New York Glitchy: Early February 2018

Pacific Exposure: Late January 2018
Sarah Shoot: Mid-July 2018

Alex and I went to New York City during the first week of February. I bought a disposable camera a couple blocks away from the Empire State Building, and a couple shots actually turned out okay. Four shots didn’t even render correctly digitally and are displayed here as photos of the photos as well as digital glitches. Not to mention all the underexposed and dark shots. It’s a wonder I managed to make any of these turn out at all. But hey, whatever – here you go.

A storefront sign for "Wonder Photo Shop Fujifilm" partially obscured by lush, fake greenery. The white letters are large and bold, with a warm glow coming from circular hanging lamps on the sides. The scene is dimly lit, giving the sign a cozy, vintage feel.

where i got the camera

A dark, underexposed image of me and Alex inside the Wonder Photo Shop. The lighting highlights the faint outlines of picture frames on the wall, illuminated by small Edison-style bulbs. Shelving lines the right side, and the dimly lit walkway stretches into the background.

me + alex

A nearly identical underexposed shot of me and Alex in the Wonder Photo Shop. The differences are subtle—possibly a slight shift in posture or angle—but the low lighting and shadowy outlines remain the focal point.

me + alex

A photo of a developed physical photograph showing the interior art deco mural of the Empire State Building. The mural features glowing geometric patterns in bronze and gold hues, radiating upward. The physical photo rests on a colorful, textured rug with intricate red, blue, and beige patterns.

this shot was so bad the glitch version doesn’t even work

A developed photograph of Alex in a dimly lit location, placed on the same patterned rug as the mural photo. Alex is wearing dark clothing, and the lighting emphasizes the ambient shadows around them.

alex

A glitched digital image of Alex, with most of the bottom half obscured by a solid brown void. The upper portion hints at a dimly lit interior, with shadowy forms and warm tones. The distortion dominates the composition, giving it an abstract, otherworldly quality.

glitch

A severely underexposed and grainy image, with faint, ambiguous forms barely visible in the darkness. The limited light creates abstract shapes, making the subject almost indecipherable.

alex

Alex seated on a wooden bench at a Brooklyn MTA train station. She wears a black coat and a white knit hat, focused on her phone. The platform is open to the sky, with visible train tracks running parallel. A graffiti-covered wall and urban buildings form the distant backdrop.

alex

A view of a Brooklyn train station, likely in Bed-Stuy. The long platform stretches into the distance, with multiple train tracks and overhead coverings visible. The scene includes industrial elements like graffiti and weathered metal, set against a bright sky.

Me standing in a subway station wearing a red fluffy jacket and a black stocking cap with the Rumble Boxing logo. The background features tiled walls, staircases, and several people moving through the space. The fluorescent lighting adds a utilitarian feel, highlighting the subway’s bustling energy.

me

A tightly packed subway train on the F line in New York City. The dimly lit interior is crowded with passengers, with Alex visible wearing a white knitted stocking cap and smiling brightly. The overhead advertisements add small pops of color, and the LED display reads “F THE N.........IS" in red letters.

alex

A heavily underexposed image of Alex and me, barely visible in a shadowy setting. Alex’s white stocking cap and dark jacket are faint outlines against a grainy, textured background. The environment is indistinct, with faint geometric shapes in the back that resemble picture frames or tapestries.

