Category: New york

B265 – WHAT A YEAR

joshfspearLeave a comment

Merry Christmas everyone and a happy new year! its literally the perfect day, as well as it being christmas its also my last 100 days of posting. I’ve made it to the final stretch. as its also the end of the year and also my last 100 days I thought I would show you some photos that Ive taken these past 265 days.

Its probably been one of the best years Ive had, not only have I been working pretty much non stop but Ive also been to some places that I never thought I would go to, I’ve spent 2 months in America and now have a working visa of the states, which i’ve wanted for ages, Ive also been to Canada, china and a few places in Europe. so its been pretty exciting. Amy also asked me out at the beginning of the year, and next year she should be moving into my flat, well thats the plan anyway. who would have thought I would been living with a girlfriend. its crazy and I suppose when you do that your kind of becoming an adult and having responsibilities, which in away is quite cool.

this blog has to be one of the best things Ive done, its literally taught me how to write and in given me confidence to try new things and just work harder to get what I want, and also when I write emails now theres a lot less spelling mistakes, its never good when you write emails and its grammatically incorrect or just doesn’t make any sense but because of the sheer amount of writing I do now I learnt a lot of new words and can spell so much better, I think anyway.

I think this blog has been good because a lot of the time its easy to think up ideas and then even easier to think up excuses why you cant do them and this has really made me just forget the excuses and just go with my gut and try to get the job done. thats why next year ive got a few plans lined up for this blog and also things that I want to try and do work wise. im planning on getting a second job i think just to help pay for all the things I need todo and the adventures / holidays im going on. Its time to up my game and smash 2018 out of the park!

Thank you 2017 its been a pleasure!

oh and sorry my blog didn’t have any photos on it yesterday, i literally have no idea how that happened. WordPress was just having a bad day I think.

 

b081-1-1
– amy and me exploring the town of Ratio on the Amalfi coast –
b208-1-of-1
– I also went to my first american high school football game right, this was like 10 minutes away from Harvard University –
b209-1-of-1
– Flying out of Newark Airport in New York. That is definitly a place Ill be going back to soon! I love New York –
b257-1-3
– a picture of Soho in London, I quite like this photo. Might have to get it made into a print –
b261-1-4
– the shot from the Barbican last week, im just happy with this photo and really like the way the man is –
b056-1
– this guy was definitely a highlight –

B214 – IM GOING HOME!!

joshfspearLeave a comment

Right now its 14:44 on Friday, Im sat a Bradley international airport in Massachusetts about to board a plane to Boston, Ive got an hour till we take off and from Boston I have a flight that will take me to London Heathrow. its now the complete end of my time in America and after two months on the road going from Hotel to Hotel its time to head home and finally do some washing and get on my DIY skills on, I’ve got a hall way to paint and some more blinds to put up! so get ready for some DIY posts, they will be coming thick and fast.

right now though Im scrolling through the photos Ive taken on my phone and think its only right to post some photos that I have taken on my phone before they disappear into the hard drive of my computer forever.

If I had to choose one city that has left a mark on me it has to be New York, that place is probably one of my favourite cities Ive visited in a long time, it just doesn’t sleep and every corner has something happening and thats what I like. Nothing stops in New York, its just on the move constantly. I will 100 percent be coming back to New York in the near future.

On the other hand, the state that surprised me the most and rank up there of cool places is New England. thats the area Im in now, apparently its were the english first landed when they discovered America, thats where it gets its name from. If I could get hold of a mountain bike and had a few days off I would loved to of just cycle round the forests and explored this area, it just looks like a cool place to have an adventure. that sounds like a pretty cool idea now Ive just said that. Amy? Can you cycle?

Ive really enjoyed this trip and feel like Ive managed to see a fair bit of america is a short period of time. but now I just need to come back and really get to know it when Im working. Heres list of the places Ive been in the last few months. New York, New Jersey, Massachussets, Flordia, Illinois, North Carolina, St.louis, Toronto and Vancover. Looking at that im really suprised that I haven’t missed a day of this blog yet and not really sure where Ive found the hour or so it takes to write these each day.

