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Week 23

New York City ghost busters, Megan Crandlemire Photography

June 13, 2016
The Highline
Chelsea Market

Train In/Out: Fairfield, CT
Miles walked: 7.25 (slacking!)
Camera:  Olympus OM-D E-M1 with m.Zuiko 17mm f1.8, Olympus E-PM2 with m.Zuiko 40-150mm

Started the day with no photos but lunch with a new photographer friend, John Zappala. I actually met John through Emil, the man in Central Park that sells flags that I met in the winter. I've mentioned Emil a few times on this journey. He gave my card to John who is also a street photographer as a hobby. John checked out my blog and sent me an email so we chatted back and forth a few times. Decided to meet near Grand Central for lunch since he also likes to come into the city; had an interesting conversation ranging from photography to God to astral travel. :)  And then we went our separate ways. He did encourage me to try taking a bus sometime. So far I've only used subways. One challenge at a time...

Didn't hit the pavement until around 2pm so I kept it simple and headed over to The Highline, figured I could walk the entire length today and still make a train back to CT by 7pm. The Highline, which is on the west side on Manhattan, is a 1.5 mile linear park built on an elevated section of a former railroad spur called the West Side Line. It has nice views of the Hudson River.

Onward.

NYC blue hair, Megan Crandlemire Photography

start of the highline nyc, Megan Crandlemire Photography

Desitnation #1, The Highline. This is the start of The Highline @ 34th St & 11th Ave.

wanderlust the highline nyc, Megan Crandlemire Photography

Some info about all the art installations on The Highline. http://art.thehighline.org/project/wanderlust/

the highline, Megan Crandlemire Photography

This image shows:
a) a tad bit of construction on the west side of the city!
b) that the Highline starts at Harbor Yard where all the trains sleep
c) that the speaker on top of the fence is part of the first art installation, with strange noises coming out of the speakers representing tear drops or something
d) all of the above

the highline, jump, Megan Crandlemire Photography

This couple caught my eye because a moment before the guy had jumped pretty high up and tapped his ankles together. It was impressive (sorry, I missed the pic). The girl was trying to do what he did, to no avail, but still a cute action shot (and a chaotic background!).

the highline, Megan Crandlemire Photography

I heard her yell something so I turned around quickly and got this shot. It's a fun image (although the girl is obscuring the best part) but the guy is in the air. And if you look carefully, a helicopter is flying right "into" his foot.

the highline chelsea, Megan Crandlemire Photography

nyc construction, Megan Crandlemire Photography

I'm fascinated by huge construction projects. This was a highrise going up. To think in a year or so people will live or work in there is mind boggling. Looks like it would take "forever" but chipping away, one day at a time, voila, a highrise is born.

the highline construction, Megan Crandlemire Photography

At this end of the path there was lots of construction therefore tons of scaffoling. But it made for some nice shadows.

mural the highline, Megan Crandlemire Photography

To my right is the turquoise "billboard". It was when I stood on a bench to get a different angle of the billboard that I noticed the art on the rooftop floor. You can't see it as you walk along the Highline unless you get up higher.

wanderlust sleeping bag, the highline, Megan Crandlemire Photography

I thought this was a homeless person's spot, but it's actually another art installation (minus the water bottle, which is regular old garbage).

the highlne, Megan Crandlemire Photography

The construction tarps (? the orange & yellow things) made for some colorful reflections on the building next to them. That's a new apartment building. People's windows butted right up against the Highline at eye level. A tad awkward, but most had blinds that opened from the bottom up so they had the lower half of their windows covered.

wanderlust, smart car tire, Megan Crandlemire Photography

If you think this looks like a Smart Car covered in tires, you are observant. ;)

wanderlust, the highline, smart car tire, Megan Crandlemire Photography

However, if you thought it was a Smart Car covered in tires, filled with dirt with an apple tree growing out of the roof, then you are VERY observant. :)

the highline nyc, Megan Crandlemire Photography

ithinkoutsidemybox.com, the highline nyc, Megan Crandlemire Photography

The material he's working with has a sticker that says IThinkOutsideMyBox.com, which is a global community painting studio dedicated to engaging the public in public art. He's doing his public thing for sure, and getting an awesome tan.

ithinkoutsidemybox.com,the highline, Megan Crandlemire Photography

blind idealism is reactionary scary deadly, the highline nyc, Megan Crandlemire Photography

the highline, chelsea, Megan Crandlemire Photography

the highline, underline coffee nyc, Megan Crandlemire Photography

I like this corner because the person has an Area 51 license plate in the window (hard to see unless you zoom in, sorry).

the highline, Megan Crandlemire Photography

P6130545

In the image above this one, the building to the right has this fancy swimming pool on its patio (which is a story or two above street level).

flowers the highline,chelsea new york city, Megan Crandlemire Photography

view from the highline, Megan Crandlemire Photography

The "wavy" blue/gray building is my favorite along this walk.

resting on the highline, Megan Crandlemire Photography

wanderlust,beyond this point you may encounter nude sunbathers, Megan Crandlemire Photography

Alas, no luck. ;) 

the highline, 10th avenue lookout, Megan Crandlemire Photography

The lookout for 10th Avenue.

the highline, Megan Crandlemire Photography

Dapper Dan, love him. Now the girl with him either has her head turned, or is Cousin It. You kinda have to make yourself see her as Cousin It but it's funny to look at her that way. My brain intutively makes me see her with her head turned, but her shoulder and arm are facing forward, she really could have all her hair in her face and be truly facing forward.

chelsea market passageway,the highline, Megan Crandlemire Photography

The Chelsea Market Passageway. There are colorful windows to the right...

spencer finch,the highline, Megan Crandlemire Photography 

These windows in the passageway are also part of an art installation. 

