Blog
Guides, not filler.
Source-backed Brooklyn visitor guides and cultural context.
Under the Archway: The Echoes of DUMBO's Belgian Block Passageways
Explore the cavernous space beneath the Manhattan Bridge ramp, where the echoes of DUMBO's past meet the vibrant present.
The Bridge in Arabic, Mandarin, Spanish: Tourist as Translator
Overhearing 100 photo instructions in languages I don't speak, the universal gestures of framing, and a Japanese couple's private ritual.
The First Light: Shooting Manhattan Bridge at 5:47 AM
Join me on a dawn vigil as I capture the Manhattan Bridge emerging from the violet fog, fueled by coffee from a closed shop and a conversation with a skeptical taxi driver.
Before the Lofts Were Millions: Tracing the 1970s Artist Co-ops
Long before tech startups and luxury condos defined the waterfront, pioneering artists formed co-ops to survive in abandoned factories. We explore the architectural legacy of these early live-work spaces and point out the subtle historical markers of the original 1970s bohemian community.
DUMBO Solstice: Finding the Two Days a Year When the Sun Aligns with the Manhattan Bridge Arch
Discover the secret to capturing the perfect shot of the setting sun aligned with the Manhattan Bridge arch in DUMBO, Brooklyn. Learn how to calculate the angles and prep your gear for this fleeting spectacle.
Megapixels vs. Mobiles: The Gear Disparity at Washington and Water
At the intersection of Washington and Water Streets in DUMBO, Brooklyn, a fascinating phenomenon occurs. Every second, numerous cameras, ranging from high-end medium format devices to smartphones, capture the iconic bridge view. This blog post delves into the democratization of photography, comparing the capabilities of different formats in handling the complex dynamic range of the steel span.
Under the Anchorage: The Brutalist Majesty of Anchorage Place
Step away from the classic intersection to explore the massive stone and concrete anchorage of the Manhattan Bridge on Anchorage Place, capturing the overwhelming scale, geometric shadows, and gritty textures of this overlooked architectural colossus.
Painted Brick and Ghost Signs: Reading DUMBO's Typographic Walls
Join us on a visual walking tour of DUMBO, Brooklyn, as we uncover the history behind vintage hand-painted advertisements and ghost signs on brick facades, and learn how to incorporate these bold graphic elements into architectural compositions.
Gairville's Cardboard Empire: The Concrete Giants That Built DUMBO
Discover the pioneering reinforced concrete buildings of Robert Gair that shaped DUMBO's grid and made it a hub for manufacturing, now a perfect backdrop for modern street photography.
Plymouth Street's Cobblestones: A Walking Pace History
Discover the rich history of Plymouth Street's cobblestones, from the original 1836 Belgian blocks to the 1898 horse-cart rut that reappears in flood, with a historian who measured their wear.
Pebbles vs. Empire: Beach Street's Secret Shore
Discover the un-Instagrammed edge of the East River, where the bridge's shadow falls on actual tidal mud, and the heron who owns it. Get the 2024 access map to Beach Street's hidden gem.
The Sourdough Crawl: How Artisanal Bakeries Conquered DUMBO's Waterfront
Discover the high-end bakeries and cafes in DUMBO's historic waterfront, where artisanal bread and pastries fuel the neighborhood's creatives and visitors.
The F Train's Approach: Capturing Motion at York Street
Discover the hidden beauty of the F Train's approach at York Street, where the underground world meets the urban landscape. Capture the perfect shot of the train's emergence, with the conductor's wave adding a touch of humanity.
The Best Worst Time: Christmas Morning Crowdsourcing
Debunking the myth of empty streets on Christmas morning in DUMBO, Brooklyn, through a decade of holiday visits and the story of a Chinese family who made it their annual portrait tradition since 2008.
Fisheye, Tilt-Shift, Drone: Three Cheats and Their Discontents
Exploring the intersection of architecture and photography in DUMBO, Brooklyn, where the most distorted location meets the quest for a straight line.
