The July 4th Fireworks from the roof of a condo building under construction, that i postioned myself in because the roof of my building, on the other side of the park, had been locked by our new landlord in gentrifying Williamsburg.
I had scoped the sites out, mainly construction sites which were to be condos, and decided that this building on Driggs Avenue would be perfect. I had to do a little handy-work on the fencing that ran along Leonard Street it was underneath the construction sheds, but I got in there, only to find that I would not be alone. As I was climbing the stairs to the roof I realized that on the fifth floor was the security guard. I knew this because I heard his son, who he had obviously brought up here, to do the same thing that I was doing, scoping the fireworks.
I crept up to the top of the building, set up my gear and confidently shot the fireworks knowing I could relax and work. In someways it was my way of getting back at gentrification which is unstoppable no matter what you do, by using one of the great symbols of their invasion as a platform to celebrate my neighborhood and one of my favorite days of the year.
As something i had done every year for as long as i can remember, this would be my last fireworks shoot in my home neighborhood, as it got took, and i got displaced.