I talked to Art a few days ago. There is the issue of tripods/permits he is working on. He said he was going to make some calls to the city, so please hang tight. C'mon slacker.....

Why would we need permits to shoot on the street?
Arthur, NYC

Why would we need permits to shoot on the street?
Arthur, NYC

Er...you wouldn't. But it does seem like a great "stall".

Folks, I would love to join you. But we're into November now and in a few days I'm off to Tucson through X-giving. By the time I get back it could be too damned cold for night (or even day) shooting.

If someone arranges a get-together that my schedule allows for - I'm there (weather permitting).

Seems that trying to arrange get-togethers on this site is as bad as trying to herd cats! ;)

Folks, I would love to join you. But we're into November now and in a few days I'm off to Tucson through X-giving. By the time I get back it could be too damned cold for night (or even day) shooting.



Hehe, so, nobody will bother us. :) Cops and other 'powerful' people just try to stay warm.

Alex W.

Hehe, so, nobody will bother us. :) Cops and other 'powerful' people just try to stay warm.

Alex W.

?

Sorry, I don't understand your point - and probably do not want to go along with you.

Folks shoot gear around town all year round. Guess I'm not into paranoia stuff like you seem to be - and I sure don't 'dis my hometown.

Outta of this idea if this is where folks are coming from.

Sorry George, I think two words confused you. "us" means the night outing group, not just you and me, that would be awkward.

"powerful people" I refer to building security guards, doormen, etc... I were hassled sometime by those people. They do have some power, right?

Alex W.

Sorry George, I think two words confused you. "us" means the night outing group, not just you and me, that would be awkward.

"powerful people" I refer to building security guards, doormen, etc... I were hassled sometime by those people. They do have some power, right?

Alex W.

I knew what you meant - and stand by what I said.

I an NYC native, I live in NYC, I make my living in NYC.

Quite frankly, I don't shit on where I eat.

G'night

Hi Folks,

So sorry! OK, here's the lowdown. Since we're shooting at night we'll need tripods. That means we'll need a permit. It's really quite easy to get one and I haven't had any problems ever getting one. Here's a link: http://www.nyc.gov/html/film/html/permits/still_prcedure.shtml

Now, it gets more complicated because technically, we'll be a group of two or more. I have a call with the NYC office on Monday. I could not call this week - too busy during their office hours. If it's too complicated, what we'll do is just be a bunch of individuals who happened to meet at the same time. No biggie.

So I think the way to go is - we need to map out a route by Tuesday. Depending on my call on Monday, this is the route you have to write on the permit or I could do it for the whole group. I'll post a note here if everyone needs to do this individually or we're going to do it as a group after I talk with them on Monday.

OK, now that that is out of the way, what's the route?

Oh, let's not debate whether we need this permit or not and what our rights are and whether anyone is going to hassle "us" when we eat. Let's just get the thing and keep it in our back pocket should the need arise, k?

Oh, yeah, the trip is this Saturday, November 10, right Jim?

Regards, Art.

That date works for me. As far as a route, I am game for anything.

Geez Jim, if I knew you were up this early, I'd give ya a call. I thought I was the only insomniac around here...

Regards, Art.

Not by choice....unfortunately, mail goes out on Saturdays. Check your voicemail.

The date works for me too, and like Jim, I don't care about the route either. Just want to get something done and see what the result is.

Thank you Art and Jim for put this together.

Alex W.

OK why don't we meet at the front steps of the Post Office building on 7th street just south of Penn Station at 4pm. Sundown is around 5pm these days and twilight is the best time, I find for night photography, especially with tungsten film.

The plan is eventually to land in Times Square around 7pm or later

Now there some others suggestions that were brought up that I haven't incorporated in yet:

Pedestrian walkway across the Brooklyn or Queensboro Bridge <-- might be too long a hike
Meat Packing District still has some interesting sights <-- lots of stuff to shoot here, plus I've always wanted to shoot the gas station there at night
Piers / stumps in the West Hudson River <-- maybe not so good at night, but twilight might work


So who's in?

