Monday, November 14, 2011

What I saw in Sunset Park: Flag Pole Circle


Flag Pole Circle, originally uploaded by veesvision.
This image was shot in Sunset Park Brooklyn. There is an area inside the park where the flag pole stands. It was raining this day. I was looking for a new way to shoot the iconic St. Micheal's steeple.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

BLOG IN

Dear 2012 Presidential Candidates, We are your future constituents and we are parents. We are American mothers and fathers and grandparents and guardians. Our families might be the most diverse in the world. Blended and combined in endless permutations, we represent every major religion, political ideology and ethnic culture that exists. We are made from equal parts biology and choice. Our children come to us in every way possible—including fertility miracles, adoption, and remarriage. Our very modern families embody the freedom that defines America. We embody America. We are rich in diversity, but we are united in our family values. We come together today, with one voice, to express our grave disappointment in the national political discourse. The 2012 countdown has barely begun and we are already being bombarded with the warmed-over, hypocritical rhetoric of 2008. We are living in a time where 15.1% of Americans now live in poverty, the unemployment rate stands at 16%, and we are spending close to $170 billion annually between the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan*. Given the current state of affairs we would expect every candidate to focus on the issues that truly matter: job creation, debt-relief, taxes, education, poverty, and ending the war(s). Instead, it is already clear to us that the conversation has been hijacked, with the goal of further polarizing our nation into a politically motivated and falsely created class-war. We will not stand for another campaign year in which politicians presume to know what our family values are as they relate to the nation. To be clear, here are our family values: Affordable health care, including family planning, for all Americans. We will not tolerate any candidate using the shield of “Choice” to blind us from the issues that really matter. When funding is stripped from organizations like Planned Parenthood, access to sliding-scale health care (including yearly pap smears & mammograms), comprehensive sex education, and family planning is blocked from the poorest of the population. Access to education, and the ability to actually use it. We want quality, affordable, federally-funded pre-K programs made available in every State, in order to provide an even starting point for all children enrolled in public schools— regardless of the wealth of the district or town they live in. A reinstatement of regulations for banks issuing mortgages and full prosecution for those who engaged in fraudulent lending practices. We want full accountability —investigation, indictment and prosecution— of those individuals and institutions who engaged in fraudulent lending practices and who helped create the massive foreclosures that left many families homeless or struggling to keep their homes. A return of strict environmental regulations protecting water, air, food, and land that were removed in the last two decades. We want our children to grow up in a world not weighed down by the strains of pollution and global warming. Between BPA in our products, sky-rocketing rates of asthma in kids, questionable hormones in our over-processed food, and more, we need leaders who will put our needs and safety over the desires and profits of large corporations. Family planning, healthcare, education, economic solvency and environmental safety: these are our national family values. Candidates who demonstrate the ability to understand the gravity of these issues, and their impact on our families, and who can provide actual, viable solutions to these problems will garner our support and our votes. We believe in this democratic system of ours, and we will continue to use our voices and our votes to see that it reaches its fullest potential. Sincerely, Your future constituents, The mothers & fathers of America If you would like to forward this letter to your elected officials, you can find their contact info at the following links: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml * Sources for stats: http://money.cnn.com/2011/09/13/news/economy/poverty_rate_income/index.htm http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.4452bed82adf3124e5884678e236d7fb.361 http://costofwar.com/en/ To see who is participating in Blog-In 2011, please click here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pBuBqfCu9ReVNmMu-F08TX6HXhLps98756FkVNBMAE4/edit

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Dia de los muertos


Dia de los muertos, originally uploaded by veesvision.
Today and tomorrow are days to celebrate those that have died and remember them how they lived.

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Halloween in Sunset Park


Halloween-SSPK-2011-18.jpg, originally uploaded by veesvision.
Sunset Park Recreation Center plays host to many family friendly events. This is a photo of some of the volunteers from yesterday's Halloween event.

What you see in Sunset Park: Chinese Drummers


Chinese Drummers, originally uploaded by Katzi!.
Come early enough and you may run into some drummers, dancers, and musicians. This image was shot summer 2011.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Chinese Altar


Chinese Altar, originally uploaded by veesvision.
Out with the old, in with the new. Not something I see to often, Chinese altars in the trash, I mean.

Proud of his Bel


Proud of his Bel, originally uploaded by veesvision.
Chevy Belair.

Rainbow Café


Rainbow Café, originally uploaded by Aonghais MacInnes.
Love how black and white images "quite down" a city.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Monday, February 7, 2011

What you see in Sunset Park, Brooklyn: Dream Ride


Dream Ride, originally uploaded by Buendia Productions.

