Four Seasons In One Week

New York weather is strange, isn’t it? Well, for me I find it strange, but interesting at the same time because of its inconsistency. For example, in a span of one to three weeks, the weather can change so drastically that sometimes it even seems as if all four seasons are manifested into two or three weeks.
If you think I might be over exaggerating a little, then you can analyze what happened over the last three weeks and see for yourself that I do have a point. Thus now let’s get into what actually happened over that specific period of time. Three weeks ago it rained, resembling that we were in the fall, and the week after that you could have thought that it was already summer time because the temperature went all the way up to the 70’s. This week temperatures dropped, it became cold, and as if things were not crazy enough, it snowed yesterday on the first day of Spring.Thus, this is how crazy and inconsistent New York’s weather has been over the course of just three weeks and thus this phenomena does really seem like four seasons in a month.

 people walking on a sidewalk in the rainPhoto taken in Manhattan
green trees leaning over a city streetPhoto taken in Manhattan
a yellow taxicab driving over a crosswalkPhoto taken in Manhattan
train tracks in the snowPhoto taken in Manhattan
a snowy pedestrian pathPhoto taken in Manhattan

Taking Portraits

I am usually a landscape photographer I mostly take photos of buildings,
bridges,  streets, parks and basically any structures and subjects
that my eye catch and can somehow depict New York City.

So lately, I have expanded my horizons to better explore other aspects of
photography. Taking photos and trying to tell a story about a particular
moment is a passion of mine and that passion have been taken into taking
portraiture. It’s not that I have never taken portraits before, but now I am just
more focused on adding more of the human aspect in my photographs.What I found particularly interesting about taking portraits, is that weather your subject is a family member, friend, stranger or some random person you’ve seen somewhere,  every portrait is different and you have to capture the image specifically to accommodate to that person in a way that their stories are being told in the most accurate way as possible.

Thus it is helpful to chat with your subject and find out a
little bit about him/her in order to get their story in the photograph. The
journey of taking portraits have been a great experience so far and I’m
looking forward to meet new people and to capture their stories.


a young man of color sitting on stone steps in jeans and a white shirtPhoto taken in Queens

 

a young woman of color in front of a city skyline on the shorePhoto taken at Gantry Park Plaza

 

a young woman of color in a walkway lined by plantsPhoto taken at Gantry park Plaza

 

a young woman with long hair holding a "New York City FC" signPhoto taken at Times Square

 

a young man on red stairs, wearing a puffy blue jacket and a ski hatPhoto taken at Times Square

 

a man in a Spiderman face maskPhoto taken in The Bronx

NYCFC Winning The Hearts Of New Yorkers

New York City Football Club (NYCFC) is back representing New York City in the Major League Soccer (MLS) again. Last season in 2015, NYCFC started playing and they won the heart of many New Yorkers including myself. Many football (soccer) fanatics gathered at Yankee Stadium whenever they played to watch and support our beloved team. The first year we did not really care if the team was a title contender team or winning every games, we were just happy that we finally had a football (soccer) team in New York City that we could passionately support weeks and weeks out.

 Even though the team was not winning a lot of games, that did not stop NYCFC fans to pack the stadium and to cheer as much as they can on the team. It was all about the experience of being part of the historic first season, the excitement of going to the games, being part of the great atmosphere in the stands and most importantly the anticipation of meeting new people and forming inseparable bonds to go behind a team that represent New York City.

Now in this new season we get to do it all over again and this time the overall experience is going to be better.  First from the players because they know each other better now as a team since they been bonding with each other for well over a year. Second from the fans who will be able to coordinate better between them and therefore give the team better support and making the atmosphere in the stadium better each games.

But of course we can never forget the first ever season. It was epic, joyful, sometimes nerve racking but exciting and most of all promising. I made sure to remember the first season by taking photographs that highlighted last season’s atmosphere at the stadium created by die hard and passionate NYCFC fans. Last year was when everything  started and this season and this year is when NYCFC is going to win many more hearts and soul of New Yorkers.


a sports stadium with a crowdPhoto taken at Yankee Stadium

 

a sports stadium with a crowdPhoto taken at Yankee Stadium

 

the crowd at a sports stadiumPhoto taken at Yankee Stadium

 

a sports stadium with a crowdPhoto taken at Yankee Stadium

 

a sports stadium with a crowdPhoto taken at Yankee Stadium

 

a sports stadium with a crowd                Photo taken at Yankee Stadium

 

a sports stadium with a crowdPhoto taken at Yankee Stadium

Exploring Bridges

Some people see bridges as just simple structures, but if you think about it, bridges are much more than just a structure. Bridges are what make our world to be connected together, where people can cross and see the other side. Bridges are specifically built to bring places and people together, to explore the world and to expose ourselves to the unknown.

I’ve always been fascinated with bridges, walking on a bridge is something that I have always enjoy doing. Up there is very peaceful and the view is breathtaking. There’s something thrilling about being between two different places and having to be surrounded by water. Also of course if you are not afraid of heights, walking across a bridge such like the Brooklyn Bridge is such an amazing experience.


a city bridge seen from afarPhoto taken in Brooklyn

 

a city bridgePhoto taken in Brooklyn

 

the view of the city from a bridge, through a wire mesh fencePhoto taken in Brooklyn

 

a graffiti-covered archwayPhoto taken in Brooklyn

Chinatown, A Place To Visit

Right by the Manhattan Bridge in lower Manhattan, Chinatown is one of the most cultural and distinctive part of New York City. Some even say that if you visit Chinatown it is like you had a glance at China. Although I’m not sure how accurate that is, but it is true that Chinatown has a real Chinese vibe about it.

