Life Through My Lens: Back in New York City
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Remembering Warmer Days - NYC Street Photos
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Patterns in the Chaos
After three years of living in eight places, I finally signed a lease two weeks ago on 78th and York. Actually, that's a lie. It's really between York and East End but I like to tell myself I'm near York. I can't tell you how amazing it feels to have a little piece of New York that's all my own - even if that piece is little (400 square feet?). The apartment search process was very stressful. There's nothing like spending two outings with a near-stranger who helps you determine where you will live for the next year or so. And then if that wasn't hard enough, having to fork over about $5,000+ in one afternoon.But as I sit here in my apartment, surrounded by my things, and more importantly, complete quiet other than my typing, I realize it was all worth it. I never made the effort to buy nice furniture or make my room my own because it always felt temporary - the illegal sublet on St. Mark's that I assumed I'd be kicked out of at a moment's notice, the 5th floor walkup with a crazy man living above us who let his tub overflow into our bathroom.. and then of course, countless furnished sublets. For the first time in my life, there is a place for all my stuff - no desperate need to buy a set of drawers or determine how much I can fit under my bed.. It all fits.
So what I really want to talk about is coincidences. And the idea that even though our world seems chaotic, there are patterns and details that draw similar people to similar things. Like that online test that tells you where you should live based on personality traits. Mine said New Jersey.
OR... the fact that the guy who lived in my apartment before me went to Carlton College (you can learn a lot by what mail people get), which happens to be in the same small town as St. Olaf, where my dad and my sister went to school. Was he also drawn to the personality of an older building - or its built in bookshelves? Or even more coincidental, the person who lived in the apartment before him was a Norwegian girl. I know all this thanks to remnant mail and a quick Google search - something I would have never been able to know a decade ago.
So is it all just one weird coincidence, or is there a common background, set of values or visual language that we all share? Me, the girl from New Jersey with a Jewish, Eastern European mother (who happened to grow up a block away from my current apartment). With a father who is predominantly Norwegian from Minnesota. The guy who went to school in Minnesota - possibly from the midwest. And the girl who is actually Norwegian. Or is it all just one big, fat coincidence? 
Life in Photos: Jazz Age Lawn Party Part Two
And there was dancing! P.S. My friend Jeffrey Donenfeld gave me some helpful advice about my photos. I never really color correct them beyond a quick pass via Photoshop (a VERY OLD version). He told me to try Lightroom and sent me some links via Lifehacker that showed me how to edit photos in Photoshop - so I adopted them to Lightroom. It's rare that we get to see the befores and afters and really hard to determine how much has been done to a photo or how much should be ... but hopefully I'll figure that out.Funny - most photography courses teach you how to take a photo with the idea that if you have the right lighting, composition, etc. that's all you need. But even when photos were printed in darkrooms, photographers did extensive editing from darkening spots to increasing the exposure or contrast of an entire image. In fact, most professional photographers do a preliminary editing pass of selecting photos, then sometimes photo editors choose the final images. Then after the images are chosen, another person may retouch them which includes the correct coloring, and then finally, someone else may print the images. So the actual taking of a photograph is only one small piece of what goes into creating an image.
What It Means To Live In NYC
I've been living in Williamsburg for about three weeks now and I can't tell you how exciting it is to discover a new neighborhood. I'm not sure if any other city in the U.S. has such a range of distinct neighborhoods and characters, sometimes dramatically shifting from one block to another. How much does living in a neighborhood begin to shape ones style or personality? Or does it simply attract a certain type of person? What effect does the architecture have? Original inhabitants? Or even most recent? These are all questions I ask myself as I walk to the Bedford L out of my building that's barely a decade old where I haven't seen a neighbor over 40. I walk past the hispanic owned delis, past the elegant wine store, past the Dutch, red brick buildings that are nearly 300 years old and onto the packed L train.On Saturday, I had what could only be described as a classic New York City day - one that could have only happened in this decade - or oddly enough, maybe a hundred years ago. The night before, around midnight, I found a bedframe from Design Within Reach off of Craigslist after having too many issues with a previous UPS bedframe shipment. So despite the rain, I headed into Manhattan via the L train. But the train didn't come thanks to a malfunction. I briefly cursed my coffee addiction that had caused me to miss the last working train and waited on the corner for a cab. A few women nearby were waiting on the same corner and I suggested we all share a cab. So the four of us squeezed into a livery cab and happily discovered we were all headed the same direction. The cast of characters couldn't have been a better representation of the neighborhood. There was me, of course, representing the more recent influx of 30 something creative-ish folks. The girl next to me was off to her yoga class and as we discussed the recent subway troubles, commented that the subway should be free. My libertarian friend would have had a field day with that one. There was the girl next to her, a punk-ish, young blonde, most likely working in retail or the restaurant business given her claim that she was running late for work on a Saturday. And the girl sitting in the front was a Polish or Russian, blonde, recent immigrant.
