Robin Michals | COMD 1340 Photography 1

Category: Student Posts (Page 2 of 7)

Lower Manhattan

“Fingerprint of the Big Apple”

As a proud New Yorker, there’s truly no place like New York. From the bright lights of Times Square to the smell of diverse ethnic food on every corner, the culture is admired by all from around the world. For my final project, I chose the Lower Manhattan region such as Bowling Green and Fulton Street. There’s an immense amount of history of New York related to immigration that many of us including myself can relate to. For that sole reason has helped create the melting pot that we know today. Some of the various locations I will be visiting are Battery Park, Ellis Island, the World Trade Center, and the Statue of Liberty. I have a couple of fond memories of my childhood like riding the Staten Island Ferry with my family, taking a trip to Govern’s Island in middle school, and looking up under Lady Liberty’s nose. Our past helps us to reconnect with ourselves so my photographs will have a historical tone and I will be going to these locations at different times of the day and weather conditions.

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Final Project statement

 I plan on taking pictures in Bryant Park as well as the New York Public Library. The park is small, but it will always be full of people, holiday cheer, and busy people. I choose Bryant Park because I have a lot of memories of working in the area and then hanging out in the park or library before going home. So, it would be nice to revisit the area and take pictures and use the tools I’ve learned in class.

My theme for this project will be the stress of living in New York in a pretty environment. I feel like people romanticize New York even though the people that live here have many issues with how it’s being ran. From the mayor, the police, rent, and living expenses it feels like we are just being worked overtime for the tourist to feel happy.

I really enjoy pictures that look depressing especially in New York because that’s what it feels like to live here. To help make my pictures look gloomy and gritty I’m going to use exposure, blurring motion, direct light, and more. I think that the juxtaposition will be make for interesting photos and make a vibe a lot of people will relate to.

I plan on going at different times from early morning to night to show the flow of people and different lighting. I’ll take pictures of people rushing, resting, smoking, and their surroundings. The pictures in the library will help too with the vibe of people just wanting to be in a calm quiet environment to themselves.

Final statement and mood board


Through the course the projects that I enjoyed the most were the projects that captured people, like the motion project , capturing basketball players. Also taking pictures at Washington Square Park, along side my classmate, because we’re friends it makes it a experience also when coming across multiple people. I have a full schedule but on Saturdays I’m free, that gives me the opportunity to capture busy places, packed with people enjoying their Saturday night.

Engaging in street photography is an inspiring project that I’ve has the opportunity to explore, with a specific focus on capturing those spontaneous moments that tell compelling stories about the day-to-day lives of the people of New York City. The unpredictable and dynamic nature of the city’s hustling environment is what has a deep appeal to me in the world of street photography, as it allows me the opportunity ti document authentic, unscripted moments that unfold organically before the camera lens.

At the core of my project lies the art of capturing candid, unfiltered moments in the vibrant and bustling streets of NYC. These spontaneous moments, whether they involve the joyous laughter of friends on a stoop, the mesmerizing performance of a street artist, or the energetic hustle and bustle of a local market, offer glimpses into the city life. Each photograph I take aims to narrate a story, reflecting the diverse emotions, struggles, and beauty that define the daily existence of the city’s inhabitants.

The choice of a specific location for my street photography project holds importance. I am currently considering two distinct options: Brooklyn and Soho. Brooklyn, known for its cultural diversity, promises to provide a kaleidoscope of stories from people of various backgrounds. On the other hand, Soho, as a hub of art, fashion, and commerce, offers a different but equally captivating narrative potential. The location I ultimately select will become my canvas, enabling me to delve deeply into its distinctive culture and essence.

Technical proficiency plays a role in my endeavor. I plan to make adjustments to my camera settings, including shutter speed, to capture movement, freeze actions, or convey a sense of motion. Additionally, I’ll be tweaking frame and aperture settings, ensuring that I can expertly control focus and depth, thereby emphasizing specific details in my shots. These technical choices will be my tools in crafting images that vividly convey the essence of each moment I encounter on the streets.

In conclusion, my street photography project is a dedication to showcasing the authenticity of New York City’s daily life, weaving stories through images that capture the soul of this city that never sleeps. Whether I choose the streets of Brooklyn or the fashionable alleys of Soho, my journey will be an exploration of real, unfiltered urban life. It’s an opportunity to share the beauty and diversity of the people who call this incredible city home, and to convey their stories through the lens of my camera. Growing up in the city, I’ve grew to understand that images go a long way, there’s many people that haven’t seen passed their borough or state yet alone don’t know what happens outside and through the city among different backgrounds.

Final Project Proposal

“Winter Village At Bryant Park”

It’s the most wonderful time of year! New York City is the place to be during the Holiday Season. From the infamous Rockefeller Christmas Tree to the dazzling window displays, New York City has it all. There are couple places that really goes all out during the holiday season and one of them is Bryant Park. I will be photographing Bryant Park during its holiday season also known as Bryant Park Winter Village. During the Holiday season visitors can stop by the village and drink some hot chocolate or shop at the many Holiday themed pop up shops. Visitors can also glide through the ice and skate at its outdoor ice skating rink. When it’s time to fuel up, visitors can visit the food hall and indulge in some delicious food.

Photographing the Village is no easy task. There are thousands of visitors that visit the Village everyday so, getting that perfect shot is going to be a challenge itself. I will be visiting the park at least 3 different times to expand my photo gallery and portfolio. Some may take place during the day and others during the night. Photographing the village will require all the skills I learned in class as well as on my own free time. I have a couple of ideas that I would like to accomplish composition wise, other than that I plan to shoot freely. I am going to diversify the photos, so that no shoot is going to be the same as the last. I have only been to the Village once, so Photographing this atmosphere is going to be a fun task. Christmas is one of my favorite holidays, so just getting out there and immersing myself into the holiday spirit is something I can’t wait to do. I wouldn’t really consider this as a project but, more so an activity that I would enjoy doing during my free time.

Final Project Proposal

Project Title: “Through the lens of Chinatown”

For this project I want to capture the diversity, history and everyday life of New York City’s Chinatown. I want to showcase the Chinese culture fusion with the urban landscape of NYC. The story I want to depict through my photographs is to showcase how immigrant communities have contributed to the city’s unique identity. I want to convey the cultural, busy life of this neighborhood’s social fabric. The subject matter for this project will include architectural elements, culture, daily life, the local business, markets and shops. I will be shooting in Chinatown, more specifically Canal Street and East Broadway. For the schedule I want to plan out to visit Chinatown at different times of the day. Shooting times will vary to capture different lighting conditions and moods. Early morning scenes in the marketplaces. Afternoons to document daily street life; and evenings/nighttime to capture the neighborhood’s vibrancy after dark. To further show the essence of Chinatown I will be using different photographic techniques such as, the rule of thirds, diagonals, taking off guard portrait photos, different angle views, photographs with symmetry, etc. Overall, I want to showcase Chinatown’s rich culture and daily life.

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