7 Years...

BritishBluesBoy · September 29th, 2008, 01:20 PM

I just realized tomorrow will be the 7th anniversary of the day I moved from London to New York with $2000 in my pocket, my camera in one hand and a bag of clothes in the other.

I arrived in the middle of the mayhem, confusion and disaster that was the aftermath of 9/11. Even after watching all the horrific things that happened that day on TV in London I never once questioned my ambition and desire to be here. What a crazy, scary, sad, tragic, mixed up time I picked to move, but I'm glad I came when I did. I'd been coming here for years and already had many good friends here that I felt I needed to be close to during that time. It just made sense to me.

When I did get here I really figured I'd struggle to find work and would end up spending all my savings and have to go back to England with my tail between my legs. However, after pounding the streets for what seemed like ages I managed to find a job in a bar (there was nothing going on at all in photography at that time. It seemed the whole industry just shut down after 9/11). I worked there for six or seven months, then got a job editing pictures for a photo agency. After a couple of years there I had built enough contacts to go out on my own and start my own photography business. I really haven't looked back.

So, what I'm saying is that although it was a struggle when I got here, and there have been many challenges along the way (and I'm sure many more in store for me in the future) New York City has been very good to me and I am very grateful. Being here at a time when NY was experiencing it's darkest time somehow cemented my love for this city even more. This really is an amazing place and I realize how lucky I am to have been able to build a great life here. Frankly, I can't imagine anywhere I'd rather live.

Thanks for listening.

Aaron.

geddins · September 29th, 2008, 01:23 PM

Thanks for coming over! It's folks like you that show up and get after it that has helped make this the greatest place to come to IMO.

I'm glad it's worked out for you....happy anniversary!

furrfurrfurr · September 29th, 2008, 01:24 PM

Cool and inspiring post.

I lived in NYC in 05-06 and while it's a great city, circumstances forced me to move back home to Chicago. I work in advertising so NYC is certainly a good place to be for that.

woodman · September 29th, 2008, 02:06 PM

BBB, glad you stuck around! NYC is not for everybody, but obviously you've made it work there. keep it up!

BritishBluesBoy · September 29th, 2008, 02:33 PM

Thank you gentlemen.

E.D. Patton · September 29th, 2008, 03:15 PM

Congratulations!

I love NY, but I don't know if I could make a go of it. I've lived in some major urban centers, here and abroad, so Portland, OR is about the smallest town I can imagine myself being happy.

That being said: nothing compares to The Apple!

studio1087 · September 29th, 2008, 03:21 PM

Great story. Congratulations. I love NY. My sister and brother in law both live there. I love visiting them.

lewis · September 29th, 2008, 03:27 PM

It's stories like this that make me think of my grandmother who immigrated from Germany in 1929. She and her cousin, at the ages of 19-20, came through Ellis Island.
Packing up and moving to a whole other country takes guts. I'm glad to hear life is working out for you.

BritishBluesBoy · September 29th, 2008, 08:57 PM

Again, thanks for the kind words guys.

TJNY · September 29th, 2008, 09:39 PM

Very cool Aaron! A man with determination! If your ever in Manhattan during the day, I work at 80 Center St. and I always enjoy meeting fellow TDPRI members! BTW, your photography is tops!!

Big John · September 30th, 2008, 04:37 AM

BBB, our best export has long been our people, you're one of them so fer Gawd's sake, keep those bl**dy Yanks in shape will ya ?!

BritishBluesBoy · September 30th, 2008, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big John

fer Gawd's sake, keep those bl**dy Yanks in shape will ya ?!

I'm trying mate, but there's just so many of 'em

Thanks John!

kelnet · September 30th, 2008, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big John

BBB, our best export has long been our people, you're one of them so fer Gawd's sake, keep those bl**dy Yanks in shape will ya ?!

I always thought your best export was either parliamentary democracy or Keira Knightly, but I agree that your people have also been good.

blacklove · September 30th, 2008, 11:54 AM

Ah, the milestones of big city life! Congratulations on your anniversary. NYC ain't the easiest city to bust into. I thought I was tough living in San Francisco for 8 years!

Big John · September 30th, 2008, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BritishBluesBoy

I'm trying mate, but there's just so many of 'em

Grit your teeth man, they are only peasants after all !!

Meh !!

WisconsinStrings · September 30th, 2008, 12:16 PM

9/11 seems like yesterday to me. Wow how time flies!

Congrats on the anniversary. What kind of photography do you do BBB?

RickG501 · September 30th, 2008, 12:19 PM

BBB you need to take a road trip!!!

There's a lot more to see here.

Glad to have ya though. Imagine two countries seperated by a common language, glad you made it.

BritishBluesBoy · September 30th, 2008, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WisconsinStrings

Congrats on the anniversary. What kind of photography do you do BBB?

Thanks mate. Easier to show you than to describe:

www.aarongraubart.com

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickG501

BBB you need to take a road trip!!!

Very true. There's TONS to see here. I've traveled a lot in the states actually, I even did my own Jack Kerouac impersonation a few years ago in an old Mazda Pickup with a road trip from NY to San Francisco - via Mexico City!