My New York day continued as I arrived to my destination, an apartment in Tudor City. Have you ever been to an apartment in Tudor City? I hadn't up until that point. It's kind of awesome. Kind of like walking into a Renaissance castle except you're in Midtown East and it's 2013. Instead of being a creepy, random guy that I'd feel uncomfortable walking into a room with $250 in cash, my bed frame seller was a tall, youngish nice man an exceptional design sense and friendly girlfriend. Go figure. My friend, who I owe many MeatBall Shop meals, helped me drag the bed into his car and drove me back to Williamsburg. By 3pm, I had an assembled bed and the L train was working again so I continued my classic New York City day, heading back into the city for my spin class. Another day, another adventure.
NYC City Guide: Best Cheap Haircut
If you're looking for a cheap haircut; i.e. under $50 for women, I highly recommend Tease on 2nd Avenue. I found Tease after finding a review in NY Magazine and have been going for the last few years. I usually get Jason but have had a few people and they're all good. But what makes the experience extra, extra special is their head massages while they wash your hair. Seriously. To die for. I'd take a head massage over complimentary tea any day. Last week I decided to take the plunge and chopped off all my hair. With a few celebrity photos I had compiled on Pinterest for reference, Jason was able to transform my hair from a safe but shapeless mid-length to a bold, curl embracing cut. Change your hair, change your life right? Perhaps with my age appropriate cut, I'll finally stop getting carded. The below photo was taken while my hair was still wet so not in its full curly glory but you get the idea.
NYC Guide: Cheap & Chic Dresses
Nearly a decade of living in or near New York City has taught me a thing or two about where to find the best coffee, where to get cheap dresses that aren't from Forever 21, decent work spots, etc. So here goes the start of another series. None of these posts are paid for and are all from my own experiences. If any of that changes, I'll let you know.
First up, what all my male readers have been waiting for. Dresses!
I discovered Cora dresses about two years ago at Artists & Fleas right outside of the Williamsburg flea market. The dresses are a very simple but femininely cut, made in one size. They're less than $50 and they constantly come out with new and interesting patterns, making a collection inevitable. (I have three!) I especially love how the cut is sweet and feminine but the patterns; ranging from graphic elements to foxes, are cleverly unexpected. Wear them over jeans, leggings, stockings or go bare. Dress them up or make them look more casual. And see their website for locations. I'm a fan of their stand at Chelsea Market but I recommend eating the obligatory crepe, lobster roll or gelato after you try on their dresses.
And if you plan on wearing a Cora dress while attending an event that I'm attending, for heaven's sake - contact me first so we can coordinate!
Moving Towards A Sustainable Future: Interview With Shoko Sekiguchi
In your current job, you help multi-national corporations develop their IT strategy. How did this job lead to supporting sustainability practices?
The multi-national corporations are looking into cost reduction by being efficient. Going green should really bring an efficiency to the corporations when it is planned well. So, many corporations asked me how to be green and efficient in their IT solutions and that is how I started looking at sustainability very seriously.
Sustainability on a corporate level can cover everything from LEED certified buildings, to energy efficient server management and increased recycling. What sustainability efforts can have the most positive impact on the environment?
That is a great question. I believe that starting with the sustainability projects that can be easily translated into cost reduction would most likely have the biggest impact on a CEO's decision to get further involved in the sustainability effort. As a result, it will lead to the most positive impact on the environment.
What companies have served as examples to the sustainability movement?
There are several such as Google and Whole Foods. I am particularly impressed by the effort of Patagonia, an out-door clothing brand. I wrote about them in a post on Ampleen, "What's the Responsible Company?"
