A Village Independent Democrat
My arrival in NYC coincided with the eviction of Occupy Wall Street supporters from Zuccotti Park on November 15, so checking out the original protest site wasn’t on the agenda after all. There were, however, signs of protest and dissent throughout Manhattan and it didn’t take long for groups to re-organize. I saw evidence on clothing, street art, community concerts and political posters on my walks throughout the city.
Walking through Greenwich Village I met a resident handing out ‘99%’ buttons. She is a member of the Village Independent Democrats, a club formed in 1957 to help shape a progressive agenda in city and village politics. She was out on a Sunday afternoon, chatting with neighbours and letting people know about the OWS movement. It was great speaking with a long-time resident who continues to fight for the future of her community. She was kind enough to pose for a portrait on West 12th St, near Greenwich Ave.
NYC Street Art, Part I
I love street art and whenever traveling to a new city I try to wander the fringes, seeking these public galleries. Staying in Brooklyn there was no shortage of interesting artwork around the neighbourhood, especially in Greenpoint & Williamsburg. The usual mediums were represented (paste-up, stencil, spray can) but I noticed a very different method by one particular artist. What looked like black tar dripped from overhead, forming a fine portrait on the concrete. Not sure how it was done exactly but the result is strikingl!
With a few more posts on the way, here’s a first collection of New York street art.
Feature Length
A word of warning. Not every post on this blog will be photography related – just 98% of them! Occasionally, I’ll refer to some of my other passions – bicycles, music, craft beer, the wilderness, etc – and this is one such occasion. Music is a major inspiration for me…you may notice many of my images are named after bits of lyrics or song titles. It’s a constant soundtrack that keeps me going.
For the past ten years I have sent out a year end Top Tunes list to share with friends and, reciprocally, to broaden my own musical tastes. This year I created a Feature Length mix of 29 tracks all woven together and I’m sharing it here for your listening pleasure. Enjoy and let me know what caught your ear in 2011!
For a limited time right-click to download the 2011 Feature Length Mix.
(Edit June 2012: Audio is no longer available for this mix)
Autumn in Brooklyn
Williamsburg, Brooklyn. November 2011.
Top of the Rock
Late November: the air was warm, the sun was shining and we could see for miles. Couldn’t ask for a better view of Manhattan and the surrounding boroughs. Here are a few more views from the top (and bottom) of the Rock. 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, November 2011.
New York City
Welcome to the brand new David Niddrie Photography blog.
To start 2012 with a bang, I’m launching this photo blog as an accompaniment to my portfolio site. Big changes coming ’round these parts and to get started, here’s the first of many posts debuting recent work from my extended travels of NYC, Guatemala, Honduras and Cuba in late 2011.
New York City from the Top of the Rock, November 2011.
Meeting Fires Creative 