Thursday, December 30, 2021

Nights In The Park

Finding Beauty In Darkness

My low-light photography journey began long ago. One of the first books I bought when I was learning to use a camera specialized in the challenges of capturing images in dimly lit conditions.



a photo of bethesda terrace central park at night in new york city
Bethesda Terrace and Reflections - Central Park, New York City




That was back in the film days, and the process was quite different. We didn't have the ability to confirm a proper exposure at the time of capture. HDR, Image Stabilization, and Night Mode didn't exist. High ISO film looked horrible, and the film that we used to capture most images required specially calculated adjustments to exposure time when the exposures lasted longer than a few seconds. Focusing effectively in the dark was extraordinarily challenging.



a photo of castle belvedere at night with a moon in new york city
Castle Belvedere With Moon - Central Park, New York




I didn't do terribly well at first, and for some years, I all but gave up the idea of taking photos at night. The only photos I took at night were star trails which, surprisingly, were easier to capture on film than with digital sensors.



a photo of bethesda terrace at night with the moon in central park new york
Bethesda Terrace With Moon - Central Park, New York




Once I made a firm switch to digital imaging, I gave night photography another try. One year, I went around the city photographing exterior Christmas decorations in the Winter darkness. It was a great exercise. I learned a lot in a few months, and I haven't looked back. I'm always looking for opportunities to capture the beauty of the night.



Camera:    
Fujifilm GFX 100S
Lenses:     GF 110mm f/2
                GF 30mm f/3.5
                GF 23mm f/4


Wishing you great light and meaningful moments!

Copyright © 2021 Daniel R. South
www.dansouthphoto.com
All Rights Reserved


Tuesday, December 28, 2021

New Brunswick, New Jersey

A Clear Evening In Hub City


I haven't been traveling much during the pandemic, but I make occasional trips to visit friends and relatives in neighboring states. I always try to snap some photos if there's time and the weather's agreeable.


a photo of a railroad bridge in new brunswick new jersey
Railroad Bridge - New Brunswick, New Jersey




a photograph of architecture on george street in new brunswick new jersey
Stately Architecture On George Street




a photo of scooters near the rutgers campus in new brunswick
Scooters Near The Rutgers Campus - New Brunswick




a photo of a bookstore in new brunswick new jersey
Bookstore - New Brunswick, New Jersey




a photo of a modern office tower at sunset in new brunswick new jersey
Modern Office Tower At Sunset





Camera:    
Sony a7R III
Lens:        Sony FE 85mm f/1.8


Wishing you great light and meaningful moments!

Copyright © 2021 Daniel R. South
www.dansouthphoto.com
All Rights Reserved


Tuesday, December 21, 2021

Autumn In Central Park - The Bow Bridge

New York's Romantic Treasure



a photo of the bow bridge in central park in autumn





a photo of the bow bridge in central park new york in autumn





a photo of the bow bridge central park new york city in autumn





a photo of the bow bridge at night central park new york city





Camera:    
Fujifilm GFX 100S
Lenses:     GF 30mm f/3.5
                GF 23mm f/4


Wishing you great light and meaningful moments!

Copyright © 2021 Daniel R. South
www.dansouthphoto.com
All Rights Reserved


Saturday, December 18, 2021

Fort Hancock At Sandy Hook

Crumbling Treasures Of The Jersey Shore


I don't get to the Jersey Shore as often as I used to, but I'm always happy to return to some of my favorite places.



a photo of the sandy hook lighthouse in new jersey
Sandy Hook Lighthouse





a photo of a house and canon at fort hancock sandy hook new jersey
House and Cannon - Fort Hancock, New Jersey




I started photographing Fort Hancock on Sandy Hook over a decade ago when I was still shooting film. It's a treat to go back with my digital cameras and capture images of familiar structures using the latest technology.



a photo of an officer's house at fort hancock sandy hook new jersey
Officer's House - Fort Hancock





a photo of a vending machine at fort hancock sandy hook
Vending Machine Near The Treasury - Fort Hancock





Sadly, the fort is in bad shape these days. Many of the buildings have been condemned and left to crumble slowly without any upkeep. This is such a beautiful place, and it wouldn't cost much to keep these buildings standing, even if they're not habitable.



a photo of a crumbling structure at fort hancock sandy hook new jersey
Crumbling Structure - Fort Hancock




If you're a history buff or a photographer who likes to capture images of old buildings, I would urge you to visit Sandy Hook and Fort Hancock at your earliest convenience.



a photo of a row of officers houses at fort hancock new jersey
Officers' Row - Fort Hancock - Sandy Hook, New Jersey




Camera:    
Sony a7R IV
Lens:        Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS


Wishing you great light and meaningful moments!

Copyright © 2021 Daniel R. South
www.dansouthphoto.com
All Rights Reserved


Friday, December 17, 2021

Museums As Art

Architectural Masterpieces



Sometimes the museum is as spectacular as its exhibits.



a photo of the fountains at the new york metropolitan museum of art at night
Fountains At The Metropolitan Museum Of Art - New York (2021)





a night photo of the museum of natural history new york
Museum Of Natural History At Dusk - New York (2021)





a photo of the hayden planetarium new york at night daniel south photography
Hayden Planetarium - New York (2021)






Camera:    
Fujifilm GFX 100S
Lenses:     GF 30mm f/3.5
                GF 80mm f/1.7


Wishing you great light and meaningful moments!

