Night Park 1
©2009 Craig Ashby
Digital Photograph

Night Park 1 is an extended shutter speed shot of a New York City park. This is from one of my many late night photo excursions. Sometimes the restlessness really takes hold.

These are taken with the Canon Powershot mounted on a tripod. It’s the only way to get this level of crispness with the long shutter speed. It’s a regular trick in my photography bag.

There are just two in this set. Contextually they fit with the Empty Retail and Garage sets. The goal is to illustrate the emptiness of the largest city in North America.

Emptiness is a good theme for me. It’s how I frequently feel in this fishtank of a city. Thankfully I see more of it in others, so pity keeps me afloat for a bit longer.

The light is different in these. Clashing types of bulbs all providing horror movie garishness. Visually different from the harsh fluorescent lights of the Empty Retail set. Same horror, different palette.

Not only does this theme unify them but they are all from similar nighttime wanderings. Journeys around the city when the majority of the population is sleeping. It’s the time when I do my best work.