Photo of the Day | Amusing the Zillion

Archive for the ‘Photo of the Day’ Category

Photo of the Day: Coney Island Snowscape by Bruce Handy

Posted in Photo of the Day, Photography, tagged beach, Bruce Handy, Coney Island, Parachute Jump, snow on January 22, 2014| 1 Comment »

Snowy Coney Island Beach with Parachute Jump. January 21, 2014. Photo © Bruce Handy

While Manhattan’s avenues were snarled with slow-moving traffic during Tuesday’s snowstorm, Coney Island Beach was as tranquil as the moon. In this striking snowscape by Coney Island photographer Bruce Handy, Steeplechase Pier peeks out from behind snow-dusted rocks as the Parachute Jump shimmers in the distance.

Coney Island Polar Bear Plunge’s Best Dressed of 2014

Posted in Photo of the Day, Photography, tagged Barry Yanowitz, best dressed, Coney Island Polar Bear Club, Coney Island Polar Bear Plunge, Coney ISland Polar Bear Swim, costume, formal tea, New Year's Day, Polar Bear Plunge, Viking on January 2, 2014| 1 Comment »

Viking Beauty and Photographer. Coney Island Polar Bear Club New Year’s Day Plunge 2014. Photo © Barry Yanowitz

Based on the videos and photos of Coney Island’s New Year’s Day Polar Bear Plunge, most people stripped down to swimsuits or athletic wear. But a contingent of creative folk once again came prepared with wacky headgear, costumes and accoutrements in the spirit of the Mermaid Parade. Brooklyn photographer Barry Yanowitz captured the best of the best. In the above photo, he even managed to get a bikini-clad Viking beauty and a photographer wearing a full wetsuit in the same frame. “I bought waterproof boots last year, but that’s as far as I’m willing to go,” says Barry, who grew up in Coney Island and lived here until graduating from college in 1995.

Formal Tea at Coney Island Polar Bear Club New Year’s Day Plunge 2014. Photo © Barry Yanowitz

ATZ’s award for best dressed males and best set design at the Polar Bear Plunge goes to the two gentlemen in formal wear who carried a tabletop set for tea into the surf. In a tableau reminiscent of Improv Everywhere’s “Black Tie Beach,” they poured tea for fellow swimmers.

Formal Tea at Coney Island Polar Bear Club New Year’s Day Plunge 2014. Photo © Barry Yanowitz

Among the Santas, superheroes, angels, devils and spirit animals, this loving couple–Wonder Woman and Hulk Hogan– stood out. You can see more of Barry Yanowitz’s photos from his New Year’s Day set on his website.

Photo of the Day: Oriole Baths, Willie’s Pizza 10 Cents

Posted in Auction, Photo of the Day, tagged 1950, bathhouse, Coney Island, George Daniell, Oriole Baths, pizza on December 5, 2013| Leave a Comment »

In 1950, the Coney Island Boardwalk was still lined with bathhouses featuring steam rooms and “sun parlors” and you could get a slice of pizza for 10 cents. The painted signs had big, bold typography designed to catch your eye and draw you in.

This photo of Coney Island’s Oriole Baths (formerly at W 16th Street) and Willie’s Pizza taken in 1950 by George Daniell will be on the auction block at today’s sale at Heritage Auctions in New York. The gelatin silver print signed by the photographer is editioned 9/20 in pencil, and was printed in 1998 in association with Sarah Morthland Gallery and Vincent Cianni. The pre-sale estimate is $800-$1,200.

Best known for his celebrity portraits of movie stars, artists and writers, George Daniell (1911-2002) also photographed shore scenes, including New York’s Hudson River, Fire Island and Coney Island.