Phoneography Challenge: My Neighborhood
“All of us grow up in particular realities – a home, family, a clan, a small town, a neighborhood…” Chaim Potok
Phoneography Challenge: My Neighborhood – Homes around the hood.
Phoneography Challenge: My Neighborhood -People in village
Phoneography Challenge: My Neighborhood – Landmarks
Did you grow up in the City or the Suburbs? Did your family choices impact your decision on where to live? I grew up on three continents and we covered the full spectrum of living locations; Urban, Suburban, and Countryside/Village. One thing I always looked for when I lived at home was nature; some form of green or even a garden made me smile. There is something about nature; trees, grass, flora and fauna, that prettifies a neighborhood.
When I got married and it came time to move, I knew I wanted more nature around me. We looked at small towns in the tri-state area, and settled on Westchester County. Westchester County borders The Bronx and is a fairly easy commute to the city. I can get in my car and be in the Bronx in 15 minutes, on the Upper Westside in 20 minutes, and midtown in 30. If I could choose another place(s) to live in the USA, where would I go? San Francisco, Seattle, Santa Fe, or Boston/Cambridge area. And you? My pictures above and below are of my neighborhood.
“I have an affection for a great city. I feel safe in the neighborhood of man, and enjoy the sweet security of the streets.” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Phoneography Challenge: My Neighborhood – The Aqueduct
Phoneography Challenge: My Neighborhood – Other life forms
Phoneography Challenge: My Neighborhood – Flora around
Beautiful neighborhoods have a special attraction that pull outsiders in and keep insiders happy and reluctant to leave. I love my neighborhood, and while it might not appeal to everyone, it has a certain charm that I enjoy; it’s quiet, small, unpretentious and conveniently located near bigger towns and cities. In summer time, flowers bloom everywhere, birds sing, and flora and fauna find their footing again. It doesn’t have any fast food joints, and the mom and pop shop owners are friendly and attentive.
If I want a Starbucks, MickieD’s, or Dunkin Donuts coffee, I could zip into the next village or town in under 5 minutes. Yes, everyone drives in the suburbs, but the best thing about my neighborhood is that the Croton Aqueduct runs through the middle of the village. We can take walks, runs or bicycle rides any time we want. The Hudson River and two Parks are at the bottom of Main Street; ditto the Metro North trains that get you into the City, via Grand Central Station, in 35-40 minutes. I like the city but I love coming home to my neighborhood. How about you?
More Below!
“Depending upon how we’re brought up, we are either deeply aware of the particular reading of reality into which we are born, or we are peripherally aware of it.” Chaim Potok
Phoneography Challenge: My Neighborhood – Hudson River plus more
Phoneography Challenge: My Neighborhood
When I moved from London to the US, I lived in Manhattan for a number of years before moving to Park Slope, Brooklyn. After I got married, we moved to the suburbs outside the city. It was a tough decision because Park Slope is so beautiful; it has the museum, subway, botanical gardens and grand army plaza within spitting distance. Plus, we lived near the park which gave us a place to walk, run, and relax. We wanted to stay, but Street parking was one of a handful of concerns we had; I could share some hysterically funny parking stories with you but, we’ll save them for another day.
I like visiting the city for all the excitement it brings into our lives but, I love the suburbs for the peace and quiet we enjoy, the access to nature, and the pretty easy parking. Have you ever gotten a parking ticket in Manhattan? I have. It’s a minimum of $65 and up. We don’t have such high fees in the suburbs. Yes, I know it has its limitations too… and I’ve shared them in other posts. But for today, I’d love to welcome you to my neighborhood. M I hope my pictures gave you glimpses of why I love where I am. What about you? Do you love where you live? If you could choose another place(s) to live, where would you go?
This post was inspired by a prompt from WP Daily Post: Phoneography Challenge: My Neighborhood For this inaugural phoneography challenge, document where you live with just your phone. I’ll leave it to you to decide how best to capture it; you can post a shot like the one above, or get creative with angles. Maybe you want to get low, as suggested by our recent guest photographer Christopher Martin, as shown in this street shot in Oxford.
