I have a love/hate relationship with cities, and most of all, with NYC. I love the skyline, Central Park, the views from the tops of skyscrapers, the bridges, walking the streets, the theatres and music clubs, restaurants, Times Square, Rockefeller Center, the Empire State and Chrysler Buildings, the neighborhoods. I hate the congestion, the noise, the smells, the 4AM garbage trucks and all that comes with it. In 1992, I moved to Connecticut and, for two years, did the 6:15AM Metro North commute into Grand Central Terminal, hiked up Madison Avenue to 50th Street, by St. Patrick's Cathedral, through the English Gardens, said hi to Prometheus, admired the ceiling murals while detouring through the 30 Rock lobby, and took the elevator up to my office on the 34th floor of 1251 Avenue of the Americas. Inspired by Brett Weston's classic black and white photographs of the city, on two visits since 2005 I have taken my 1947 Crown Graphic 4x5 camera and my 1898 Rochester Optical King 8x10 camera to create my own color photographic murals. Urban Grand Scenics. I hope you enjoy these as much as I do.
