Black and White Photography of New York

Spent another day at Coney. Again lucky enough to go when it was drizzling, on-and-off.

This time I took a long boardwalk walk - until I was in Brighton Beach and the faces and language turned Russian. And kept going. I’m not sure why I bother bringing any other lenses with me since I’m either too lazy or too stuck in my ways to stick anything other than the 50mm on.

I missed two shots on the ride out because I couldn’t bring myself to bring the camera to my eye and also because that kid who was sprawled on the floor playing with something was just obnoxious.

But on the way back - such a sad couple - Russian - daughter and mother. Seated together by a window on the train and it was elevated then so some side light through the window - and just such sad expression on the mother. Daughter speaking English on cellphone - loud enough that I could hear it had to do with finances. Seemed animated enough while on the phone, but as soon as she hung up, her face became as gloomy as her mothers. Eventually they both fell asleep - the mother’s arm curled through the daughters arm.

Made me think of my own mother - also Russian background - and the first child to be born here in the U.S. after her parents arrived. And how depressed her parents were - unable to find work here after having been bigshots in Russia. Alot was going through my mind - and I waited until they were sleeping and til there was a station where light was coming through the window - to take the one shot. I don’t know if what I’m writing will be apparent. I could have used a 75mm f1.4; but whatever. That one stuck in my mind. Probably blew it. It’s not that I blew it - it’s just that I don’t know how much you will be able to read into the picture. Would have been better to do it while they were awake - but wasn’t really feasible.

Contrast that with me sneaking up on hundreds of gulls on the beach; and suddenly - what looked like geese - some sort of black big birds came flying by in formation - snap, snap, snap. Those are easier then anything dealing with people.

Then back to Shoot the Freak. But it was empty, and the gate was open. I was able to walk past the fence, and sort of felt the floor creaking. But it felt like I had entered the world from an underground stream that was leading upwards towards the boardwalk.