New York – January 2013
Approaching the Big Apple – the Brocken spectre effect seen from the skies.. pretty spectacular.
I went to NY for work, which meant 90% of my time was spent with workmates – which isn’t a bad thing, but it did mean photography wasn’t at the top of my agenda, especially when it’s 2am and we’ve been drinking Korean soju since 5pm. I think I took more photos on my phone than on my SLR.. Luckily, I managed to take some time out to walk the streets of this amazing city and soak up the atmosphere (even in arctic temperatures!).
The smoke is just like in the movies!
These guys flogged one of their rap CDs to me:
http://www.myspace.com/str33tstarz. When they heard I was British they asked if I like Dizzee Rascal, dubstep and Chipmunk.
Times Square by night – again it’s just like in the movies.
The only Apple Store in the world that’s open 24/7:
Wish I’d remembered the name of this bookstore:
Grand Central Station is 100 years old. There were a bunch of events taking place to mark the occasion, including concerts.
This is, without a doubt, the nicest train station I’ve ever been to. I mean just look at the ceiling:
There’s an Apple Store in the station..
Another thing that struck me – the station has so much character, and rather than walking past buskers as they do in London, people actually stop and listen and applaud at the end, and I mean local people, not just tourists. This band is called Ebony Hillbillies.
Ground Zero 9/11 memorial:
There are giant waterfalls now where the world trade centre towers used to be, and the name of every victim is etched on the walls around it
The new world trade centre – being completed:
NY is architectural heaven for anyone with an interest in cities. I love the narrow streets with huge buildings towering on either side.
Brooklyn Bridge
You can just about see the Statue of Liberty in the bottom right-hand side of this shot:
Back in Grand Central Station. This violinist is called Lucas Lorenzo:
The High Line
It was early morning when I went there, and freezing cold, but I can imagine this place being buzzing in summer:
Badly executed hip-shot:
It was Superbowl weekend, with Beyonce’s face dominating Times Square. It’s crazy how half time at Superbowl is such a huge deal. The build up was constantly on the news..
Something interest is always happening on the Subway
Queens:
5Pointz is apparently one of the largest graffiti zones in the world. I liked some of the stuff, but to be honest I’ve seen much more impressive artwork around East London.
Some guys doing acrobatics and dancing in the Tube in the hope of getting a few bucks out of it
Took the lift up 70 floors at the Rockerfeller Centre – to Top of the Rock:
I don’t think you’ll find a nicer view of NYC than this
Canary Wharf seems minuscule in comparison
The all famous Empire State Building
I definitely will be returning here – preferably not in sub-zero temperatures though!
6 Months, 6 Countries: Israel
September 2012
By September I had no properly functioning cameras. The Canon 350D had pretty much given up on me, and none of my film cameras were working either. I decided to upgrade to a full-frame DSLR.. Canon 5D Mark II, and took it with me to Israel with my favourite lens – 50mm f/1.8.. : )
I used to narrate every blog, making sure every picture that deserved a story had one. I’m not sure whether it’s a lack of time or just an evolution in my photography, but I don’t really have a desire to do that so much anymore. Most of these photos speak for themselves – I hope. If you’d like a more indepth insight into this place, you can find my previous entries at the bottom of this page.
I took a very British beverage with me.. Pimm’s – Israeli style (with nectarine, lemongrass and mint!):
In Rehevot
My friend Ricki in her lab at uni:
Jerusalem – one of my favourite cities.
Fantastic band – wish I knew remembered their name..
Dome of the Rock:
When I took this shot he didn’t believe it had come out as it was so dark and I hadn’t used flash..
The power of ISO 6400!
Making baklava:
When I took that shot I had a feeling of deja-vu, and later realised I’d shot the same man in this baklava shop in 2009 here – http://tanya-n.com/Israel2009/IMG_0027.jpg
Christian pilgrims:
You can see them all around these areas tracing the steps of Jesus..
Somehow ended up in this courtyard which was for an Ethiopian Church:
At the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (where Jesus is thought to have been crucified..) and as such packed with pilgrims:
He was walking around videoing himself:
The last time I came here it was so quiet and peaceful and I’d stumbled across it by chance. This was the complete opposite – there were so many people I could barely move.
Western Wall
The synagogue in Ricki’s home town/village. We went there at 5am for Yom Kippur : )
Went to Hanita with Ricki. Hanita is a kibbutz town in the north of Israel, right on a border of Lebanon.
You can see Hezbollah bases from here
Dana, Alison, Eliad and Ricki – some of the loveliest people I’ve met! : )
A deserted appartment block in the kibbutz where the youngsters of the community used to stay. It was like a scene out of a movie – an amazing view of the hillside from a derelict building. Someone would pay good money for that!
Where missiles from Lebanon landed a few years ago:
The fence was only put up a few years ago after someone from Lebanon attacked from across the border. Until then people were pretty much free to venture onto the other side..
Had some amazing food
This is the 2nd time I’ve been to a kibbutz. The concept is one I can’t imagine would work in many places – where people live in harmony sharing meals together with their neighbours. The feel is one of a village – where everyone knows everyone. It was a bit surreal being in a place where people feel safe keeping their doors unlocked yet have an underlying fear of missiles. It’s something I think most of us would be unfamiliar with..
Tel Aviv
Pua Bar and Restaurant in Jaffa, Tel Aviv:
Random photo of Princess Diana came with the bill:
Shakshouka – a delicious Yemen dish that’s very popular in Israel:
This part of the Middle East amazes me every time I’ve been there. The people are so hospitable and I’m lucky to know Ricki and her family. Through them I’ve learnt so much about a place I’d otherwise be ignorant about. Whatever your views may be about Israel, the place is undeniably amazing and diverse in so many ways.. I couldn’t even begin to sum it up!
As for the 5D, being able to use my 50mm full-frame has suddenly made this lens even more appealing. I have a feeling this will be the only lens I’ll be using for some time.
Next stop – India.
—–
If you’d like to read more about this beautiful place, you can find my initial impressions here – my previous 2 trips to the ‘holy land’:
Shalom! http://www.tanya-n.com/?p=125
4000 years, 3 cultures, 1 city http://www.tanya-n.com/?p=396
The Wall of Separation http://www.tanya-n.com/?p=419
Sun, Salt and Christianity http://www.tanya-n.com/?p=424
Tel Aviv, Walls and Clouds http://www.tanya-n.com/?p=432
