urban

I am on the road right now, a traveling girl.  I was born, and for the most part raised, in rural America and  I now live in a small coastal town in Maine.  Metropolitan I am not, but oh how i love a city.  I cannot express what the pace of city life does to me.  Perhaps since it is so very foreign to my every day,  I am just fascinated by it all.   The transportation, the sounds, the people (oh my yes the people), the foods, the cultures, the architecture, the colors, the grit, all of it.  Now that photography has become such a passion I am kind of annoying when visiting places other than my home.  I can admit it.  Every where I turn something to see, something to shoot!  click! click! click!  I just can't stop.   My heart beats a little faster and my eyes go wild soaking up every piece I can.  Lucky for me my best girl friend lives in the city of brotherly love, Philadelphia.  Now I get many more chances to fulfill my urban dreams while visiting her in her big city.  Perhaps you too share this secret love of city life?  Or maybe you live in a great urban area.  Share some of your urban images here with us today.  

Comments

[Kizz]

I live in NY and I love NY. Recently I added some photos to this set of a local band that tends to play right at the top of the stairs where I go down into the subway to go home.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31403417@N00/sets/72157622769366957/

[lifeineden]

sigh. my philly days were pre-digital -- and my time in LA was too busy for much urban shooting. alas, now i am semi-rural again too. so i have nothing to share ... except i'm pretty sure i have been in that very same platform, more than once. soak up that city girl!

[DorkyMum]

Great post! I was brought up on a tiny Scottish island, and spent my teenage years living on a farm out in the country, but I've lived in the city for ten years now, and love it. If I'm struggling for inspiration then I head out for a walk, and within ten minutes of home something will always catch my eye. I try to see the small details of city life that other people might miss, like these garage door locks that I found the other day.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dorkymum/4526081072/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dorkymum/4526074908/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dorkymum/4525431393/

[Denise]

Awesome!
I grew up, and still live, in small town South Dakota. My boyfriend is from California, the LA area. Needless to say, we are from completely different backgrounds. Anyway...We go to his parents' house sometimes, and I love love love the cities there. We haven't had a chance to really walk around and take photos in the city, but I did grab this one at night.
I had only had my camera for about a week when we were driving in the car and I was playing with the settings on my new camera. This ended up being one of my favorite pictures ever, somehow. (It's currently my desktop background.) I was actually annoyed that the shutter was soooo slow when I pressed the button. But here we go...Some fun lights from driving in the city:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/deniselivingston/4451848186/in/set-72157623664746320/

[Wendi]

I seem to be attracted to the color and texture of urban life, whether it's in my own city or one I am visiting.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pmf1852/3848658271/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pmf1852/3848508073/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pmf1852/2977399251/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pmf1852/2467069865/

[mosey]

Wow. I LOVE that image. I live just outside San Francisco and always take my camera on the rare occasions I head into the city for the day. A different perspective. Here is one of my favourites from a recent trip in:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7687752@N03/4370023734/in/set-72157622864078631/

[Jenn Hogg]

I live in a small town on the coast of New Hampshire and feel exactly the same as you! I love cities! I always look forward to a trip into Boston or New York. I went to San Francisco last month and fell in love with it all. The sites, sounds, smells, everything!

[Laura]

How I love a big city!! Couldn't agree with you more...sights, sounds, colors, people!! It's a wonderland with a camera! Good to "see" you! Have fun!! Below are a few of my shots from the past year...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/35374947@N04/4445760961/in/set-72157623611381329/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/35374947@N04/4183580858/in/set-72157623611381329/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/35374947@N04/3502781430/in/set-72157623611381329/

[Laura]

I love photographing in cities. I'm in DC now, and am moving to Philly next year (which is SO visually interesting).

But here are some photos from a recent trip to NY, spent traipsing around the Bowery and other fun areas: http://www.dashily.com/home/?p=754

[Jill]

I grew up in Philly and now live in suburban NYC. I really do get a physical charge out of being in the city. Until, I get home to the quiet and the beautiful trees. Philly looks better to me every time I visit. So much outdoor art. It's like a funky art museum everywhere you look.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23113159@N03/3306168023/in/set-72157614388052970/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23113159@N03/3307130140/in/set-72157614388052970/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23113159@N03/3306169361/in/set-72157614388052970/

[Juju]

From one of the coolest cities in the U.S.: New Orleans.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juju-b/4459589443/

[xanthe]

SO good to see you're having fun! the city blows your mind even when you live in one.

love your capture!

i have a whole set of life in london, this is just a small selection of my city shots, my archives are bursting, there is so much to feast the eyes on here, you'd LOVE it! -
http://www.flickr.com/photos/xantheberkeley/sets/72157622890947164/

you can walk round a few areas here -
http://www.flickr.com/photos/xantheberkeley/4120198320/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/xantheberkeley/4301601866/

and i found this today, from a walk along the south bank, it's lovely looking back through urban life -
http://www.flickr.com/photos/xantheberkeley/4540696123/

miss you k, enjoy! x.

