As New York City entered the start of the festive season (the Christmas market is already set up in Bryant Park!), we entered the world of Style, aka my element! This section is led by renowned photographer Erin Baiano, who has been a contributor to the Style and Culture sections of The New York Times since 2006 and has had work published in Vanity Fair, New York Magazine, Vogue, and InStyle.
It’s no secret that the newspaper’s Style section has long been the go-to resource for all things fashion, beauty and self-expression. We’ve spent the week exploring fashion trends throughout history, and the social implications behind them. Using New York as the backdrop, we’ve been exploring the evolution of street style and fashion as a form of activism, while also discussing current topics, including the line between cultural appropriation and appreciation within the industry.
In the latter part of the week, we explored traditional dressing in modern times, visiting the Kimono Style exhibition being held at The MET, which traced the transformation of the iconic kimono throughout the centuries, and analysed the way it influenced western fashion.
Behind the Lens
This writer was also put behind the camera for the first time, in order to build on our own photographic techniques. We’ve been learning to analyse and create strong visuals, which have included photographing the city to portraits of fellow classmates using natural light (you can see one of my dear friend Elfriede below).
We were blessed by the presence of New York Times Photo Editor, Christy Harmon, who shared with us her career trajectory, discussed the role of photojournalism in the current climate, and the importance of writers and photographers working collaboratively to bring a story to life.
The New York Marathon
The New York marathon took front and centre this weekend, where the city was alive with excitement as around 50,000 participated in the epic race. It was incredible to witness everyone come together to support the runners on their trek (you couldn’t walk anywhere without seeing a sign or a runner!).
Moving Forward with Capital A
In other exciting news, I also spent the week conducting many of my interviews with New York City activists, trailblazers and changemakers for my project, Capital A. I’ve been blown away by the incredible people that live in this city and I’m looking forward to sharing my profiles very soon!
Weather Update
New York is currently experiencing the end of an unprecedented heat wave, and I’ve been waking up wondering if I’m still in New York or back in North Queensland!
Catch up on Georgie’s blog posts by clicking here.
This opportunity was made possible with support from the Philip Leong Youth Programme.
