I live in a small town about thirty miles outside of Buffalo, New York but on the Canadian side of the border. I had recently graduated from college and decided I wanted to turn my hobby into my profession. That hobby was photography.
One of the most memorable childhood vacations for me was Easter weekend in New York City with my parents. I think I was twelve and I was completely awestruck by the massive size of everything in the city—the buildings, crowds, and street noise. Once I had decided to pursue photography for a living, I knew a return trip to the big apple was in the cards. I mean, photography in New York, it just goes sounds right. I packed up my new camera gear and boarded a plane for the short thirty-five minute flight to New York via the Newark, New Jersey airport. At first, I thought the scariest part of the trip would be the cab ride to Manhattan from Newark Airport.
However, I was quite wrong! To start off my journey, I decided that I would arise early every morning and simply walk the streets of Manhattan with my camera in hand. The photo opportunities were endless. From the many great street scenes, to all the interesting New Yorkers to the building that touched the sky. On one day, after a morning of pounding the pavement, I was ready for a cool drink and to put my feet up. So I grabbed a sixpack and headed back to my room at a well known hotel in mid-town. I kicked off my shoes, cracked a cold one, and switched on the ball game on TV. After about thirty minutes of relaxing, I thought I smelled something a little odd. As a lump formed in my throat, I thought the smell was smoke (something you never want to smell when on the twelfth floor of a hotel). Upon opening my room door, I found the hallway filled with smoke and a fireman running towards me. I asked what I should do and he replied, “Stay in your room.” But for some reason, that didn’t seem like such a good idea at the time! So I grabbed my camera bag and headed down twelve flights of stairs, collapsing into a lobby chair. Needless to say my trip took a turn for the worse and I planned an early return home.
I have been to New York City several times since, all very enjoyable, but that first trip was definitely not a good experience.