Positive Motivation Tip: Home is where the heart finds rest and comfort. It all begins in our neighborhood. Be a good neighbor and choose wisely.
PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: All Photos from my personal collection.
Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet
Reblogged this on Mirth and Motivation and commented:
This was scheduled for publication a year ago. It took a while to swap my Blackberry for an Android. Now this post is complete. Enjoy!
I need to walk my neighborhood more…or at least get out and enjoy more of what it has to offer…
It won’t be a bad idea actually. We see new things everyday.
It looks absolutely lovely, I can see why you choose to live there 🙂
Thank you Gilly! It was quite accidental. We started our search in New Jersey and looked in NY and even a visit to Connecticut. We found this by way of another village visit. It’s fine. Did you do this challenge? Share your link. I know your area is very pretty too.
Beautiful neighborhood pictures. Looks like you’re right where you belong. 🙂 Me too.
For now, yes. A friend suggested I move to the West Coast… I do find the cold weather trying at times and I do love SF. 🙂
Elizabeth, I enjoyed this blog very much. All your photos give me a feeling for what you like and what is important to you in your neighbourhood. I grew up in the 1930s and 1940s in the big city of Berlin, We never had a car in those days. Having lived in Australia since 1959 we have had a number of cars for here we never could afford to live in the city, and there just isn’t sufficient public transport in the suburbs. So to have a car is essential for most Australians. We know all about problems with parking.
To have a car is great for excursions to one of the beaches or some lovely National Parks, all within easy reach from where we live here in Australia in the Illawarra south of Sydney.
What a beautiful reminiscence. You should share some of your photos and stories… Australia is quite beautiful and the locations I’ve seen were idyllic
Oh yes, I always love to came back to Australia. I am talking here specifically the Illawarra in NSW and the Sydney area. There are many, many beautiful locations here. Sometimes I forget to take my camera along when we go on an outing. Whenever possible I take lots and lots of pictures. I have rather bad eyesight. Still I tend to manage to take some photos that show some of the beauty of our area. All this thanks to the convenience of a digital camera. 🙂
Yes the camera and phone have made it so easy to snap, snap, snap away. I do hope to visit Australia some day. It seems so vast and stunning. Do you ever miss Berlin?
Over the years we have visited Berlin quite a few times. It is a buzzing, modern city with a lot of history. I can see why now especially younger people from all over the world are attracted by it. Peter and I have our children and children’s children here in Australia and this is our home
country now.
Yes, all the young ones love the buzz and creativity going on in Berlin. It’s a special city. Okay, that is wonderful to have everyone in the same country. How fortunate!
True, Elizabeth, all our children live in Australia, however most of them live quite some distance away from us. In Germany I have still two brothers and Peter has one sister in Berlin and another sister in Austria. Our cousins are spread all over Germany, England and America. It is a small world, isn’t it?
it is a small world and the internet makes it easy to reconnect with everyone. You lot are spread out quite a bit. It makes reunions such fun.
Reunions are indeed great fun! 🙂
I do agree and look forward to them too. 🙂
I think where we are brought up as a child, stays with us through life. I was brought up in a small village in Scotland and although I now live in Australia, the area where I have chosen to live is similar in so many ways. My house looks over onto a farmer’s field with cows so I feel like I’m in the country, but I only have to drive two kilometres to our local shops Best of both worlds!
I agree… What a wonderful thought that we all eventually reach for what reminds us of home. 🙂
I love where I live now, but when I think of my neighborhood, I think of where I grew up.
Good… so you stayed close to the idea of your parents choice.
Love taking photo’s of nature too. I like the selection your chose and then collaged them together!
Thank you Nicole! I’m a big fan of nature… It helps me chill out.
I grew up in the middle of nowhere. The nearest town was 15 minutes away by car. I definitely miss it.
You can go back and visit, no? There are places I lived that I miss too.
All of these images made me think do I really know my neighborhood. Think I need to get out and explore a little.
I think that would be a great idea. We lean more as we explore!
