Central Park...Part 1
Friday, July 10, 2015 at 02:31PM 
I love travel, I love taking photo's and I don't mind at all editing, although it does take a bit of time. What seems to happen to me though, is for some reason, I don't get my work up in a timely manner. I question why lots of times. I wonder if I don't trust myself or my work. I wonder why I don't have a better work ethic for scheduling projects and post. Am I afraid it's not good enough or I should have made a better choice of subject of perhaps used a different edit in Light Room...but after enough time has gone by and I start loving some of what I did, I get to it. So today I start to share our New York Photo Tour adventure...in Central Park...and then I'll move on to a little bit of the city...
We had a lovely hotel, close to Central Park, west entrance. It was an easy walk on Saturday afternoon to meet up with our guide. It was an easy walk but it was raining...but then we never let the weather dampen our spirits...rain or shine we go..the above photo makes a good point...you can see the rain drops and the murky background of the city but you can also see the beauty and sparkling color of that lovely little bird. He set the tone..and we followed.
Central park is quite large...and because of the rain we stayed within a small area while we were on the tour...later, when the sun came out, we went further on our own...so much to do and see. Another trip will be in our future...I love that New Yorkers are never bothered by weather either...it is a walking city. Often people walk through the park to get to the other side...we walked from the west side, where we were staying, to hook up on the 5th ave. side to meet our guide...there is always something to see and shot while walking..a quick shot and the camera back under my rain coat...
There are many of these little tunnels through-out the park also...fortuanately for us, this was at the very beginning of our tour so we spent a bit of time in here shooting the scenes...color, light, composition, texture, all were discussed and critiqued..and then there was the music...
This man, so much talent, so much beauty...and patience with us. Let us up close and posed for all of us. Kindness is everyhere if your willing to receive it..
Big tip for him...well deserved and appreciated.
The hands and the horn...
Out of the tunnel and into the light...moving on...until next time.. I promise the wait won't be as long as it was this.
Reader Comments (14)
Oh Cheryl, I have been eagerly anticipating these images since I first heard you were going. I am not disappointed! They are just wonderful and they are so YOU! I was trying to decide my favourites but each is fabulous in its own way. I love the first one and the sax player and the case with the money. I do so love the music in the park -- the musicians are the best! Your processing choices are quite inspired. I love that you saw the park in the rain -- unlike us -- and thus got some wonderful moody shots! A comment about processing in a timely manner. Don't beat yourself up. I really feel that some shots and shoots are best left a while before processing. (I still have so many from my Bahamas trip to get to…;-)) A bit of distance can make a huge difference. Now for an idea…you love New York and Central Park and I do too. Why not plan a meet up some day to photograph together? Wouldn't that be the coolest? Can't wait for more...
Oh my gosh Sherry, that would be so much fun...we'll put it on our bucket lists. I think maybe your right about waiting a bit, especially on a trip...it does take time to look at them and pick your favorites...editing takes awhile, between sorting and keeping.. I sort of have to feel the mood of the photo and that happens later when I start the editing...and I change my mind all the time.. Thank you for letting me off the hook on that. Rain never bothers us when we travel..and later in the day we did get some sun...so perfect all around. I didn't get the good kiss though...although there was a lot of love going around...
Oh I'm so excited to see just a few of your Central Park photos. And I'm glad there are only a few so I can soak in the atmosphere of the park and your day there. I do agree about waiting a while to post up a big trip like this and slowly going through the images to sort and process. Phooey, I'm still going through some of our Michigan pictures from 8 years ago simply because I love "being there again" mentally and because my editing style and techniques are much different now so I enjoy playing with them, plus reliving the trip. Often times after waiting I see something special in the image I missed earlier. I'm madly in love with the brown tones on your images (you know the one you helped me with) but I do love the color tones on the colored shots. The tunnel tiles are fabulous! I love how the bird set the tone for your day. Can't wait for your next post and I'm guessing it may be soon if you are enjoying your summer porch like I think you are. 😊 LOVE the shot of the music case with money!
Glad you enjoyed your trip to New York Cheryl! There must be so many lovely places to visit and to shoot there...
Your pictures of Central Park are very interesting as they show us your very personal view of the park on the day you were there, which is different from what another person would have seen ... You share with us what your eyes and your heart captured... the blackbird under the rain, the saxophone player and the money he got in his case, the tunnels during and after the rain...these are the scenes you were touched by and that you wish to share with us...pictures which tell a story, which will remind you that it was raining that precise day.. .looking forward to seeing and reading your next post about NYC!
Cheryl, I love your attitude! You didn't let the rain dampen your spirits and look at your beautiful images! I'll chime with your friends and say that I love the photos of the musician - his hands especially. Your edit choices are spot on - and really they help to convey the story of the day - all started with a little bird a-splashing. So happy you had this opportunity and I'll look forward to more pictures and stories from this series. Whether you work to set schedule or post when you feel like it - I'm always a fan! Oh . . . just scrolled to look at your pictures one last time. I really, really love that shot with the woman walking along the sidewalk framed by the trees and the skyline of buildings - a great editorial picture - "on the way to somewhere."
Cheryl - You must never doubt your work, it is stunning. I love the first one with the little bird, so perfect composed. I have the same problems/joys...I love to travel, I love to photograph, I don't mind editing once I make myself sit down and do it. My problem is I am always dreaming up the next project before I finish the first project. I still have not done anything with the photos from our Smoky Mountains trip and that was back in mid May, it is now approaching mid July. Summer is so fleeting that I just have a hard time being in the house, but I will keep pecking away at it.
I love the atmosphere, for me it is better than sun sometimes as you know it gives atmosphere. How cool to have someone take you on a tour, never thought of that for Central Park. I wish every city had to have a park like this, quite the job for Fredrick Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, these two have given so much pleasure to not only tourist but the live blood of the city.
I also think it takes time to do travel photos, I love to just think about what I saw a bit. I still have London to edit, have done some but want to keep it in my thoughts for a while longer. That is what is good about travel, thinking about going and thinking about what you have seen when you return. Can't wait to see more of your trip and Central Park.
As others have said before don't worry about how long it takes the time will be right for you. I love your processibg on the sax case, my sort of photo. I visited NY as a student, it was very different then . Maybe one day I will return ...
I absolutely love the money in the case shot,,the colors are amazing!!!
Your images are beautiful and I think the rain adds such nice mood, seems perfect for NYC somehow. I also think that sometimes its best to sit with our images for a while before editing and posting. I know it's time consuming, but I actually love the editing process as much as the photographic process. But I have to say that I'm so anxious to see more of NYC through your lens, Cheryl!
Don't ever doubt your abilities because as these photos show you are very good at it! Wonderful shots!
Thank you all for stopping by and leaving such encouraging comments for me...I wish I could have gotten back to each of you with a reply but the last weeks weeks have been hard and I just couldn't fit it in...but please know that your kind words about my abilities were felt deeply...I have the best contacts in all of you...I'll be around soon to see you all.
Somehow I missed this post?
We used to go to NYC more often, but were usually at the stationery show and missed this beautiful area!
Need to reconsider another trip . . . if we can ever get R better!
LOVED how you documented your fun visit.
Didn't realize there were so many sections to the park.
Once again, another amazing, interesting, thought provoking bit of journaling!
Thanks so much for sharing.
When the melon is ripe, it will drop from the vine!
xox
Very nice clicks.