forgotten signs

I found these great handwritten advertising for sideshow acts in Coney Island.  Unfortunately, I don;t think they will last very long.  They are in the enterance way to a door that seems like it isn't used much and if so, isn't used with much care.  I didn't get a picture of the entire doorway but I did take photos of the the advertisments. I feel like I am in some way preserving the past with these pictures.  Hopefully whoever owns the property will save these little treasures:

Here are photos #'s 148 and 149:

"She Speaks 7 Different Languages"
https://www.etsy.com/listing/129728623/vintage-sign-photography-coney-island

"Your Handwriting Reveals Your Character"
https://www.etsy.com/listing/129728495/vintage-sign-photography-coney-island

Icons of New York City

I was back in NYC for a couple of weeks and had a fun time revisiting New York with a fresh set of eyes and photographing it.  I'll probably be posting a bunch of photos from NY over the next few posts. I have to thank time and distance away from the city to be able to do it... have I become a tourist? 

I'm going to try something new and make links to the photos on my Etsy site to see if it works as a way to view the images.  It's aparently good for my Etsy site to get links from ouside sources.  I'm clearly trying to get some exposure here.  So.. .here are photos 145, 146 and 147:

Brooklyn's Eiffel Tower: the Parachute Jump of Coney Island

The Brooklyn Bridge



The Flatiron Building



Please do me a favor and let me know how this works for you.

Thanks a bunch!

hanging on to the past - vintage cars

Kudos to all those who can restore cars.  It must take a lot of work, knowlege, ingenuity and patience.  I wish I had the know-how.  At best I can change the tire and fluids on my motorcycle and car but that's about it. I would get into trouble if I ventured any further.  Here are two trucks that could be contenders for a restoration project, but they are quite beautiful as they are.  (Photos# 143, 144)

fragile memories, vintage train signage

A couple of years ago, I came upon a train museum and took pictures of the trains and some signage on the cars, not thinking about how long these will last.  Here's the link to the post:

http://image1001.blogspot.com/2011/01/train-museum-snoqualmie-wa.html

I went back the other day and I was shocked to find that they had painted over the signage I had taken photos of.  It looked like they spray painted the whole car a bright yellow without much thought.

I made it a point to take as many photos as I can of the signage remaining on the other trains.  They may not paint over them so soon but nature is taking over these as there is little attempt to preserve the trains.  That being said there is definitely a beauty about the rusting sides of the trains.  What attracts me to them is the once man-made elements being taken over by nature.  The beauty of the traces of weathering and decay which cannot be made by hand...

Anyways, here are a couple of photos I took: photos # 141, 142

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

figural gestures at the corner of the viewfinder and Dr. Who

I've been shooting a lot with my tilt/shift lens.  At first it was to get used to using the lens and then I started to really like using the lens and it felt wierd using a standard lens afterwards.  The kool thing is that I started noticing that figures in the edges of the viewfinder were so distorted that they became figural gestures, some graceful and others somewhat looking like zombies.  If anyone reads this, I'd love to get some feedback about whether it is worth it to pursue more images like this???

According to Dr. Who: "look exactly where you don't want to look, where you never want to look.  The corner of your eye..."

These photos using a tilt/shift lens have not been digitally enhanced other than cropping and adding a border no photoshop filters involved.  Photos # 139 and 140

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

working out the kinks

Okaaay, so I opened up shop today on Etsy selling my photos. I figure on listing a few photos a day.  Please do have a look and let me know what you think.  http://www.etsy.com/shop/takOdesignstudio

Walla Walla, Washington

There is a place in Southeastern Washington known for its sweet onions,  more recently known for its wineries.  I know Walla Walla for its super-friendly people, and boy, there sure is a lot of farmland around.   Photos # 137 and 138.