Vinegar Hill: The Neighborhood DUMBO Ate
Explore the six-block holdout of Vinegar Hill, a neighborhood nestled between DUMBO and the Brooklyn Navy Yard, through the eyes of its last mechanic, who shares his story of resilience and the view of the bridge his grandfather helped paint.
Building 3: Brooklyn Navy Yard Views You Can't Have
Explore the restricted views of Building 3 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, accessible only with security clearance, and discover the unique perspective from the bridge where welders work amidst sparks.
The Two Bridges: Reading Hart Crane Under the Span
Join me on a poetic journey as we retrace Hart Crane's 1929 walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, exploring the intersection of architecture, urban landscape, and literary genius.
Shadow of a Shadow: The Manhattan Bridge in Other Artists' Work
Explore the Manhattan Bridge through the eyes of various artists, from Hopper's preliminary sketches to Scorsese's location scouts and a Bangladeshi painter in a Flatbush basement.
Where to Actually Eat: A Photographer's Hunger Map
A photographer's guide to the best eats in DUMBO, Brooklyn, featuring a $7 breakfast that outlasted three restaurants and a bakery that opens before dawn for night workers.
Fulton Ferry Landing: Where Whitman's Ferry Sank
Explore the historic Fulton Ferry Landing, where Walt Whitman's ferry rides inspired his poetry, and discover the modern-day photo ops and hidden gems, including the copper ticket punch found by a diver in the pilings.
The Manhattan Bridge in Snow: Accessibility & Risk
This blog post explores the Manhattan Bridge in the snow, highlighting the challenges of accessibility and the risks faced by those who attempt to cross it during the winter months. We document the unplowed paths, unofficial routes, and the heroic efforts of an ER nurse who tends to the ambitious adventurers every February.
Domino Park's Last Sugar: Reiner Leitsch's Concrete Ghosts
Explore the intersection of industrial heritage and modern luxury in DUMBO, Brooklyn, through the lens of German photographer Reiner Leitsch's 1985 documentation of the Domino Sugar Factory, now a backdrop for glass towers and a testament to the neighborhood's transformation.
Rain as Architecture: Monochrome DUMBO in Downpour
A three-hour walk through DUMBO, Brooklyn, on a rainy day, capturing the beauty of the neighborhood's architecture through the lens of a Leica camera wrapped in a plastic bag.
The Brooklyn Bridge Nobody Photographs (From DUMBO)
Discover the hidden gem of the Brooklyn Bridge from the DUMBO neighborhood, where a unique perspective and a Polish grandmother's window boxes await.
The Manhattan Bridge Has a Sound: Field Recording DUMBO
Discover the rhythmic pulse of DUMBO through a collaborative field recording project, where the Manhattan Bridge's hum meets the beat of the D train and the improvisation of a jazz drummer.
Empire Stores: Adaptive Reuse and the Views It Steals
Explore the Empire Stores in DUMBO, Brooklyn, where adaptive reuse meets stunning views, and discover the debate between preservation and access through the eyes of a security guard who remembers the warehouse's coffee-scented past.
The Washington Street Pinhole: A 19th-Century View
Recreating the 1903 debut of the Manhattan Bridge through a coffee-can camera and a development lab in Gowanus
DUMBO Manhattan Bridge View Visitor Guide: Washington Street Photo Spot, Timing, and Waterfront Loop
A source-backed field guide for visiting the iconic Washington Street bridge frame without treating it as only a quick selfie stop.
Best Time To Photograph Washington Street in DUMBO
A practical guide to light, crowd pressure, compression, weather, and safe shooting etiquette at the Manhattan Bridge view.
Why the DUMBO Manhattan Bridge View Became Iconic
A concise history of the bridge, DUMBO's industrial street canyon, film memory, social photography, and the Open Street transformation.