Tomorrow I land back in the UK and have to  rush home for a hair cut, pack a bag and get ready for a few days get away in Paris. Amy and Me are going there because theres some fashion show that she wants to check out and I owe her a birthday present. so get ready for me to put my best Zoolander outfit on and explore the city of Paris!

Heres  some of  the photos from my phone of these past few months.

B214 (1 of 1)
– New York at 6am –
B214 (1 of 1)-2
– Ive never seen an exhaust like this, is it legal in the UK? –
B214 (1 of 1)-3
– a view from New England –

 

B209 – IM NOT IN A GOOD WAY

joshfspear4 Comments

Its sunday, a day where most people are sitting at home watching a movie and looking forward to a week of work. while I have made the fatal error of accidentally eating Avacado, something I am really really allergic too, it literally brings me to my knees over night and takes me out of the game for a few days. there nothing I can do apart from sleep and rest. Its currently 8pm and im in bed, trying to get this post done.

my plan for todays post has gone completely out of the window, I wanted to talk about this old hill near our location which was were the revolutionary war was basically start and also were the army kept there Gun power. if you want to know more, here some links to the history for anyone who wants to know more.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somerville,_Massachusetts

http://www.muldermedia.com/prospecthill/history.html

http://www.unionsquareneighbors.com/prospect-hill.html

so really cool stuff, but all that really happened to day was I did some work and moaned the whole day that I felt unwell. I like everyone to know what I am going through and feel my pain, im not really a suffer in silence kind of guy. That doesn’t mean this is just Man flu, this is a medical condition that must be treated with the highest respect. The clocks are also going back tonight so hopefully the extra hours sleep will work in my favour.

back to my photos the plan for today now is to show some photos I took on my Iphone over the last couple of days, I of course have to include the photo from my flight over New York a few days ago and some other cool photos from Massachusetts.

if anyone is allergic to Avacado too and knows any top tips for getting rid of this please please let me know. I’m scared to google it because the webdoctors always make me feel like a limbs going to fall off when I google something.

Hope you like my photos.

B209 (1 of 1)-3
– someville, Massachusetts on my trip today to find something to sort me out –
B209 (1 of 1)
– leaving New York the other day, I love that city –
B209 (1 of 1)-2
– this was the ceiling in the car rental place at Boston Airport, looks pretty cool –

B207 – MY TIME AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY

joshfspearLeave a comment

October 27th 2017, this is the day I’m going to talk about my time at Harvard University.

I had arrived at my hotel just outside Boston Massachusetts, when I had realised that I left my iphone cable in New York. On 20% battery and nothing to use as an alarm clock, I had no choice but to venture out of my hotel and try and find a iphone cable, something I felt is an easy thing to pick up. After driving 2 minutes down the road, I saw the bus which had a massive LED sign at the front which read “HARVARD”, a bit unsure Harvard was that close, I gave it a google and found out the campus was only 4 miles down the road, well one thing turn to the other and before I knew it I was following the bus to the world famous collage of Harvard, so thank you bus driver for getting me to Harvard, with out you I would never of known.

After arriving at Harvard campus,  I quickly realised that I was probably one of the more stupider people in my vicinity, and from going out to get an iPhone cable to standing on the famous steps of the Widener Library, where 8 of the american presidents and some of the worlds smartest people have been to get their books, was a pretty cool story .  Mr Joshua Frederick Stephen Spear, current location: Harvard, that sound pretty cool. Ive even brought a Harvard T-shirt, so now I look like an international student.

My favourite part of this whole mini late night adventure was coming across this guy outside the main campus, dressed all in orange screaming about rhinos and Donald Trump, I couldn’t work out if he was for Trump of Against Trump or passionate about rhinos. The only thing I managed to get from the whole thing was “stand up to his orangeness, he needs you, the world will end”. He also kept blowing raspberries. so many be he had a few opinions he wanted to get across. If you want to try and figure out what was going on check out the video Ive posted on my instagram – joshfspear. and please if you figure out what his point was, I would love to know. or if you know this guy even better!

