Stars & Stripes

At the eastern end of the Occulus transport hub / shopping mall atrium at the World Trade Center hangs this large US flag. At first I wondered if it was back to front, but on looking it up I learned that this is the correct way for it to be hung in a vertical orientation. My knowledge of the world has expanded a little.

I took many photos in the Occulus, both on film and digital, and it’s a very photogenic place. It is also surprisingly difficult to get pleasing photos of people in the atrium as it’s tricky to get the composition and placement of individuals just how you want them before someone walks in or out of the frame, breaking the harmony of the shot.

Canon Sure Shot Z135  & Kodak Portra 400.

Taken on 26 May 2019

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New and old

Today’s photo was taken on the day we visited the WTC Memorial Museum. I can’t remember if I took it while we waited in the queue for entry to the museum, or if it was taken later in the day after I’d been to the top of One World Trade Center and we were walking back to the subway. It’s probably the former, or at least earlier in the day as (as I type this) I recall that storm clouds had begun to cover the sky before we left the WTC district. These same clouds resulted in the downpour that trapped us at Grand Central Terminal, during which I took the photo that I posted here on 15 June.

Canon Sure Shot Z135  & Kodak Portra 400.

Taken on 26 May 2019

250 Vesey Street

This is one of the buildings that make up the World Financial Center area, adjacent to the World Trade Center. I think that this particular building is designated as WFC 1.

I really liked the way the morning light was striking the building, throwing the structure into strong relief.

It’s another shot that shows the Z135’s tendency to vignette noticably at wider angles.

Canon Sure Shot Z135  & Kodak Portra 400.

Taken on 25 May 2019

Down in the subway

This was taken in 51st Street subway station in Manhattan. We had a visit to the WTC memorial planned for the day and the subway was the most convenient way to get there. I did take a number of photos while we travelled on the subway during our trip, but most were on digital.

Canon Sure Shot Z135  & Kodak Portra 400.

Taken on 25 May 2019

Standing in the rain outside Grand Central Terminal

After our visit to the WTC Memorial, we caught the subway back to midtown and got off the train at Grand Central Terminal. After grabbing a few snacks from the food court on the lower level, we decided head back to the hotel.

Upon approaching the exit we noticed people entering the building with umbrellas, or with significant signs of being caught in the rain, and upon exiting found that it was absolutely tipping it down.

While we waited for the rain to ease off, we sheltered under the road bridge outside the south entrance, and I took a few photographs, including this one.

I know many photographers who complain when it rains, but for me it’s always a treat to be able to get photographs in this sort of weather. The way the floor suddenly becomes a diffuse mirror for light and clolour, and the way people behave and take shelter makes for very interesing photos in my opinion. There’s obviously some work to be done to ensure you and your camera are not soaked, but the effort is definitely worth it, don’t you think?

Canon Sure Shot Z135  & Kodak Portra 400.

Taken on 26 May 2019

Morning light

On the Saturday of Memorial weekend there was a lot of activity around Rockefeller Plaza as people set things up for the events that would be taking place. Here a couple of guys stand outside Radio City Music Hall while trucks are unloaded.

Canon Sure Shot Z135  & Kodak Portra 400.

Taken on 25 May 2019

Tall building

I’m not 100% sure where this building is – I think it’s in lower Manhattan and that I took the shot as we walked up Broadway after disembarking from the boat from Liberty Island. I took quite a few shots of tall buildings with blue skies and have to note how much the Z135 vignettes. I’d not noticed it too much with my black and white HP5+ shots from the same camera, but it’s quite noticable on the colour images. I don’t really mind it that much, but it’s something to bear in mind I suppose.

Canon Sure Shot Z135 & Kodak Portra 400.

Taken on 24 May 2019