New York - Fisheye 4

For the last in the New York series I've included a few more favourite fish eye pictures. The time I spent in New York was so encouraging to me, not least because it was my first experience of waking up in the morning with the thought that "Today I need to go and take some pictures". That thought was a little scary at first but once the pictures started coming it was a challenge that I relished.

New York - Fisheye 3

While I was in New York I hired a fisheye lens for my camera. I got a special offer because it was Labor Day, or Yom Kippur, or both...I don't remember. Either way, I got 5 days for the price of 1, so it was a good start.

I [heart] fisheye.

Honestly, for urban photography, it's amazing! You can really concentrate on your foreground but keep the background visible. You can take a photograph that shows the view down two streets that are at right angles to each other! You can get close-ups of strangers without them realising that you're taking their picture! More than anything though, the wide, wide angle lets you fit more picture into the same space. I no longer had to choose to show people or buildings, I could show both, and do them justice! I could take much wider cityscapes (which are more interesting than general panoramic shots in my opinion). I had SO MUCH FUN with the fisheye lens!

That's probably enough words, here's a couple of shots:

New York - Black & White Street Photography 2

It's been a busy little while and blogging has, once again, fallen by the wayside. I am now returning to finish this series and follow it up with Iceland!

It took me a few shots to get this photo, trying not to alert this couple on their walk through central park that they were being followed and snapped by a random stranger! I'm happy with the result: soft focus, soft light, lots of leaves on the trees and two people just being together.

Mirrors are always great for seeing the world in a different way. This photo brings out for me the less glitzy, very ordinary side of New York life. It's not all about glass skyscrapers, there are second-hand stores with mirrors propped up outside and push bikes and there is space in the busyness, even if you can still see a taxi rushing past.