Here are my photos from my quick time at Harvard.

B207 (1 of 1)-2
– there arent any signs for Harvard University, apparently its a big talking point at the moment.  so I got this photo from the book store sign across the road –
B207 (1 of 1)-4
– this is the legend I am talking about “president of the Rhinoceros –
B207 (1 of 1)
– a photo from my standing on the Widener Library stairs –

B206 – I’m outta here 

joshfspearLeave a comment

right Ive got to start this post by saying Ive had a few to drink, so sorry for any spelling mistakes of problems with this post. Its been our last night in New York before heading back to London and Ive loved spending time and working here. we move on to the next state tomorrow and im looking forward what it has to offer.

each day of these post I aim to write 300 hundreds words, 100 words for each picture. i think thats pretty responsible.  its not too many and  not too less. the one thing about photograhy is writing about your photos I hate it. but it kind of make sense, if you take a picture you should be able to write about that picture, end of. so thats why now when I take a certian photo, I always think about how I will explain that photo to someone. its definitely something I need to work on and from now on Im definitely going to make an effort to improve, just so my work can get taken seriously.

america has been a weird place to spend time, its not like anywhere else in the world. its got its own views and its own lawers. so of which are wrong and some are just a bit hazy. but I hope this country can take its own lead and some day show the world what makes this place a cool country.

anyway im just a young kid whos had the chance to see this place, some day I want to bring amy here and have a holiday here, but for now Im just looking forward to getting back to the uk and painting my flat.

its been 206 days since I started this blog and I cant wait to spend some time working on my house!!! michelle spear you are a legend and the blinds look great. christmas 2018 at 315, city view house!

B206 (1 of 1)-3
– we managed todo this trick at the bar –

B206 (1 of 1)
– new york at lunch time 0

B206 (1 of 1)-2
– welcome –
 

B205 – THEY WERE THROWING PIES IN EACH OTHERS FACES!!

joshfspearLeave a comment

Today we were back on location working, so it was pretty hard for me to take photos, I could seem to get a good stream of photos on the go, mainly because I was just inside all day, and I didn’t wake up early enough to go a take some photos before work, my call time was 0730am this morning, its now 23:22 in the evening and I found out a few hours ago about a part over in times square, which I’ve had to be an adult about and not go. I wish my 18 year old self was here so I would just go balls to the wall and head down there, but now Ive got these things called responsibilities and they really seem to get in my way.

to still make sure I show you some good photos today, Ive decided to use some from my adventure around New York yesterday, I was going to save them for when I get back to London and don’t have anything to post but I kind of think why should you some rubbish photos I took today when I have these cool ones right next to me.

yesterday while I was walking around I saw something Ive never seen before, which is surprising because I cant think of a reason why I wouldn’t of done this when I was younger, its something that I would have thought I would of done and thats throwing pies / whipped cream in each others faces. I have no explanation why they decided that on a rainy Tuesday morning in New York they would organise a small side street pie throwing event, but it made for a good photo so I cant complain.

For some reason the more time I spend in New York the more I love this city and the people in it. I did have a little accident today though, I completely forgot what car park I parked the car in, mean that after the shoot we had to walk around a few block before we found the right one, and it turns out I parked in the car park I was meant too, I just didn’t remember. Im only telling you about this, so the Amanda and Libby don’t think i just right about all the good moments, I include my mistakes too.

Heres my photos from yesterday, i will do my best to up the anti tomorrow and will take some good photos through out the day. here they are, enjoy.

