East meets west: Chinatown Starbucks Photo

Photographer’s Note

A visit to Chinatown in Manhattan is always fun. Familiar shops take on a different flavor, as you can see from this pagoda-topped Starbucks located on Canal Street. This building always catches my eye when I am in the area.

Manhattan's Chinatown is different from most others because it is both a residential and commercial neighborhood. Population estimates show that there are between 90,000 and 100,00 residents, many of them living in the tenements that line the crowded streets.

Canal Street is one of the main arteries in Chinatown. In the early 1800's an actual canal ran down this path, but by 1820 it had been filled in, and Canal Street was opened to traffic.

I realize that the car in the lower left part of the frame might be a bit distracting, but it is impossible to get a photo of Canal Street without a car or bus driving by. I have tried many times, and this is the closest I've come! :-)

westcoastgirl1, westcoastgirl1, Clementi, josepmarin has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

batalay (20804) 2009-10-26 18:54

Hello Brenda,

I had just made a quick visit to Trekearth when this compelling shot rolled in. What I especially like is the freshness of the shot, like a warm baguette, or should I say "egg roll." It is an appropriate title,

Regards,

Bulent

PJE (19395) 2009-10-26 22:00

Hello Brenda. I usually visit Starbucks every morning work day and today was the exception because I did not want to get wet walking to the edge of the parking lot at work in the rain. I love the Starbucks blends and seeing this Chinese rendition in Manhattan is a real treat. Good lighting and excellent details and no the car is is not in the way because its a Honda CRV on the left hand side. Thanks for sharing.

westcoastgirl1 (945) 2009-10-27 4:23

Hi Brenda

I enjoyed reading your write up. Good choice to compose your shot with the corner of the building showing allowing us to see down both sides of the street. Interesting architecture and lively with the people and the cars. Good exposure and clarity.

TFS,
Tosca

Clementi (43543) 2009-11-06 0:57

Ciao Brenda,
strange approach of architectures, understands the difficulty to capture images without cars in the trafficked roads, but this doesn't disturb the sight, rather it creates movement to the scene
Giorgio

josepmarin (33755) 2009-11-15 2:35

Hi Brenda,
recuerdo perfectamente esta pagoda por las dos veces que he estado comprando y paseando por Canal Street, y has conseguido captarla totalmente gracias a un buen ángulo de encuadre.
Me gustan mucho los reflejos en los cristales de su fachada y poder ver el ambiente que siempre hay en esta zona. El small cappuccino de Starbuck's está muy rico.
Bonitos recuerdos, gracias a tus fotos de NUC.
Un fuerte abrazo,
Josep

erdna (5348) 2009-11-16 6:39

A nice city shot. This proves chinese-American do not just drink tea anymore. This reminds me of the McDonalds at the second floor of a corner building in San Francisco's Chinatown.

Andre'