After taking some pictures in Battery Park I headed north on the R train to my ultimate objective that day, Chinatown. Coming up out of the station on Canal street, I zigzagged side streets branching off Chinatown's heavily commercialized tourist flooded street, in search of spots that might give me real views of those that live, and not just visit there. Two blocks south of Canal as I approached Bowery St. (4th ave.) I hit pay dirt, a modest sized park that all sorts of it's native population gravitated to. Dominating the park is a marvelous structure known as the Columbus Park Pavilion, and it was bursting with activity in every corner. I got hundreds of shots there and in the park that it resides in. Despite having plenty of lights hanging from the ceiling of the edifice none of them came on even as the sunlight was starting to fade. Not wanting to startle any of the natives, or break the mood by using a flash I weaved through the crowds in the shadows and captured pictures by available light. This one was my favorite.
DSC_5459 chess match on the window ledge
Chinese chesscandidChinatownColumbus Park PavilionfallColumbus parksld2