[erika]

I went to NYC for work back in September. I decided I'd walk to my appointment both days just for the photo ops. Here are some of my favorites:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/onemoreplease/3982781364/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/onemoreplease/3992900785/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/onemoreplease/3993659440/

[Michel]

I seem to be doing a look of up ward gazing while walking through the streets of Edmonton. not a big city by all means, but we have our splash of urbanism... I love the buzz of a really big city, makes me feel alive.

http://www.wishfulthinkingblog.com/wishful-thinking/2010/4/12/up-in-lights.html
http://www.wishfulthinkingblog.com/wishful-thinking/2010/4/6/downtown-sky.html
http://www.wishfulthinkingblog.com/wishful-thinking/2010/3/30/it-smells-like-rain.html

[cigi]

I'm a native of Los Angeles but have been living in the desert for almost a year now. I savor my trips into the city and find myself appreciating the visual feast of urban life much more now that I'm merely a visitor:

http://instamaticgratification.wordpress.com/2010/01/02/02365/
http://instamaticgratification.wordpress.com/2010/02/23/54365/
http://instamaticgratification.wordpress.com/2010/01/05/05365-5/

[BlessedMess]

Though technically a city, one thing I love about living where I do is that it's really more like a town. It's kinda the best of both worlds. At the center is the more urban bustle and action. Go a few blocks and the pace slows and you're in much quieter surroundings. Much further than that and your in the mountains, a farmers field, or oops! the lake.

From one of our "downtown"excursions...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12418609@N00/4457712839/

[claudia]

That is one great shot Kristin!
Here's one I shot on Monday, I'm thinking I need to go back and shoot some more!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurohunt/4541663150/

[Deirdre]

Wonderful photo!

I grew up in New York City and lived there most of the first 33 years of my 41 years. Now I live a few hours north, in a rural area. I love where I live, but I miss city living with a passion. I was just back in my old neighborhood on Sunday and took a shot of one of my favorite food shops. The tulips in the taxi windows were a wonderful surprise when I uploaded the photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/superdewa/4534093486/

[Edith]

This is such an atmospheric photograph. Here are a few shots of London

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22616983@N05/4317229216/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22616983@N05/4322741951/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22616983@N05/4237909309/

[darrah]

Your timing couldn't be more perfect! I spent last week in New York and have been posting photos from my trip on my blog this week.

Central Park :: http://www.darrahparker.com/blog/scenes-from-new-york-part-1.html
Night Time / Twinkly Lights :: http://www.darrahparker.com/blog/scenes-from-new-york-part-2-solt-edition.html
The Subway :: http://www.darrahparker.com/blog/scenes-from-new-york-part-3-the-subway-series.html

Visiting New York is always fun, but with a camera in my hand, it is inspiration over-load!!!

[Sara]

A couple favorite Boston shots.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/spelliott/550449909/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/spelliott/550057901/

[Michelle B]

I just returned from a trip to NYC and loved it!
I am from a small town and love how big and bustling the city is.

Here is my shot of the police station at Time Square.
I couldn't get a shot without people rushing through.
Finally, I realized that the hustle and bustle is what brought so much energy to the area.

Each moment in New York was a gift of light and expression.
I'm just beginning to edit my shots, and remember the inspiration each one brought.
I can't wait to go back! :-)

My Photo-blog is here on Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33033540@N04/

[Trude]

I couldn't agree more! It's one of the reasons I love living in Orange County - just close enough to LA to easily visit, but doesn't feel so metropolitan. :) This is one of my favorite shots from a photo walk I did there late last year: http://www.flickr.com/photos/trudem/4139808030/in/set-72157622888864454/

[Kerstin]

That's a great photo! It truly captured the mood of the subway or underground. Your musings on city life are spot on and reflect all that I love ~ and miss ~ about the city. I am a city girl through and through, grew up in one in Germany and then lived in Vancouver, Miami and London for many years. Until my American husband whisked me away to small town living over here :)

The first two images were taken at my favorite market in London, the third one in Boston:

Columbia Rd Market
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kcmartin/2138161226/
Columbia Road Jones Cafe
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kcmartin/2137379649/
Boston fire escape
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kcmartin/2397997522/

[Vanessa]

i am a small town girl, raised in a town of 600 people with no 'city' around for over 100 miles in any direction. BUT, I adore going to a big town, a huge city and soaking it all in. I used to get really overwhelmed and end up with a giant headache from too much all at once that a city can throw at you, Now with my camera I am able to snip pieces and parts of my visit and hold on to them, slow things down and process it all.

Some of my favortie places to visit?