I wish I took more pictures for the fun of it, feel like I am always working when I have my camera out.
Most of these pictures were taken by my phone camera. Use yours to take quick snapshots and soon it will become a habit.
You definitely live very near to where I grew up! I recognize some of those areas. My Mom still lives there and I wish I still did but now I live in a town not far but not nearly as beautiful. I loved living right near the Hudson River.
Now I’m curious Michele! Where were you and where are you now? There is something about the Hudson Rivertowns that make us want to settle and not leave. I love that it has a slower pace and people take time to enjoy nature.
lovely photos! I actually lived in Westchester for years. That aqueduct is lovely!
Oh wonderful! Do you miss it? Where are you now?
Oooh, I love challenges like this. It gets me thinking and looking outside the box. Thank you for sharing your beautiful phots
You are welcome! Go for it
I like to walk to neighborhoods and just look around.. yours looks so nice and full of different things..
Hey Robert! We live in the same neck of the woods. I bet yours is just as lovely… 🙂
We are about 20 min North of the city going upstate.. But we do not have those site.. lol
Wow, what great photos. It would be great to do this in different neighborhoods when you go on trips and really get a sense of what makes a place unique.
Exactly Lois! What a great idea. TY!
What a great photographer you are Love your story.
Thank you Karen! I appreciate the compliment as I keep working at this relatively new craft.
Your photos are awesome! I love where I live, but the 8 months of winter can be a bit much.
8 months of winter!!!!!? My heart bleeds for you. We keep getting colder winters and I keep threatening to move to the West coast. :L-)
Wow, what a wonderful collection of photos or phonos, shall I call them? We just moved recently, I have a lot to play catch up on and discover!
Do so and then as the years go by, keep documenting the changes. It makes us more appreciative.
That is a fantastic neighborhood. Love the pics.
Thank you … I am grateful!
Wow! What a gorgeous place! You neighborhood looks like a wonderful place to live!
Hi Dawn, It is a lovely place and unpretentious too.
I like small outskirt neighborhoods too. I live in a city and the nights and sounds at night are just too bright and noisy…
Cheers~
Pingerrain*Priscilla
TY Pricilla! I used to live in the city too. One time, I lived very close to the train station. Every time the train flew by, the apartment building shook. Hahaha!
Great collection of photos. The red cardinal is one of my favorite birds.
And a difficult bird to photograph. I love them too.
This phoneography challenge is something I might want to take part and pass on too! Will credit you when I’m done with it! BTW, I love all your photos (nature ones especially)!
Thank you Tiffany. You are such a good photographer, I think you should join in these challenges… Looking forward to yours.
Lovely photos! Thanks for giving us a glimpse of your neighborhood. 🙂
Thank you too for checking in.
Beautiful photos. I’m living in a city now but I think I’d still prefer small town where I grew up.
I hear you… It has its charm.
The longest I have lived in anyone place is where I live now and i have lived here ten years. I grew up in the country, city and everywhere in between. I now live in a rural area. My town consists of two bars and 3 churches. That’s it nothing else! lol it’s one of those that if you blink while driving through you will miss it!
Oh Kelly, you had me laughing. My village is the same. Once you drive by Main St and Sunnyside, you’re done!
You have a very charming & clean neighborhood. It also seems to be a safe place to live in.
Yes, it is lovely and you know how it is… People in the suburbs are curious about their neighbors. Haha!
Love all the photos but most especially the Hudson River and beyond!
TY Kero. Love it too!
That’s cool that we got a tour of your neighborhood. 🙂 I like that you considered WHERE you wanted to live when you got married. I didn’t consider things like that until so much later… we just got what was convenient to work. Now we live in the country and I really like it!
TY Rosey! We wanted to stay in Brooklyn but it didn’t work out… The suburbs were #2 on the list.
We moved around a lot when I was younger but by the time I was in middle school we put down root in a more suburban area, I live about ten minutes away with my family now. I always am taking walks I’ll have to bring along my camera too—a unique way to look at the world around you.
Please do it… It will surprise you when you start documenting the things you love about your area.
