Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Phil and I saw a NYC Water Taxi that seemed lost emerging from under the Greenpoint Avenue Bridge last Saturday when shooting in LIC.
This got me to think about trying to do a shoot-out to explore Newtown Creek from a unique perspective. For more than 4 years I have explored and shot in this industrial area when I lived in LIC.
Basically its an unihabited area where NYC started dumping raw sewage as early as 1853, it is a place where 1/3 of NYC's sewage is processed every day, it's a place where also 1/3 of NYC's garbage is processed, and it is the location of an oil spill estimated to be three times the size of the Exxon Valdez spill occured over a time period of decades if not a century.
As early as 1975 the Coast Guard reported oil seeping into the creek, but only very recently has Newtown Creek been declared a superfund site. Some people say it is the most polluted waterway in the U.S., and in some places you can smell the oil.
Anyways I contacted NYC Watertaxi about doing a charter, and at this point I need more info from them to see how far we can go with this. Newtown Creek extends 4 1/2 miles inland, but I don't know how far we will be able to navigate inland. I figure if we can get 18-20 people signed up we might be able to do a private charter. Maximum capacity of their smallest vessel is 35-38.
As far as costs go they charge $65.00 for these fall foiliage tours that go up the Hudson. Perhaps if we reduce our trip to a few hours we might be able to get the costs down to about $30.00 a person. Anyways this is my target zone. Please feel free to add suggestions, comments and ideas.
To save money we can board in Hunters Point in LIC. If we do the boating in the morning I can take you on an extensive walk (death march) into the bowels of New York to further explore LIC on land.
Cal
This got me to think about trying to do a shoot-out to explore Newtown Creek from a unique perspective. For more than 4 years I have explored and shot in this industrial area when I lived in LIC.
Basically its an unihabited area where NYC started dumping raw sewage as early as 1853, it is a place where 1/3 of NYC's sewage is processed every day, it's a place where also 1/3 of NYC's garbage is processed, and it is the location of an oil spill estimated to be three times the size of the Exxon Valdez spill occured over a time period of decades if not a century.
As early as 1975 the Coast Guard reported oil seeping into the creek, but only very recently has Newtown Creek been declared a superfund site. Some people say it is the most polluted waterway in the U.S., and in some places you can smell the oil.
Anyways I contacted NYC Watertaxi about doing a charter, and at this point I need more info from them to see how far we can go with this. Newtown Creek extends 4 1/2 miles inland, but I don't know how far we will be able to navigate inland. I figure if we can get 18-20 people signed up we might be able to do a private charter. Maximum capacity of their smallest vessel is 35-38.
As far as costs go they charge $65.00 for these fall foiliage tours that go up the Hudson. Perhaps if we reduce our trip to a few hours we might be able to get the costs down to about $30.00 a person. Anyways this is my target zone. Please feel free to add suggestions, comments and ideas.
To save money we can board in Hunters Point in LIC. If we do the boating in the morning I can take you on an extensive walk (death march) into the bowels of New York to further explore LIC on land.
Cal
Particular
a.k.a. CNNY, disassembler
This is the frontier beyond the bridge to nowhere! Count me in.
Will there be beer on the boat? 
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Actually it is. For those of you who don't know: the term "Bridge to Nowhere" was coined by Andre Dos Santos, and it literally is a foot bridge that goes over railroad tracks, but under the LIE, just east of the midtown toll plaza. Literally when you cross over the Bridge To Nowhere you leave civilization behind and enter a pure industrial zone where there is no housing. On a subway map its the area in-between Brooklyn and Queens where there are no subways. Imagine urban decay and neglect.
John and I explored this vast area that extends to Masbeth in Queens and Bushwick in Brooklyn; and at that time on a hot summer day we risked dehydration and heat stroke because there was no place to buy water. At that time it was during the recession and basically the place was empty. Back then I got some very moody shots of urban decay and neglect. Anyways now I'm surprised to see people working on Saturdays, and now there are parked cars. Today there are places to buy food and water because people are working.
On the Greenpoint Avenue Bridge in the foreground is a massive oil refinery, but in the background I see the Madhattan skyline. I estimate at that point Phil and I were only about a mile inland.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Will there be beer on the boat?
