Hoboken No-Jokin'.

Hoboken Train Station

Ok, that expression annoys me, too.. It was just too temping. When I was commuting to college (F.I.T.), I was living in Orange County. Which meant taking NJ transit to Hoboken, then getting the PATH to 33rd St. Hoboken was just on its way to being hipster paradise then. It's a beautiful city, filled with old buildings and an amazing view of NYC.

These photos were taken with a Diana F+. No filters, no editing. Just good old fashioned cheap construction!

View of NYC from the waterfront. Note the hot light leaks. I love toy cameras! #nofilter

Where's Waldo? There's a pigeon in this pic. Can you find it?

Back in the Old Neighborhood

A couple of months ago my husband had to go for a wardrobe fitting on West Houston. It seemed like a perfect opportunity to tag along and spend some time in the village with my camera.

This is the doorway to my family's old apartment at 22-24 Leroy St. in Greenwich Village. I have been wanting to take a photo of it for years and had the opportunity recently. The Vespa happened to be in the right place at the right time! My great-grandfather also lived in the building next door, and I grew up visiting. The most memorable feature was a tub in the kitchen which was covered by a plank and disguised as a counter top. You don't see that anymore! I would love to see the inside of these buildings since they've been renovated.

Cafe Wha?... a village staple.

I Heart Peekskill

It's no secret that I love Peekskill. It's definitely my favorite of all the artsy Hudson River towns, and it just keeps getting better. Here are some photos of just a few of my favorite spots.

Bruised Apple Books - Used and rare books, cds and vinyl. Trade in your old stuff and get someone else's old stuff... recycle, reuse, reduce!

Window display at Treat Station.
A truly unique store - retro candy, fancy chocolates, milkshakes made on a retro shake machine, toy trains and other fun stuff. You can't lose with a protesting maneki neko in your window.

The Paramount Center for the Arts - Non-profit theater - concerts, comedians, indie and foreign films.

If you decide to visit, check out these other great local businesses:
The Peekskill Coffee House
The Peekskill Brewery
Side Effects NY
Homestyle Bakery
Kathleen's Tea Room
Ruben's Mexican Cafe

Happy New Year! Now let's all go out cruising in our sweet future cars.

Happy New Year!

I found this sweet ride in Woodstock over the summer. It was parked outside the Sunflower Natural Market where we had stopped to stock up on vegetarian goodies after the Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary June Jamboree.

Etsy Treasury List... Woodland Wonderland

In the past couple of weeks, I have been fortunate enough to have fellow Etsy members feature my photographs in their Treasury Lists. It's so fascinating to look through the lists of both friends and strangers to see what treasures they have found. To pay it forward, I have put together my own list, Woodland Wonderland. Please check it out- artwork, clothing, jewelry and novelties by some very talented artists and crafters.

Leave the gun, take the cannoli.

Spent a hot day in Little Italy this summer with my family for my mom's birthday. Every weekend on Mulberry St. now looks like the San Gennaro festival. Well, not quite... but the street is closed and absolutely bursting with people looking at cigar rollers, gelato carts, balloon animal makers and "GTL" t-shirts. As soon as I took out my Holga, my mom goofed on me for acting like a tourist.. until she realized it was "the plastic camera", and then she was cool with it.

If you're looking for a great restaurant in Little Italy, try Il Cortile. Don't even think about not trying the Bruschetta Con Fave e Verdure.

Frankenstein Built My Hot Rod

You never know what you might find in the Target parking lot. Stumbled upon this bad-ass chartreuse hot rod in Mount Kisco.

Vanderbilt Mansion

Took the Holga up to Hyde Park to visit Vanderbilt Mansion.

Love this statue... she looks like she's just waking up.

Guest Photographer! My talented friend, Karen, has made an appearance here before. I really like this photo.

My Plastic Camera: The Etsy Shop!

Finally! I'm excited to announce that the My Plastic Camera Etsy shop is up and running! If you haven't tried Etsy, you must! It's a great way to support artists, craftspeople, and small business owners.

Random Images: A Scooter, Tacky X-mas and a Ghostly Gal

There was a color roll of film in my Holga from October through the beginning of January. One cool thing is that I used the flash for the first time to capture a couple of images at night. See below for more info:

A Ghostly Sight in Sleepy Hollow, NY.... used the flash for the first time here:

Scooter Envy in Nyack, NY:

Tacky X-mas overload in my neighborhood:

New Year, New Photos

In revisiting some Holga prints that I previously rejected, I found this one - taken at Rye Playland last year. I remember having an idea of how I wanted it to come out. But, it didn't meet my expectation, mainly due to sun glare. But looking at it now, at least a year later without expectation, it is like a brand new photo.

