Cat on a hot thin roof? Shot in the NY South Street Seaport long ago before it becamr gentrified.

 Fooling around with a polarizing filter in the gppd old film days. Now any digicam will give you such results very easily. The film was Kodachrome II and the camera wasa Nikon Ftn with the 135 mm F2.* Nikkor. The place, the South Street Seaport in lower Manhattan circa 1973.

  Fooling around with a polarizing filter in those wonderful film days. This image dates from the mid seventies. The film was Kodak Kodachrome II with the Nikon FTn and the 135 mm Nikkor F 2.8 lens. Today it's easier to create such dramatic effects using in camera digital filters.

     This Kodachrome slide scan shows the prow of the Ambrose a light-tower ship that guided incoming vessels arriving in New York harbor. It was moored at thr South Street Seaport in Manhattan and tourists could go up and explore. 

The South Street Seaport. Manahattan

 

The South St. Seaport. Manhattan on a clear day

 

The South Street Seaport

 

The South Street Seaport

 Along with the High Line that followed, this is one of New York City's most successful public space and what space it is. It took time and I began photographing it since it's infancy way back in the early seventies when the Fulton Fish Market provider of all the fish for the city exuded a strong and unpleasant redolence. The market is gone now and the place is wonderful. It's stores and restaurants are from reasonable to upscale but the food is generally good. A wonderful place to visit.

Early seaport image

In 1975, the South Street Seaport adjacent to the old fish market was still in it's infancy. Needless to say the redolence was overwhelming. Slowly it grew to become one of the city's great venues. The fish market moved to to The Bronx taking away the smell. This is a medium format shot with Ektachrome 100 Pro and my Yashika 124, my first foray into medium format.

A few abstract images from way back

I was fascinated with what became the South Street Seaport. Back in the summer of 1975, it was in it's infancy but afforded many photo possibilities and some were abstract ones. These images were shot with a 6X6 camera on Ektachrome 100 that I developed in Unicolor chemistry. I loved the large images and their quality. Finally, I scanned them and now they are safe from further deterioration.

Early digital at the seaport

The Minolta Dimage S 404 was a true gem. I wish I had neve gotten rid of it. But I got caught in the mega pixel escalation so it's 4 mega pixels didn't seem adequate. Yet when I look at the images I realize that this mega pixel race is ludicrous. I miss my S 404. 

The seaport.

The South Street Seaport is a great example of good urban planning. A decaying area was converted into a premiere location for the enjoyment of all.

More vintage scans

These images were shot in 1975 when the South Street Seaport was beginning to be noticed. It was in it-s infancy. I would take my Yashicamat 124 loaded with Ektachrome 120 Professional and shoot away. As you ca see, the place was still not well attended. This would change soon after as people began to realize what a wonderful venue it was. It has now become super touristy and somewhat over commercialized to the point that it has lost some of it's meaning. It's still a great place to visit on your Saturday.

Archival Ektachrome

              This photo was shot on Ektachrome 100 that I used to buy at Spiratone in 30 meters rolls.ls at Spiratone. This was during a period when I shot much film so bulk film saved money. To further save, I would develop it in Unicolor chemistry and mounted them myself. Today there is no cost of film so young shooters have no conception of this. In those days one had to be very careful when taking pictures. At any rate, I loved to go down to the then nascent  South Street Seaport and take photos. This was before the area became successful, trendy and very crowded. It's still a nice place to take photos. 

Celebrate

The South Street Seaport

New York's South Street Seaport is a great venue to spend a hot summer evening. There's always something going on and the eating establishments are good. A nice place to relax and enjoy the  cool breeze,

The seaport

The South Street Seaport is one on New York's greatest successes. It basically regenerated an entire area that was dominated by the Fulton Fish Market and surrounded by decrepit buildings. The fish market was moved to the Bronx and the area was renewed and rehabilitated. It is one of the best venues in New York. A vibrant area that is replete with restaurants, shops but the main  attraction are the tall ships that form the South Street Seaport Museum. A must place to visit.

Cat on a hot thin roof

That would make for a great movie tittle. Just joking. It was a great period piece  This Kodachrome scan dates from the early seventies and was shot in the area that became the South Street Seaport. Then it was a very redolent fish market area. This poor cat better stay on that roof because I actually saw rats that where bigger than her. I am assuming it was a she.

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Have a safe and wonderful New Year's Eve

The South Street Seaport

It's one of the nicest  places to visit and enjoy in New York. A very pleasant and well done development of an area that had been neglected for many years.