It took a few months for things to pick up again for me in terms of photography. Since November, I hadn’t done much over the winter due to traveling for the holidays, moving, and applying for new jobs. Once things started to calm down, my girlfriend and I decided to take a train up to New York City to visit one of our best friends. I had no intention of taking photos on this trip; bringing my camera didn’t even cross my mind. I was just ready to enjoy the time with our friend.
After a seven-hour train ride, we arrived in the city late, took an Uber across the river to Queens, and went to sleep almost immediately. The next morning, the three of us took a walk to get some breakfast and do some quick shopping. I couldn’t stop looking around. The people, the buildings, the excitement—it was all so inspiring. Queens had a different energy than Manhattan, which I’d been to before. It was refreshing, and I was just taking it all in.
Our friend had some work to do, so my girlfriend and I went off to explore on our own. We took an Uber over to Long Island City, and during the drive, I was so captivated by everything outside the window that I wished I had brought my camera. Then I realized that I did have one with me—in my pocket, on my phone.
The first shot I took was a simple one out of the car window: a few buildings. I liked how the older stone building at the bottom seemed to act as the base for a newer glass skyscraper in the background. On the right, another glass building seemed to just protrude out of nowhere, which I loved.
I felt inspired at practically every block and intersection, finding it hard to keep my phone down, but I made a point to pause and just enjoy the surroundings, too. One part of the drive I particularly enjoyed was a section that went under a series of bridges. Instead of barren concrete, there were endless basketball and tennis courts, all full of people playing.
As we neared our destination, the scenery changed from small brick structures to multi-story buildings and skyscrapers, giving a small taste of Manhattan. At one intersection, I spotted a mural of a man surrounded by flowers with the caption, “Don’t Post That.” I loved it and had to get a shot. I kept the context of the surrounding city and buildings in the frame to highlight the mural.
In editing, I went with a monochrome style for the surroundings while keeping the mural colorful and bright, drawing the eye immediately to it. I brightened the mural slightly to make it appear illuminated by the sun or another light source.
I really like this shot because it’s something I wouldn’t typically capture. For years, I thought that as someone focused on landscape photography, I couldn’t find joy or inspiration in city or urban photography. But this trip really changed that perspective for me—I felt more inspired in the city than I had been outdoors.
We eventually made it to Long Island City and walked around, stepped into some stores, and grabbed some snacks. After a couple of hours, we headed back to Queens to get dinner at an Italian restaurant connected to our friend’s building. It was delicious, but since this isn’t a food blog, I won’t go into too much detail!
The next day, we went into Manhattan to walk around, hang out, and just enjoy ourselves. Taking the subway, we arrived at Penn Station, right in the middle of the city’s chaos. I know I’ve said it many times, but I just couldn’t put my phone down. One of my favorite shots from this area was of the Empire State Building. The image has excellent layers—starting with a brick building in the foreground, then glass, and finally the Empire State, creating a “stepping” effect that draws the eye upward.
The clouds in the background added some texture, giving the buildings more depth and contrast. I think that if it had been a clear blue sky, the image might have looked flatter. Each building’s architectural style also added to the visual interest, which is why I love this shot so much.
The next few shots are from the following day when we spent time in Chelsea, exploring the Chelsea Market and walking along the High Line. One image I took on the High Line features a concrete wall with interesting textures. I positioned the wall to have a looming effect on one half of the frame, creating a slightly off-kilter feel to emphasize the imposing atmosphere.
Another shot happened by chance—I spotted a group of people wearing colorful hats from above, with an orange barrier in the foreground. I decided to keep the barrier in the frame for balance and color, which I ended up really liking.
The final shot I took was as we headed to dinner. Since it was our last day, I had to capture a classic straight-on, symmetrical shot of a fire escape.
This trip was amazing for so many reasons—getting to stay with our best friend, exploring the city, and capturing some unexpected photos! I had no intention of taking pictures, but the moment we arrived, I was inspired and regretted not bringing my camera. I’m glad that instead of feeling discouraged, I took out my phone and made the best of it. I love the photos I captured, and they helped rekindle my passion for photography.
Once we got home, I made an effort to go out after work and walk around Richmond a couple of times a week. I got back into sunrise and sunset shoots, returning to my obsession with a fresh perspective. I became interested in street and architectural photography, bought a few books to learn more, and even picked up a film camera… well, now a few—but that’s a story for another day.
I’m so glad I got into this hobby nearly ten years ago, and I’m grateful that this trip reignited that spark. I could do this all day if I had the chance. Thank you for taking the time to see my work and read about my experiences!
