After the two year COVID hiatus, I eventually got back to my favourite city (after London) on holiday in June 2022 – this was trip number 6 to New York and my third solo trip – no desire to do the tourist stuff, though it is inevitable as every corner you turn in New York there is a landmark or building you’ve seen in a film/tv series – in fact most of Manhattan feels like a film set such is the magnificence and familiarity of the city.
I did have a few firsts, on this visit – after 5 previous visits this was the first time I saw the infamous “Naked Cowboy” Street Entertainer on Times Square – Robert J. Burck has for over 20 years, been singing and playing guitar on 46th Street and Broadway in his painted underwear, cowboy boots and hat. His mission is simple, entertain as many people as possible and become rich and famous no matter what. But as can be seen in one image below – not everyone is as appreciative of him as I was . . . and there was me thinking this was “the city that never sleeps” !!
Coney Island
Another first, and this one was planned – was a trip on the subway down to Coney Island a peninsular neighborhood and entertainment area in the southwestern section of the New York City borough of Brooklyn. The neighborhood is bounded by Brighton Beach and Manhattan Beach to its east, Lower New York Bay to the south and west, and Gravesend to the north. As Town Centre Manager for Gravesend in Kent UK – i wanted to visit the area of Gravesend New York – i kind of did but it was only a fleeting visit – so a good reason why i’ll have to go back again sometime and visit it properly.
Street Photography – is so easy in New York – images are there to be captured in your every turn, so it was a tremendous joy to be contacted by a member of Street Photography Challenge pages I administer on Facebook – Neil O. Lawner who lives in New York and is part owner of a photography gallery in the SoHo area.
Neil met me at Columbus Circle and we spent a great few hours together in Soho, Greenwich Village and ending in Chinatown, where i was treated to a slap up lunch – followed by a private tour of the gallery ‘Soho Photo Gallery’ which alongside the gallery walls even has an amazing photo installation in the toilets!!
Every corner you turn there is a landmark in New York – a living film set.
Photography By MrG 