Holidays in NYC

CHRISTMAS TIME IN NEW YORK

Happy Holidays to you and your family. There was so much cheer and lots of photos I had in my camera roll prior to 2019 and pre-pandemic that I took during the holidays in NYC. I decided today would be a good day to share my creative photography work with you. In fact, I have a bunch of photos I’ve taken and have not posted so get ready for my photo share. During the holidays, I enjoy taking in the beauty of decorations and my favorite place to go during this time has always been my home away from home; New York City.

I don’t think any other city can compete with NYC’s Christmas decor from the sky high Christmas trees, or the poinsettia plants carefully placed around the city. Let’s not forget the luxurious lit garlands, red ribbons, or fashion forward ice skaters. Theres also always a luxury hotel doorman that matches your decor. If you find one please let me know and I will visit.

AYURVEDA AND YOGA TRAINING IN NEW YORK

In 2018, I pretty much was busy on the road as I traveled back and forth from Virginia and New York for training and business. I was fortunate enough to have close friends and family who allowed me to stay with them. The hospitality went on for a few months while I completed more training in yoga, meditation and Ayurveda. You could find me in the city so much during the time I was there. I was able to take in the noise, laughter, entertainment, beauty and of course the lights. This is what I was used to an ironically yearned to experience. My personality is one that thrives when there is creativity, sound and positivity around. The city brought this for me and I was getting motivation to secure another professional certification.

A BEAUTIFUL SITE TO SEE

Bryant Park in New York is a great place to visit during the holiday season. There is a wonderful skating rink, restaurants and small business vendors to shop from. The atmosphere is family friendly and there is something for everyone to do there. Although I had a great support system in my training program, during one particular day, I was a little sad because I didn’t have my close family with me during the holidays. The feeling was different because I was used to traveling solo and being an entrepreneur can bring on a feeling of loneliness at times but this was an unfamiliar tug at my heartstring. So much was going on around me. I was elevating in my skills, witnessing what mattered most in my life, and rediscovering myself. A shift in experiencing changes in personal friendships and professional relationships was also starting. There was so much change happening and I was walking it alone. This, I realized later is a necessary and inevitable part of life.

A CAMERA HELPS CAPTURE BEAUTIFUL MOMENTS

I have been using a professional camera to capture moments during my days of event planning and floral design. Some of you may remember that I made arrangements for brides and tablescape designs for organizations. Starting out as an event planner meant that I had to be very organized and hire a team to capture the moments I created. Transitioning into a more active role in designing and composing the entire event meant documenting my steps. So, I decided to take photography classes to learn from the experts. I travelled hours every weekend for several months to be prepared for the high end events I had coming up. I was so inexperienced with a professional camera that I had to carry my manual with me. Wanting to make sure I did things the right way as I did everything else, I embarked on the journey to document everything. Fast forward to many events and floral designs later, I was comfortable with my camera. Now I am documenting food, people and nature. I shied away from calling myself a photographer because my resume was already long enough, but dang it. I’m a professional photographer too.

In the image showing a sharply dressed doorman and a New Yorker strolling by, I found myself in my element of design. What caught my attention the most were the beautiful contrast of colors. The natural movement of the men also encouraged me to shoot right then and there. There was one time to capture this and I had just a few seconds to shoot and move on down the road. This scene was captured at the award winning THE CHATWAL New York Hotel. It’s in the heart of Midtown Manhattan and located near the finest views, restaurants and shopping.

HOLIDAYS IN NYC

On a very cold evening in Bryant Park, it was just me, myself and I. Leaving my last class of the day, and instead of going straight home, I decided to walk around and visit some of the small shops in the area. I looked around to see if there was anything out of the ordinary that I could bring back to Virginia with me for my family and loyal clients. There were a few things I found, and it was nice to speak with creative business owners while I shopped. It’s always interesting to know how someone comes up with a business idea and how they honed in on their craft. I think as a business person, I have always looked for ways to be innovative and find new ways to fuel my passion. I also was led to enjoy the view of everyone on the ice skating rink. Everyone seemed so happy. It’s as if everyone knew each other as the rode by each other with laughter.

CHRISTMAS FASHION MAKES YOU SMILE

There were many people that stood out to me but one guy in particular caught my eye and I had to capture him in his suit. This wasn’t any ordinary suit. It was a bright red snowman suit and it look very couture like New York fashion icons typically stroll the streets. He was fun to shoot and by far a great skater. I am happy I had my camera to document this day in 2018. Looking back, everything about this day was beautiful. Now I know why I felt how I did that cold day in NYC. I wanted to share the joy of the day with the people I loved the most. It is a great reminder of the beauty and joy that is always present even in the midst of change. You may have to go through changes but know that you are prepared to walk into a new experience. The road my seem challenging with hills and valleys. It may even feel like you are on the road alone but the road has to lead you to a place that you are well equipped to be in.