Concrete Brooklyn
What a better place to start than the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. This shot is not a double exposure. It was shot from the Greenhouse to outside where the bird was perched. The spherical shape of the windows glass created the raggedness of the image. I like its Pre- Raphaelite-like look and its surreal qualities.
Not too far away is Grand Army Plaza. No, it is not an imitation of Washington Square arch. It’s dedicated to Civil War Veterans. If you look closely toward the center (at the bottom) of the photo you can see the World Trade Center. Yes, it’s sad, and I feel it too.
One of my favorite shots in this photo-tour of Brooklyn is this one. It is taken through the newly constructed (at the time) Berkeley Carroll School building on Lincoln Place in the early 90’s. I love it because again it goes through the window out to the concrete city in the background. Also, it expresses “people working hard to make Brooklyn grow.”
This building (probably in Montgomery Place) intrigued me for many reasons—the “squaring off” of the windows. The “boxiness” of the entire building. Park Slope apartments have cylindrical shapes and rounded shapes. This building seems way out of place. The pinkish hue of the bricks in contrast with the blue in the windows complements the green of the growing plants
Oh McFeely’s! Oh, the great old days in Park Slope when McFeely’s was open. Those hamburgers! Those great bartenders! Oh, the camaraderie! Oh the Jack and Cokes! Great crowds were there and it was a true Park Slope watering hole. Right next to it was Park Slope’s first condo for cars garage.
Concrete isn’t all that bad (as I’ve tried to show!) It’s good for making art on the sidewalk. It’s good for walking. But most of all it’s good for bouncing basketballs on! My son, on the left, and my nephew, are on the right. This photograph was taken at least 20 years ago on 1st Street in Park Slope.
As we leave the concrete laden streets of Brooklyn, let’s take a sentimental drive in our late 80’s car right near 8th Ave and & 7th Street in Park Slope, as the postman delivers today’s mail.
I’ve enjoyed the tour and hope to be back with more historical photographs sometime in the future.
You can catch more of David’s photography @stockoppphoto on Instagram and Park Slope Stoop and Gothamist.