January 2022 - Winter Wonderland NYC
If you have your Picture This Photography NYC Calendar this is your January 2022 image “Winter Wonderland NYC”
Taken early one winter morning while walking around Greenwich Village I was struck by the powder effect of the snow against the red-brick Greek-Revival style houses of Washington Square North.
📷 Snow is notoriously difficult to photograph as if the camera is not slightly over-exposed the snow can appear grey, however by over-exposing you run the risk of blowing out the colour or loosing definition in the darker tones. I also may adjust the white balance from Daylight to Day White to correct any unwanted tones if required. This image required minimal colour balancing and slight sharpening to achieve this result. ❄️
I was lucky enough to live 3 blocks from here for many years so every time it snowed I would rush out to Washington Square Park & surrounding streets before the city awoke and the snow was disturbed.
Walking around this neighbourhood is always a joy as the architecture is varied, the history is rich and the residents are vibrant & youthful due to it housing NYU. I have always been drawn to this block in all seasons as I love the street, architecture, iron railings, doorways, windows and colour palette.
The land directly south that is now Washington Square Park was previously use as a Potter’s Field & for public executions around 1797 by The Common Council then as the Washington Military Parade Ground in 1826, and became a public park in 1827. Following this designation a number of prominent families who were escaping the disease and congestion of downtown Manhattan moved into the area and built the distinguished Greek Revival houses that still line Washington Square North today. In 1835 Washington Square Park hosted the first public demonstration of the telegraph by Samuel F.B. Morse, a professor at New York University. NYU has been located in the area since the 1830s, and occupies buildings on the south & east of the park.
To recreate a feeling of a Winter Wonderland NYC I recommend taking a walk around Washington Square North to see the park & streets, clear your mind and gain perspective, it makes everything better!