Dream ride indeed.
I am a sucker for old cars. Forget the jewels, gimme a drag car.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Ritz Theatre, Sunset Park

Ritz Theater, Sunset Park from 1927 until 1960

Currently a C-Town Market
4509 Eighth Ave.
Sunset Park, Brooklyn

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Monday, January 31, 2011

Sunset Park Had a Lake


Sunset Park Had a Lake, originally uploaded by veesvision.
For years, there have been rumors that there was once a lake then I finally saw a picture.

Some interesting historic info by Flickr member tony653:
"The sunset park lake was stocked with carp by local residents, for their fishing pleasure. An elderly resident, years ago, told me that he and his friends would catch the fish and sell them to a 5th avenue fish market for sale to the local community."

To read more, click on the image above.

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Gung Hay Fat Choy! 2011


Ch-NEWyear-bklyn-19, originally uploaded by veesvision.
Chinese Lunar New Year is around the corner and the community is taking steps to prepare. The Sunset Park Recreation center will be holding their annual celebration on February 5, 2011 (according to the NY1 community calender).

This coming year will be the year of the Rabbit (other Rabbit years: 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023

Chiff.com says...
Like the rabbit, you are one of cuddliest & sweetest creatures in the Chinese zodiac.
Although considered somewhat timid by more dynamic signs, you are wise and cautious, and know better than to jump into any situation without thinking!
Tactful, considerate, and popular with a wide circle of friends and family, luck just seems to come to you unbidden.
For the rabbit in 2011, any recent setbacks or obstacles can be overcome, so look forward to a year in which to really shine, either personally or professionally."
Want to read more about Chinese astrology? 

Saturday, January 29, 2011

What you see in Sunset Park, Brooklyn: Chickens


chickens, originally uploaded by shooting brooklyn.
To the outsider this would look out of place. I was the 'outsider' at one point many years ago and it did look a little... strange. Living in New York has taught me that the city is filled with immigrants; immigrants that have their own traditions, culture, and superstitions.

The first year I lived in NYC, I lived in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn. One morning, I will never forget leaving to go to the bank and the super to my building, who was usually very nice and witty, showed me the rooster he caught walking around the street that morning. When I asked him why a “rooster would be walking around the streets of Brooklyn”, he smiled and said, “You wouldn’t understand”. I have since concluded that by “you wouldn’t understand” means, cock fighting, sacrifice, and really, really delicious chicken dishes. I do understand, just a little surprised. 

Friday, January 28, 2011

What I saw in Sunset Park, Brooklyn: The Red Faced General


Guan Yu: The red faced general, originally uploaded by veesvision.
This was in front of the Buddhist temple on 7th ave and 46th street in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. He is the god of war.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

The Morning After


The Morning After, originally uploaded by veesvision.
An interesting contrast to the previous post. Shot this morning, 20 inches later.


Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Saturday, January 22, 2011

What you see in Sunset Park, Brooklyn: Recycle Carts


Recycle Carts, originally uploaded by veesvision.
Because we here in Sunset Park, we take our recycling very seriously.

Friday, January 21, 2011

Sunset Park Stills contributor has a show!


Shameless self promotion, originally uploaded by Chris Arnade.
Chris Arnade has blessed this blog with some amazing portraits. Congratulations on a show that will surely be outstanding.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

What you see in Sunset Park, Brooklyn: Widdi Hall

"Ex-Palace Theatre (1914) Ex-Center Theatre (ca. 1940) 522-seat theatre closed in 1953"
I got a chance to shoot an event in this hall for Sara Gonzalez, Sunset Park's district city council person. Nice to know the history behind the hall! It has many decorative finishings that, at the time of the event, appeared to be original. Now I know that they were.
The interior is much bigger than it looks here. Equipped with a stage and another large back room -that seems to keep going forever, it is ideal for a large event like a family reunion, live performance, or local talent show. Wouldn't it be great to have a local talent show?
Widdi Hall: 5602 Sixth Ave. Sunset Park, Brooklyn (718) 439-8621

Monday, January 10, 2011

Who you see in Sunset Park Brooklyn:Tony the Barber


Tony the Barber: Sunset Park, originally uploaded by Chris Arnade.
Chris Arnade says: "... Been cutting hair in his place for over 40 years. Brews his own expresso (see his left hand) and has a small well tended lemon tree in the front window."

Here is another post for this barber shop and an image of it's front.

Friday, January 7, 2011

Are we ready?


When the snow started, originally uploaded by veesvision.
Of course we are. It has been over kill this time around: NY1 article

Wednesday, January 5, 2011