Holgapalooza!

Now which photos to enter?....

http://www.holgapalooza.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=51&Itemid=58

Greetings From....

... scenic upstate New York!

These first photos are from a great antique/kitsch/junk shop in Bolton Landing. Any store that I can walk out of with a pair of pink ceramic squirrel planters from the 40's for $20, is alright with me. Although, I was totally kicking myself for not bringing my flash... there were several rows of antique and just plain old cameras. It would have made a great photo. Damnit.. always bring the flash!

Next, the fabulous Olana Estate... we stopped off in Hudson on the drive home:

My Holga photos never feature people... enter my friend Karen!

And just for fun... here I am! Karen shot this one. I like the way she framed it around that curved branch:

Coming soon... My Plastic Camera- The Etsy Shop!

So, I've had a vintage clothing page ("Varla Vintage") on Etsy for a while now... needless to say, it's been about a year, and 1 item has sold. Boo. Despite this lack of success, I'm going to set up another Etsy shop! This time it will be all Holga prints. The link will be posted here once it's all set!

"Chrysler Looming" Featured in the Westchester County Amateur Photo Contest

One of my favorite holga photos, "Chrysler Looming" (below), is now featured in The Westchester County Amateur Photo Contest. The photos are now on display in the Howard and Ruth Jacobs Family Gallery at the Greenburgh Public Library through June 17, 2010. Join me for the Photography Contest Award Ceremony & Reception on Saturday, May 15, at 1:00 p.m.

Random Shots... North and East

North: Middletown, NY
These shots were taken while on location during a portrait shoot. Actually, it was a tattoo shoot, and resulted in some amazing photos- femininity against a gritty backdrop of abandoned warehouses and auto parts. I'll be uploading the actual portraits to my Bella Photography site soon, so check back there.. in the meantime, they are already on the Bella Facebook page- so become a fan and I'll keep you updated on events and special offers! FYI, they won't be posted here, because this is all Holga, all the time.

East: South Norwalk, CT
Wasn't working this day, just hangin' around. In between window shopping and thai food, I remembered that I had my camera and caught these... a colorful ice cream truck and an empty warehouse with broken windows...

Art Show and Fundraiser at PD Gallery, Norwalk, CT!!!

I'm excited to announce that I will be showing 12 of my recent Holga prints this spring at the PD Gallery in Norwalk, CT. I will also have a hand-printed, framed black & white image (35mm) at the gallery that will be a part of the "Viva Chile!" Fundraiser to benefit Chilean earthquake victims. A portion of art work sold will go towards the Red Cross.

Where?
PD Gallery at Performance Dance Studios
12 Fitch St.
Norwalk, CT 06855
203.855.1118

When?
The art fundraiser and gallery will be open to the public on:
Friday April 9, from 6pm-8pm
Saturday April 10, from 2pm-5pm
Sunday April 11, from 2pm-5pm

How?
Just walk right in! All artwork is for sale, however designated pieces will be for the benefit. Buy some artwork and decorate your home or office with original, local art- all for a good cause!

For more information, please visit:
PD Gallery

Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Jan. '10

Last week, I went over to Flushing Meadows Corona Park to shoot the relics from the 1964 World's Fair. Driving back and forth on the commute to jobs, I was fascinated with the Unisphere and the remnants of the Metropolitan Pavilion. They are right next to brand new Citi Field, yet they are frozen in time with the space-age look that was so popular in the 60's. The Pavilion used to have a circus tent-like covering, and the tall round structures had elevators that brought spectators up to the circular decks. From the Grand Central or Van Wyck, they appear more like look-out posts for futuristic prison guards in a 1960's sci-fi movie.

First we have the Metropolitan Pavilion- with look-out posts in the background and lots of typical Holga light leaks and under that, The Unisphere:

Nice day with nothing to do...

Sounds like a good day to shoot to me. I'm finally heading over to Flushing Meadows Park to shoot the World's Fair relics- the Unisphere, mosaics, time capsules, and my favorite, the Metropolitan Pavilion. Which is the large weird structure you can see from the Grand Central Parkway that looks like it's straight out of a bad sci-fi movie. Once the film is developed, they will be posted here! So come back!

NYC, July '09

These were the first black & white pics taken with my plastic camera. Being a New Yorker, I always take for granted how beautiful the city is. I rarely ever stop to take a photo, because you know, that's what tourists do! Well, not anymore.

Here is Grand Central with the Chrysler Building looming in the distance and The Chelsea Hotel.