If we want we can get catering and have a wet bar, but I'm trying to keep costs down.
Part of the problem is getting enough people to commit to make this happen, and for that to happen I need to keep the costs down. I'm sure we can eat, bev up, and even perform further exploration. Many people have expressed that this is a great area for night photography, but doing this alone by myself is not permitted anymore once my girlfriend saw the empty abandoned areas I shot when she looked at my negatives.
I would love to go night shooting. Imagine oil refineries at night reflected in Newtown Creek with Madhattan skyline in the background.
Also the brand new sewage treatment plant nearby looks very sci-fi like a weapons plant, especially under industrial arc lighting.
Cal
ChrisPlatt
Thread Killer
I love New York's rough edges
I love New York's rough edges
Sounds like fun. But I doubt you will attract many out-of-towners - they will be leaf peeping.
What day of the week are we looking at here? Saturday (people working) or Sunday (desolation) ?
Chris
I love New York's rough edges
Sounds like fun. But I doubt you will attract many out-of-towners - they will be leaf peeping.
What day of the week are we looking at here? Saturday (people working) or Sunday (desolation) ?
Chris
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Sounds like fun. But I doubt you will attract many out-of-towners - they will be leaf peeping.
What day of the week are we looking at here? Saturday (people working) or Sunday (desolation) ?
Chris
Chris,
It seems every month we tend to hook some out of towners. In the past we have even grabbed and kidnapped some guy who just happened to be passing by Puck Fair carrying a Leica. LOL.
Phil actually Lives in Philladelphia. RanceEric recently moved from Philly to New York, and typically we often have guests from all over the world popping in . As you know in New York anything is possible.
As far as this boat excursion nothing is finalized. Even on a Saturday this area is kinda not occupied, and I walk down empty streets.
I'm kinda sad that the emptiness that once prevailed is somewhat diminished, and the emptiness I experienced so profoundly seems to not be as strong, but this area definately is not some tourist trap, yet a wealth of great shooting prevails.
Cal
stompyq
Well-known
I'am up for it, although I don't know how effective it'll be if all of us are shooting from a boat that's halfway from land. I guess i'am not sure what to expect so don't know what gear would work??
I think we should just take some canoes and rafts through there...
FrankS
Registered User
"Extra-Special-Deluxe Crazy Event/Meet-Up"
That's going to be hard to top!
That's going to be hard to top!
stompyq
Well-known
I think we should just take some canoes and rafts through there...
Haha. Yeah although with all the crap floating around we might be able to do a Jesus and walk on water!!
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Acually the event to top is our annual camera beauty contest that happens every February. Last February was our third contest, and each year it gets crazier and bigger.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
I found out that of course there are no regular tours of Newtown Creek, and what Phil and I observed was a private charter. There is a 74 person maximum and a two hour mininmum for a charter rate that is $1200.00 an hour.
Oh-well, it was a crazy idea. Now the challenge is come up with one that we could afford. :bang:
Cal
Oh-well, it was a crazy idea. Now the challenge is come up with one that we could afford. :bang:
Cal
Phil_F_NM
Camera hacker
kdellaquila
Member
Keep your eyes on the following sites as sometimes they offer Newtown creek boat tours. I went on one last year with the Working Harbor Committee and it was great.
http://www.newtowncreekalliance.org/
http://workingharbor.com/
http://newtownpentacle.com/
http://www.newtowncreekalliance.org/
http://workingharbor.com/
http://newtownpentacle.com/
amateriat
We're all light!
Hope springs eternal, chaps...
- Barrett
- Barrett
SuperUJ
Well-known
I think we should just take some canoes and rafts through there...
Agree! This could be a solution, John.
John
Phil_F_NM
Camera hacker
I think we should just take some canoes and rafts through there...
I have an account with an industrial safety supply firm. I can get us all HAZMAT suits and respirators for the canoe trip.
Might want to buy a Nikonos for that one too.
Phil Forrest
Particular
a.k.a. CNNY, disassembler
Adorama is going to be wondering why all their used Nikonos bodies sold out in one week.