By Stephen Harmon
For me, a rainy day on the Upper West Side is an opportunity to watch the great free show of people walking around with their brightly colored umbrellas and rain gear and to photograph them in my “NYWet Series” style.
I started the NY Wet Series by accident almost 45 years ago or more. I was driving down 5th Avenue near the Washington Square Arch in a drenching rain. I always had a small clam shell camera with me on the front seat. I took a few pictures through the windshield.
I blew up the negatives and put the prints in a bowl on my living room table. Friends and relatives loved and praised the images, so whenever it rains I try to be out shooting NY Wet pictures, particularly where there is color and light. Time Square and Chinatown and now Fairway are favorite subjects.
I love to go to Fairway on Broadway because there are always people rushing in and out, past the brightly colored fruit in front of the store that provides the background.
Here is some of what I saw and photographed this past Sunday. I hope you find something to like.
-Steve
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Love the impression that Fairway is dissolving in the rain. Stephen Harmon’s photos are always innovative and evocative.
Exquisite!
So happy to see Steve back in the WSR!
These are great!
Cool stuff! Luv it.
I always love your photos and I really love these! Thank you!
Seeing these photos reminded me of being at Casa Battlo in Barcelona and noticing how the internal windows were designed to make the visitor feel as if they were underwater.
Great photos.
Wonderful, and almost painterly. The story of shooting in the rain through a windshield called to mind a quote from the late, great Jay Maisel: “I think that my entire motivation and execution and philosophy can be two words: ‘Hey, look.’”
So happy to see Stephen Harmon back in the pages of the West Side Rag!👏
Such a great technique!
I only go out on a rainy day if it’s crucial and going to Fairway doesn’t fall under that category. However, I love Steve’s pictures of those going by the store and the effects of the rain on this familiar scene. Thanks for sharing your wonderful rainy UWS photos.
That’s EXACTLY what it looks like after a couple of tabs of acid! Wow! (LOL)
BEAUTIFUL PHOTOS THAT LOOK LIKE ABSTRACT PAINTINGS!
Windowpane acid hahaha
Absolutely marvelous. That bicycle! The produce. The swirls of coats.
Steve, please contact me. I would like to have one of the photos….
These wet series are stunning.
I met Steve when he was selling some of his images on the street in the village.. I couldn’t help but buy a couple which now take pride of place in my study in Australia. I’m on his email list and delight in receiving his regular updates.
Thanks for these special views of a familiar scene. Fairway has long been an Upper West Side fixture. Some of us remember when it had a sawdust strewn floor. (!)
Wonderful. The Wet NY photos make me feel all kinds of dreamy. New column please, and thank you!
hope you start sharing photos regularly again