ivysion

It is truly a blessing to get paid for what started as a passionate hobby.  Sometimes, however, being caught up in the business of photography; the client, the deadlines, the budget, etc., can diminish the passion of simply capturing beautiful images.  That’s why I like to occasionally go out to shoot just for the love of shooting. The problem with this, for me, is that unless there is an immediate need for the images, I often unload them into a folder and forget about them, moving on to the next assignment.  It’s always a pleasure, however, to go back and sometimes find forgotten images that are true gems.

That’s what I did this week while going through old files to prepare my PhotoShelter archive.  I stumbled on images that I shot in the D.U.M.B.O. section of Brooklyn, NY during the Summer of 2008.  For those who don’t know, D.U.M.B.O. is an acronym for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass. It’s basically the old, industrial section between the Manhattan and Brooklyn bridges.  I haven’t decided if DUMBO is my favorite part of New York, but it’s definitely my favorite part of Brooklyn.  I’m attracted to the rich, artistic vibe of the area, that is home to many artists’ studios of various genres, as well as numerous galleries and one of the best bookstores in the world, the Powerhouse Arena. The cobblestone streets that are still inlaid with old rail tracks, along with the many old warehouses, give a glimpse into the industrial history of the neighborhood.  I decided to escape to the area on this Summer afternoon to catch the opening exhibit reception at the Powerhouse Arena of, “Curse of the Black Gold,” an exhibit by photographer Ed Kashi, on the oil trade in Nigeria.

After the reception, I headed over to Brooklyn Bridge Park, where I caught these images along with others that are headed to my PhotoShelter archive.  The sky was decorated with beautiful, blue clouds that cast the blue tint over the entire area.  Two boys skipped rocks on the East River.  The park was adorned with an art exhibit of decorated handkerchiefs hanging on clotheslines and lovers held each other on the plush grass as waves from passing boats beat against the rocks.

It was a good, Summer day in Brooklyn.