Low Tide Manhattan

Brooklyn Bridge, NYC - 2016
Premium 260gsm Photo Paper Luster Finish - 20"x28" - Heather Grey Series

I saw slow shutter photos in magazines and newspapers growing up; didn't really think much of it, wasn't particularly impressed because I didn't know how technical it was to shoot.

When I took a film photography class in high school, I learned how to take slow shutter speed photos, and I learned why it made that streaking effect—pretty fascinating. My grade 11 photography teacher would call photography "painting with light", and what's interesting about using the slow shutter technique to capture cars at night is that it literally looks like you're painting with light.

It's all about finding the sweet spot. If the shutter is too fast, the cars just look kind of blurry, and if it's too slow then you don't even see the cars anymore—all you see are light trails. Somewhere in the middle, you can achieve both things.

In 2016, I went to New York for the first time. As a contrarian, I have to act like New York isn't a big deal—It's just a bigger Toronto anyways. In reality, New York has way more character, and every time I visit, it becomes harder and harder to keep the act going. For starters: they have bridges, that's a pretty big advantage already. I walked down the Brooklyn Bridge and took this photo near the end of golden hour. The rush of cars leaving Manhattan through the Brooklyn Bridge with the sun in the background perfectly conveys the hustle and bustle of the big city. The warm colours of the headlights contrasting with the cool tones of the city, make it look like all the energy of the city is escaping.

This shot is 10 years old, and it's gone through many different edits over the years, this one is easily my favourite. I'll be selling my photo prints for the first time ever and this shot will be one of them. Available in colour and Heather Grey. Stay Tuned.