Colour Bombs
Some shouts of colour from the streets of New York. I had intended to write a small photo essay on the comparative differences between colour and B&W photography but that shall have to wait another time, if at all. Suddenly I have found myself in a rush and not for the first time I ask myself "how did this happen?" Time management is maybe not my best skill . . . Once upon a not so long a time ago the choice was limited to either B&W or colour film rolls but then digital came along to open up the world of choice to the point where we can have both, and so much more (layers etc) with the one shot. As someone who slopes about town here, there and everywhere in "boring black" the confrontations with dashing bursts of colour leave me with little choice but to stop, shoot and leave them to enjoy the full light of day. Or night. The end of another hot, steamy week . . . . Wishing you all a wonderful week-end, keep cool!
Great post and photos Patti 🙂 I really love the rain shot with all of them in plastic rain jackets and the last photo with the matching hair on her dog, LOL. You have a great weekend also, it’s going to be another hot one 🙂
Thank you Joe! The people in plastic had that dazed and confused sci-fi look of aliens just arrived from another planet, or so I thought at the time!
Yes, another hot one but I see trees waving outside which is surely a good sign, isn’t it . . .?
Yes it’s a good sign but it’s still too hot for me Patti 🙂
You need a cool drink Joe!
Am about to go and find out for myself just how warm it is out there . . . .
YES preferably deep amber in color 🙂
Some fine images! Good work my friend
You are very kind, thank you Bob!
You Patti my friend; are always welcome!
Bob
Your photos beautifully document the many colors worn in honor of the Summer season! That dog in the final picture is adorable! What’s his name?
It’s break out the rainbow time here in NYC that’s for sure, you will have to visit soon! I don’t remember the pooch’s name . . . 😦
You too! Great selection of snaps in the street. 🙂 (I appreciate your use of ‘u’s in ‘colour’! Do you say ‘grey’ or ‘gray’?
Bon week-end!
Brian
It is hard work here on WP where I always have to overwrite the automatic spellcheck but worth it to keep “u” in circulation. Not to mention proper spelling, which means I will be forever grey! Thank you Brian and happy week-end!
You blog, like about 20% of wp blogs to which I subscribe won’t let me hit like unless I comment and sometimes not then either. Are you having this problem?A lot of time I don’t really have much to say but want to let blogger know I visited. Also about 20% won’t let me comment using wp and I have to go to facebook instead.
Your blog, like about 20% of wp blogs to which I subscribe won’t let me hit like unless I comment and sometimes not then either. Are you having this problem?A lot of time I don’t really have much to say but want to let blogger know I visited. Also about 20% won’t let me comment using wp and I have to go to facebook instead. This is second try now using facebook not wp log in.
Carl, I’m so sorry you are having this problem and I have no idea why . . . . I remember having this problem myself some time ago and it was a pain in the neck. It’s nothing I have set up on my blog (that I know of) and I get plenty of “likes” without comments which is absolutely fine with me. As you say, we don’t always have much to say. A nod is indeed as good as a wink!
B&W makes the viewer look closely at the picture, having them enter and discover details that the shooter might have missed. Color dazzles the eye and surrounds the viewer. You do both well.
You have summed it up so well, thank you Tom – a little dazzle certainly goes a long way.
Some great shots, here. Reminds me so much of New York!! What it’s really like.Stay cool, you say? Tomorrow and Sunday are supposed to be 108. Monday? 109!!!
Thank you Emilio, those high numbers pack a punch . . . 😦 Suddenly New York doesn’t seem so bad!
You’re the bomb!…and these are great – especially that gal on the bus. Wow!
Thank you Pierr, the gal on the bus was in an “end of the day” world of her own!
Well NY is a colourful city. I agree there are toooo many processing options available these days. For want of lack of imagination, I limit myself in what techniques I use, otherwise I’d be on the 300th reedition of the one photo. Have a great weekend too Patti.
Oh my goodness, so easy to get lost in the processing . . . and yet so many camera review blogs skate over particular tech specs because of what can be done afterwards in processing which confuses me, all over again! Thank you for kind words on NY and the colorful city that it is – if I could I would do far more night shooting than I do, something comforting about the dark.
I love NYC through your lens…
Thank you Christine!
Ah, Patti, summer in the city! I’m in love with the woman on the bus – settled in for the commute like it’s home. 🙂
Thank you so much Meredith, a seat on the bus can do that to you!
Rocking NYC. You show its true colours so well!
Thank you MBL, no place to hide!
I’m happy to see that the current style of colored sunglasses is being adopted by mature people. I think I might buy myself a pair. Have a great weekend, Patti.
As the famous saying goes “old enough to know better, young enough not to give a rat’s whatsit!”
I always enjoy the random shots of New York life. The older woman who is putting on lipstick is pretty colorful without the lip gloss. LOL
Love them all. HOT and HUMID in New York = Stiffling.
Stay Cool !!!
On the button Issy with the stifling but we do what we have to do to keep cool don’t we!!