Things like culture, art and writings are preserved and one can clearly see that by just a quick visit to Chinatown. Each year people of Chinatown celebrates  Chinese cultural festivals. They are Chinese people and descendants after all, so of course they will certainly preserve their heritage. For outsiders who have not been to China for whatever reasons and want to have a feel of Chinese culture, people and traditions,  Chinatown is definitely the place to go to explore such experiences. 


Life is not just about reaching success, but it also about enjoying the journey and learning from the hardships along the way.

a colorful city streetPhoto taken at Chinatown

 

Be the change that you want to see in the world.

aerial view of a colorful city streetPhoto taken in Chinatown

 

“Beauty is the eye of the beholder”

high view of colorful city buldingsPhoto taken at Chinatown

 

Live life enjoying seconds because every seconds counts

aerial view of a colorful city streetPhoto taken at Chinatown

A Walk On The Brooklyn Bridge

The Brooklyn Bridge is one of the most iconic places in New York City. lf you are a New Yorker, or have visited NYC, you definitely have to go there at least once in your life time. It is one of the places that embodies the identity of New York City and makes it the wonderful city that it is. The Brooklyn Bridge, being on this city’s list of most visited places and point of interest, attracts around one and a half million tourists on a a yearly basis.

We can easily understand why that is because walking on the bridge gives you an amazing view from the city and its surroundings. Especially the Manhattan skyline, which is one of the sights that make visiting the Brooklyn Bridge an experience like no other. On its surroundings, the East river has some fantastic sights as well, depending on how far your eyes can reach. Those who have not crossed the Brooklyn Bridge yet, are highly encouraged to make visiting the bridge part of their bucket list to experience in this iconic New York City location for what it stands for and its spectacular sightseeing.


A good dream is a dream that can become reality.

people walking on a city bridgePhoto taken at the Brooklyn Bridge

 

As long as there is a destination to reach, there should be no reason to stop.

aerial view of a city bridge

Photo taken at the Brooklyn Bridge

 

The best moments are those that can’t be experienced more than once.

a city skyline at night, from a bridge

Photo taken at the Brooklyn Bridge

 

Once you cross the gates of the Brooklyn Bridge, the most fascinating and magical city awaits you on the other side.

a city skyline at sunset, from a bridgePhoto taken at the Brooklyn Bridge

 

 

 

 

 

 

When It IS Officially Winter

Some say it is not officially winter until it snows. Well it may not be completely true because we know that winter begins on the 21st of December. However, it is indeed true that snow is one of the most distinctive visible evidence of winter.

It is as if winter could have had a trademark, snow would be the right one to claim it. Just for the simple reason that it only snows during winter. Many would not appreciate winter the same way they do if it was only cold and windy. Thus many people mostly appreciate it because snow makes winter beautiful and interesting. It could also be that because snow is the most enjoyable and unique part of winter that many look forward to see and experience. Coming from a tropical island, I cannot hold myself from getting excited about seeing snowfall. It is one of those things I never get tired of seeing because each snowfall is magical and it has its own different story.


To reach your ideal destination, you must take the right journey.

a snowy city street

Photo taken in Brooklyn

 

Snowy days make everything beautiful.

a snowy city streetPhoto taken in Queens

 

You can take the easy roads in life, but the challenging ones are always the most interesting.

a snowy city streetPhoto taken in Queens

 

Waiting for the train to come after snowfall is even more interesting.

a snowy city train trackPhoto taken at The Highline

 

Cloudy Days

New York City isn’t necessarily known for as a cloudy city, but sometimes it does get really cloudy in NYC. And when it does happen, many times it becomes such a spectacular phenomenon for one to admire.

The part of the day to best fully catch the beauty of the clouds over the city is during the times of sunrise and sunset. This is when the dazzling clouds in he sunlight gets more noticeable and  creates such a fantastic view. At  multiple times, I find myself lost and in awe looking at the clouds as they pass over the city’s astonishing skyline. For something that is not a daily occurrence in NYC, when it greets the city, it magnificently add a beautiful touch it and adds grandeur to New York City’s  unique identity.


a city skyline in front of a sunset sky, with cars on a bridgeBrooklyn Bridge – Brooklyn

 

a cloudy sunset over a city shorelineGantry Park Plaza – Queens

 

a city skyline and shorelineManhattan Bridge – Manhattan

 

a cloudy sunset over a city skylineBrooklyn Bridge – Brooklyn

 

 

Foggy Days

Foggy days are wonderful, It makes for such a wonderful feeling of calmness and peacefulness. Fog have a lot of unique attributes to it; the most distinctive, is that the visibility gets poorer by a cloud of smoke covering the area. Sometimes the cloud of smoke is so thick that it can be very hard for people to clearly see as they pass through an area covered by fog. But nonetheless fog creates such a wonderful view and have a peaceful and cozy atmosphere.


a village streetCambria Heights – Queens

 

a village streetCambria Heights – Queens

 

a village streetCambria Heights – Queens

 

Night Time In Fall

It’s gets very beautiful at night in New York, however during the fall it is even more beautiful during the night. During fall the days are relatively shorter than the nights, thus there’s quite a lot of time for the fall to show its magical colors at night.

The colors may not be as vibrant and visible as during the days. But it is still indeed breathtaking and enjoyable to witness. Especially during the fall, the sky displays a variety of wonderful colors illuminating the sky every night. It gets really spectacular, it’s like the sky is trying to send a message or it wants to show its feelings. Nonetheless, it’s just such a nice phenomenon to see. Moreover, the lively way the lights of the city contrast with the night is something amazing that also take place in the fall. It makes going outside even for a stroll worth every seconds.


strung lights across a city street at nightBrooklyn

 

strung lights across a city street at nightChinatown – Manhattan

 

a bridge walkway at nightManhattan Bridge – Manhattan

 

a hand held through a break in a wire mesh fenceManhattan Bridge – Manhattan