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

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.

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:

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.

Coney Island, Oct. '08

Last October, my fiance Dan and I went to the Coney Island Film Festival to see Steve Balderson's new film "Watch Out". It was a humid, rainy, foggy day, and no one was around. These photos reflect the quiet, creepiness of the day, but the movie was way creepier!

My Plastic Camera, the intro

Welcome to my new blog! This blog is designed to be an off-shoot of my professional website Bella Photography, dedicated to my fascination with the Holga camera.

I am fairly new to the Holga, having only been using one for a little over a year now. But it has completely made me fall for photography all over again. It all started with an antique camera that sits on my bookshelf, a Kodak Duaflex IV. I became curious about TTV (Through the Viewfinder) photography. My research took a turn and lead me to the Holga. I decide to purchase one on Ebay for $20, and it's become my favorite camera.

I welcome your comments, conversation and critiques as this blog grows.