Copyright © 2021 Daniel R. South
www.dansouthphoto.com
All Rights Reserved



Wednesday, December 15, 2021

Columbus Circle At Night - New York City

At The Roundabout



a nighttime photo of rose hall jazz at lincoln center complex on columbus circle new york city
Rose Hall - Jazz At Lincoln Center - New York (2021)





a photo of the christopher columbus statue at columbus circle new york city
Statue Of Christopher Columbus At The Center Of The Circle





a night photo of the tall towers are columbus circle new york city
Tall Towers - Columbus Circle (2021)





a night photo of a new york city taxi cab racing toward columbus circle
Speeding Toward Columbus Circle - New York City (2021)





a photo of the subway entrance at columbus circle new york city at night
Columbus Circle Subway Entrance At Night




Camera:    
Fujifilm GFX 100S
Lenses:     GF 30mm f/3.5
                GF 23mm f/4


Wishing you great light and meaningful moments!

Copyright © 2021 Daniel R. South
www.dansouthphoto.com
All Rights Reserved


Tuesday, December 14, 2021

Big City Stories

Street Photography


Everyone has a story in the big city. Everyone has a dream.


a photo of a man in a mask on a scooter in new york city
Street Scene With Scooter - New York (2021)





a photo of people outside of a new york city department store in the summer
Shopping Day






a photo of park avenue new york city
Both Sides Now - Park Avenue





a photo of a man walking past a wall with geometric patterns in new york city
Untitled - New York (2021)





a photo of a brass band in new york city
Strike Up The Band - New York (2021)





a photo of people and a man walking a dog crossing the street in new york city
Getting Across - New York (2021)






Camera:    
Sony a7R IV
Lenses:     Sony FE 135mm f/1.8 GM
                Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS


Wishing you great light and meaningful moments!

Copyright © 2021 Daniel R. South
www.dansouthphoto.com
All Rights Reserved




Wednesday, June 30, 2021

Guggenheim Museum At Night - New York (2021)

Frank Lloyd Wright's Fifth Avenue Masterpiece



a photo of the guggenheim museum at night on fifth avenue in new york city
Guggenheim Museum At Night - New York (2021)





Camera:    
Fujifilm GFX 100S
Lens:        Fujifilm GF 30mm f/3.5


Wishing you great light and meaningful moments!

Copyright © 2021 Daniel R. South
www.dansouthphoto.com
All Rights Reserved


The New Penn Station

A New York Classic Restyled For The 21st Century



a photo of daniel patrick moynihan hall at penn station new york
Daniel Patrick Moynihan Hall - Penn Station - New York




Camera:    
Sony a7R IV
Lens:        Sony 24-105mm f/4 G OSS


Wishing you great light and meaningful moments!

Copyright © 2021 Daniel R. South
www.dansouthphoto.com
All Rights Reserved


Monday, May 31, 2021

Bricks And Fire Escapes - New York (2021)

Classic New York Architecture




a photo of classic new york architecture with fire escapes
Bricks And Fire Escapes - New York (2021)




Camera:    
Fujifilm GFX 100S
Lens:        Fujifilm GF 80mm f/1.7


Wishing you great light and meaningful moments!

Copyright © 2021 Daniel R. South
www.dansouthphoto.com
All Rights Reserved


Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Gotham City At Night

Every Soul Has Something To Confess



a photo of new york city on a steamy night




Frankie'd seen it all, the braggarts, the know-it-alls, the hustlers, the wide-eyed kids who'd just moved to the city and the opinionated morons who knew how to grab their attention with preposterous bravado. The regulars were mostly working stiffs who needed time to unwind after a hard day on the job, but there were more tragic characters in the mix - down on their luck salesmen struggling to keep up a good front, slick-haired jerks in wrinkled suits whose careers had taken a dive after a bad deal or two, guys who laughed a lot while they relived their glory days, and the dead bored housewives in mascara and tight dresses who thought those guys looked a whole lot more exciting than the worn-out, henpecked saps they'd left waiting back home.

Most nights, things ran smoothly. The smell of onion rings and stale beer overwhelmed everything but the raucous banter, and even that didn't matter. No one was really listening. No one really cared.

The night keeps its secrets until someone drinks too much and spills their guts, vents a controversial opinion, brags about the wrong conquest, or says the wrong word to the wrong person with predictably hostile consequences. No matter. Send the problems out the door and let the cops sort it out. It wasn't his job to clean up their mess, Frankie reminded himself about twelve times a night. He was just there to make people forget that bad stuff happens.



Camera:    Sony a7R IV
Lens:        Sony FE 55mm f/1.8 ZA


Wishing you great light and meaningful moments!

Copyright © 2021 Daniel R. South
www.dansouthphoto.com
All Rights Reserved


Monday, February 1, 2021

Snowy Night In Central Park

First Nor'easter of 2021

The forecast is calling for a foot and a half of snow in New York City. Grab your boots and your camera!



a photo of a snowy path in central park winter in new york city
Snowy Night In Central Park





Camera:    Sony a7R III
Lens:        Sony FE 35mm f/2.8 ZA


Wishing you great light and meaningful moments!

Copyright © 2021 Daniel R. South
www.dansouthphoto.com
All Rights Reserved