A Real NYC Shocker (NYC, August 2007)

I risked life & limb to bring you this images! Here is the spectacular lightning storm that slammed into mid-town Manhattan on the evening of August 3, 2007.

The two brightly lit towers pictured here are the Empire State Building on the Left and the Chrysler Building on the Right. This photo was taken from my balcony. I got wet.

Empire Sunset (NYC, June 2007)

From my balcony, I've witnessed many spectacular Manhattan sunsets. This was a particularly beautiful one as the brilliant Empire State Building is set against a magnificent sky.

The Empire State Building: Shrouded in Fog at Sunset (NYC, June 2007)

Early Morning Snow in Gotham (NYC, March, 2005)

The Chrysler Building: Shrouded in Fog at Sunset (NYC, June 2007)

New York Mix (NYC, July 2007)

New Yorkers and tourists mix everywhere in Manhattan. This scene was seen just outside of the Empire State Building. What could they all be looking for? Find the hidden eye.

A Goodbye Kiss (NYC, July 2007)

It's NOT what you are thinking you dirty dog! Well... probably not.

These two young, very tall, emaciated beauties met outside a Manhattan store. I couldn't tell if the meeting was pre-arranged or by chance. They chatted a while, told tales, the one in the black top scarfed down a cigarette in no time flat, then she pulled out some sexy panties she had just bought and showed it to her friend. After that they giggled, told more tales and then parted company with this kiss.

Given their age, body type and location (34th St. & 7th Ave. in Manhattan) I am going to take a wild guess and say that these two women are models.

Work is Hard (NYC, July 2007)

A Newspaper delivery man sweats it up while delivering newspapers in the hot July sun. I think he spotted me.

Futile (NYC, June 2007)

Here is another street performer at the South Street Seaport. This gent is a Mime, performing as some sort of robotic "Mechanical Man." the object in his hands is a device that makes rude mechanical sounds such as beeps and squawks. All part of his act.

He sat there like this for a very long time. Lost in thought. Seemingly sad. If he was trying to Mime an inactive, sad, depressed, "Mechanical Man," then I must say, he did an excellent job!

During the time that I watched no one gave him any money (is that why he is so sad?). A small child did try to get him to animate and he stood up, paced and flexed a bit and hit a couple of buttons on his squawk box. All in all, not very impressive -- but then again, he clearly was not trying.

Lately, I haven't seen any Mime get much attention at either the South Street Seaport or at Battery Park. It might just be my timing... or is this the end of the road for the Mime in New York City?

Chin up "Mechanical Man." Tomorrow is another day!

Growing Old in the City (NYC, July 2007)

No big story here. Nothing struck me as being particularly tragic other than the fact that the older gentleman, well dressed and well put together, was hunched and obviously getting on in years.

It did strike me that it must be much more difficult to get around a crowded city when you are older and your body has begun to significantly decline. Here he is surrounded by a crowd of much younger New Yorkers, all rushing to get past him. His slowness turns him from human peer to obstacle in their eyes -- something to be overcome.

I also like the visual effect here of the "giant" old man and the "tiny" woman offering free food samples on the right. It looks like he could just reach over and eat her head.

The Invisible Man (NYC, July 2007)

This poor soul was standing across the street from one of America's most iconic images of wealth and power: The Empire State Building. It was a hot July afternoon with temperatures hovering in the low 90s, yet there he was, wearing a winter coat and knit hat. He was also speaking softly and non-threateningly to himself and what ever demons haunted him.

I was there on the corner taking photographs (not only of him) and so I observed him. As far as I could tell, no one -- not the tourists hovering around the Empire State Building and not the New Yorkers rushing home from work -- noticed him. No one even glanced his way. He simply did not exist.

"Please Help Me" (NYC, July 2007)

An old man stands across the street from Penn Station in New York and begs for help. Everyone ignored him except for a couple of guys who bumped him hard, in their rush to get to the station. He was lost in thought, perhaps visiting some far away place and time. He barely noticed that he was being bumped and shoved and would merely re-balance himself and continue to beg while totally and utterly lost in his world.

Loneliness (NYC, June 2007)

An old woman sits alone, her hands folded on her lap, staring off into nothingness. She looked so sad, so tragic, so utterly alone. Was she thinking: "How did it come to this?" "Where did my life go?"