You have some amazing houses and sites to see in your neighborhood! Just beautiful.
Thank you Stacey! I keep thinking you are a Westchester girl too. Haha!
I’ve been a city girl all my life and recently my husband and I have talked about moving somewhere our son can learn to appreciate nature and all the wonderful things in it. This is such a great reminder of just how beautiful everything can be for us. Thank you for sharing!
TY Lexie! I’ve enjoyed city life and its conveniences… At this stage in my life, I like to visit the city and then leave.
What a fun post. I also love the Chaim Potok quotes. He is one of my favorite authors. My Name is Asher Lev might be one of the most moving books I’ve ever read. – Katy
Thank you Katy. I haven’t read My Name Is Asher Lev but will go get a copy today. I love his brilliant mind.
It looks like you live in a nice neighborhood. Also, you have some amazing photos.
Such Beautiful pictures! I can definitely appreciate the pictures of nature!
Wow, 3 continents? That’s amazing! I would love to be in the country but close enough to the city. You pictures are great!
I enjoy taking photos of things round my neighborhood. My son teases me and calls me a tourist, but I do enjoy it.
Great post.. I have a place which offers the balance of having peace and greenery of the suburbs and just enough proximity to the city so as to allow zipping in to eat out at my favourite restaurants or shop in my favourite stores in the city! Love that!
I grew up in what is considered a city but am lucky enough where I am a stones throw away from the beach and farms. NJ has a little bit of everything! I love your positive motivation tip, it’s so important to be a good neighbor.
Your photographs look so good. My house is in a city that feels like a suburb of a bigger city, if you can get what that means. I did not see what Phoneography means though. – Fred
You live in a lovely neighborhood! I would love to revisit my childhood home in the ‘burbs!
I have always lived in the centre of my city. I tried living in the countryside once but I missed the hectic urban life and came back to my previous home. Living in a village seems boring to me.
I love all your pictures it looks like great place to live where you are. I grow up and now live in the same town. We choose to stay here because of the schools. Thanks for sharing.
great pics. i love the squirrel. i grew up in the middle of nowhere so I know know and animals.
Beautiful pictures! Such a lovely neighborhood too.
T! dear Aly. 🙂
Great pictures! It looks like you live in a great area!
Thank you! I believe it is so…
Your neighborhood is beautiful Elizabeth. You have really captured the essence of it with some wonderful photos. I would not have realized you could have such peace and quiet so close to the city. I too like to have more nature around us, but alas it is not yet meant to be. The city is our home for now..
TY Suzanne! The city has its charm too and I’ve lived in cities that were calm and very noisy. Maybe it’s an age thing; I just like the quiet.
I like the suburbs because it doesn’t feel as congested as the city. You were able to take great photos of the neighborhood.
I love all of the photos and how they capture this certain emotion I can’t quite put my finger on. They all make me nostalgic for some reason. Haha! 🙂
Great way to chronicle the places you have been and the neighborhood you now live in. I have done the same with houses 🙂
Share a link and I’d comment on it. TY! Tim!
Lovely pictures! Always nice seeing where other folks are from@
No wonder you love your neighborhood so much. Based on your photographs, it’s a lovely place to be!
It sure is Liz! TY! 🙂
What a beautiful post! I can tell you love your neighborhood. I moved a lot when I was a child and I have kept doing the same thing as an adult. I get restless after a while in a same place.
In my previous comment I told you that whenever i come to your blog i find something new which i do not know, and again i learned a new phrase Phoneography, i never heard this phrase.
Thank you so much. I appreciate your comments. It was a new word for me too.
I’ve always wanted to live in the countryside. Peaceful, close to nature… and your shots of aqueducts are so cool!
You live in a lovely neighborhood, indeed! Finding that perfect place to live in and call home us such an emotive subject… I love mine, as the kids’ school’s nearby, there’s an old rail track that cuts through the area and most of all, we’ve some lovely neighbors.
Beautiful Pictures! I grew up in a Suburb, but I would have loved to have grown up in the Country.
Thanks for the Post!