Hi Patti, Love the contrast of this post and Hard Rain. New York can be very colorful and you captured it here………great photos!
Thank you Burgess and, as you know, sometimes you just have to take a break from all that colour and take refuge in the dark rain!
Colors are summer’s big swing. Great images. 🙂
Swinging in the heat, that’s for sure. Thank you Antonia!
These would look completely different in B&W. Patti, I enjoy your colour and b&w posts equally. I love seeing people through your lens – the green goddess, reading red and finally the pooch – are my favourites. Keep cool and enjoy the weekend 🙂
There is so much colour out there to choose from, sometimes it jumps out, other times you can become jaded and not notice . . . . thank you so much for great words of support Paula, so much appreciated!
Any time Patti.. you are an inspiration 🙂
Color just can’t be avoided after a while! Great shots!!!
Try as you might to see through it, it’s not going to happen . . . thank you Angeline!
No problem staying cool, that is for sure. Just got some warmth looking at these brilliant colour bombs. 🙂
Thank you Bente and hope you are enjoying a decent summer so far!
Colour or b&w – you do them both proud. x
You are too kind Gaynor. I remember what a whizz you were with your film camera, any chance of taking it back up?
Beautiful – NY has it’s own unique palette for sure. I so dig the freshness of your portraits, Patti!
It’s those intense bright blue skies Richard, thank you!
Love (all) your series on life in contemporary New York Patti 🙂
Thank you so much Geoff! I often wish I could share a cocktail here on the blog with you all!
Hehehe … that would be totally cool Patti 🙂
It’s the thought that counts! 🙂
Nice colour bomb post.
Thank you Cardinal, letting the colour do the talking . . .
Fun gallery Patti! “Hair and matching pooch’ leads the pack for me 😉
Thank you Madhu, they carry it off so well don’t they!
I wish you a wonderful week too, Patti.
And you, thank you Allan!
Great set of photos Patti! 🙂
Thank you so much Peter!
that last frame is priceless!
They were so cute, thank you Pat!
(The person in the first frame was not at all impressed . . . nothing to do with me and everything to do with the nearby Amazing Matthew Silver who was simply “too much!!!”)
Agree with Pat, love that last shot 🙂
Thank you BG, they were a fun pair!
that rain shot is so cool 🙂
Thank you Joshi!
Love the “blue aliens” shot! And about B&W or color, opps colour I am…flexible! B&W is great and colour is so special sometimes 🙂
robert
You are so right about the flexibility! Thank you Robert!
Love all these colour bombs, but my favourite is the red lady in the bus. But all images put a colourful light to our existence. You are a quintessential street photographer, Patti.
Thank you so much Otto!! Considering we were facing each other, sitting knee to knee, she was seemed to be completely unaware of me and my big camera in front of her. It is certainly a peculiar experience to realize just how invisible we can be.
Wonderful portraits.
Thank you Rabirius!
Just wanted to wish you a happy 4th of July!
You are so sweet, thank you Cardinal and best wishes to you from the flag-waving red, white and blue!
Great images, Pattie – the colours look amazing. Well captured 🙂
Thank you so much Marianne and so lovely to hear from you!
Color is my thing, and I absolutely love this.
Your term color bombs is totally accurate, the colors are really exploding. Vincent V would be proud!
Happy to colour your day, thank you Judith!
Amazing captures! Love the tulips! You make the city seem like a peaceful haven!
I like your point about the peaceful haven Annie which is how it so often feels!
bus lady lollipop reading red is my favorite in this gallery – wouldn’t work for B&W – at least it would miss the message of happiness. Maybe B&W is good for a blues state of mind? Like your photo of a stretched limousine in an abandoned Detroit suburban street. Your best color shot in my mind actually: the black friendly lady with curlers in her hair, she invited you home for a chat?
Thank you so much Frizz! Am working on shooting more in b&w – how the balance between moodiness and happiness pans out I don’t know . . . .
I keep hoping to see the woman with curler in her hair again, one day!
More great images, Patti. But those tulips — are they still out, or is that an older shot?
I thought I took that photo of the tulips just the other day but it turns out it was back in late April! It doesn’t even seem that long ago we were trudging around in the snow . . .. . Thank you Charles and trust all well with you!
Fantastic images and Sensational color! Everyday images taking the NYC stage singing solo!
And a very generous stage at that! Thank you so much Elena!
Always enjoy viewing your images. The colors are alive! Headed to check out Monochromania. (did I spell it right?) Looks like you are having a good summer. Was coming to New York but when my sister returned home after the 4th, they are renovating the apartment below hers and the noise and dust are intolerable. Will travel there via your blog. 🙂
Ruth, so sorry you won’t be visiting – I’ve always enjoyed “walking” around the city with you. Hope the renovations finish soon . . .
I think ‘Shouts’ is a good choice of word! Fascinating glimpses as always Patti 🙂
I know we live in a world of colour but some people just have the knack to be so much more colorful than others. Thank you Martin!