Project Travel : Times in New York City - Day 2
DAY 2
The next morning I wake up under three blankets, I can’t stand having the dry hot hotel air being blown on my face all night The compromise is to leave the heat off, though it is in the 20’s at night and to ask for extra blankets at the counter downstairs. I wake up, my lips are dried together. We dress warmly and comfortably, as today will also be another long day; we’ve scheduled a photoshoot in Brooklyn for a completed project. Insert name of job. We decide on bagels for breakfast, but due to the amount of time it takes to travel to Brookly via train, we decide to order breakfast at the job site. We find spots standing near the back of train by the doors. After a few stops, the train empties. Soon we cross over the Manhattan Bridge. We all stand in awe, staring at one of the architectural stars of Manhattan: the Brooklyn Bridge. It’s limestone and granite towers rise beautifully above the icy East River. It’s incredible to think that each block was hand chiseled and pointed by a craftsman long ago. I wonder if they imagined that 100 years later, we would be admiring their work and thinking of them. This is NYC-built on the backs of individuals working together for a common purpose. I lean over and reveal to the team that elephants were paraded across the bridge to show off its strength. The vision of exotic behemoths walking across the then longest-suspension bridge is too much for me to handle and I let out a small chuckle.
We hop off a few stops into Brooklyn, bracing ourselves. I am pleasantly surprised though, the sun is shining in spots and the wind has settled as we walk along the quiet streets, tree lined, with beautiful brownstones. Truthfully, some are dilapidated. Even then you can see the details and crafts that make their beauty enduring. We arrive at the building and wait to be buzzed in. Thankfully the super(maybe superintendent some might not know what that is?) is there to walk us through their intercom system. Each one seems to have a different personality, a necessary yet finicky invention. Finally, we make it into the lobby, there we await Colby Edwards, our photographer. Joe and Colby met 9 years prior while working with another firm. Their similarities make me grin, they share so many attributes: 6 foot, under 175 pounds, extremely passionate about their art and work, kind, soft hearted, both willing to do whatever it takes to get the shot. To the unknowing eye, they seem dissimilar: Joe is clean cut with his slim wool sweater and Asian sneakers. Colby wears boxy clothes thang hang from his tall frame, a quick scan reveals numerous tattoos, most of them simple abstract designs. They’ve worked so long with each other, they can recognize each other’s move. Each shot is painstakingly planned, executed, discussed, debated, items moved then moved again. The curtains were reset 10 times by 3 different people. This is repeated shot after shot. Until we reach the master, where finally their one disagreement is revealed. Colby believes in sleek editorial beds; Joe is the master of more is more. After some discussion, Colby’s version is shot first, and due to the time limit, that is the only option.
One of the clients pop in and out, his laid-back personality makes it enjoyable for him to be around under what normally could be a stressful situation. He is thoughtful, bringing us plates and napkins for our bagel breakfasts. He is genuinely curious and surprised by the amount of work that it takes to produce a photoshoot. We are overjoyed to be able to make his home a comfortable and beautiful space to raise their family in.
As the sun heads down below the buildings we finish packing our gear up. We say our goodbyes, Colby heads home with his gear. We head up the street to the local Indian Restaurant for dinner. It is early, 4:30, the place is barely open. We’re thankful they seat us without a fuss. Lunch consisted of bananas and protein bars. No one was willing to stop the momentum we had built to sit down for a proper meal. We order several options, family style. My favorite is the chai tea, I still can’t figure out how to make mine as rich and perfectly spiced as theirs. We devour the food, and remiss of our last Indian meal together in Paris. We plan to make inroads there too one day. Until then, we pass on dessert, bundle up, take a deep breath and head to the subway. We are gifted with a ride back to the city as the sun is setting, the Brooklyn Bridge an outline, I know a mile or so away is the statue of liberty. I am so thankful for the opportunity to live this life.
