April 21, 2024
Spring is in full bloom in New York City, especially in our neighborhood at West Side Community Garden’s Tulip Festival. Enter through the wrought iron gate at 123 W 89th Street into this little oasis from city life, open from early morning until dusk.
The variety is incredible with over 13,000 tulips planted each year for the festival. It’s like entering a kaleidoscope of color with birdsong all around.
I enjoyed stopping by to photograph with my macro lens (more on that later) and witnessing fellow neighbors experience the beautifully curated garden. You can see the love poured into it everywhere you look. It’s a true gem of the Upper West Side.
Artist Statement
My photography is an intimate portrayal of my travels and a chance to suspend a scene that touched me in some way. Whether it’s a magnificent landscape or the smile of a stranger, I aim to capture what makes the destination unique in our world. I’ve seen natural and man-made wonders, tried new foods, learned from people of other cultures, and observed spectacular wildlife. This thirst for adventure, knowledge, and understanding is why I take photographs. It’s also why I share them.
Copyright © MayaRose Creative LLC
All Rights Reserved | Photography and written content may not be reproduced without permission.
How the Garden Took Root in the Community
During the Upper West Side’s revitalization in the 1970s, this vacant lot where the garden now lives was used for illegal activities and garbage dumping. Thankfully, in 1976 the neighbors, including parents of the schools nearby, worked to clean the land and transform it into a safe neighborhood sanctuary.
They teamed up with the Trust For Public Land to get the garden incorporated as a non-profit and make a deal with the land owner, a developer. Luckily part of the deal was a requirement that the garden be free of charge and accessible to the public every day.
Garden maintenance is run entirely by volunteers, and WSCG has brought together Upper West Siders from all walks of life since its beginning. In addition to the tulip festival, the garden also hosts movie nights, Shakespeare performances, an arts and crafts festival, and a variety of concerts.
Macro Lens Results
I took the opportunity to test out my new NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S lens with my Nikon Z8 camera, and I was thrilled with the results!
There’s a lot of debate as to whether a macro lens is a worthwhile purchase due to its price and apparently limited use. As a professional photographer, I highly recommend a macro lens. I use it for more than just closeups. Its ability to sharply capture detail makes it the perfect companion for portrait, product, food, and even landscape photography. It is my absolute favorite light-weight lens to use for nature, and my shots at this tulip festival did not disappoint.
The exquisite detail and depth of color of the beautiful blooms made it hard to select which shots to share in this post. I hope you enjoy!
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Artist Statement
My photography is an intimate portrayal of my travels and a chance to suspend a scene that touched me in some way. Whether it’s a magnificent landscape or the smile of a stranger, I aim to capture what makes the destination unique in our world. I’ve seen natural and man-made wonders, tried new foods, learned from people of other cultures, and observed spectacular wildlife. This thirst for adventure, knowledge, and understanding is why I take photographs. It’s also why I share them.
Copyright © MayaRose Creative LLC
All Rights Reserved | Photography and written content may not be reproduced without permission.
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