Although caring for the environment has gone mainstream, I'm sure it can still be difficult to convince companies to be sustainable especially if there are extra costs involved. How do you do this?
As mentioned earlier, companies, especially public companies, are looking into being efficient and need justification for every spending. But, like the new Bank of America Tower, if the green initiatives can prove great savings over time, the key stake holders are more likely to be receptive about the projects.
What keeps you motivated to become more involved in the sustainability movement?
When I see some positive changes, rather than negatives facts, I feel compelled to get more involved in the movement. For instance, I started seeing more people coming to the Union Sq. green market in last a few years and being interested in what it's all about. I am excited to see the change and like to see more of that.
As we approach the upcoming election, the general sentiment is that Republicans are less likely to support policies that protect the environment. Should we be worried about current sustainability efforts if Romney is elected or is that a misperception.
Yes, I am concern about a shift in the environmental policies. I, however, hope that Romney will see the sustainable issue beyond the political agenda and take it as a universal issue that we face today. For instance, he can't be so blind as to ignore the obvious climate changes happening all over the U.S. We just have to continue our effort to raise the awareness of general public on the real risk of ignoring the issue.
How sustainable are American companies compared to those abroad?
Not speaking strictly to companies, but general American attitude towards sustainability seems to be behind among other developed countries. For example, you have to buy the government approved garbage bag that costs over $20 per bag in Korea - and that helps enforce people to reduce their daily waste.
Despite having a well connected public transportation system, many American cities surpass New York in their sustainability. What change in New York would make the biggest impact?
I wrote a couple posts on NYC's transportation and I believe the implementation of a good rental bike program will impact NYC such as we see in Paris. I am concerned that New Yorkers' individualist mind-set is dangerous since I see many bikers in the city pay very little attention to traffic rules and pedestrians. NYC needs to redesign the traffic path and enforce the rules while we develop the mindset of what it means to be a good community member.
You've created a site and community called Ampleen. What does it mean?
It is a made-up word with ample and green - I envision that my beloved city will be filled with green.
What is your ultimate goal for the site?
I set up this site since I realized that each individual organization is doing wonderful things but, they are dispersed and have a limited exposure to the general public. So, I want Ampleen to be a depository for green information about various organizations and their effort for people who are interested in getting involved with them.
And finally, there are so many groups and resources for those interested in environmental causes in New York City. What is one way that people who are interested in sustainability can get involved and make an impact?
Well, (smile) come to my launch party on Thursday, 10/11, and get connected to the green communities in NYC by emailing info@ampleen.com for more information. Check out Ampleen and find out what's new and exciting.
Some final thoughts about the interview - I found this interview to be particularly interesting because it touched on America's culture of individualism being a hinderance in the environmental movement. While the Korean government can use harsh behavioral economics to convince people to produce less waste, the same tactics in America would be seen as encroaching on individual rights. In Asian countries, people grow up valuing order, propriety and fitting in. In Europe, there may be more emphasis on the individual, but Europeans are constantly reminded of how finite their space is. They value family meals and regular vacations over obtaining more stuff. So how do we change a culture where we are taught to nurture ourselves first. Where one can fly across the country over what seems to be 3,000 miles of uninhabited land. And where our economy is structured around buying more stuff? One can only hope that the slew of heat waves, draughts and extreme weather effecting all Americans will be enough to get each individual on board with realizing they are part of a greater whole.
Celebrities = Photography Clusterf$ck
I spent a limited amount of time outside the "tents" but I have a feeling most of the major celebrities either went through a secret entrance or the bigger named shows were moved to locations outside of Lincoln Center. Given the stampede of photographers and fans surrounding Kimora Lee Simmons and Joan Rivers, I can only imagine what kind of attention bigger named celebrities would have drawn. And I don't think there would have been enough bodyguards to protect them. So Kimora Lee Simmons is freaking tall. The funny thing is that in real life, if you're a woman who's 6ft tall, that's kind of awkward which is a good reminder that most models are almost weird looking in real life. I mean it's hard enough to date in NYC as it is but can you imagine having to then narrow down your choices to men above 6ft tall? Kelly Osbourne looked stunning even with purple hair. She has literally managed to transform herself by losing weight and I hope it's a happy, sustainable weight for her. They both managed to grow into their brands in such a classy way that for a moment, I literally forgot that they both rose to fame as reality T.V. stars.
