Tricky Thoughts: Encountering Photography In New York City Podcast

This episode comes on a very heavy week (aren’t they all heavy these days?) and I’m under the Queensboro Bridge thinking about creative motivation because I saw someone pissing against a trashcan as I was walking my kid to camp this morning. No, really! If you’re bummed out, pissed off, depressed, can’t bother to create - give this one a listen, it might make you feel better.

Thanks for listening and if you have any comments or thoughts, please share them.

Jim

(Oh, and listen to Gang of Four too):

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Hello again! In this episode I discuss choosing the more difficult option creatively - and then finding out what the up and downsides of that are, with the backdrop of the absolutely wonderful 2025 Coney Island Mermaid Parade.

This episode is kind of gear oriented, but not the typical YouTube style fetish crap. If you’re curious about TLR cameras, medium format photography, drug-addled opossums, monks hitting themselves in the head, and CONEY ISLAND, join me for this episode, won’t you?

Thanks to everyone who listens and comments - and shout out to all the pals who I saw in Coney this past weekend, love you all.

Jim

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Welcome to episode six of Under The Bridge, recorded on June 18th under the Queensboro Bridge, the day after I attended the Bild expo at the Javitz Center - which organizer B&H Photo calls “NYC’s largest gathering of video/photo storytellers”. In this episode, you’ll hear about:

* The last thoughts that will rush through my mind as I am dying

* Photographer Mark Mann

* Human Connection

* And of course, the Bild expo

There’s a short clip of Bill Hicks speaking at the beginning, from his album Revelations: Live In London - very NSFW. I first heard Bill Hicks’ comedy about 30 years ago, and I think of his perspective on things on almost a daily basis (especially these days). Highly recommended stuff.

As always, I want to thank anyone who listens to my ramblings, posts comments or questions, and finds what I’m doing here of value or helpful. Your support and encouragement is greatly appreciated.

Enjoy!

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Happy Father’s Day 2025! OK first off: this episode was NOT recorded under a bridge, it was recorded under a boardwalk - and on a boardwalk - at Coney Island, on June 14th, which was just crappy, cold rainy day. Hardly anyone was out. I knew this before I even got on the Q train - but I wanted to get some photos of the Coney Island Sideshow (the photo above was taken on a much nicer day in Coney!) This episode isn’t really about anything other than getting out there, even when we don’t feel like it.

ALSO: I mention a group of beautifully dressed people playing drums and dancing in an African style - after the recording, I went back to watch more and a young woman named Elaine explained that the group was gathered in remembrance of their ancestors, for whom the ocean was a burial ground - people taken as slaves by Europeans and brought to America by ship, many of whom died or were killed on the brutal journey and were thrown overboard. She mentioned they gather annually on the 2nd Saturday of June to pay respects, in advance of Juneteenth. It’s a privilege to live in New York City and have the opportunity to be educated socially.

Some of the things you’ll hear about in this recording (as usual, recorded with no edits, audio verite style):

RAIN!

The Warriors movie: Trailer

The Coney Island Sideshow At Coney Island USA

The Coney Island Mermaid Parade

DJ Ray Vazquez

And mentions of some photographers:

Brian Demby

Purcell Nurse

Reuben Radding

Larry Fink

Paul Reid

Thanks as always for listening- I appreciate your time, encouragement and comments!

Jim

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thetrickness.substack.com

In this episode, I talk about Dave Chappelle (thought he did the bit in DC, it was actually Detroit), Fan Ho, Evel Knievel, The Girl In The Coffee Shop Window, and Colon Blow. And believe it or not, this all has something to do with photography. Recorded as per usual, under a bridge (this time the Queensboro Bridge), with no edits, audio verite.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thetrickness.substack.com

What is visual signature and why is it important for photographers, or really any creative, to make the pursuit of visual signature a maxim? Join me in the latest episode of my unedited audio chats recorded beneath the Manhattan Bridge in NYC for some fragmented thoughts and foul language about the ultimate goal for any artist.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thetrickness.substack.com

A brief chat about film photography, consumerism, the digital economy, Wim Wenders and enjoying one raisin.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thetrickness.substack.com

Join me under the Manhattan Bridge, and listen to the trains booming overhead while I talk about silencing the inner voice that makes artists doubt ourselves. Recorded in one take with no edits on the streets of NYC.

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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thetrickness.substack.com