B204 (1 of 1)
– yesterday we snuck onto the roof of our hotel and I managed to get this shot, I really want to get an early morning photo from up here. thats the queensboro bridge looking across to Manhattan –

B205 (1 of 1)-2
– these guys, no idea why they were doing it, im just happy I walked past when I did –

B205 (1 of 1)
– surely thats not his umbrella, it really doesnt go with the bad boy image jacket –

B204 – THE DAY MY CAMERA NEARLY DIED!

joshfspear4 Comments

Back in New York and the main thing im going to take away from today is that New York rain seems to be something you cant find anywhere else. its non stop and literally everything just gets soaked through. I went out today not expecting to get that wet, it was just like a little bit of drizzle when I left, well that turned into some thing completely different, but a few years ago I watched that documentary of the New York photographer Bill Cunningham and in that documentary Bill talks about being out in all weathers in New York because thats when you get the best shots, and the guy is completely right, New York seems to go into this completely different mode when it starts raining. My highlight of New York in the rain today was seeing a women walk round with a metal Bin on her head to project her afro, she literally didn’t get a damm what she looked like as long as her hair stayed dry.

if you read yesterdays post you would know my plan for today was to stay around Hunter’s point and take it easy. Well after a quick chat with my parents my dad said I had to have a chill dog from a street vendor, so that became my mission, track down a street vendor and have a chilli dog on the “side walk”. and as soon as I got off the subway at 7th and 59th street, there he was a street vendor with all the goodies apart from Chilli dogs, sorry dad but I just went for a hot dog, I hope that counts. I did plan on not giving up till I got a chilli dog but I was hungry, so that will have todo.

My other plan for today  became getting a good shot of the smoke or stream that comes up from the ground around NYC and after hunting for ages to try and find somewhere, I finally bumped into the perfect location just by 42nd and Grand Central Street. ( im trying to remember the names of the streets, just so I feel like a local). Once I found this spot I only had to wait a few minutes before this guy walked past, it was a pure case of right place right time, but thats how street photography works really, the more hours you spend on the streets, the more places you end up in at the right time.  This is one of my favourite photos Ive taken in a long time, this whole photo feels quite peaceful at a time when everything is starting to get a bit crazy. Im not sure if that makes sense to you, but it does to me.

Here are my photos from today, Ive tried to take it easy today and just get some good rest, now I’m looking forward to laying in bed watching some movies and getting some proper sleep!

I hope you like my photos. oh and if your wondering about my title today, my camera nearly broke because the rain just didn’t stop and I really wasn’t prepared for that. Apart from that I would say its been a pretty successful day.

B204 (1 of 1)-6
– this is one of my favourite photos Ive taken recently –

B204 (1 of 1)-5
– mum is that you?  –

B204 (1 of 1)-4
– the rain today was proper rain, the stuff that no matter watch jacket you had on your T shirt was getting wet –

B204 (1 of 1)-2
– here you go dad, this is where I got my hot dog from –

B203 – I LOVE THIS CITY

joshfspearLeave a comment

today has been just a day of travel, I woke up this morning in 23 degrees weather at 6am and quickly packed up before leaving florida and catching a plane back to the crazy city that is New York. We are back at the hotel from last time, the Vue something its called near Queens Boro bridge, this hotel literally gives us such a good view of Manhattan, I think ive shown it before when I first got to New York, well anyway Im like two floors above my last room and dead on facing the city, so this time Ive got such a better view. Ill show you it tomorrow maybe.

Its now like mid night and Ive just edited my photos from today and now just thinking of anything to write and all I can think really is how nice Florida was and how happy I am to be back in New York, tomorrow is a pretty chilled out day I think, so my plan is to explore hunters point a bit more, thats basically opposite Manhatten on the queens side of the river. Normally when you head to a city you get drawn to the main tourist spots, but im just going to walk around Hunter point and then Maybe head into town, but the main mission for tomorrow is to take some cool photos of the city and the people that live here.

I would love to write about how I plan on getting up at 5 in the morning to go and take photos of the sun set over the river or people on their rush hour commute, but that would just be a big fat lie, I dont plan on doing anything like that. part of the whole three photos a day thing, is that sometimes its just a down day with no plans and those are the days were I have to get creative with my photos and tomorrow might be one of those days. Im trying not to think about it too much other wise, Ill end up doing something adventurous and not chilled out at all and thats not the point of tomorrow.

heres my photos from today. enjoy.

