January 2018, six days in New York

The main reason visiting New York was my wife Tone´s concert in Carnigie Hall, she is singing in a choir that was invited to sing with other choirs the music of Carl Jenkins. And it was a wonderful concert, you can take a look if you want: https://www.facebook.com/DistinguishedConcertsInternationalNewYork/videos/10156017400251948/

The second reason was street photography, the urban landscape pictures, the big buildings, central park, all the people and the changing life in a so big town as New York.

And New York has its own atmosphere, the New York atmosphere, I have never met something like this, neither in London, Paris, Rome or my own hometown Oslo.

 

I think I never will forget New York. What was it that created this special atmosphere?

 

It is the big, big buildings, that is everywhere, the architecture from some old buildings till the newest architecture in the world. I went up to 67^th floor at Rockefeller center, its called top of the rock. Yes, it really was. If you visit New York I recommend that you visit it. It was overwhelming. The view is huge. And you look at a conglomerate of cubic buildings.

I think that was one of the thing, I liked, the big cubic architecture. It looked like the buildings stood tight together holding hands as a big, big cubic castle. That nobody can damage. The buildings protecting their inhabitants.

 

Oh, God may it could have been like that if it were not for the 11^th September 2001.The day to flights fly into the twin towers. We went to Ground Zero, Memorial Museum. Ground Zero had once two towers, now it is two large pools with black marble sides.

Every day one of the victims have birthday, one white rose is placed by their names.

With the mess of Carl Jenkins in mind, “the armed man, a mass of peace”, and the visit at Ground Zero memorial, brought the music and sorrow together for me. The mass of peace is a work against war and for peace. It does not matter who you are and where you come from, war is war and war make sorrow. And when I was at the place where the terror made the twin towers collapsed and saw all the names of the victims engraved into the stone, I felt the same feeling of sorrow as when I heard the mass of peace. It´s remarkable.

We also went to Brooklyn bridge, the famous bridge from a lot of films, but also famous because of the excellent construction. And it is old from 1875..

We lived near Central park, and if I not would walk in two hours to reach the bridge, I had to take the underground. The metro. I am always a little bit nervous for things that I haven´t done before, also for the metro. But I took the chance, and I did it! I found the R-train, it was the yellow line, from 57^th street/ 7 avenue, and in 19 minutes I get off at City Hall station, and walked some few steps till Brooklyn bridge.

With my Nikon 7100 in my right hand with my dearest lens Nikkor 18-200mm, I captured picture after picture of the famous bridge. And I felt so happy to be there. And I managed it alone, that make a good feeling and improved my confidence. I think anyone with a hint of fear should run with street photography.  You have to go out, if not, no pictures. You will of course handle a big town like New York, no problem! I did it!

One day I also walked the Hudson Riverside walk.  It goes from 34^th street to 125^th street. I walked it just to 71th street. It was green areas, and gays were running and cycling or they walked with their dogs. The view over Hudson river was great. After walking 71th street to Central park, I went back to the hotel and we went out for dinner.

Once we had arrived New York we got a guided tour in Central Park. That was very interesting. It was a guide with name Joseph, he was cycling around with visitors and told a lot about the history of the park and which famous people living in the houses around the park. We visited also John Lennons memory place. Their a man was sitting playing music from John Lennon. After the trip we went for our self in central park and saw a lot of squirrels. Very funny. They were tame, not afraid us. I took a lot of pictures of the squirrels.

We went also for a gospel worship in Harlem. We visited The first Corinthian Baptist Church. It was a great experience. We were singing, shaking hands and wished all people who sat nearby good luck and happiness, then everyone hugged. The pastor spoke about how failure can be a new start. I was so touched. It was really great to be there.

One of the days we also walked the High Line. It is a line following an abandoned railway rail. It goes in the city. There is planting and art along the line.

We also went with a sightseeing boat. We went up to Brooklyn bridge, turned and went to the statue of Liberty. And then turned and went up Hudson river to 34^th street. There we started to walk the High Line.

We visited on our six day stay: Carnigie Hall, Brooklyn bridge, Top of the Rock, High Line,  Ground Zero, Central park, City Hall park, Hudson riverside walk,  Sightseeng bout, The statue of Liberty.

And restaurants, also in China town: Congee Village restaurant. (Very good food)

I recommend you visit New York, we have in six days experienced only a fraction of the town. It is so much more, and so much more street photo subjects. I hope I will come back one day.