For the Love of Brooklyn » williamsburg

winter weeknight in williamsburg

Jill — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 04:35:48 +0000

Lots of shots are still appearing in our Flickr group from last week’s meet-up in Williamsburg! Check out a few of my recent favorites below and have a great weekend!

Untitled, by Vitaliy Piltser:

Untitled, by Alec McClure:

“Got Goose,” by Josh Derr:

“Bryan,” by Vitaliy Piltser:

Untitled, by Lucy Aboytes:

“Shadow Walk,” by Josh Derr:

Untitled, by Brian Collins:

on the williamsburg waterfront

Jill — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 02:36:09 +0000

Thanks to everyone who came out to Williamsburg this past Thursday night for our latest meet-up! Despite the frozen temperatures, we had about 15 photographers come brave the weather and join us for a walk to the Williamsburg waterfront. By the end of the night, only 9 of us remained. Vitaliy Piltser took this panorama as proof:

There are already tons of great shots in the Flickr pool, and I’ll definitely feature more as the week progresses. But for now, enjoy these great long exposures from the waterfront from the warmth of your homes. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

“Williamsburg Bridge / Williamsburg Photowalk,” by Josh Derr:

Untitled, by Barry Yanowitz:

“!4th Street ConEd plant,” by Aonghais MacInnes:

“871 Pavilion,” by Joel Zimmer:

“Chinese State Building,” by Ed Brydon:

february meet-up: williamsburg!

Jill — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 18:41:46 +0000

It’s been FAR too long since For the Love of Brooklyn hosted a meet-up, but we’re resolving to get the ball rolling once again in 2011! To kickstart February, we’re going to reconvene — this time in Williamsburg at Radegast Hall! We’ll start off at the biergarten and tour the waterfront neighborhood, venturing as far as the weather will allow. If you’ve never joined us for a meet-up before, we’d love to have you — but be sure to bundle up and bring a tripod if you’d like to capture some long exposures!

If you’d like to sign up to receive news about future meet-ups and events, make sure to submit your email address in the sidebar or become a fan on Facebook!

RSVP: Via Facebook
Date: Thursday, February 3rd
Time: 7:00pm (we’ll be there by 6:30 so feel free to come early!)
Location: Radegast Hall, at Berry & N 3rd in Williamsburg (map)
Via MTA: L to Bedford Ave

See you there!!

P.S. If you make it to Williamsburg in time for the sunset just after 5pm, you might want to head to the waterfront. With any luck, you may be treated to a fireworks display like photog Vitaliy Piltser has captured time and time again!

bottoms up at radegast hall

Jill — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 18:38:04 +0000

On a recent trip to Williamsburg to see a friend’s band, we stopped off beforehand at Radegast Hall and Biergarten at Berry and North 3rd for a pre-show pint and pretzel. I’d never been to Radegast before, and I was super impressed with the airy old-world space with its giant communal tables and barn-in-the-middle-of-the-woods-y feel. Also the size of its litre beers. Whoa.

While the German beer steins were indeed the size of my head — so were the soft Bavarian pretzels with their homemade spicy mustard and pickles on the side. My friends sampled a couple of the sausages from the grill in the back to glowing reviews, and I watched in jealousy until I ordered one of my own.

My only complaint? That we had to leave for the show. I must go back in a snowstorm. With furry boots on, and hours to spare. No, really.

it’s nuts in north brooklyn, too!

Jill — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 00:19:38 +0000

While much of our coverage of the Brooklyn blizzard has been focused on the south portion of the borough, there have been loads of awesome shots submitted from Williamsburg and Greenpoint today! Below, find a selection of those shots and stay warm tonight!!!

Adam Lerner trekked out in Williamsburg to capture local folks braving the streets:

Meanwhile, Karen Goheen (@iamkaren) of Two Arms Inc. sent in pictures via email from Eckford and Meserole in Greenpoint:

And finally, Luna Park took a three-hour stroll and captured this serene shot below, amidst the city’s chaos:

in the shadow of the williamsburg bridge

Jill — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 04:17:49 +0000

Earlier in the spring when I trekked to the Williamsburg waterfront for the Domino Sugar Factory open house, my route back to the subway meandered under the Williamsburg Bridge overpass and through a sea of reflections. I recently returned to the photos I’d taken that day and realized how important a part the bridge plays in the geography and identity of the area; intuitive, perhaps but I have never really explored this idea through my photography.

Certainly I’m no expert on how the bridge’s divisive nature plays out in the identities of the various cultures that occupy the vicinity; could you point me in the direction of other photographers or artists who are? What books or articles do you recommend?

In the meantime, here’s a glimpse of life under the Williamsburg Bridge…

reflections of south williamsburg

Jill — Fri, 28 May 2010 15:29:10 +0000

After my recent trip to explore the Domino Sugar Factory, I found myself wandering through the south part of Williamsburg and admiring the eclectic storefronts. Hat milliners, interior designers, lighting specialists and more display their wares along South 8th Street to the soundtrack of the JMZ trains rumbling a block away. For me, this street represents yet another timless vignette and a lovely glimpse of Brooklyn life.

Enjoy the photos below and have a wonderful holiday weekend!

late april night rides

Kruger — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 17:31:42 +0000

One thing I love about April is how it’s generally the first month in the year when it gets warm enough to take long night bike rides, and these rides are perfect for photos. I love riding around the city to take my night shots, but in the winter it gets a bit too cold to venture out too far. Now that it’s warmer, the entire ride is a pleasure so I can just wander aimlessly when I go out. I throw my camera, one or two lenses, and a tripod in/on my backpack and set out wherever the light takes me.

Last night there was a beautiful full moon in a near cloudless sky. On nights like that, the photos almost come out a bit alien, or movie-set-like. The deep blues of the sky become almost enchanting and the strong light from the full moon and street lamps create some beautiful shadows.

The neighborhoods are generally still active, but everything is so much emptier later at night. Brooklyn, for the most part, goes to sleep and the scenes sit there patiently awaiting the next day. It’s my favorite time to take photos. There is something about and empty Brooklyn scene that I find so captivating. I don’t know why I do, and hopefully never will; it’s one of the feelings that’s better without an explanation

In almost everywhere you turn, every scene you examine, there seems to be a story. The light, the object, and the character are trying to tell the viewer a history of location, a character of place. Welcome back spring, and welcome back long photo bike rides.

on the waterfront: domino sugar factory

Jill — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 03:15:14 +0000

Last Friday night, I got a heads-up text that the Domino Sugar Factory on the waterfront in Williamsburg would be open to the public on Sunday from 12-3pm. Of course I immediately double-checked to make sure the event was on, and then made the rounds on Twitter since I’d (strangely) seen zero publicity about the opening. The factory has been subject to some media controversy recently, as real estate developers hope to take over the partially-landmarked compound and turn it into 2,200+ new mixed-income apartments and condos, along with a public esplanade along the waterfront. Aspiring plans in an economic downturn, to be certain. For more about the political aspects of this project, this article from the New York Times is a good primer and this post at PlanNYC is a good read, too.

As expected, community activists were out in full force distributing pamphlets alongside the large event staff. And the developers made the whole shindig into a family affair: there were stations of free hotdogs, cotton candy, and drinks galore. But of course, we came for the photos. Someday, I dream of getting inside and touring the old factory, but for now these exterior shots below will have to do. What a gorgeous location with a beautiful view of the city!

For more photos from the Domino Sugar Factory, make sure to check out these awesome shots from Lucy Aboytes or this article over at Gothamist!