A trip to New York gave me the long expected opportunity to finally explore a city that until then I had only seen on screen. New York is visually connected to my brain from the many action movies with superheroes and superpowers. You actually expect Spiderman to appear somewhere out of nowhere and disappear just as quickly. Maybe that's part of what gives this city that special charm and touch of something that can't be put into words, it can only be experienced with your own senses put into super-sensitivity.
It was mid-April in 2019, probably the best time to enjoy the scent of the big city, when I crossed the Hudson River on train. I arrived at Penn Station and from walked to "The Jane," a former sailor hotel, in Manhattan. The first few blocks on foot felt easy, as if my feet had walked these streets many times before. The mere sight of the city was inviting and the six hours on the plane were already forgotten with the many friendly faces crossing pathways.
I was going to meet up with the well-known headshot photographer Peter Hurley from NYC. My goal was to visit him in his studio, check out a little of his hood and do an interview for my book on business & photography. He was out of town when I arrived, so I had a few days to get to know the city better and feel the vibe before I got to meet him and hit him with my questions.
Every corner of the city held little stories. So a few steps often turned into long walks. The long streets became wormholes and helped me set a new personal walking record of 150 km in 9 days. Walking between these gigantic buildings felt unreal. And yet, I could see what architects, engineers and fearless construction workers are capable of when they have a clear vision of what is to be built together.
Later I changed my hotel closer to my new favorite place: Central Park. I did not feel like a sailor anymore, much more like an urban explorer. It was easy to reflect on the interview with Peter and the many ideas for the book. Working outdoors has always been one of my favorite things to do. It's one of the main reasons I became a photographer in the first place. You get to enjoy good light and incredible sights. I carried a camera and notebook with me all the time.
It was not uncommon for me to stop in the busy streets to jot down ideas or take snapshots. One evening I even made it to the top of the Empire State Building - what an amazing view, seeing the city from above was breathtaking. Perhaps the most exciting rooftop view I've seen so far, especially at sunset. A definite recommendation and nice inspiration: just a few hundred years ago churches were the tallest buildings, now it is mostly offices and media antennas that rise skyward in these endless behemoths of brick, steel and concrete, cementing their reach.
Another evening I got a tour from local friends who showed me their favorite spots along the river overlooking the skyline. Unfortunately, that was when my SLR camera was already damaged from an unfortunate moment on the baseball field. Still, I highly recommend New York in the spring. Even if you are alone on the road, there is much to discover and be it only the next Mexican food truck.
