From the Battery to the Met Part II

by Juan Campos

continued…

Having made my way from all the way Downtown  I get to 34th Street, Impossible to miss while making my way up.  Difficult not to stop and shoot away. Currently the tallest building in New York City, a 102-story Art Deco Skyscraper, derived its name from the state’s nickname. Not too long ago, I heard from one of my professors that originally the Empire State Building was designed in part as a landing platform for blimps. Whether it’s true or not, I can’t say for sure. I looked into it, but couldn’t really find anything concrete. If any body knows anything about it, I’d love to hear more about the topic.

Funny fact; A few years ago while walking around times square, I was approached by a tourist who inquired about the square. He insisted on finding the square, he just couldn’t find it. Every year, millions and millions of tourists visit this area from all over the world. As a graphic designer, Times Square is a great place to search for inspiration. The amount of energy found here is amazing.

Day or night, people don’t stop, the energy keeps going. The sun goes down, but Times Square turns its lights on. I guess is one of the reasons why they call it the city that never sleeps, and they literally mean it.

Making my way east on 42nd Street towards Grand Central Terminal, I arrive in Bryant Park. So tired of walking the streets of the Big Apple, I decide to take a break, and take advantage of the beautiful view. All year round, many events take place here.

Known to many New Yorkers as the Pan Am Building, used to serve as a helipad to transport passengers from here to JFK International Airport. Until one day in 1977, five people were killed while disembarking a helicopter. The building’s most notorious tenants happen to be a pair of falcons that nest here, “Louis and Clark.”

Grand Central Station—besides connecting many subway lines—is home to over 100 rail yards and platforms. It serves commuters from New York City to Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess Counties in New York as well as Fairfield and New Haven in Connecticut.

From an architectural point of view is one of my favorite buildings in New York City. Another Art Deco Skyscraper located in Manhattan, right across the street from Grand Central Terminal. At some point in history it was the world’s tallest building, until it was surpassed by its close neighbor, The Empire State.

Located on Fifth Ave, between 50th and 51st streets it is the seat to the archbishop of New York. What catholic  wouldn’t love to have their first communion or wedding here?

Columbus Circle, named after that Italian guy who they say discovered America, is a huge landmark. It is where Broadway, Central Park West, Central Park South and Eight Avenue intersect. Also one of the main entrances to Central Park and a major point of attraction.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, generally known as The Met, is home to more than two million works of art. Located on the Upper East Side Of Manhattan, The Met is  where my journey ends. I really hope you have enjoyed my photographs and have gotten to know New York City a little bit better, or at least got to see the city through my eyes.

Many of you may be wondering what the h… do these pictures have to do with the Latino community? Probably not much, however, I’m trying to get you, (the readers of Being Latino) to see the beauty in life. Starting with something so simple as buildings and structures; most of them just happened to be iconic places in New York City. Every single one of these photographs was shot aiming up. Trying to capture monotonous buildings and structures, but also trying to capture life. Whether it was in the clouds, the sky, the people walking by, the light shinning through a window, a small bird flying in the sky, or simply just the branch of a tree that got in the way. Life was always there, it always is and it always will be. Life is amazingly beautiful.

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To learn more about Juan Campos,
visit JC Photography
at http://jcfoto.net/.

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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and should not be understood to be shared by Being Latino, Inc.

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