Seattle: http://www.flickr.com/photos/glitch_nitch/3916919310/in/set-72157622234212899/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/glitch_nitch/183822820/

San Fran/Bay Area: http://www.flickr.com/photos/glitch_nitch/369014432/?editreplace=1
http://www.flickr.com/photos/glitch_nitch/4541890350/?eOrig=369027416

Portland: http://www.flickr.com/photos/glitch_nitch/4541244211/?eOrig=1336532232
http://www.flickr.com/photos/glitch_nitch/1357460861/in/set-72157600669978047/

[Rachel]

I live in the city and, although I love the quiet of the country, there is something about the hustle and bustle of urban life that I simply love. These pictures are from my 5-year old son's first trip to NYC.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/capturingthemomentphotography/4497931436/in/set-72157619911497765/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/capturingthemomentphotography/4497931408/in/set-72157619911497765/http://www.flickr.com/photos/capturingthemomentphotography/4497251141/in/set-72157619911497765/

[michelle]

I somehom romanticize the old industrial port cities of a bygone era, the urban supply and shipping, this is one of my favorite shots taken in the east bay of san francisco north of emeryville....the c&h sugar stacks seem from another era!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/49754167@N00/3760843364/

[Jen at Cabin Fever]

Where in coastal Maine?? I used to live on Orr's Island in Harpswell and I absolutely loved living there. Even worked at Cooks Lobster House for a summer.

I don't really have any urban photos to share... since I live in the middle of nowhere in Vermont and my photography is mostly centered on rural landscapes and scenes I'm a virgin when it comes to cityscapes. Have fun experimenting with this new scene!

http://www.nekphotography.blogspot.com

[georgia]

awesome shot, kristin!
we have a similar story. i was raised in rural areas, but i love to visit the big city... chicago is only an hour from me, and it is where my brother and sister live, as well as my husband's brother and his wife. also, many of my friends live there. so i am there quite often, and i can't think of a more fun place to take pictures.

here is one of my favorites from a trip to see my bro- and sis-in-law. it's in a great neighborhood called bucktown.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28567264@N05/4229791805/in/set-72157623125838134/

[damiec]

Oh, a Septa platform - what an evocative photo. I'm suburban now, but I've lived in or near Philadelphia, Washington DC and New York City for most of my life.

I love the color & whimsy you can find in a big city:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22487105@N06/4542135420/?edited=1

as well as the unexpected oases of calm that you can happen upon in the midst of the hustle:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22487105@N06/4334103578/

[Julie Alvarez]

I used to live in a big city
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/3946036753/
Full of people and big streets
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/3946818308/
And wires crossing the skies
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/3903201401/
With all the funky shops
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/4396877448
And the enchanting restaurants and cafes
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/4396859970/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/4425028550/
But now I am a nature neighbor. I live here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/4494576987/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/4465000799/
I made the change. But I will always love cities.
(Even Paris, shh!)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/3819570206/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/3818540078/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/3818748179/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/3818762989/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/3819570290/

[Katy]

This is my recent photo of a subway station in Toronto. I've lived here all my life, but my project365 is full of pictures of my city, and I'm enjoying looking at it in a different way.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29536663@N04/4454593418/in/set-72157623116510288/

[smallroots]

I love going into San Francisco where there are so many interesting characters that fill in the beautiful colors of the city. Here are some images from this week.

peace!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/smallroots/4533871778/
all dressed up
http://www.flickr.com/photos/smallroots/4536628347/

[Vanessa]

i live in south county dublin, ireland, i.e. the suburbs. i rarely go into the city... but when i do, my camera comes too. every time:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanessa_r/4080253835/in/set-72157607450910728/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanessa_r/3296233716/in/set-72157619872993650/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanessa_r/3295386705/in/set-72157619872993650/

before that, for 7 years i lived in barcelona, spain. right in the heart of the old quarter of the city:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanessa_r/4309475123/in/set-72157623255301718/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanessa_r/4368153688/in/set-72157607451011710/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanessa_r/4293269446/in/set-72157607450910728/

i miss the busy pace of city life sometimes, i do.

[wendy jane]

I love urban photos. As a country girl it's a peek into a world I don't see very often. When I do go into the "big city" I feel really shy about bringing my camera out and shooting wth people around. I guess I feel so out of my element. I think that's why I am so fascinated with those street images.

Thank you for a great post!!

[summer]

I'm a city girl who just left Seattle to move to rural Oregon. It has been a bit of a shock...
Here is my old neighborhood:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sufferingsummer/sets/72157617067047984/

I am missing it but the deer and wild turkey in my back yard now aren't such terrible inspiration!

[Liz]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lilybeth29/4466381058/

[Niccirf]

You nailed it! There is something special and invigorating about being in the mix of a city! Can't really call Denver a big city, but it's big enough to have a great urban feel...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/niccirf/4530626949/

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