Today dawned chilly but sunny (for the first time in ages), so we hopped in the go-go mobile and headed for points west, specifically Roosevelt Island, to check out the Four Freedoms scuplture park.
What a visual feast! Poised at the southern most tip of Roosevelt Island the park, designed by Louis I Kahn, is simply perfection embodied in terms of symmetry and simplicity, with perspective and architectural lines that draw the eye in every direction, particularly if you have your camera in hand.
Although it was bright and sun shinny, I'd packed my tripod and ND filters in the hopes of snapping a few long exposure shots and was not disappointed. There was plenty of wind to puff the few clouds along and 16 stops of ND did a good job of toning down all the bright lights....
Long exposure photography is not necessarily a favourite amongst chilly by standers as each capture can take 3 to 8 minutes and in my experience, the hangers on have less patience than the photographer... nevertheless I did manage about 5 decent shots before every one else's patience wore through.
Here's a few that I have worked on tonight.....the blog format does not really do them much justice as each image is around 20 inches wide....but you get the idea!!
and just in case you have no idea what the "Four Freedoms" are or what the park is a tribute to, I've posted and excerpt of Roosevelt's address for you.... courtesy of this website.
The "Four Freedoms"
Franklin D. Roosevelt's Address to Congress January 6, 1941
In the future days, which we seek to make secure, we look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms.
The first is freedom of speech and expression -- everywhere in the world.
The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way -- everywhere in the world.
The third is freedom from want -- which, translated into world terms, means economic understandings which will secure to every nation a healthy peacetime life for its inhabitants -- everywhere in the world.
The fourth is freedom from fear -- which, translated into world terms, means a world-wide reduction of armaments to such a point and in such a thorough fashion that no nation will be in a position to commit an act of physical aggression against any neighbor-- anywhere in the world.
That is no vision of a distant millennium. It is a definite basis for a kind of world attainable in our own time and generation. That kind of world is the very antithesis of the so-called new order of tyranny which the dictators seek to create with the crash of a bomb.
To that new order we oppose the greater conception -- the moral order. A good society is able to face schemes of world domination and foreign revolutions alike without fear.
And what can you really say, but Amen to all that!!!!
Tomorrow I'll post some shots of the island and surrounds that I snapped using my fabbo new Fisheye!
Thanks for the post. I had been looking for something related and found your web site in the process.. I will definitely be back for more.
Posted by: physicsl therapists nj | February 06, 2013 at 06:33 AM
Thank you for sharing the quote on 4 Freedoms, it is a simple but beautiful message.
Fab photos capturing the beauty of the place.
Posted by: Pearl Maple | January 26, 2013 at 02:53 PM
Holy cow.
I love that you posted this information about the four freedoms.
But these photos... wow. I love this. I love the BW. That first one would look amazing over a fireplace, don't you think? With a deep red wall behind it?
Or just all by itself...
Posted by: Chris | January 22, 2013 at 07:44 PM
Lovely shots. And, Hooray, Roosevelt!
Posted by: joanne thieme huffman | January 20, 2013 at 06:36 AM