Thanks to all the great photographers contributing to the FTLOB Flickr pool. Here is a collection of photos of Brooklynites to get you through your day.

“Singing Man on F Train,” by Eloy Anzola:

“Vanessa the Hairdresser: Cobble Hill,” by Chris Arnade:

“Andy,” by Adam Lerner and “Annual Coney Island Polar Bear Swim,” by Leanne Staples:

“Boa,” by currañ:

“Benad,” by Alec McClure:

“Can Do,” by Yeshvir Daamineni:

“Islam in New York: Samira of Waterfalls Cafe,” by Chris Arnade:

“Lullwater in Autumn” by Ed Brydon

“Golden October” by Pete of Brooklyn

“Prospect Park fall” by Marie Viljoen

“Auto Culture” by mheidelberger2000

“Cadman Plaza Brooklyn” by Matthew Nedbalsky

“Happy November!” by Jeniece Primus Photography

Sunday was an absolutely beautiful autumn day. I went out in the morning to watch the marathon at the corner of Lafayette Ave and Washington Ave. I could hear live music, cheering, and cowbells from two blocks away. The excitement was contagious as I approached Lafayette.

The police motorcycles clearing the way, the runners shuffling through the crowded streets, the spectators cheering. I never knew watching people run could be so much fun, nobody ever told me the NYC Marathon is actually a party.

It was inspirational to watch so many people–almost 40,000–push themselves physically and mentally to run all 26.219 miles through the 5 boroughs. There were so many different types of people, with different levels of intensity. From professional runners who were pushing like they were running for gold in the Olympics, to the more casual athletes who looked as if they were a couple days late for the Halloween parade, the crowd cheered just as hard for each.

There is a never ending supply of interesting and thought provoking street art in Gowanus. I find photographing these pieces especially interesting because much like many things in the city, they are constantly changing, evolving, and disappearing. New tags go up on old ones, layers of paste-ups cover up the shreds of other pulled down pieces, and the city comes and paints it all over.

To think of the amount of hard work and risk that goes into creating and hanging this stuff, all the time knowing that they could very easily be covered up the next day. To me, photographing street art is not a matter of simply capturing the art but also the surroundings that provide the canvas.

The success of FTLOB can be directly attributed to the hard work, passion and enthusiasm of FTLOB founder Jill Harrison. Jill has been the driving force behind FTLOB and has taken it from a domain name with an empty page to a community that many photographers consider their home base. Through her passion for photography and the love of Brooklyn, Jill has created something special that provides a unique perspective of the borough to its residents and those who (rightfully) wished they were. Posting often, Jill always inspires us with her photographical documentation of the people and places of her surroundings. Across digital and film, 35mm and medium format, she always is able to capture the unique character around her with a keen photographic eye.

Today we have a very special post, because it is Jill’s birthday. We wanted to take a moment to recognize all the hard work she has done. We wanted to thank her for pulling us all together, for organizing us, inspiring us, and showing us how a group of busy, hardworking and competitive photographers can come together for the greater good of the community at large. Thank you Jill for all you’ve done for the site, the borough, and how you’ve inspired the photographers around you.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

And now a look at some of our favorite recent Jill Harrison photos:

Afro-Punk became a touchstone of a cultural movement strongly reminiscent of the early days of Hip-Hop. Alternative urban kids across the nation (and across the globe) who felt like outsiders discovered they were actually the core of a boldly innovative, fast-growing community.

With the temperature in the 90′s and little-to-no breeze, I was surprised to see the festival already buzzing along. The BMX “Battle For The Streets” had gathered a crowd on the street course — complete with stair-set, rails, and grind boxes. The contest ended on a high note with one overachiever doing a backflip off of the ramp and out of the course.

The local vendors were out in flux. There were bikers and skaters riding around, and graffiti artists tagging a wall that had been built for the event. It was a really great day in Brooklyn. Though I don’t identify myself as an afro-punk or even a punk for that matter, I did not feel ostracized by the scene (as can often be the case in scenes). The music was great, and as diverse as the crowd, from hip hop to punk, pop to hardcore, soul to funk-infused metal.

Martin Luther (left) 24-7 Spyz (right)

J* Davey (left) K-OS (right)

Cool Kids

Mos Def, headlining the festival (above and below)

Warm June breeze, street signals light the dark South Slope. If there is a quiet moment in New York City’s most populous borough, it is not going to be found in the Slope. We bike deep into Gowanus. The industry has mostly gone to bed for the evening. It is nice to find a quiet moment to set up a long exposure.

Being approached by anyone in the dark secluded Gowanus night can be intimidating. This time it is just security. He tells us he saw the cameras and needed to check things out. Not sure why security is always alarmed by cameras. I wonder what truth or weakness they are afraid the photos will expose. We speak softly and respectfully and we are told to carry on.

A bus driver pulls in after a long shift. He parks his bus along the side of the secluded dirt road. The driver looks confused by our presence as he walks away. We set up a series of long exposures down the dusty dirt road. We capture the machinery as it rests. It is mere scenery without the human drivers and operators that push these machines all day long.

The stillness of the evening reminds me of the natural beauty that must of have existed here at one time. Long before the industry came in and altered the environment to meet their needs, before the trash was dumped, before the factories were built, before the roads were paved, and long before the Superfund status; this must have been a very different place.

The firemen were already at the scene when the second manhole blew several stories into the air, followed by a third explosion of 10 feet of flames from the manhole we were standing ten feet away from. Sorry I didn’t get a photo of either of these things, I was busy running and looking for something to hide under.

After the brief downpour on Saturday morning I ventured out on my bike and with camera and a 55 mm lens in tow. The winds were were blustering but otherwise a pretty day, sun shining and in the 70′s. I went to the Groundbreaking of the Richard B. Fisher Building at The Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM). The new arts facility will live at at 321 Ashland Place, former home to the Salvation Army. The renovation on the 7,700-square-foot building is expected to be completed in the summer of 2012 and will include a garden rooftop for special events.

The vendor tents and picnic tables were lined up down the block. Scents of BBQ chicken and fried seafood filled the air. The festivities were kicked off by the Soul Tigers and The Brooklyn Steppers in a spirited Battle of the Bands. The crowd formed tightly around the bands with smiles and cheers all around. The crowd was instructed to give them room as the bands started swinging their drums with their choreographed moves. It was really a fantastic performance by both bands.

Representatives from BAM, The Fisher Family, Letitia James, and Mary Markowitz were among the speakers. There was a lot of excitement about the continued expansion of the BAM cultural community. District 35 city councilwoman Letitia James spoke of the future of arts and culture in Brooklyn and what this development means to that future. By naming legends as diverse as Beethoven, Dizzy Gillespie and Jay-Z she reminded the crowd of the ever present need to support the artist. Borough President Marty Markowitz spoke about the continued growth of downtown Brooklyn. He got the crowd going by discussing the soon to be Brooklyn Nets. The Fisher family–namesake for the new building–spoke warmly about what BAM has meant to them as a family growing up and living in Brooklyn by discussing the concerts, dance performances and operas that have defined Brooklyn culture throughout their lives.

The groundbreaking had a very celebratory atmosphere. In a time when budgets are tight, often it is the cultural programs that are the first to get cut. It is nice to see the continued expansion and renewed importance placed on the arts and culture that define Brooklyn. The creation of a new 263-seat performance venue and affordable space for the community and education programs is the kind of project I can get behind.

LINKS
More info and a rendering of the renovated Richard B. Fisher Building
Recent WSJ interview with BAM President Karen Brooks Hopkins discussing the project
Brownstoner covers the groundbreaking