Hiking Manhattan
In New York everybody seems to travel by ubiquitous yellow cab. it's hard not to, they're everywhere and inexpensive. If you are taking photographs you really want to / have to walk and for that you need good shoes. Or in my case a very light pair of free runners which will keep your feet moving for many hours without any damage .
Sights & Sounds
Walking is the only way you can see such magnificent views as from The Highline; a section of disused and converted overhead railway line which has been lovingly turned into a SkyGarden. It's a Manhattan must see and an excellent example of crowdfunding. 90%+ private funding from donations. Walking is also the only way you can fully appreciate the views from Brooklyn Bridge, which at the end of 80 blocks seemed quite steep and rather wide.
Photo Set
This series of photos is part of a continuing exploration of New York City and the images contain many lesser seen viewpoints and curious angles of familiar and not so familiar landmarks.
- Highline Construction is continuing. Here a new section is being prepared for conversion to a new section running north 1/320th @f8 ISO 100
- This underpass shows how a piece of infrastructure can be recycled, re-appropriated and re-integrated as it's function in a city turns from transport to leisure and from industrial to nature 1/250th @ f5 ISO 100
- This flower against the background of the Meatpacking district's epic warehouse buildings contrasts new nature and leisure pursuits against old industrial practices and hard graft 1/400th @f9 ISO 100
- A view of The Statue of Liberty in the distance from The Highline through a series of bridges 1/320th @f8 ISO 100
- Two Artists work on a rooftop in the bright afternoon sun on a large format piece of work, viewed above from The Highline 1/800th
ISO 100
- Looking back towards the iconic lower Manhattan financial district framed through The suspension cables, struts and rivets of Brooklyn Bridge & Manhattan Bridge in between 1/320th @ f7.1 ISO 100
- Costume shop on Lower Broadway with an every day I'm shufflin' box head costume from the L.M.F.A.O music promo 1/160th @ f5 ISO 100
- Skywalker a common piece of commentary in cities all over the world. A pair of running shoes slung over a lamp post or often telegraph cable indicating (I think ) that the people still own the streets, not the cars ! 1/200th @ f5.6 ISO 100
- Crosstown Traffic from The Brooklyn Bridge at exit 28B. Signage in New York is different from UK English. unlawful to cross solid line on your side (we're just supposed to know & adhere to it as part of the Highway Code in the UK ) 1/400th @f9 ISO 100
- View from The Brooklyn Bridge up towards the docks with cranes past Brooklyn Heights and Governers Island 1/250th @ f7.1 ISO 100
- Worn Pedestrian Footpath markings and shadows on the old boards of The Brooklyn Bridge 1 /160th @ f6.3 ISO
Technical
Bright sunlight can be sometimes be tricky to work with. In the city it can be used to create dramatic shadow and light and in a city like New York, the sheer height of structures renders shadows deep which you can play with. ISO is set to 100 for bright light and the aperture is closed up relatively tight. This gives infinite depth of field for the long views where everything is in focus from the foreground to the horizon. Correspondingly shutter speeds are around 1/ 300th mark. For handheld on the hoof photography while walking it's kind of an ideal day if you have enough water and something to mop your brow.
Essential items
My most important item on a trip like this is a bandana, sunglasses and a tiltable eyepiece which allows framing of vertical and horizontal shots with ease. Often you can use structures as a semi-pod stabiliser (rails, etc) but you have to carefully make sure the camera is wrapped to your arm / wrist on the strap so that it doesn't go smashing to the street below, destroying your camera, your photos, your day and possibly injuring someone !