Peace in the Midst of Chaos
This image was taken in the churchyard cemetery of St. Paul’s Chapel in lower Manhattan. This was the same location where I took my shot of the Freedom Tower which you can see in this post. St. Paul’s Chapel is located in a very busy, bustling area of Manhattan right in the Financial District.
So I have a bit of a funny story that I’d like to share with you. We were walking purposefully towards the Freedom Tower with my husband and kids up ahead and me lagging behind, as usual, taking pictures. I stopped at the side of the chapel when I saw this seen and wanted to get a shot of the tombstones with the chapel in the background. There’s a wrought iron fence surrounding the property and I maneuvered my camera through the slots of the fence so that I can set up the composition I was looking for. I was crouching down trying to get low and guarding the camera from hitting the fence…I was very focused and intense…when all of the sudden my husband called my name. He was standing inside the courtyard. “Why are you struggling over there, why don’t you just come in?” Hmmm…didn’t notice the opening. Oh well I got the shot anyway and couldn’t have gotten this perspective if I was inside.
I converted this to B&W using Topaz B&W Effects then used Topaz Lens Effects to create the blur.
Excellent conversion, Edith. This has the classic look of yesteryear. Nice work with Lens Effects, too. Love that filter package. 🙂
Nice work!
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March 19, 2012 at 7:38 am
You are giving me more memories with this one Edith. I walked past this place commuting to work for five years. Never stopped to shoot it as my commute was almost two hours each way (I don’t miss it at all!).
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March 19, 2012 at 7:44 am
Nice composition and texture, but I don’t like the bluring vignette. Front grave and part of the church wall are sharp.
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March 19, 2012 at 7:53 am
Thanks for the feedback Bernard.
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March 19, 2012 at 12:28 pm
Nice selective focus and the black and white suits the scene nicely! Well done! Worth the extra struggle!
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March 19, 2012 at 8:01 am
Pretty funny that the gate was open. Well done.
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March 19, 2012 at 8:20 am
Thanks Victor.
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March 19, 2012 at 12:28 pm
I used to walk by that cemetery every time I was in NY on the way to the office. I can’t believe I’ve never walked in through the gate. I don’t get down that way much anymore. I’ll have to make an effort to go visit the cemetery next time. I know there are some famous grave stones.
Very nice processing on the image and isolating the headstone.
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March 19, 2012 at 8:37 am
Very nice processing and use of selective focus. Gives it a nice old-world feel.
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March 19, 2012 at 8:45 am
Dear Edith Levy, I always love your photographs… There is alwasy something hits me deeply. As this one. The window and the stone, they are both very clear they both hit me philosophically, death and window, can you see what hit me. Thank you, have a nice day, with my love, nia
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March 19, 2012 at 9:25 am
Thank you so much Nia I really appreciate it.
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March 19, 2012 at 12:29 pm
great use of BW Edith!
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March 19, 2012 at 10:43 am
Ah, that’s cool! Like the tint and the selective focus, works well here.
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March 19, 2012 at 11:27 am
You were in the photo zone. I really like this old time feel.
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March 19, 2012 at 1:02 pm
Thanks Rob. That’s a good way to characterize it…”the photo zone”…I like that.
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March 19, 2012 at 4:25 pm
What a great image, and such a nice creepy feel to it as well
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March 19, 2012 at 1:50 pm
Thanks so much Mike.
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March 19, 2012 at 4:24 pm
Great shot, love the perspective. I think your “struggle” was well worth it 🙂
I like that you converted the image to B&W.
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March 19, 2012 at 2:55 pm
Thanks so much Gracie.
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March 19, 2012 at 4:25 pm
Nice catch Edith! The processing really projects an eerie mood on the scene.
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March 19, 2012 at 5:08 pm
Funny story but seriously what a great image… love the shallow DOF & POV that you went with 🙂
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March 19, 2012 at 7:26 pm
Thanks you so much Bashar I really appreciate your comments and visits.
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March 19, 2012 at 8:43 pm
I love the processing that you did here. What an amazing job Edith!
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March 19, 2012 at 9:43 pm
Thanks Phillip.
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March 20, 2012 at 9:53 am
Nice work Edith! Love the conversion.
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March 19, 2012 at 10:54 pm
Thanks Denise I appreciate it.
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March 20, 2012 at 9:53 am
FABULOUS! Love the composition so very much, and the processing is so sympathetic to the subject here Edith, it’s wonderful!
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March 20, 2012 at 12:44 am
Thanks so much Toad.
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March 20, 2012 at 9:52 am
Lovely image, Edith! It tells a story and in such a poignant way. The processing makes this a really evocative image.
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March 20, 2012 at 9:05 pm
Thanks so much Toni I really appreciate it.
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March 20, 2012 at 10:55 pm
very nice. the tones are perfect for this.
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March 21, 2012 at 12:55 am
Thanks you Sherri.
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March 21, 2012 at 7:36 am
That is a GREAT story! Laying down shooting through the slats would have been something I would have done too so I greatly appreciate the humor in it! Another well done image Edith!
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March 21, 2012 at 2:56 pm
Thanks Mike. I think photographers can relate to that story.
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March 21, 2012 at 7:40 pm
Gorgeous ambiance, Edith! Love the vignette, isolate the subject perfectly.
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March 21, 2012 at 8:50 pm
Thanks so much Anne.
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March 22, 2012 at 12:16 am
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Edith, wonderful feel and shot!!
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April 10, 2012 at 8:59 am
Very nice shot, i think it would of worked just as well without the blur. I like it a lot.
Mark
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April 17, 2012 at 7:27 am
Thanks Mark I appreciate it.
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April 17, 2012 at 8:07 pm
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