alex + me

Times Square in New York City captured on a cold February day. Bright digital billboards tower over the scene, advertising brands like Samsung, Coca-Cola, and Xinhua News Agency. The iconic red steps are visible in the background, with people gathered around. The tall glass buildings reflect the light of the blue sky, while an NYPD vehicle is parked in the foreground, adding a sense of movement to the bustling area. A street-level view of Times Square with an emphasis on the colorful chaos of signage. Billboards advertise products and messages, including a red Sweet Churros cart in the foreground and bright “#LightTheWorld” displays. The mix of modern architecture, streaming crowds, and street vendors brings the energy of New York City to life. The Manhattan skyline as seen from Central Park. The mix of iconic high-rise buildings includes the Essex House sign atop a beige art-deco structure. Leafless winter trees dominate the foreground, contrasting the vertical geometry of the modern and historic architecture. Bethesda Terrace and Fountain in Central Park, featuring a circular stone plaza surrounding the Angel of the Waters statue. The bare trees and soft golden light indicate wintertime. Visitors stroll along the pathways, with reflections in the distant water adding depth to the scene. A plump gray squirrel perched on the backrest of a wooden park bench in Central Park. The bench is weathered, surrounded by dry brown leaves and sparse winter shrubs. The squirrel’s bushy tail is curled, its small paws clutching the edge as it surveys the surroundings. A view of the Flatiron District, showcasing the Flatiron Building's triangular architecture. A damp circular fountain sits in the foreground, its wet brick pattern glistening under soft light. Bare trees line the surrounding park, while pedestrians bundled in winter clothing walk nearby. A physical photograph of New York City buildings, developed and resting on a colorful rug. The same skyline as the glitched image following this one is visible, with the Empire State Building and nearby structures standing out against a gray winter sky.

A half-glitched image of the New York City skyline. The top portion of the photo features sharp lines of buildings, including nearby construction. The bottom half is eaten up by a flat brown distortion, creating a surreal juxtaposition between the digital glitch and the architectural details. There's a strip of grey distortion at the very bottom.

glitch

The Flatiron Building in New York City dominates the frame with its iconic triangular shape. The ornate, detailed architecture of the beige stone facade is clearly visible, with numerous windows evenly spaced across the structure. The surrounding streets are bustling, with pedestrians walking on the sidewalks, traffic signals hanging overhead, and a few cars and bicycles in motion. A "Bike Lane" sign is prominently displayed in the foreground.

Alex sits on a quirky tricycle with square wheels, positioned on a floor designed with concentric tubular ridges at the Museum of Mathematics in New York City. The unique lighting casts warm, diffused shadows, emphasizing the geometry of the interactive exhibit. Behind Alex, a few other museum visitors and a large open space with exhibits are faintly visible.

alex

A dimly lit interior of the Museum of Mathematics features an eclectic mix of suspended, looping structures, cables, and spotlights. The ceiling is filled with exposed pipes and ducts, contributing to the industrial aesthetic. The ambient lighting creates a warm atmosphere, highlighting the museum's unconventional, interactive installations.

Alex stands on a New York City sidewalk, bundled up against the cold. She wears a thick knitted white beanie and a dark winter coat. The background is softly lit, with blurred city lights and the faint outline of buildings and traffic signals, emphasizing the urban setting.

alex

A physical photograph of the next glitched image, placed on a patterned rug. The photo shows me smiling in a black winter coat and a stocking cap, standing in a New York City street with skyscrapers in the back. The faint, blurred buildings in the background are barely discernible under the dim light.

me

A glitched photo of me in New York City (the previous picture). The upper half shows me wearing a black winter coat and a stocking cap with a logo, with dimly lit buildings in the background. The middle of the photo is a solid brown strip where the image data is corrupted, and the bottom fades into a purple-tinted hue, creating a surreal, fragmented effect.

glitch

The exterior of the New York Public Library on Fifth Avenue is partially silhouetted against the early evening sky. The neoclassical facade features grand columns and intricate stone carvings, with soft light illuminating the arched windows. In the foreground, yellow taxis and other vehicles drive past, adding to the lively city atmosphere. A closer view of the New York Public Library’s grand staircase and towering columns. The dim light emphasizes the imposing scale of the architecture, with the faint glow of a lantern visible through the central arched window. A few figures stand on the steps, bundled in coats and holding umbrellas, adding a sense of scale and life to the scene.

Well, at least you got a few photos of Times Square and the Flatiron Building that turned out okay. Not like those haven’t been photographed a bajillion times. I’m suppose I’m just lucky that I got one or two of Alex that you can make out enough of to tell it’s her. I do like those MTA photos, though. I’m a big fan of trains regardless of the city.

The next time I went to NYC, I did a much better job of taking photos. But hey, it’s not my fault that some couldn’t even be digitized properly. Who knows what happened here?

Pacific Exposure: Late January 2018
Sarah Shoot: Mid-July 2018


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