A Brief History of Street Fashion Blogs
Aside from the crisp fall weather and chance to start afresh, one of my favorite things about September is the NY fashion shows. Every year, I try to photograph the fashionably dress characters who come in and out of the shows. This tradition has consistently come with its share of adventures.A few years ago, I endured the fridget February cold for the Fall shows, standing outside the DKNY show, secretly located in the West Village, and managed to capture this celebrity filled scene. Nearly three years later, these are still some of my favorite shots taken with my humble Canon 40D using the kit lens.
Later that evening, I stood outside the Marc Jacobs show, making friends with some of the other photographers who I had met earlier during the day. One of those photographers, Henneli, went on to become an international photographer / celebrity. I'm happy to say that I've recently found a few magazine articles and features on both her style and work. She's a model turned photographer and became known for her impecable style, not letting even the highest heels get in the way of her photography abilities. We bonded over our Norwegian heritage (she's actually Norwegian while I only inherited my last name and love of gravlaks). And she invited me to an exclusive party thrown by Justin Timberlake. It was definitely one of those "only in New York" type moments that reminded me why I love the city so much. If you keep an open mind, a smile and a sense of adventure, you never know where the day or night can take you.
Stay tuned for photos of my most recent mini adventure.
Stepping Away From The Internet
One of my favorite things to do is wander around the city, photograph people or draw them. Yes, I know, all slightly stalker-ish activities. But I've always found endless fascination with people-watching. Yesterday, I did just that and thought I'd give you a visual recap of my day.
I spent a significant amount of time at Ground Support in Soho. My initial intention was to read and catch up on news but with my iPad, new Bamboo stylus, and Paper 53 app, I couldn't resist one of my all time favorite past times - sketching people. I later overheard the French girl I drew talk about how high rents, mentioning she took a Skillshare class about how to live rent free. Which I mentally noted was the same class I took. Small world.
My sketching was briefly interrupted by a celebrity sighting. I think that years or should I say, 10,000 hours of memorizing figures and faces in order to draw them, has given me excellent facial recognition. Can you spot him in the above, right picture?
One of the benefits of everyone being glued to their devices is that they sit relatively still for a few minutes, giving me enough time to draw them. Thank you internet. While I was admittedly tempted to sit across from MG and practice my sketching using him as a subject, I smartly chose to sit outside instead.
I witnessed a lost pigeon flying into a café that had trouble getting out. So like MacGyver, I instructed the panicked staff to create a trail of crumbs out the door. Success!
Street Fashion Candids: Herald Square, Sweatpants-chic
It's been a long while since I took my Canon 40D out for a stroll and captured the styles of New York so for the next few days I'll post what I find. Now if only I could afford to get the 5D Mark II and upgrade my photos.
Occupy Wall Street - A Turning Point
It's hard to write about Occupy Wall Street and say what has not already been said but I'll share my thoughts. If you live near New York City, you should visit the movement because it's unique experience that can't be fully taken in through pictures. I absolutely support the movement. These people are sacrificing their time, comfort and daily lives to stand up to a system that is not working. And when I say system, I believe it's not the absolute fault of Wall Street, but an entire American system that includes people spending beyond their means, a culture that values having more stuff, government regulation or lack of, politics, unions, our health care ... the list goes on.Their two weeks of occupation is gaining more traction than countless opinion articles in the New York Times and they're doing more than most of us who are merely complaining to our friends and family about our anger against Wall Street. Occupy Wall Street looks like a scene from an apocalyptical movie where people from all walks of life come together to fight for a cause. You have the Jesus lovers, hippies, homeless, yuppies, students, blue collar workers, old, young, musicians, super heros, yogis, and then you have all the people coming to observe this cast of characters, capturing moments with their iPhones, iPads, point and shoot video cameras, fancy cameras, analogue cameras, or pens and notebooks. There are people who choose to protest with their voice in song, use their wit in clever signs, their t-shirt design skills, their sub-conscious in meditation, or their hands letting their instruments speak. And their are the cops who stand around doing their job and watching the movement with amusement.
But a picture tells a thousand words.
