Rowers In The Harlem River

Pushing Through Pain: Passion and Peace on the Harlem River from Paula Froke on Vimeo.

Another project that I never got around to posting back when I did it in, I think, April. This was for a Visual Storytelling class at NYU. I came upon this group when I was trolling around on the Web in pursuit of my community gardens interest. That led me to the New York Restoration Project, which ultimately led me to the New York Rowing Association. (Links later.) The kids in this program are just incredible, in so many ways. For example: The three days I shot were very, very cold. I was wearing a down coat with wool tops underneath, a hat, gloves, and toe-warmers while out in the boat. I was beyond freezing. The kids were wearing ... basically nothing. Yeah, they were working up a sweat, such as it was, and I know from experience how warm that can keep you. On the other hand, they were SOAKING WET in the VERY COLD WATER. For me, the challenges: For one, I can't swim, and there I was out in a boat, dressed in heavy clothing. For another, I really hadn't ever shot actual people before, just things. For a third, I certainly had never shot action. And for a fourth, well, I don't know what I'm doing. But I think it turned out pretty well. I especially had fun with the zoom-twisty-artsy shots ... what I did for fun when I was bored on day three of shooting people in boats. I do really like the effect, and on purpose put those shots in the part where the girls were talking about the beauty and peace of being out on the river.