For today's assignment I decided to document three different experiences: being transported from Manhattan to Governor's Island via ferry, circulating through Teardrop Park, and a user's interaction with the skate park at Chelsea Pier. I found these particular experiences from today's itinerary worth docementing because of the different ways in which they deal with movement through a landscape, all three of which present different landscapes.
The ferry ride really focused on the architecture surrounding us rather than the architecture we were inhabiting. The ferry became an instrument that allowed us to view Manhattan, New Jersey, Governor's Island, and the Statue of Liberty from different angles and distances. Arriving by ferry made the destination seem more grandeur with the slow approach and the serene water encompassing the islands. The idyllic views and the arrival to Governor's Island or back to Manhattan made the journey worth documenting with this technique.
Teardrop Park was a fun part of today and it was definitely successful in bringing out everyone's inner child. It was exciting to explore the park and determine which path to take. Because of this, I wanted to track at least part of the experience and the circulation path I chose to take through a series of photographs. The quarry stone wall marked the entrance to the children's area in a way which made it seem as if an adventure was about to take place. To me, this created an air of excitement which made me want to circulate through the site. This feeling is what I attempted to capture with photograph series.
Finally, the skate park was an entirely artificial landscape with several slopes and curves, but the way in which the skateboarders interacted with it--choosing which way to go and how quickly to move through the forms-- was interesting to observe. The relationship between the user and the form was best understood by tracking the movement of the user, hence why this series of photographs is more temporal (yet tries to express spacial qualities) in its methodology.
As a conclusion to the day, I found the 9-11 memorial to be very fitting. The contrast between hardscape and softscape, like we had talked about with the Highline, was very evident here. Harsh lines and edges where the grass ended and paths began made the distinction extremely clear. However, I found the cube-like forms (being used mainly as seating) emerging from the ground as an even more powerful element. They seemed to serve as a visual reminder of the towers, but also had a heavy presence, emphasizing the impact the event had on New York City and the United States in general. Despite the crowds, it still provided a space for contemplation, which is why I found it to be a nice choice as our last stop on the itinerary.
The ferry ride really focused on the architecture surrounding us rather than the architecture we were inhabiting. The ferry became an instrument that allowed us to view Manhattan, New Jersey, Governor's Island, and the Statue of Liberty from different angles and distances. Arriving by ferry made the destination seem more grandeur with the slow approach and the serene water encompassing the islands. The idyllic views and the arrival to Governor's Island or back to Manhattan made the journey worth documenting with this technique.
Teardrop Park was a fun part of today and it was definitely successful in bringing out everyone's inner child. It was exciting to explore the park and determine which path to take. Because of this, I wanted to track at least part of the experience and the circulation path I chose to take through a series of photographs. The quarry stone wall marked the entrance to the children's area in a way which made it seem as if an adventure was about to take place. To me, this created an air of excitement which made me want to circulate through the site. This feeling is what I attempted to capture with photograph series.
Finally, the skate park was an entirely artificial landscape with several slopes and curves, but the way in which the skateboarders interacted with it--choosing which way to go and how quickly to move through the forms-- was interesting to observe. The relationship between the user and the form was best understood by tracking the movement of the user, hence why this series of photographs is more temporal (yet tries to express spacial qualities) in its methodology.
As a conclusion to the day, I found the 9-11 memorial to be very fitting. The contrast between hardscape and softscape, like we had talked about with the Highline, was very evident here. Harsh lines and edges where the grass ended and paths began made the distinction extremely clear. However, I found the cube-like forms (being used mainly as seating) emerging from the ground as an even more powerful element. They seemed to serve as a visual reminder of the towers, but also had a heavy presence, emphasizing the impact the event had on New York City and the United States in general. Despite the crowds, it still provided a space for contemplation, which is why I found it to be a nice choice as our last stop on the itinerary.