Very nice photos. I grow up in a countryside and i really enjoy the beauty of nature. I learned how to appreciate and value the creations God.
It’s always been my dream to live in the suburbs, and here I am at the ream of my life; living with the spacious place on earth. You too deserve to live there too.
A walk in our neighborhood makes me feel part of what I have right now, the fresh faces, the little children, the community and the surrounding… all of this made me grateful.
Wow I love those pictures! I live in a suburb and I love the nature we have!
These are great pictures. I especially like the ones of the animals.
Wow, you are a great photographer. I really love taking photos too, but I don’t take many in my neighborhood 🙁
I really should take a walk threw my neighborhood before it gets too cold!!! I forget how pretty it can be here sometimes 😉
Such a lovely view of Westchester County. It looks peaceful.
Love your pictures. Looks like a lovely place to call home.
I love all the pictures of your neighborhood. The flowers were especially beautiful.
We grew up in Chinatown and everything we need is an arm’s reach away from us. I also love my neighborhood as it’s very quiet, though far from nature and the greens.
I love your neighbourhood. You did such a great job of capturing it.
These pictures are awesome. How long do you get to complete the challenges?
Looks like you’re in a very peaceful neighborhood. Good view too!
I grew up in a small town, but later moved to the suburbs. Now that I think about it, my neighborhoods through the years have been quite different from each other.
Whoa, those are quite a handful of photos – I wish I tend to do this to appreciate more of the things I’ve been to.
Beautiful pictures. Captured perfectly! How many challenges are they?
Such beautiful pictures and great views too, I wish I took more time to see my neighbour but working 9-5 and it being fall now it gets dark quickly so dont get the chance
I grew up in a city with over half a million population. When I moved here to the US, we live in a township that only has about 6,000 people. But we are so close to a city with 87,000 population. So far from where I grew up when it comes to population and even culture, but I love how it is not crowded here. I like it better that way. Love your photos.
I would say you are so lucky to have lived in all the places you did because you got a little taste of it all. I love your pictures indeed. They are just gorgeous. We live in my hometown which is surrounded by the woods. We chose my hometown because of the how safe it used to be and the schools. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Rebecca! I’m grateful for it.
Wow…from London to NY. That’s crazy. I live in a huge city and I rarely walk it. I should work on that
Those are some amazing photo’s. I love that you can experience a little bit of everything. I have the beach, that’s it! Miss the city
Your neighborhood looks beautiful. I love the idea behind this challenge. I might have to do it myself!
Someone has a good eye for a very handsome photo! Great job and thanks for sharing.
Very cool pictures. The snowy ones instantly took me back to my childhood in Michigan!
It’s interesting what you can find just walking around your own neighborhood. I recently discovered a couple blocks from my home that one household was building a pond and so far it looks like it’s going to be fantastic by the time they plant and fill things in come spring next year.
You should document it so you can share the finished work with us later on.
Great pictures and a beautiful story. I’m a big city girl, I can’t have it other way. Thank you for sharing this!
These photos are all so gorgeous and unique!!
Thank you Amby! 🙂
Wow, what a beautiful neighborhood. Your phone takes great photos!
I love the pictures you shared. The houses in your neighborhood are of such a variety that it can make it much more interesting to go on a walk. In my neighborhood, most of the houses look the same.
Wow some amazing pictures saw the one of the squirrel so cute.
Such beautiful pictures, you live in such a lovely looking neighbourhood. I love all the nature. You’ve inspired me to go and take some pictures of my local area 🙂
You have a big neighborhood! With so many things you can enjoy and explore!!
Your neighborhood is beautiful–you captured it well.
TY! Did you participate in the challenge? I’ll check out your blog. 🙂
I wasn’t able to do the first couple of assignments. Mine would not have been as great as yours, though!
It would have been unique to you and your neighborhood and would have been great. I did mine almost a year later. 😉
It’s absolutely gorgeous! Looks like a great neighborhood. Mine is not as pretty and colorful ! xx corinne
Thank you 🙂
so beautiful and cozy! I feel the love from the photos, it makes me want to stay in the pictured places! very well done!