She said ‘Yes!’

“She said ‘Yes!’ — A Central Park Moment” ©2024 Steve Ember

…from a photographer’s notebook

If you follow these camera-laden rambles, you’re probably aware of how much your faithful scribe enjoys the serendipity that often attaches to travel and its associated photography.

And when said serendipity occurs while roaming about New York, well it can sometimes prove truly … magical.

As on this late Saturday afternoon in late October, in Central Park.

The original intent was to include some infrared black and white film shooting around the Lake, for which I was hoping for some of the abundant afternoon sunshine with which Mother Nature had smiled on a wandering photog the previous three days — and part of this one…

Unfortunately (but only for the planned infrared shooting, which I’d make good on, on another day, and in another enchanting place), by the time I arrived at the W 72nd St entrance to the Park, the skies had turned mainly overcast, so the Canon EOS 650 with the freezer-stored roll of Kodak High Speed Infrared B/W film and the solid chunk of metal and glass that is my film-era Tokina 20–35mm lens with dark red filter in my bag would remain dead weight for the duration of my sylvan schlep. (I’ll call that part cardio-serendipity!)

And while digital cameras were along as well, I was feeling just a bit dejected as to what worthy motifs might beckon in the late day’s fading light, especially along a path that had produced such vivid images when I last walked it, in golden autumn sunshine.

But, as I proceeded north along the western shore of the Lake, darned if a worthy motif did not indeed greet my observant (if less-than-optimistic) eyeballs.

If ever I had wanted to title a photo “I ❤ Central Park Lake,” there was my motif!

Through a break in the trees, I caught sight of the Western Shore Boat Landing with its small rustic pavillion framing a view of the Lake. And, as if to say, “Despair not the fading light, Dejected Camera-Schlepper” three red heart-shaped balloons tethered to its benches and dancing in the wind provided foreground accents to a passing rowboat.

“I ❤ Central Park Lake” ©2024 Steve Ember

I grabbed the moment in telephoto perspective, but as I turned onto the path that would lead down to the water, a further treat revealed itself, in terms of many more heart-shaped balloons, floating in the increasing late day breeze and framing a view including Bow Bridge across the Lake.

Ah, but such was only a hint of the serendipity to unfold and turn an initially none-too-promising afternoon into an unexpected shooting treat.

For, as I reached the pavillion, I saw the reason for those heart-shaped balloons. A young couple had set out two rows of candles (fortunately in glass surrounds, what with the increasing wind along the Lake) and had strewn rose petals on the pavillion floor, accompanied by some big white letters spelling out “Marry Me.”

Turned out the young couple were there for a friend’s proposal to his girlfriend. They were to arrive soon and, yes, the girlfriend would be led blinfolded down the path to this lovely spot across the Lake from the romatically iconic Bow Bridge and eastern skyline.

I asked Sori if she’d mind a stranger-with-camera observing the special moment and she said, “of course not!” It was a while before they arrived … the light continued to fade … the winds continued to blow … Sori continued to patiently re-arrange the rose petals.

Finally, down the path came the couple.

And she said, “Yes!”

Just another serendipitous New York photo moment of which I was happy to partake.

©2024 Steve Ember

You may view more of my New York photographs (including lots of Central Park images) by visiting here or

https://500px.com/steveember/galleries/new-york-city

Most of my work, NYC and beyond, is available either for purchase or licensing by contacting me via email: emberphoto@hotmail.com.

You may also view a sampling of my framed work, note cards, and other photographic iterations at https://steve-ember.pixels.com/