Quoting http://art.thehighline.org/project/spencerfinch/: "From a tugboat drifting on Manhattan’s west side and past the High Line, [Spencer] Finch photographed the river’s surface once every minute. The color of each pane of glass was based on a single pixel point in each photograph and arranged chronologically in the tunnel’s existing steel mullions. Time is translated into a grid, reading from left to right and top to bottom, capturing the varied reflective and translucent conditions of the water’s surface. The work, like the river, is experienced differently depending on the light levels and atmospheric conditions of the site. In this narrative orientation, the glass reveals Finch’s impossible quest for the color of water."

I've seen this window before but it wasn't until I researched a bit for today's journey that I came across this information. Truly amazing the stuff we walk by and have no clue how important or creative it is/was to another person.

the highline, sailor, Megan Crandlemire Photography

His hat and beard caught my eye, but I really love the shirt.

chelsea market skybridge, the highline, Megan Crandlemire Photography

Chelsea Market Skybridge. Chelsea Market is below...we'll go there later. :)

the highline water feature, Megan Crandlemire Photography

This is a water feature on The Highline. At first I thought their sprinkler system was leaking, but there were drains on either side. A pigeon landed in front of me and had a good long drink. Little kids were having fun playing in the water.

the highline, Megan Crandlemire Photography

I'm including this snapshot because it wasn't until I looked at the image at home that I noticed that these lounges are on railroad "wheels"! I guess you can slide them left/right along the tracks. Interesting. Getting one to sit on is like winning the lottery, even on a Monday afternoon.

the sleepwalker,wanderlust,the highline, Megan Crandlemire Photography

We meet again, sleepwalker friend, only this time I know you are an art installation and not real. But not everyone knew that on Monday...

the sleepwalker, wanderlust, the highline, Megan Crandlemire Photography

I watched people for several minutes assess the sleepwalker. The man right in front of him was so hesitatant to touch him because he thought he was real. It was really funny watching him finally be brave enough to tap the end of his fingers with his. It's not until you see it in person that you can appreciate how real it looks. Look at the sleepwalker's feet! Amazing.

the highline, Megan Crandlemire Photography

the highline, Megan Crandlemire Photography

Stood on the backside of this wall and waited for people to walk by.

the highline, Megan Crandlemire Photography

Windy!

the highline chelsea, Megan Crandlemire Photography

wanderlust, the highline, ice cream, Megan Crandlemire Photography

Version 1

wanderlust,the highline, ice cream, Megan Crandlemire Photography

Version 2

Which do you like better? I'm torn. It was windy so I liked how the girl's hair was blowing, almost like that fan-thing would blow her hair. Can't decide if having it more cropped is more interesting than full sized...if you have an opinion, let me know at the bottom of the page on the contact form. Thanks!

the highline, Megan Crandlemire Photography

If you visit the Highline, be prepared for guys dressed like this to hand you things.

the highline, Megan Crandlemire Photography

end of the highline,meatpacking district,chelsea, Megan Crandlemire Photography

The End (of the Highline, that is).

Still trying to figure out the meaning of the picture of Anne Frank in the cell phone on the mural / ad (??) in the background.

 red bird gallery, tim okamura,chelsea,, Megan Crandlemire Photography

I could see this place at the street level below the end of the Highline, had to check it out because the signs in the window were hilarious!

red bird gallery, tim okamura,chelsea,, Megan Crandlemire Photography

I love the "Chicken Flavored" Pigeon for $1.99. And the last one reads 'Rainbow Tinted Unicorn Meat $100/lb'. I enjoyed the people in front of these artful statement ads smoking and chatting away.

red bird gallery, tim okamura,chelsea,, Megan Crandlemire Photography

iPhone selfie. 

red bird gallery, tim okamura,chelsea,, Megan Crandlemire Photography

I talked with this couple after I snapped this pic. The guy said he was also an "anti-advertisement" artist. Now there's a term I haven't heard before but it made sense as to what I was looking at. The Red Bird Gallery artist is Tim Okamura; apparently this gallery is open on Saturdays only.

red bird gallery, tim okamura,chelsea,, Megan Crandlemire Photography

A peek through the windows..."Obese O's", "Count Calorie", etc.

red bird gallery, tim okamura,chelsea,, Megan Crandlemire Photography

untitled,whitney american art museum,chelsea, Megan Crandlemire Photography

Across the street (again, at the end of The Highline) was the Whitney Museum, and this restaurant, Untitled. Gotta love the name.

