New York is a playground of activity. If you have the cash, or even if you don’t, you can always find about a thousand things to do each night. But most times, the best times, are spent with friends in quiet moments. Just being. Taking it all in. And capturing the moment in a photograph.
I noticed something when the sun went down last night on the Hudson – I wasn’t freezing to death! In fact, it was a beautiful night. And aside from the welcomed warmth, I noticed that the weather brought new sounds as well. Cyclists now wooshed along the West Side pathway. Joggers chatted in between breaths. All the while, I fixated on the Hudson River sunset.
Cars rushed south on the West Side Highway. In winter, they greedily hold in heat and sound. Tonight, windows were down and even as commuters blew past me, I could hear music coming from their systems. Rolling Stones, Jay-Z, and even a quick hit of Aretha Franklin at one point. Of course if you’re on the phone or eager for a moment’s peace, this isn’t cool. But, for anyone who like’s to sing “sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me,” forever on end, hey, that sound bite of Aretha is all you need.
When the cars were still, the sound of kids playing on brightly lit astroturf fields filled the air. Coaches blew their whistles and called out instructions. Their energy radiated to all who passed by, probably pausing to remember when they were just a kid on a field, dreaming of going pro some day. All the while, the city skyline, quiet as the clouds, speaks louder to New Yorkers than all the joggers, cars and soccer-playing kids combined.
Here comes spring in New York City.
So I’ve been on a little bit of an East River kick. I walk over at sunrise. I swing by on my bike after work, when the sun has set. Did you know it was once known as the Sound River? Gives it a pretty different feel, right? Timing does the same thing. Mid day, it’s an industrial highway, with ferries and barges crisscrossing all 16 miles. But in the morning and evening one can find magic in the water and light. 
Here’s the raw shot without any post processing. (Taken at 20th street, the same spot as yesterday’s blog photo. You’ll see what I mean about different feel. )
But then there is sunrise, my favorite time to be on the river.
As the sun rises, it casts a million different hues on the water. Each minute a different sensation.
I’m not the only one here. Near Chinatown and the Manhattan Bridge, women do Tai Chi to wake up, find center in a chaotic place, and celebrate the day ahead. All is at peace.
Still, life stirs. Commuters drive and take public transportation across bridges firmly rooted in the deepest depths of the river.
This is the destination.
Manhattan. Brooklyn. Queens. And although the boroughs are nothing but steel and cement, they wouldn’t be the same without…
The East River.
Sometimes after a long day it’s nice to take the train to Herald Square and then walk home. The peacefulness of my neighborhood is trumped by the action of Park Avenue, the Empire State Building, popular restaurants (Les Halles tonight), and the newness of streets you don’t typically walk.
“The mood is right, the spirits up. We’re here tonight, and that’s enough.” Sir Paul should have been in the village last night. It was crisp. It was bright. And the mood of Christmas hit me. It also hit my camera while I was doing a long exposure and somehow managed to move it enough to capture the sign and all of the lights around it in one big explosion.
A Flash of the City, originally uploaded by marc.cappelletti.
Sometimes the city can seem like a blur. Especially at night, if you’ve had a few cocktails.
