In March 2024, I packed up my things, cleaned out my apartment in Old Koloa Town and moved back to New York City. Yes, it has changed a lot thanks to gentrification. Sometimes East Harlem doesn't feel the East Harlem I grew up in. But when I walk down that stretch of 116th street? I feel like I'm in my teenage years all over again. Except, y'know. I'm not. It still feels like home, for better or worse. I still regularly ride the 6 Train, I still hate the 2 and 3 trains, and I still stay the hell out of Times Square, unless I go to Midtown Comics.
See, I left the city right as I was becoming an adult. I didn't really get to experience "the old days", and I like to think I've come to make peace with that. Part of me will always be a tourist, and that's ok. I at least I know how to get around like a local.
The Bronx on the other hand? Is a whole other story. I've only been to maybe one or two Yankees games, been to the Botanical Garden a handful of times, same goes for the Zoo. I know nothing of The Bronx, Other than Hunts Point, where my father and his side of the family used to live. Lucky for me, I moved in with my Cousin up in Pelham Parkway for a while, and there is plenty for me to explore.
The Bronx is my home now too, and despite what everyone says about it... It's pretty damn great. Don't tell the transplants though.
After getting myself a little more situated...
I reconnected with a lot of my family and old friends, made some new ones, got a job at a local cafe, and just started exploring. Little Island, Hudson Yards, The High Line, The Cloisters, special limited time exhibitions... Every outing felt like an adventure, like I was charting new territory. That's the energy I try to bring when I take my camera with me.
I also went to a lot of concerts. A lot of my favorite bands either only go to O'ahu, where Honolulu is, or just ignore Hawai'i all together. The City though? Everyone and their moms is coming to play. That year I saw bands Silversun Pickups, Brainstory, Busty and The Bass, and Foxing.
There was a little experimentation too...
I shot a little film in 110 and 135, I used my old Digicam, a Sony Cybershot DSC-W120 and my Pixel 6 with different lenses and filters became my concert cameras.
I eventually settled on my trusty old Lumix G7, who has been at my side since 2017. Still going strong too.
I also jumped between different workflows.. Snapseed and Kunicam are cool, but I settled on Lightroom Mobile, because for a while, it was the only app I had that played nice with my camera's RAW files. I'll eventually try some more complex editing software in the future.