With Adriana, the professional photographer I toured with in Cusco, Peru, I began learning how to take street photos of people. As she told me, New York is a great place for street photography!
Many times during my two weeks in New York, I walked around and covertly took photos of others perambulating around the city. The day after the New York City Marathon, I noticed that MANY people wore their marathon medals while exploring the city. At first, I slyly took their picture – street photography.
Then I remembered The 9:09 Project by Mark Parsons, in which the main character returns to the same place at the same time and ASKS if he can take a photo of people walking at that specific time and place. That gave me the idea to ASK marathoners if I could take their photo. I know, having WALKED ten marathons, that regardless of the time it takes to finish, anyone who completes a marathon – and especially those wearing a medal the next day – feels PROUD of their accomplishment. As they should! Other than one person, everyone agreed – often with glee – to have me take their photo. One person asked why, and I told the truth – I’m new to photography and wanted to practice taking photos of people on the street. The partner of another person asked me if she could take a photo of me taking a photo of her marathoner – something to add to their marathon experience! Another marathoner told me he’s from Michigan and runs to raise money for cancer research at Memorial Sloan Kettering.
The stories, joy, and accomplishment they shared with me while I captured them with their medals made me feel so happy for them!
Marathoners
Street Photography (non-marathon)
Greenwich Village – this reminds me of a Beatles album cover!
Longwood Gardens – I took a couple other photos of the boy in the red plaid jacket and sent them to the boy’s grandmother
Central Park saxophonist
Central Park – a photo of a photographer with fall colors and cityscape
