Chipotle

I worked all day today, so as soon as I was free I grabbed my bag and camera and hit the streets. I walked towards West Village, but didn't stay on track. I let the streets and crowds guide me, and crossed a street whenever the crosswalk signal told me to. I stumbled upon a huge comic book store (I was drawn in by the The Dark Knight display in the window). Across the street was a movie theater, which was premiering Traitor, the new Don Cheadle film. I saw the red carpet and all the photographers, but the stars hadn't started arriving yet.

I pulled my camera out and starting taking pictures, but had a quick realization: taking photos of buildings is not that interesting, but taking pictures of people is. It's hard to raise your camera and take a picture of someone you don't know however, plus you never know how a person is going to react. So I started taking pictures from my hip, lining the camera up as best as I could and just taking pictures. A lot of the pictures were bad, but one or two were decent, so I think I am going to make a whole thing out of this. I am going to take my camera out as much as possible and take random, secret pictures of the people of new york just living their lives. Maybe after awhile I'll have enough good photos to do something with them. I will post some of these pictures as soon as I can. 

For dinner I tracked down a Chipotle (there are two near my school and apartment!). It's amazing to me how going to a chain restaurant or buying a brand name can be comforting. I don't think it really has anything to do with the quality assurance of the product, or even brand recognition. Americans take comfort in our Wal-marts and McDonalds when we are traveling. They remind us of home, even though they are all the same. If an American is walking down the street in an unfamiliar place and they are feeling a little homesick or uncomfortable, and they come across a Target and a church, I don't think I need to even say which I think the American would choose. Sadly enough, I took comfort being in the Chipotle, it reminded me of all the other good times I have had in Chipotle, at Towson and at home. And I love the food. Mind you, I know no one here, so I'm getting a bit lonely, but it's still pathetic that I felt comforted being in a restaurant that I have never been in before that looked like a restaurant I'd been in before and served food I've tasted before and liked. 

More work tomorrow. Work on Saturday and all day on Sunday when all the kiddies move in. I'm excited to start school orientation next week so I can meet some people and get started doing film stuff.