#059: New York
1 Photography - 1 Video - 1 Quote
1.
Heatwave — photography by Leo Mascarro
From the Community
On the whole, I’m not really into the ‘romanticisation’ of cities that you get with touristic advertising. You know what I mean - the same photo of the same things on airplane magazines and postcards.
I’ve visited a great number of cities around Europe in particular, and for sure each one has a distinct energy and flavour that’s completely unique and beautiful. Such an appreciation can really only come from getting intimate with a city, which is hard to do on the weekend getaways on offer.
On the other hand, New York Photo City takes city photography to a much deeper and wholesome level. It’s one of my favourite newsletters on Substack because somehow, Leo Mascarro captures the essence and beauty of the city and imbues it with the energy and experience of his own lens (no pun intended). Just through his photography alone, I feel like I know a piece of New York - like a friend of a friend who I have heard great things about and am looking forward to meeting.
This particular photo took my breath away when I first saw it (👇🏽). I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Having said all of the above… I’ve also actively avoided living in big cities for the last decade. I suppose I feel like I’m done with living inside of a pressure cooker 😅. And yet, magical transformations happen inside such a pot! So a part of me is always drawn to that kind of concentrated energy - something else that Leo also captures beautifully.
This particular photo (👇🏽) did that for me. It had me thinking… how many footsteps has this bridge weathered? How many conversations overheard, and interactions witnessed? These are the questions I would ask a city bridge - quite a different list from what I would offer a century-old tree in the woods.
2.
New York in the 1930s — a video by NASS
From the Internet
And here is a 9-minute snapshot of Manhattan from nearly a century ago.
Mostly, I listen to music when I’m in deep focused work. On occasion, I fancy something else. These videos from NASS are a great accompaniment, especially when I’m writing.
Also - Matthew Murray, this is for you! Your comment in last week's post reminded me of this 😃.
3.
On writing — a quote from Nick Cave
From the Ether
And speaking of writing, and New York, and favourite Substacks. Here is a quote from Nick Cave on showing up to work as a songwriter, as featured in Mason Currey's newsletter.
The most important undertaking of my day is to simply sit down at my desk and pick up my pen. Without this elementary act I could not call myself a songwriter, because songs come to me in intimations too slight to be perceived, unless I am primed and ready to receive them. They come not with a fanfare, but in whispers, and they come only when I am at work.
Pen poised, I sit to attention, in my suit, on the edge of my imagination, prepared for the beautiful line to arrive. Sometimes it does, sometimes it does not — either way I am powerless to influence the outcome. So often we stand bereft before our ingenuity, with nothing to show for our efforts. Yet at other times we are ushered in.
— Nick Cave
I recommended checking out the whole post (👇🏽):
A PHOTO FROM LONDON
Greetings to you this week from London!
Leo! Love his work!
Another incredible and inspiring issue Raphy! I keep going back again and again to that Nick Cave quote since I saw it in Mason's newsletter. I'm glad to see it again here. It's what I need right to now