Seeing the Beauty Around You

Aug 6
2 min read

Yesterday turned out to be one of those days that reminds me why I should always carry a camera.

The morning was spent exploring the Arte Museum (that's a blog for another day!), and in the afternoon I joined a photo walk hosted by B&H and Chelsea Love Collective titled "Seeing the Beauty Around You."

If you're not familiar with B&H, imagine the biggest, most wonderful candy store for photographers. Cameras, lenses, lighting, gadgets...it's almost impossible to walk through the doors without finding something you suddenly need.

While there, I had the opportunity to meet Derek Fahsbender, whose YouTube videos I've enjoyed for years, along with Heather Kuh from Chelsea Love Collective. (darn forgot to get a group shot!)

Derek and one of the workshop participants

About twenty-five of us set off for a leisurely walk along the High Line, covering nearly twenty blocks through one of my favorite parts of New York City. The weather, however, had other plans. We began under a blanket of gray skies, and within forty minutes the rain arrived.

Rain has a way of transforming the city. Sidewalks become mirrors, reflections appear where there were none before, colors deepen, and ordinary scenes suddenly become something special.

As daylight fades, the wet pavement catches every glow from the streetlights, storefronts, and passing traffic, creating images that simply don't exist on a sunny afternoon.

Throughout the walk, Derek and Heather were wonderful hosts. They were generous with their time, answered every question, and Derek spoke about photography with the kind of enthusiasm that's impossible not to catch. It was also great learning more about the goals and aspirations of Chelsea Love Collective and the community they're building around creativity and connection.

One of the things I enjoy most about photo walks isn't just making photographs—it's spending time with people who see the world a little differently.

We all walked the same path, looked at the same buildings, and stood under the same rainy skies, yet every camera captured a different story. That's one of the things I love most about photography.