Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON. (Image ID: USA2010-2July-1163)I shot this late on a summer evening in New York City this year. We were with a friend in the area known as Little Italy, sampling the food and taking in the sights. Shortly after a meal, we emerged to wander down the vibrant streets, soaking up the pre-Fourth of July atmosphere when I noticed these silhouettes against the late-evening sky.
The rooftop water tanks really "made" this image for me. Earlier that day, a tour guide had explained to us how crucial they had been in the city's early history, especially in terms of fire-fighting regulations.
The strong silhouettes worked so well against that sulphuric sky. All I had to do was stand in the middle of a street to take the shot!
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21 comments:
I also love those little tanks because the do make brilliant shapes silhouetted against that sky. Well caught!
Maggie X
Nuts in May
Thank you, Maggie - I had the privilege of meeting DarylE while we were in NYC!
(I saw your query about my new novel - if I had a spare copy I'd gladly send it to you, my friend. But it is available at Penguin India or a lot of friends have bought it from www.abebooks.com and it's been delivered promptly.)
nice shadow shot...lovely sky behind it too david...i need to get back to NYC...
Love the colour, and very eye catching David.
That fabulous Mcmahon eye can find beauty everywhere.
The tanks of New York remind me of the chimney pots of London. Love the silhouettes.
I would never have guessed that that skyline was New York.
David, every time I post a comment with your blog, I get a failure notice back from bigpond?
This is a great picture, I am ashambed to say of all the trips I have made to New York I have not noticed these little tanks. I think it is time for me to look up.
.....:-) Hugs
Great shot, David. And I'm so happy to see your punny titles once again.
You bring out the beauty in everything with that camera of yours!
Tried emailing you to ask about your second novel and where to get it - I see you answered to Maggie so I got my answer but the emails ain't working buddy! Come back to me undelivered. :( Even after a comment, but at least the comment goes up! Full inbox? Not surprising...
Thanks for "following" me. I'll go look for your book now. :)
Oh! Have a great day. ;0)
But before the "all I had to do was stand in the street and take the shot" you had to notice the water tanks, and realise that the silhouettes would work.
You've a very keen eye, David, like all good photographers.
The silhouettes look great, David.
I used to work in a water storge tank company. "Tanks for the memory" LOL
fantastic image! a very different side of NYC (yet so representative) - thanks for the historic reference.
I love this photograph! Something about it just touches me.
The water-tanks in NYC are fabulous subjects for photography, but this was a stunner.
Ahhhhhhhh, you've captured the atmosphere beautifully!
Ah, David, I've missed your sky scenes. They are all so beautiful. I'm playing catch up a bit today on blogging. You seem to have dropped back into it with no effort at all. :-) I like the almost olive gold color of this sky. It made me think of military instead of water tanks. Up here in Texas the tanks look like gift balloons turned on their sides. They often paint names or slogans on them, like "Home of the fighting Brahmas."
Cheers,
Lee
I have done a series of Water Tower shots ... they seem to be everywhere .. some are masked in 'wrappers' to make them blend in more .. did the guide also tell you how they help with water pressure on taller buildings AND dwellings with water towers up top get a better insurance rate...
I'm amazed that you got to 'stand in the middle' of a New York street Dave!
btw - carpal tunnel surgery Nov. 15th. It won't hold me down forever though!
Super photo as always David! Hmm sampling food...sounds yummy!
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