For a humble Frenchman, walking the streets of Manhattan is like walking through the soundstages of a real cinema studio. Everything reminds you of a movie or television series. |
 New York City's Manhattan is certainly one of the main dream destinations for my fellow countrymen. The posters of this mythical city cover the walls of French teenagers' rooms, restaurants, clothing stores. My wife had not escaped this kind of general bewitchment of the French for this destination. Personally, "Big Apple" had not attracted me; my dream destination was Quebec or Russia! |
| A special anniversary for my wife and me was approaching, and my wife suggested a weekend in Manhattan to celebrate. Without enthusiasm, I agreed. We decided to go in June. Without going into all the details of the trip, I am surprised and happy to report that I fell literally in love with this exceptional city. |
| First surprise on arrival: New York seemed to us smaller than we had imagined. But, still, the towers were huge and the streets as wide as soccer fields. The Wall Street district, temple of capitalism, seemed so small compared to what we had seen on television of typical town centers in American towns in the Midwest. |
| The second surprise: the city seemed to us more human. I still imagined the New York City of the American television series of the 80's. I was afraid of being assaulted on every street corner, to take a stray bullet in the head. In reality, we concluded that Manhattan seemed less dangerous than the placid and undisturbed region of Corrèze in France. My wife did not want to take the subway because she imagined that it was a Hooligans' den even more dangerous than the Paris metro! The reality was that I was able to walk in the evening, photo equipment over the shoulder and clearly visible, without any risk. |
| " I Love NewYork "" But also "I Love the New Yorkers" ! It takes only a few seconds for a visitor clearly having orientation difficulties before a passerby offers assistance. (Editor's note: Monsieur Pascal Mary was fortunate in his encounters). |
| In my opinion, the most moving sounds I heard were those of the sirens of fire brigades. Every time we heard one, we thought of the heroes of September 11th. It is important to know that New York fire brigades enjoy important respect and prestige in France. I was very impressed by the presence of the memory of their sacrifice that is evident everywhere in New York. |
| Another hope I had during our visit to New York City was to be able to do a portrait of policeman. As it turned out, a number of times I was able to photograph some policemen in full action. My regret is to have missed an intervention of the SWAT in the middle of the night. |
| My biggest love at first sight was for Central Park, a paradise for a 'street photographer' like me. This park is huge, and the green spaces are among the most beautiful I have ever seen. The perspective made by greenery and by old high rise buildings surrounding the park is luxurious. There would be thousands of people to photograph, ranging from a magnificent jogger to an old Chinese musician. |
| The panorama from Rockefeller Center is breathtaking. My biggest surprise: The color of the Statue of Liberty, I did not imagine that she could be tinged with green. |
| What shocked me most: A young secretary sleeping in the street with her small dog and her luggage and a very aged person—looking very much like a proper dowager—living in the street with all her belongings and her small caged canary, all in a supermarket shopping cart. |
At home, I became unbearable. Every time my wife and my daughters see American television series about New York, I cannot refrain from making a comment, "We crossed that street, I sat on that bench !!! "...
My family is so habituated by American television that very recently, my daughter attempted to aid a homeless street person and, without thinking, she dialed 9-1-1 on her cell phone for help (in France, the rescue number is #1-8). In fact, there are so many people in France that make the same mistake that the rescue services also have programmed the 9-1-1 into the response system to be sure that people can reach them!!! |
AND NOW THE PHOTOGRAPHS:
FIRST IMPRESSIONS:
ROCKEFELLER CENTER & "TOP OF THE ROCK":
MISS LIBERTY & ELLIS ISLAND IMMIGRATION CENTER:
IN MEMORIUM TO THE FIRST RESPONDERS:
CENTRAL PARK:
Times Square:
"Everything Must Go" & Subway Musicians:
A Final Thought:
| My current hope and my obsession are to go back to New York to realize a more complete report. If the authorities would allow, I would like to stay several days in Central Park. I would photograph again and again the people in the street. I would try to immortalize fire brigades in action. The absolute dream would be to be able to stay one year in this city to photograph Manhattan and its inhabitants during all four seasons of the year. |
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North America