Bluejake

155 Water Street from 20 Jay Street

jake — 2008-07-23T01:24:31-05:00

Gothamist moved into a new office in DUMBO a few weeks ago, right under the Manhattan Bridge. So now I'm really a hardcore Brooklynite-- I haven't lived and worked here since I was fourteen. I was thinking about that this afternoon, when I found myself on an empty floor at 20 Jay, looking back towards our office and the Manhattan Bridge, and Brooklyn Heights beyond it.

North of the Projects in Red Hook

jake — 2008-07-21T20:54:53-05:00

The other day I spent an hour biking around the small triangle of streets bounded by West 9th, Columbia, and the BQE. There's an interesting vibe there-- a bunch of old tenements that somehow survived the development of the projects, four blocks of industrial buildings, and a few mixed-use streets. I don't think I'd ever noticed this bright yellow church before.

An Old Swoon Piece

jake — 2008-07-16T16:32:20-05:00

Swoon has been back in town and putting up new work, which got me looking through my archives for pictures of her pieces that I'd never put up on Bluejake. I found this one, of a carnival booth she designed in Coney Island, in my 2007 archives.

Fort Totten

jake — 2008-07-14T12:03:35-05:00

After a fun day exploring Fort Totten, I'm looking for some more interesting places to shoot in Queens. Do you know of any interesting ruins, industrial areas, or run-down historic neighborhoods? I feel like I know Long Island City and Astoria pretty well, but my knowledge goes downhill fast from there.

Brooklyn Piers

jake — 2008-07-13T11:30:10-05:00

After dinner on Friday, Karen and I took a walk down the Promenade. As usual, it was filled with tourists admiring the Waterfalls, locals out walking their dogs, and couples of all ages making out on the benches. But what really drew my attention was the demolition of the piers-- it's been going on for weeks, and at this rate, the entire waterfront will be cleared by the end of the summer.

New York Camera Club

jake — 2008-07-10T21:40:51-05:00

I dropped by the New York Camera Club tonight for the opening of WNYC's Streetshots exhibit. Then I ran into Sam, and after enjoying the pictures and complimentary shrimp cocktail, we went looking for the afterparty on the roof. It turned out it was actually at a bar around the corner, but we stumbled on to a pretty good view.

White House in Red Hook

jake — 2008-07-07T17:52:23-05:00

Last night we got back from a long drive from Vermont, and I just had to get out and stretch my legs. I jumped on my bike and found myself in Red Hook-- just riding, not really looking for pictures. But on one of the streets I came across this house, which I'd probably passed fifty times without noticing. I wonder who lives inside-- I wish I could take their picture too.

Voyage Repairs

jake — 2008-07-04T11:57:35-05:00

Another shot from Wednesday's ride in Red Hook-- this one from the edge of the new Erie Basin park next to Ikea. One of the lesser noted benefits of Ikea is that you can now stand back far enough to photograph the buildings on the opposite site of Beard Street. Sadly, there's not much left to photograph on the Ikea side. The park, while pretty, it photographically dead, as the adjoining piers and waterfront have been swept completely clean of good subjects: boats, buildings, machinery, etc.

A Man in Front of an Overgrown Fence in Red Hook

jake — 2008-07-02T22:34:32-05:00

There should be a special caveat to the golden hour rule of photography, since it doesn't really apply in New York. Sure-- most scenes do look better just before and after sunset-- but because of our tall buildings and grid-like streets, the only place to find real golden hour light is along the water-- or else on a roof. Otherwise you're going to be in harsh summer shadows. Unrelated: two shots I would have taken.

Puppies for Peace

jake — 2008-06-28T14:21:18-05:00

I was riding down Berry in Williamsburg when I came across this amazing political art installation. I'm not sure what the cause is about, but anything that involves puppies and peace signs seems like something I could get behind.