About 3-4 times a year, I make a point of walking around the city (mostly in Central Park) and taking pictures of what I see. I go out with a purpose and a question: What do I see? I'm sure to put away all distractions, so ipod and cell phone go in the bag and I arm myself with my camera.
This city is crazy. We rush around trying to get to our destinations and don't even take note of the things or people that whiz by us. You can tell the real New Yorkers by the way they don't even flinch when there's something out of the ordinary. There can be a clown on a ledge of a building, a cowboy dressed in his underwear playing the guitar, and a 6 foot rabbit all on the same corner and we won't even notice. We will notice, though, the group of tourists in front of us trying to get a picture of that nonsense who just slowed us down and will pass them with a grunt and an eye roll.
I hate that I don't see things in the city, I pass them. So, I make a point of SEEING. As I begin, I literally have to remind myself to slow down and look around and ask myself over and over, "okay, so what do you SEE." In the park I have no agenda. I meander. I go where the path takes me and every single time I cross something I didn't know existed. This time I ended up in Shakespeare's garden. I had no idea that was even there! And I've walked near it pretty much every time I've been in the park.
This year, I was hoping that we would get some snow since I don't have a winter collection of photos. I'm sure the desolate parts of the park look amazing snow covered. I'm also sure that we'll get snow in May with this whole global warming/the planet is angry at us thing that's been going on.
So, if you get a chance, slow down and look around. I'm pretty sure you'll see something you've been missing all along.
One of my top 5 places in the city
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