B203 (1 of 1)
– packing up the car at silly O’clock this morning, I already miss this SUV –

B203 (1 of 1)-2
– the last palm tree I saw in florida and look at that sun rise! –

B203 (1 of 1)-3
– back in New York where everyone is constantly moving at 1 million miles an hour –

B202 – 17 HOURS LATER…

joshfspearLeave a comment

Tomorrow we leave Florida and head back to New York, its fair to say that we are now in the middle of filming and if we can get through the next 11 days of pure craziness and long hours we will be sitting on that flight home with a beer in hand. But first back to reality, before we leave florida tomorrow morning, this place has left us with one last gift a heard of blood thirsty mosquitos, which have really just aimed for my legs and attacked both my pale white bread sticks with all they have. my legs have lost the battle and the war to these mosquitos and now I can stop itching them.

My post today is about the other famous restaurant in town, it wouldnt be fair to write about one and not the other, this time im talking about the BBQ joint called Sonnys. this place is everything I hope for an more, they know what they are doing when it comes to baked beans and BBQ meat, both times Ive gone for the two meat, two sides option and it hasnt let me down. today I had some kind of sausage and pulled pork with Mac “n” Cheese and BBQ Baked beans and it was just what I needed. its totally different to Catfish country which was more of a family run place, this is a small food chain in Florida, but it packs a punch, they even make their own range of sauces, from what I can remember I had only had the Spicy sauce and that had just the right amount of spice, not too hot not too mild. no one wants a really spicey BBQ, its just not right.

if you’re ever in Bartow, please go and try both Sonnys and Catfish Country and let me know which on you think is better! for the experiacne I would say Catfish Country but if you really want to reach food coma levels go to Sonny’s.

Anyway I think ill keep todays nice a short, I cant really keep my eyes open much longer, its been a proper long day.  the next few weeks are jammed packed, so ill do my best to keep these post top notch, but sorry in advance for any rubbish days that might pop up (like this one). I haven’t done Sonny’s justice.

Also you know the rules, any spelling or grammer just ignore them, we all know it’s one of my downfalls.

Enjoy these snaps.

B202 (1 of 1)
– it may look simple on the outside but this place serves some proper food –
B202 (1 of 1)-2
– It just looks like a southern BBQ joint, happy days –
B202 (1 of 1)-3
– did what to show a picture of my food, but it arrived I ate it and forgot to take a picture, so heres a photo of a beer and some of their own sauce –

B197 – AFTER TWO MONTHS ITS FINALLY HAPPENED!

joshfspearLeave a comment

Today is a bit of a special day, today was the day that i actually had a home cooked meal, not just something from a restaurant but some home cooked vegetables, home made pasta and some other ingredients that I’m not too sure what they were called.  Its a massive difference from the normal late night Italian or Chinese that I’m used too and I genuinely cant complain. I did end up have this really large cookie for desert but to be honest it was home made so doesn’t really matter. When im firmly back at home thats one thing im going todo more, I want to cook good proper food without the added salt or other things.

other than my rant about food, today I was back in this sleepy part of New Jersey, and to be honest its one of my favourite places Ive been. growing up in some sleepy part of London in a town called Biggin Hill, I know people think its this tough place just outside bromley but its really not. sorry, but its just not. anyway I think that part of me loves the idea of living in some quite town somewhere just enjoying life and moving at a slower pace. its weird because at the moment I love living in the city, sounded by constant noise and always something todo, but I can definitely see myself moving to the countryside when Im older in a place a bit like Bedmister, New Jersey and just having fun. Places like this would make me get up early and go take photos or ride my bike constantly.

Its just one of those things, if you love the country side then I think you will alway want to call that home. anyway heres my photos from today, I really wanted to show the sleepy side to living in the “sticks” but I couldn’t resist showing off what I had for dinner.

enjoy.

B197 (1 of 1)
– this lady is just sat enjoying her tuesday –
B197 (1 of 1)-3
– so is this man –
B197 (1 of 1)-4
– nothing beats a home cooked dinner –