Regards, Art.

I
BTW-does anyone know what are the best elevated subway stations in LIC from which to score shots of midtown?


I know this is a little late, but anyway here goes. Two stops on the #7 train are ok, Queens Plaza and Court House Square. On the F line, try the Smith/9th St. station. Looks out over low rise Brooklyn to lower Manhattan towers in the distance. If not on the subway, Socrates Park in Long Island City offers good views of midtown east. Down under the Manhattan Bridge in Brooklyn, the views of lower Manhattan are excellent.

The post office is on 8th, just west of Penn station......I believe

The post office is on 8th, just west of Penn station......I believe

Yes, it is. And it's 8th AVENUE not street.

Remember streets go east and west; avenues go north and south.

Would love to join you but I'm off to Tucson this Wednesday night.

Please post some pics afterwards.

OK, just got off the phoe with the film office. Nice people. I've attached the film permit application that I have just faxed in. It outlines the route we'll take ...

We'll meet at the US Postal Office front steps at 4pm. Then shoot at:

Brooklyn Bridge via the pedestrian walkway until 6:30pm
Meat packing district until 9pm
Then Times Square until 11:30pm

They indicated to just list the 'main organizer' - that's me and my contact info which I did. Once the application is signed, it becomes the permit and I have to have it on me when we shoot.

Notice that I also listed 6 people, so if there are more than 6 that show up, we're screwed! Therefore, you guys have to tell me if you're coming or not so I can make the permit for one more than I know. :) I have, so far:

Art (me) - confirmed
Jim - aj-images - confirmed
Alex - highpeak - confirmed
Arthur - FM2N - ?
Ian - imazursky - ?
Terrence - ?

Who else?

Regards, Art.

Sounds like a very nice plan, looking forward to it.

Alex W.

Ooh ... small diversion in the process. I need written permission from the Brooklyn Bridge to shoot with tripods there. Just called that office and talked with the guy. Very friendly and understanding. Doesn't seem like big deal. He's really more concerned about personal injury safety and any work that may be going on that day and time. No biggie again. I've sent him the details as he requested. Should get the AOK. Stay tuned ...

Regards, Art.

Woohoo! Permission granted to take photos on the Brooklyn Bridge with tripods! Permit should be in my hands tomorrow morning, folks. We're all set!

Regards, Art.

Great job Art! Just a reminder, bring stopwatches. My cell phone has a timer, so others might as well. Look forward to seeing everyone. Alex- please stop me from hitting the bars along the way. thanks - Jim

Jim,

It ain't exactly in my hands yet .... anxiously waiting though, like an expecting father.

Stop watch is a great reminder. So is a small pen light. Alex, if you stop any of us frm hitting the bars along the way, there will be hell to pay! LOL

I can't wait to get a nice scene from the bridge in twilight. Oh and bring tungsten film if you guys have that - trust me on this one.

Regards, Art.

I have a wedding (of two serious drinkers) the night before, so not sure what type of shape I'll be in. If there's another taker, let them have first dibs.

A tripod on the Brooklyn bridge can be tricky. The deck moves a LOT from the vehicles. It's better by the towers, but still pretty bouncy. And if people or bikes are moving over the planks you're set up on they move even more. Makes long shots a crap shoot. Worth the try though. One of my favorite places in the city.

I can certainly advise on bars along the route . . . I'm an amateur photographer, but professional boozer.

Hmmm .... seems like I've hit a wall today. No faxed permit yet, no call, no e-mail, nuttin. Will wait 'till tomorrow before I call in. Isn't this exciting?

Regards, Art.

The only way I can stop you guys from hitting the bars is stop following me! :)

Art, don't loose sleep over it, it will come when we need it, fingers crossed.

As to choice of films, I plan to use Velvia 100F and Bergger BPF200.

Alex W.