Image(s) of the Night 19-23

Tonight I went for a stroll with two of my friends. We dropped of my one friend's girlfriend at Penn Station and decided to walk back East rather then waste money on the subway. Along our way back I was able to snap off a few images seeing as I had taken my digital camera along with me.

You'll notice something different about these images. That is that they all have people in them. This is certainly not something that occurs often or is seen often in my, so called, ouvre.  My current focus is on everything that is NOT photographic in photography and stripping it of its preconceived notifying photographic indicators. However, everyone in a while I feel compelled to just snap some images.

Midnight Shift - 2012

This image of the construction sight holds significance because immediately following my passing of the site I was asked by one of the workers if there was any way he'd be able to get the/an image(s) that I took. I told him if he supplied his email address then I'd take care of the rest. Later tonight I had the photograph all ready for him and had emailed him a high resolution file that he can use for printing or sending to a lab to order prints if he so chooses.

Untitled - 2012

There's something unsettling about this image. It's the small postcard of the twin towers in the upper left-of-center portion of the frame. It's almost as if it's a constant reminder for the guards on duty. And the only reason I approach this with some reservations is because I don't think we need our security to be constantly feeling a sort of mixture of anger, hatred, and sorrow while they are performing their job as assisting those who need help and simultaneously maintaining a "lookout" and a watchful eye for any unscrupulous behavior. I feel that with all the associated ideas behind 9/11 it might almost increase the tendencies of racial or ethnic profiling amongst public security officers such as the NYPD or even the officers dressed in full camouflage and wielding automatic rifles.

Late Night McDonald's Run...Walk...er...Sit - 2012

Untitled - 2012

 Yes, I added a good amount of digital noise to this image. I felt it needed it. There are a good deal of negative undertones within this image and I felt adding grain as a sort of, degradation of the image, of clarity added to the mood.

The aspect ratios are as follows:
4:5
6:7
6:7
5:7

Letter to a Priest

I've recently been traveling around New York City in an attempt to photograph many of the churches and sacred spaces starting with Manhattan. Recently I stepped inside the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America - St. John The Baptist church. It's located at 143 East 17th Street New York, NY 10003. You walk inside this dimly lit space with only one aisle, velvet red carpet, red candles, a beautiful alter and the walls are lined with dramatic paintings. It's a wonderful space and the priest is a kind man who used to build and ride motorcycles. If you ever find yourself in the area, stop by and see if he's in. His name is Father Vasilios Bassakyros.

Peace,

-S.

P.s. It you wish to read the letter it's best if you right click and select open in new window. unless you're running Firefox in which case I believe it does that automatically.

Also, please do not click download file. I understand I'm presenting this file on the web where nothing is safe or private or personal but these are my words and I'd like to feel that I can share my thoughts online.

Information regarding the swastika and it's uses in world religions.
Information taken from:
http://www.religionfacts.com/buddhism/symbols/swastika.htm

"The swastika (Sanskrit svastika, "all is well") is a cross with four arms of equal length, with the ends of each arm bent at a right angle. Sometimes dots are added between each arm.

The swastika is an ancient symbol found worldwide, but it is especially common in India. It can be seen in the art of the Egyptians, Romans, Greeks, Celts, Native Americans, and Persians as well Hindus, Jains and Buddhists.

The swastika's Indian name comes the Sanskrit word svasti, meaning good fortune, luck and well being.

In Hinduism, the right-hand (clockwise) swastika is a symbol of the sun and the god Vishnu, while the left-hand (counterclockwise) swastika represents Kali and magic. The Buddhist swastika is almost always clockwise"

Good Words from Morgan Freeman

Here is a great excerpt from an interview with Morgan Freeman conducted by Mike Wallace. In it Mr. Freeman expresses his dislike towards having a Black History Month and challenges Mike Wallace with a question Mr. Wallace clearly feels uncomfortable answering.  Freeman then goes on to offer a beautiful and simple humanist solution to racism.

To my understanding this is an excerpt from CBS' 60 Minutes conducted by Mike Wallace, one of the show's original correspondents. As to the date of publication, that I do not know.

Peace,


-Steve