As previously mentioned, this time in New York City was about being a little more of a tourist than a crazy party animal drinking like the world was crumbling around me, celebrating my 20th birthday and enjoying too much the fact that I was actually getting away with drinking in the first place.

This time it was all about capturing everything. In many ways I am glad that I got to enjoy the States last time without the camera, just to relax and not constantly worrying about getting the photograph, but to enjoy it. I had an idea of what to expect.

On day 2 Ronan and I went to the ‘Top of the Rock‘; the observation deck on the 67th, 69th and 70th floors of the GE Building. We went in the pitch black of night, we were the last lift-load of people to hit the top, with limited time before we had to go and let the employees go home. The view was incredible. With a few floors to choose from and lots of wall space to look over I wanted to run all around the edge looking out (and shouting something) as I past. I feel I could have sat up there all day.

Given a choice, I would do it slightly differently though. Firstly I would bring a tripod to get a few better shots. I also wouldn’t leave it just so late as to catch some light. Sunset, or sunrise (probably too early to be open) will be a must for next time. Having said that, next time will be the Empire State Building.

Then we descended down the great glass-roofed elevator back to earth:

Earlier that night we witnessed a live broadcast from SNY (SportsNet New York) at 75 Rockefeller Center.

Plays have never really been my thing, and so as many times as my mother has said “Why don’t you go see a play,” I still haven’t felt the desire to do so. Maybe someday I will, I’m sure they are great.

On my first night in the city I came across an artist who used spray paint and other household items to make a crazy and amazing piece of artwork. Over and over again, he made different varying images based on a similar idea, using different colour arrangements each time. It was amazing. I loved it. I would have paid him the $20 he was asking was I not more concerned about where I could keep without it getting destroyed, I came to the conclusion in the end that there was nowhere. To me this guy was selling real art, on the streets of New York City, drawing a crowd and selling it straight away. This is what it’s all about, surely?

But then, the very next day, not too far away, I spotted someone someone else doing the exact same thing, and earning some money in doing so. It seemed he was also just as good. I felt betrayed. I almost fell in lovetell everyone , I wanted to get his name and tell everyone of this great artwork being produced by this great man. I had seen nothing like it. Until now. A few days later I saw, yet another. It seems as though they are taught this en mass. A teacher paces around a classroom and tells another that he has made a mistake and to redo it. “Tonight’s homework, class…” Below is a picture of one of them, I it doesn’t even matter which on, It’s not about the ‘art’ or the ‘artist’ its about making money. Just like everything in New York. They are all out for the money. Which is fine, few people don’t want money, it just seems though that everyone in New York City is out to get money, and they want it from everyone else.

New York is a very odd place at night. It’s easier than one might expect to find yourself walking down a street alone, only minutes from the bustle of Fifth Ave or Times Square. Along these other streets where there are fewer lights, there is one colour that stands out; purple, or sometimes blue, flashing is optional. These coloured lights often form the words ‘show’ and peep’, a separate, equally decorated sign with the letters ‘DVDs’ close by. It seems that by dusk all the regular shops have been converted into dirty houses of pleasure and fantasy.

When New York is referred to as the ‘City that Never Sleeps’, they were surely just talking about certain areas. Most bars close at 2am, which surprised me at first – except some which have lock-ins until 4am, and of course the ‘Gentlemen’s Clubs’ (read: strip clubs) like Lace on 8th Ave @ 43rd St. To me, that’s sleeping. I was expecting bars to never close the first time I was there. I guess it’s later than Belfast, but is that really a good benchmark for anything?

Tagged: nyc, Personal, Photography, USA | 3 comments »