WisconsinStrings · September 30th, 2008, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BritishBluesBoy

Thanks mate. Easier to show you than to describe:

www.aarongraubart.com

Wow, inspiring. What a dream to have the equipment, models, and .... oh .... skill to do work like that. Some of the still life and portrait shots may give me bad dreams. :)

September 29th, 2008, 01:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
BritishBluesBoy Friend of Leo's Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Brooklyn, NY Age: 40 Posts: 4,617 62 Photos	7 Years... I just realized tomorrow will be the 7th anniversary of the day I moved from London to New York with $2000 in my pocket, my camera in one hand and a bag of clothes in the other. I arrived in the middle of the mayhem, confusion and disaster that was the aftermath of 9/11. Even after watching all the horrific things that happened that day on TV in London I never once questioned my ambition and desire to be here. What a crazy, scary, sad, tragic, mixed up time I picked to move, but I'm glad I came when I did. I'd been coming here for years and already had many good friends here that I felt I needed to be close to during that time. It just made sense to me. When I did get here I really figured I'd struggle to find work and would end up spending all my savings and have to go back to England with my tail between my legs. However, after pounding the streets for what seemed like ages I managed to find a job in a bar (there was nothing going on at all in photography at that time. It seemed the whole industry just shut down after 9/11). I worked there for six or seven months, then got a job editing pictures for a photo agency. After a couple of years there I had built enough contacts to go out on my own and start my own photography business. I really haven't looked back. So, what I'm saying is that although it was a struggle when I got here, and there have been many challenges along the way (and I'm sure many more in store for me in the future) New York City has been very good to me and I am very grateful. Being here at a time when NY was experiencing it's darkest time somehow cemented my love for this city even more. This really is an amazing place and I realize how lucky I am to have been able to build a great life here. Frankly, I can't imagine anywhere I'd rather live. Thanks for listening. Aaron. __________________ BBB.

September 29th, 2008, 01:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
geddins Tele-Afflicted Join Date: May 2005 Location: Texas Age: 46 Posts: 1,961	Thanks for coming over! It's folks like you that show up and get after it that has helped make this the greatest place to come to IMO. I'm glad it's worked out for you....happy anniversary! __________________ www.myspace.com/gregeddins

September 29th, 2008, 01:24 PM	#3 (permalink)
furrfurrfurr Friend of Leo's Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: South of Heaven Posts: 2,493	Cool and inspiring post. I lived in NYC in 05-06 and while it's a great city, circumstances forced me to move back home to Chicago. I work in advertising so NYC is certainly a good place to be for that. __________________ Hope I'm not too Messianic or a trifle too Satanic. Meow.

September 29th, 2008, 02:06 PM	#4 (permalink)
woodman Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mint Hill, NC Age: 62 Posts: 5,961	BBB, glad you stuck around! NYC is not for everybody, but obviously you've made it work there. keep it up! __________________ Truth is stranger than fact ... www.myspace.com/woodymitchellmusic BAND PAGES: www.myspace.com/stragglerswing (Stragglers - Western Swing) www.myspace.com/loafersgloryband (Loafers Glory - '70s country-rock)

September 29th, 2008, 02:33 PM	#5 (permalink)
BritishBluesBoy Friend of Leo's Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Brooklyn, NY Age: 40 Posts: 4,617 62 Photos	Thank you gentlemen. __________________ BBB.

September 29th, 2008, 03:15 PM	#6 (permalink)
E.D. Patton Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 909	Congratulations! I love NY, but I don't know if I could make a go of it. I've lived in some major urban centers, here and abroad, so Portland, OR is about the smallest town I can imagine myself being happy. That being said: nothing compares to The Apple!

September 29th, 2008, 03:21 PM	#7 (permalink)
studio1087 Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2003 Location: Near Milwaukee Age: 44 Posts: 3,993 36 Photos	Great story. Congratulations. I love NY. My sister and brother in law both live there. I love visiting them. __________________ JLG Carry On

September 29th, 2008, 03:27 PM	#8 (permalink)
lewis Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,880 28 Photos	It's stories like this that make me think of my grandmother who immigrated from Germany in 1929. She and her cousin, at the ages of 19-20, came through Ellis Island. Packing up and moving to a whole other country takes guts. I'm glad to hear life is working out for you. __________________ "I'm a maestro, I'm a maestro," Taj Mahal, 8/20/05.

September 29th, 2008, 08:57 PM	#9 (permalink)
BritishBluesBoy Friend of Leo's Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Brooklyn, NY Age: 40 Posts: 4,617 62 Photos	Again, thanks for the kind words guys. __________________ BBB.

September 29th, 2008, 09:39 PM	#10 (permalink)
TJNY Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Orange County, NY Posts: 1,182	Very cool Aaron! A man with determination! If your ever in Manhattan during the day, I work at 80 Center St. and I always enjoy meeting fellow TDPRI members! BTW, your photography is tops!! __________________ http://www.myspace.com/ocbluesxpress http://www.myspace.com/tjny

September 30th, 2008, 04:37 AM	#11 (permalink)
Big John Friend of Leo's Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Suffolk UK Posts: 4,690 36 Photos	BBB, our best export has long been our people, you're one of them so fer Gawd's sake, keep those bl**dy Yanks in shape will ya ?! __________________ If you are going to be a bear, be a grizzly !!

September 30th, 2008, 11:54 AM	#14 (permalink)
blacklove Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Small Pond Posts: 463 6 Photos	Ah, the milestones of big city life! Congratulations on your anniversary. NYC ain't the easiest city to bust into. I thought I was tough living in San Francisco for 8 years!

September 30th, 2008, 12:16 PM	#16 (permalink)
WisconsinStrings Tele-Holic Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Arcadia, Wisconsin Age: 37 Posts: 692	9/11 seems like yesterday to me. Wow how time flies! Congrats on the anniversary. What kind of photography do you do BBB?

September 30th, 2008, 12:19 PM	#17 (permalink)
RickG501 Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Oklahoma City Age: 54 Posts: 956	BBB you need to take a road trip!!! There's a lot more to see here. Glad to have ya though. Imagine two countries seperated by a common language, glad you made it. __________________ I know my words sound strange to you but if you wait til my song is sung and my story's told you might come to understand...