Photography reading and a Brooklyn Bridge photo walk
I’ve been getting more into photography lately, having just finished the book, Bryan Peterson Photography School, an instructional book that shows “good” and “better” images from participants in the photographer’s workshops. Its advice has helped me dare to crop, compose, and edit images.
Most of all, it’s been recent chats with Paola about storytelling that have improved my photo taking. Our minds see an image and search it for meaning, inferring a story from what it contains. Having that story concept in mind as I snap and review my photos has helped me see more creatively.
This past Saturday I joined my second PhotograPals photo walk organized through Creative Mornings and led by Nelson Luna. This one started in Brooklyn Heights and went along the East River in the late afternoon.
My favorite shots are included below, in the rough order in which they were taken. I’ve done some cropping and boosted the contrast in some of the images.
There was some great light as we walked into the park from Brooklyn Heights, illuminating the classic Lower Manhattan skylineSee if you can spot what’s wrong with this image. I didn’t realize until later that in my rush to take a minimalist photo of the street arrow, I captured a bikeshare abandoned along the side of a very busy elevated highway.Man’s best friend can be stubborn. I have been the old man in this scene many times, tugging at a dog to come along.I chose this because I liked the bright colors, then I noticed that he has a set of neon highlighters alongside himThere is this style of Japanese minimalist photography that I admire, generally including a lone person against a modern or industrial backdrop. This scene reminds me of that aesthetic.I perpetually leave the Ricoh Positive Film simulation on, it simulates slide film. Here’s a great example with vibrant red and greens.Just capturing an image of some photo walk pals (in the back) and happened to catch someone else’s moment of reflectionThis youth tour group seemed all to be wearing bits of red, which made for a fun contrast, while the semicircle of this corner of the park framed everyoneAnother happy accident – I thought the face on the billboard was funny but didn’t read the text until I got home. In context, this snap I took through the forest seemed to fit the safari themeThis little girl was hitting balls back at her Dad or coach but I thought it was more interesting with a mystery partnerI like the balance (or imbalance) of this shotThe kite feels like a person in this image – it was having trouble getting off the ground and even took a dip in the water at one pointWe happened upon a quinceañera photo shoot at Brooklyn Bridge Park, chambelanes and all. I really liked the contrast between the green taxi and the blue dress – the party’s limo was behind it.This family was taking a selfie on the East River ferry, though I didn’t realize this was the reason for the commotion until I went back and looked closer. While focusing on the kids, I cropped out the phone camera on the far right of the frame!
Wow this post let me mouth open. The manatee has surpassed the mentor too quick 🥲 lol. I love every single shot, it’s so interesting, funny and beautiful like you 😘.
Hops Trains and Backpacks 
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