11/22/10 - "Incongruity"

"Incongruity"

     After leaving work at 1:40 this morning, and with my camera hanging from my neck, I started the walk to Penn Station. I made it two blocks down Sixth Avenue before I came across a manhole cover very similar to the one pictured above. As I stood preparing for a second photo, after having reviewed the initial shot I made on the LCD (another benefit of shooting digital - instant verification) I heard a car pull to a stop alongside me. The motor was still running, but I continued to take the picture. I was already pretty sure who it was when I looked over. A N.Y. City patrol car, with two of NY's finest, were sitting there - waiting to see what I was up to, I guess. Knowing that manhole covers are routinely welded shut before large, live events - such as parades, New Years Eve in Times Square, etc. - and that the NYPD is still on high alert for suspicious activity, but especially anywhere near Times square, I was not at all surprised at their interest in me. Everywhere one goes in Manhattan these days there are signs continually recommending that "If you see something, say Something." Intuitively knowing all this I preemptively said "N.Y. City sewer, made in India. I love it!". The driver kind of half smiled and said "Huh, I never noticed that before." I smiled, wished them a good night and continued on my way.

     The seed for perceiving, and then proceeding to capture, this incongruity must surely have come from a Facebook posting by a good friend and co-worker. Kevin was starting the overnight board operator shift for MSNBC as I was finishing my day's work as night electrician - also at 30 Rock - and I had seen his 'incongrous' posting shortly before leaving work. 

     Back at NBC today for Nightly News with Brian Williams, I reviewed last night's photos, seeking a good candidate for today's pic of the day. My first candidate image - of a fluorescent pink reindeer next to a gold pole (and with a mannequin in the background) - I had spotted shortly after bidding the two policemen a fine adieu. It was part of a Christmas window display at the Pink store, on the corner of 45th Street and Sixth Avenue. I was considering calling it "Pink Reindeer Pole Dancing", but this photo (as well as the photos of the few other manhole covers I noticed last night) were too blurry to consider using. They were shot with the inferior loaner lens I'm still using, while waiting for my lens - which has image stabilization, that would have reduced or removed any blur (from shooting at too low a shutter speed in the dark of night) - to return from having an intermittent spot removed.

     So during my lunch break this afternoon I re-shot a couple of manhole covers, and the result is today's "Picture of the Day." The picture of the pole-dancing pink reindeer will have to wait - at least until I get my image-stabilized lens back, or purchase a tripod.

Links:
"Incongruity" prints available here.
A NY Times article on the foundry In India.
More about NY City manhole covers.

Camera Data

Make:Canon
Model:Canon EOS 5D
Shutter Speed:1/64 second
Aperture:F/5.6
Focal Length:51 mm
ISO Speed:400
Date Taken:Nov 22, 2010, 2:24:45 PM
Software:GIMP 2.6.2