Have you ever been to the New Year’s Eve Ball Drop in Times Square, NYC? If so, do you remember the experiences you had as you waited for midnight? I’m also one of those who braved twelve hours of freezing cold, waiting for one moment of cheer & revelry.
As a photographer, I approach the celebration differently. Stands to reason, most other photographers probably do as well. I’m not there to join in the celebration per se. But, to photograph the interesting aspects of people celebrating while there. I absolutely love photographing people. The more, the merrier. The more merrier they are, the more excited & inclined I am to capture moments that go beyond a typical Times Square (kissing) Ball Drop photograph.
Photo: December 31, 1999
In all my years of being a NYC photographer, I haven’t attended as many Times Square Ball Drops as one may assume. On many occassions, the nature of standing out in the cold weather did not bode warmly for me. As I check my photo archive here at home, I don’t see as many photographs as I thought I had. Being a native New Yorker—I’ve gone to maybe five “Ball Drops” in my lifetime. Hence, I don’t have that many photographs of the celebrating.
As you take a look at the photograph just above, you get the sense of what it feels like to be there among the mass of people. 2000 being a millennial year, Mayor Giuliani predicted attendance to be up to two million. Mathematicians calculated attendance more realistically at 500,000. Other Statisticians in this article compare the attendance size needed to fill Times Square, equal to a fully packed Yankee Stadium (46,537). I digress…
Photo: January 01, 2000
I don’t recall how I made my way four blocks closer to the excitement that night. There was (shockingly) more space to move around. I’ve always felt mystified at the difference “one second” makes in our lives. 11:59:59 to 12:00:00 dictates so much of our lives. It begins a reset of so many things. Resolutions, birthdays, anniversaries, births, deaths, mornings from nights, the lists goes on. The 1999/2000 New Year’s Ball Drop was that last time I went. I had enough.
I’m not sure if it’s the media that creates the excitement surrounding the New Year’s Eve Ball Drop, or an internal desire within humans to seek out times like this. It’s such a huge celebratory time, I figure many people would want to feel included in such a celebration.
Photo: January 01, 2000
Okay! Just above is the only obligatory “New Year’s Eve/Day Kiss” photograph I’ve ever taken.
Photo: January 01, 2013
I began approaching the New Year’s Eve/New Year’s Day celebration differently after 2000. I noticed, New York City is pretty quiet on the morning after all the celebrating. Giving off an effect that January 1st… is just another day. The real event is “The Eve.” So, I began traveling to Times Square the morning after to see what it feels/felt like in the spot that just nine hours ago—was crazy crowded with people. Such a different feel altogether! One that I felt akin with. These three photographs (2013, 2018, 2021) document the passage of time and hopefully offer reflection for you as well.
Photo: January 01, 2018
Photo: January 01, 2021
A cool 41°F. There I am, during the Pandemic—committed in my trek to Times Square, and continue the story of time and place.
Photo: January 01, 2013
I leave you off with this photograph above. It exemplifies the feeling of the-day-after for me. The stillness, solitude and familiarity of a place seen so differently when compared to a “typical day.”
For situational awareness, One Times Square—the building from which “The Ball” drops is about 90 feet left (←) of camera.
Some words of advice. If you haven’t already organized your library of photographs, I beg you to do so before it gets out of hand. This from someone who knows!
Circumstances beyond my control are keeping me homebound this year. No regrets! I have so much to do with all that I’ve photographed over the years.
If you’ve read this far, I congratulate you! And, thank you for taking the time out of your day. Writing this article allow me to delve deeper into what photography is all about for me. I appreciate you taking this ride with me.
Til next time…
Kenneth