joel plotkin photography

It is so cliche to say, but I love New York. I really love NYC.  It truly is the epitome of America and all that it stands for. Millions of people, thousands of nationalities, ethnic backgrounds, religions, economic status, gay, straight, bi, TG, crazy, sane,  all essentially living together on a small cramped island – for the most part coexisting happily.  This melange of people makes great people watching too.

I went to the city to relax, eat and have a few drinks, walk around and just soak it all in. I miss NYC and having lived  out of state for nearly 18 years, I’ve almost forgotten what it was like until I visited a couple of weeks ago.  On this trip, I had no preconceived notions as to what I would photograph, if anything, in the city.  It was starting out to be a nasty Saturday.  Rainy, cloudy, not real walking around weather.  My hotel was on Park Ave and when I looked out the window I realized it was closed to traffic and open to pedestrians and bicyclists.  When the rain stopped I took a walk thinking there may be some good people watching.  So I grabbed my camera and set-out for a stroll and some photos.

I walked about 4 blocks towards Grand Central Station and was quickly disappointed.  Nothing to photograph, but buildings, and quite frankly, why do I need to do that? Well, it started raining  plus, there were so many people, I decided to go back to my hotel and wait it out.

A couple of hours goes by and it clears so I grab my camera and head downtown – I start seeing people.  People, living their lives, going about life and in their little worlds – instead of picking up my camera and risk intimidating people, or provoking a pose, I set my camera to f 4 at 1/100 of a second (cloudy day) and began literally shooting from the hip.  The images are fleeting moments that I captured while walking around the city.  If people appear as though they are looking at the camera, it is by chance,  as I was not holding it up to compose the images.

Park Ave Buildings

This is where my day started – I was disappointed as it started to rain and there were 8 million tourists with cameras – went back to the hotel to wait it out.

Love on Park Avenue

Photograph #2 – This couple inspired the idea as I was walking down Park Ave.  These two were making out like 15 year virgins on a first date. It truly was a beautiful site.  They were standing in the street, off the curb, and I swear they were going to get hit by a cab. I was not ready with my camera and only captured the post make-out glee in their faces.  From this point on I thought I would be ready for anything.

The Union Square Cryer

The Union Square Cryer – I’m walking slowly down Park Ave South along Union Square, and I hear a man crying like a blubbering little baby behind me.  In his cell phone he was crying to someone, presumably a former lover, as I remember he was saying (while crying very loudly)  “I don’t remember….I don’t remember” – WTF do you think he did wrong?

Prison Couture

I may not be up on the hip cultural style, so I never really understood this – shit all I wear are jeans, black t-shirts and Chucks.  Apparently in prison you are not given a belt to reduce the risk of suicide or murder.  So pants are always hanging off a person’s waist – this look has made it’s way to daily life.  This gentleman was hanging out (literally) in front of a florist on Park Ave. South.

Neon Awning

I like this awning – shot from the hip.

Mannequins sporting the newest sexy lingerie.Best of Show

Doorway by Day - Studio Apartment by Night

La abuela se parece caliente - Grandma is looking hot

This was taken in Soho as I was on my way to find a place for dinner.  Even though she looked so miserable and hot, she was still wearing her sexy outfit with pride. Check out the hat…I think it’s the best part of the ensemble.