.

Still, even in those few weekends, I got a lot of good shots. So many, in fact, that I'll be releasing two other, more "thematic" collections after this one. In some sense, these are the dregs, but in another sense, these photos are the very best I took in the city this year. Please enjoy.

Heal Me

Large concrete tubing, fenced off with yellow caution tape, is piled outside an electric substation. There is an ethereal glow from the substation's lights and the almost-dusky sky. "heal me" is graffiti-ed on the largest, upright tube.
iPhone 11 Pro Max, 2024-03-15 7:17PM, in Dumbo. I like the mysterious aura. I took more graffiti shots after this, but this is the only one that made it in.

Under Construction

A construction site at the base of a large building is littered with loose planks. There's some out-of-focus electrical machinery in the background.
Canon EOS 5DS 135mm, 2024-07-13 2:18PM, right outside Grand Central. I took more here with some awesome reflections on the underside of this building, but this one has the best shapes.

A Reminder Of Where You Are

Rows upon rows of skyscrapers line an avenue bustling with activity as far as the eye can see. Light bounces back and forth between the glass-coated buildings. There are many american flags hung up.
Canon EOS 5DS 135mm, 2024-07-13 2:14PM, Madison Ave & E 44th St. If there's one thing I've learned, it's that standing in the middle of the street can be good sometimes.

Rooftop Garden

A small rooftop area containing a small garden and plenty of AC units, sits tilted in front of a sound wall, in front of myriad skyscrapers, all at slightly different angles. The morning sunlight gives things a peaceful look.
Canon EOS 5DS 70mm, 2024-07-20 6:27AM, Brooklyn Bridge. I woke up real early for this one. And yes, I did get the iconic bridge shot, and I do still think this one is cooler (+ lined up better).

It's Art

Two children are playing between two giant rusted elliptical metal structures that reach almost the entire way to the wooden roof of the brick building they're in. Hazy sunlight from the window behind them leads to splotchy gradients in the darker areas.
iPhone 11 Pro Max, 2024-02-18 2:22PM, Dia Beacon. Technically not NYC, but it's a nearby art museum in the same vein, so I'll count it :P

Call Box

An emergency call box is plastered with all manner of stickers and graffiti, overlooking WTC One from the middle of the East River.
iPhone 11 Pro Max, 2024-11-17 1:25PM, Manhattan Bridge. I took this walk while still a bit sick from my third bout of covid. I just barely got this far, a bit over a mile from my house, feeling like I was going to die of headache on my way back. Despite this, I feel like this is a positive note to end on.

I'm not 100% satisfied with these photos. They're pretty good, don't get me wrong, but "pretty good" is not good enough for what I want to do with a camera. I've seen what some pros can do, and boy howdy I wanna start doing that too.

I'm definitely still learning the lessons I got from Dylan Vitone's Digital Photography I class, in the Fall of 2022. I have a feeling I won't ever stop learning those lessons. Here's to another year of learning photography.