untitled,restaurant chelsea,the whitney museum of american art, Megan Crandlemire Photography

The Director of Beverages (I looked it up, that's his position) was giving 20 employess a speech and kept asking "do you have any questions about the past 24 weeks". Must have been some kind of intense training wrap up session!

chelsea bar soccer, Megan Crandlemire Photography

Starting to make my way north on 9th Avenue. TV soccer watching peeps on the sidewalk at this cafe.

chelsea, Megan Crandlemire Photography

chelsea,bernie sanders, Megan Crandlemire Photography

Post-It notes meet Bernie supporter. I have to say, they got a bit lazy with the last E. Maybe they know it's a losing battle...or at least a long shot.

chelsea market, google office, Megan Crandlemire Photography

Destination #2 for the day, Chelsea Market. And one day I hope Google, on the right, is a destination for the day. You need to know someone at Google to get a tour. Anyone reading this have a contact?? I would be ever so grateful. :)

nabisco building chelsea,chelsea market, Megan Crandlemire Photography

Chelsea Market is in the former Nabisco building.

chelsea market wine, Megan Crandlemire Photography

Ok, so I think they sell wine at Chelsea Market.

jason archer,chelsea market, Megan Crandlemire Photography

There is fun art everywhere, including inside the market. Really liked this guy's stuff. His name is Jason Archer: http://thejasonarcher.com

jason archer,chelsea market, Megan Crandlemire Photography

Cheers.

chelsea market, Megan Crandlemire Photography

Beam me up, please.

The green is actually a waterfall. I did a 1.6 second exposure hand held (ok, railing / hand held).

chelsea market clock lights, Megan Crandlemire Photography

chelsea market, jason archer, Megan Crandlemire Photography

More of Jason's art. Love the little black cat (I have one of those! Mine is crazy and I wouldn't have it any other way).

jason archer,chelsea market, Megan Crandlemire Photography

I sat on the bench in the previous image which had this art piece across the way. I waited for a while HOPING someone with a cowboy hat would walk by. No luck. This was my favorite fail.

great danes new york, Megan Crandlemire Photography

Back to trekking up 9th Ave (which wasn't too exciting). Saw a couple of Great Danes. The guy walking the dogs was not so happy to stop and chat with people. The woman on the right and her two kids, OF COURSE, stopped to talk to him and ask if they could pet the dogs. I don't know what people expect when they have such unusual dogs in the city. Sorry, but you are going to get stopped by strangers. I would think this would be a really fun part of owning these dogs.

watermelon helmut,new york city, Megan Crandlemire Photography

Once again, forgot to change my camera settings so she's blurry but I had to include the Watermelon Helmut! 

ha ha fresh deli new york, Megan Crandlemire Photography

It didn't seem that funny to me.

new york deja vu, Megan Crandlemire Photography

I'm including this totally unedited blurry photo because I had a very strong / bizarre Deja-Vu experience here. It was like I had done this before, I even turned all around looking for something else that would feel familiar but it was just this moment and the next second or two. Weird!

b & h new york, Megan Crandlemire Photography

Destination #3 of the day, B & H photo, although I could tell from here things were not looking promising.

P6130725

Wonderful, they decided to take some kind of weird vacation in the middle of June for a couple of days. Oh well, didn't feel too much like shopping. I would like to purchase a lighter travel tripod...another time. My wallet was safe today.

new york city woman with hat, Megan Crandlemire Photography

I don't know, she had this cool vibe going. Not trying hard, just being herself. And she's rocking the Lulu fannypack! (my Lulu friend will get this)

burger & cupcakes new york, Megan Crandlemire Photography

Why am I not surprised that Burgers & Cupcakes went out of business?

ghostbusters new york, Megan Crandlemire Photography

Version 1

ghostbusters nyc, Megan Crandlemire Photography

Version 2

Again, I can't decide what I like better. In the color version, the red is very true to the "logo" aspect of Ghostbusters. But this image works in black & white, too. Just took the one picture, wasn't sure how happy he was that I even took the one. I think it's a favorite of the day (mostly because it wasn't a very exciting day).

homeless man with cat new york, Megan Crandlemire Photography

Ugh, me judging again, but I don't agree with keeping cats on the street. At all.

mustaches are coming back, Megan Crandlemire Photography

Just an FYI...I think this means mustaches are coming back (along with everything else from the 90's)!

baby sleeping in backpack, Megan Crandlemire Photography

Shhh...

monday night grand central, Megan Crandlemire Photography

No lack of people at 6:30pm on a Monday.

grand central nyc, Megan Crandlemire Photography

Not my most eventful Monday, although I did enjoy lunch with my new photography friend. I definitely noticed more police presence in Grand Central, I'm sure in part due to the Orlando shooting over the weekend. There are always military people present, but there were many more uniformed NYC officers on Monday, at least that I noticed. Thanks to the NYPD, and all other personnel, for keeping watch!

Until the next Magic Monday.

xo,

~MC

{rsform 26}

 

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All images © Copyright 2016-2020 Megan Crandlemire.  All rights reserved.

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