(Psst! Don't want to read the whole entry? Click here to go straight to the album!)

I'm not the only one who noticed Spring in Central Park. — I'm not the only one who noticed Spring in Central Park.

I don't know why I stayed away from my camera for so long. I honestly can't offer you any sort of valid explanation or excuse. There were so many days where I told myself, "Get up. Go take a picture. This is the thing you love to do. You live in NYC. It's impossible not to find something interesting to see." And then I didn't get up. I didn't do the thing I love to do. I just shrank back inside myself to hide. I was like this for months.

I spoke to a friend about this feeling recently, about how it's like an emotionally dulling blanket or haze of a never-ending lazy Sunday hanging over you. I wasn't depressed or hating the world, but I had somehow let some sort of irrational fear infiltrate my thoughts and create a hesitancy to do anything related to taking photos. The fear was so irrational that I can't even explain what exactly I was afraid of--probably whatever thing gave me the best excuse to not pick up my camera and leave the house on any given day.

But it's ridiculous. What was there to be afraid of? I'm just taking photographs, not being offered the chance to do open-heart surgery on an infant. So a couple of days ago, I left the house with my camera, lenses, and tripod in hand (well...on my back).

A little light, a little dark, a little blur.

In order to help motivate myself, I created a plan with some loose goals that I wanted to achieve that day. My overall goal wasn't to produce jaw-dropping images or even a cohesive collection; rather, I knew I had to shake off the dust and take baby steps to regain my confidence. I needed to get back to basics and just play. I decided to head to Central Park because it would provide a great mix of nature, architecture, and people. I also wanted to use two lenses in particular--my Rokinon 8mm Ultra Wide Angle f/3.5 Fisheye Lens and my EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM telephoto lens. I love the fisheye because it makes me think about more creative angles, and I love the telephoto because it let's me grab more intimate moments without being in a subject's face (which is still awkward for me and a problem if I plan to try and do more street photography...but like I said, baby steps). I also brought along my tripod and shutter remote to set up certain shots. I ended up not using it as much as I intended, but it was still great to have it on hand.

Yikes, I was rusty. I was so, so rusty. But I found that with each click and new shot I tried to find, it got easier. It also helped that the Park was bustling with life that day. The plants, the people, the general vibe--it was one of renewal and hope. It was exactly what I needed.

When it came time to edit the photos, I also made it a goal to get back into the swing of how to editorialize and how to decide what I wanted the final image to look like. True to life? Clearly manipulated? Badly Photoshopped? I don't like to use filters too often or just for the sake of using them, but I made myself play with the images and adjust settings manually to figure out which styles and looks appealed to me or worked for the photos. As you'll see in the Album, I didn't pick a single streamlined look for the collection. I generally don't like to do that, but this was an exercise and attempt to find inspiration--so you'll just have to deal with that [enter new, racially diverse winky emoji here].

A remote controlled boat floats around in the distance.  Petals from the nearby cherry blossoms lazily drift in the pond.  See the full album here. — A remote controlled boat floats around in the distance. Petals from the nearby cherry blossoms lazily drift in the pond. *See the full album here*.

So check out the full album here if you want to see more of my attempts to get back on the horse. Hopefully, I'll have more new photos and blog entries for you sooner rather than later!

I vacillate between "Eww" and "Aww" when it comes to public displays of affection (aka PDA). It's one of those situations you really can't judge until you see it happen, and your reaction is usually heavily influenced by whatever mood/stage of life you're living at the moment.

In a new relationship? "Aww, look at that cute couple smooching under the bridge!"

Bad break-up? "Eww, look at those morons making fools of themselves under the bridge. UGH."

Recently married? "Aww, isn't love lovely? LOVE FOR EVERYONE!"

Recently separated? "Idiots. WHERE'S THE WHISKEY?"

There's something about New York City in particular that encourages (or, at the very least, doesn't discourage) couples from being very affectionate to each other in public, no matter what their age or relationship status might be. It's not just teenagers and twenty-somethings making out on the L train on; I've definitely witnessed women with salt & pepper hair perched on their balding significant other's lap making goo-goo eyes at each other. For all I know, that woman may be the CEO of her own company, and that man could be the head of recruiting at a large law firm in Midtown. But there they are, giggling and whispering like a couple of high schoolers behind the bleachers of a football game. Except they're not in high school, and it's the middle of Bryant Park. And now her tongue is in his ear! GAH! LOOK AWAY!

A young couple embracing at the top of Montjuic in Barcelona, SP.  This man's hands must also be cold. — A young couple embracing at the top of Montjuic in Barcelona, SP. This man's hands must also be cold.

Ironically, the density of New York City's population allows for a comfortable anonymity for most residents. You would experience a painful sensory overload if you really tried to take in all of the sights, sounds, people, commotion, etc. that flood every street and every avenue, every minute of every hour of every day. So we all walk around with blinders at 50% opacity, filtering out what we don't need but paying attention to the more curious or out of place when we see it.

PDA always makes it through my filter because, in a city that's always moving, PDA requires stillness from its participants. You have to plant yourself in one place for more than a few seconds. You have to focus on one person. You have to put your blinders on 100% opacity to the rest of the world. You have to be willing to act like a bit of a fool because very personal love--the kind that moves you to make a public display of affection--many times looks like foolishness to others. And that's fine! I'm glad that you find such joy in your relationship! But please try to remember that love isn't all goo-goo eyes and kisses under the bridge. PDA can be demure and quiet and just as lovely. A caress of the cheek, a squeeze of the hand, the wink of an eye. Classy and non-gag reflex inducing. Everyone's a winner!

But if you can't help yourself, make good use of your $1750/mo studio apartment in the West Village and leave the rest of us to fall asleep quietly on our train ride home.

Getting Back to it

Public Displays of Affection