A Journey of Contrasts

Traveling from the "burbs (about a half hour from midtown Manhattan)" to the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens presents an interesting journey of contrasts.

"Burbs"

On the Highway

Entering Brooklyn

Feeling the "Citification"

Brooklyn Street

Oasis: Brooklyn Botanic Gardens

Natural vs. Human Arcitecture

I traveled to New Hampshire to deliver my black and white and sepia photographs of Bethlehem to the iconic Colonial Theatre in that lovely town.  Bethlehem is nestled in a marvelous natural setting: the White Mountains.  As a fine art architectural photographer, I was struck by the architecture of nature: bold peaks, vertical trees, horizontal layers of clouds, elliptical ponds, et al.  While nature may not adhere to the architectural styles created by humans, there is a harmony in natural structure that humans have to work hard to achieve.  Nature as architecture seems effortless and, well, natural.  I was even more aware of the disparity between natural and human architecture as I drove back to New York.

A Trip From New Hampshire to New York From the Road

New Hampshire "Walls" of Trees and Mountains

Nature's Building Materials: NH

Natural and Human Architecture in Harmony: NH/ VT

Human Architecture with Natural Detail: VT

Human Architecture: Mass

Entering Gotham: Built by Humans

New Exhibition: Bethlehem, NH

Bethlehem, New Hampshire

Colonial Theatre

Main Street, Bethlehem, NH

Exhibit: July 1 - 31, 2012

Meet the Photographer: July 24, 4-6pm

                                                                http://www.ellenfisch.com/bethlehem.html

Bethlehem, NH: A charming New England town nestled in the White Mountains. Diverse architecture and a natural beauty characterize Bethlehem, a lovely place.

St. Mark's Church, Harlem

I donated one of my black and white photographs of Harlem yesterday to St. Mark's Church in Harlem NYC to honor the memory of my dear friend Dr. Lionel E. McMurren who was a pillar of the Church and Harlem Community.  The photograph is an arael  shot of Harlem with the very beautiful St. Mark's Church in the foreground.  Pastor Nathaniel T. Grady, the revered Reverend of St. Mark's received the photograph.  I had a wonderful talk with Pastor Grady who told me that the day's portion of the Bible was about reaping what one sows.  Significant words.  There was a lunch for the congregation which was generously shared with me!  What a meaningful and moving experience.  Dr. McMurren will be remembered by so many whose lives he touched.  He was educator and a friend to me and I was glad to honor his memory with my photograph.

At St. Mark's Church: Edgecomb Ave, Harlem NYC

Rev. Nathaniel T. Grady

Harlem with St. Mark's Church in the Foreground

Learning by Teaching

Teaching a class about architectural photography at Berger Brothers Camera Store in Syosset Long Island taught me a lot.  As the saying goes: "If you really want to learn something, teach!"  The group was wonderful and very sharp.  We interacted very well, sharing ideas about our passion of photography, architecture and self expression.  My thanks to those who attended; I learned so much about my own architectural photography.

Create interest with angles.

Profiles are important.

Including elements.

The VIEW.

MOOD!

Bethlehem, NH

In 1975 my folks moved from Brooklyn, NY to Bethlehem, NH.  Since then, Bethlehem has been a significant part of my aesthetic.  I love the area: White Mountains, Echo Lake, Crawford Notch and most of all the lovely New England town of Bethlehem.  Mountains can be seen from every spot.  Skies are limitless, full of big, puffy clouds.  Wildflowers grow in the sidewalk cracks....where there are sidewalks.  There are boulders and creeks.  The trees look ancient, huge and leafy in summer and a fretwork against the landscape in winter.  There are also numerous architectural styles, architectural details and building materials that are wood, stone and forged metal.  Magic place!

Bethlehem, NH Library and Town Hall

Main Street: Bethlehem, NH

The Whole Picture

Coney Island in Brooklyn, NYC is an iconic place.  It evokes amusement rides, great fast food, the majestic Atlantic Ocean.  Connecting all of the attractions in this sea side community is the marvelous boardwalk.  Weathered, wonderfully worn, the boardwalk is an architectural element that is visually appealing and arresting.  I had the chance to buy old slats of the Coney Island boardwalk that I turned into frames for my Coney Island photographs.  The black and white, sepia and muted color tinted photographs are printed on aluminum for a glow that mirrors the sky and sea.  The inset under the image is Belgium linen that has the feel of the fine grained sand.  The boardwalk frames give the photographs an authentic Coney Island look.

The Iconic Coney Island Boardwalk: Brooklyn, NYC

Boardwalk Wood Slats

Coney Island: Summer 2012

Coney Island: Winter 2011