Jason Baluyut
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jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
Jason Baluyut
@jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
390 followers 200 following 980 posts
I like to write and photograph stuff. I might get political. No to cruelty and broken systems; yes to kindness, love, and openness to possibility. He/him. Also on Mastodon: @[email protected]
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jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
#FotoVorschlag
“Graffiti”

The front gate of Abbey Road Studios, from a trip years ago. The outer wall was a mess of heartfelt scribbles from Beatles fans, and I added to it as well. I’d like to think it’s still there.

#photography #streetphotography #graffiti #beatles
A black placard mounted on a gate outside a parking lot, with a building in the background. The placard reads “Please don’t write here, there and everywhere. Keep it to our wall,” with “here, there and everywhere” in yellow letters and the rest of the words in white. Handwritten graffiti messages are scrawled all over the sign and the bars of the gate.
November 27, 2025 at 6:58 PM
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
#FotoVorschlag
“Graffiti”

An old fire alarm call box in Red Hook. I don’t remember if I’ve shared this before, but “transphobes are shitheads” is always a message worth amplifying. 💗🏳️‍⚧️

#photography #streetphotography #graffiti #stickers #stickerart #brooklyn #nyc #pride
Photo of a vintage red fire alarm call box attached to a wooden pole on a street in Red Hook, Brooklyn. It’s plastered with overlapping stickers with various text and images. At the center is a rectangular sticker with all-caps white letters on a black background that reads, “TRANSPHOBES ARE SHITHEADS.”
November 27, 2025 at 3:17 PM
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
#DoorsDay
Happy Harvest Day from unceded Lenape land. I denounce this day’s historical whitewashing of genocide. But I’ll take today and every day as a chance to be grateful for life’s blessings, and a call to be kind and do better.

#nationaldayofmourning #photography #thanksgiving #brooklyn #nyc
Photo of a door at the top of a stoop in a brownstone building in Brooklyn, partly obscured by some branches with red berries in the foreground. The door has an arched top and decorative wood paneling. On the steps in front of it are a variety of large and small pumpkins. The image is in rich autumn tones of red, orange, and brown.
November 27, 2025 at 11:30 AM
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
Resharing for #DoorsDay and #FotoVorschlag - “Graffiti”

#photography #urbanphotography #streetphotography #door #graffiti #nyc
Photo of a high rectangular building entrance consisting of double doors with tall transom windows, framed in black and covered in graffiti. The doors have a grid of glass panels on their upper halves. The windows above are almost as tall as the doors themselves, and reflect the rows of windows of the building across the street (behind camera). The central window displays the number “23” in large red numerals. Text graffiti covers the lower doors and the narrow side panel to the right, as well as part of the upper windows; the text is mostly white with some red, though the most prominent graffiti is “Tomas” in large turquoise letters at the bottom of the doors. The doors are set in a light-colored building wall, with a handrail attached to the building wall at lower right.
November 27, 2025 at 11:00 AM
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
A giant #skeleton in my neighborhood, as seen on October 31 — and the day after. One version is, of course, a reminder of death and destruction; the other is a naked Halloween skeleton. #Unthanksgiving #NationalDayOfMourning

#photography #monochrome #halloween #thanksgiving #selectivecolor
Black and white photo of a giant Halloween skeleton in an apartment building’s front yard, appearing to reach out menacingly toward any passersby, a chain dangling from one wrist. It’s almost as tall as the tree behind it, which has a regular-sized skeleton draped over a lower branch. Photo of the same skeleton as the previous image, but dressed in a Pilgrim’s black hat and robes and holding an inflated balloon shaped like a turkey leg. The image is in black and white except for the brown turkey leg and the reddish ribbon around the hat.
November 26, 2025 at 11:26 PM
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
#FotoVorschlag
“Farbe: Schwarz-Weiss / Keine sw-Bilder!”
Color: Black and white / no bw photos

An overcast London sky, on a trip many years ago.

#photography #monochrome #monochromeincolor #trees #tree #silhouette
Silhouette of a tree with short, stubby branches against a moody, overcast sky with other trees in the background. To my eye it looks like a Joshua tree, though I took this photo in London which is not part of their natural habitat. The image is a full-color photo but is in a monochrome palette of black, white and gray.
November 26, 2025 at 3:26 PM
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
#FotoVorschlag
“Farbe: Schwarz-Weiss / Keine sw-Bilder!”
Color: Black and white / no bw photos

“I’M black and white! Look, look!”

My neighbor Merlin, excited for today’s theme.

#photography #cats #catsofbluesky
Photo of my cat neighbor Merlin sprawled on a floral-patterned carpet, tilting his head upside-down and showing off his belly. He has a white face with a black patch over his forehead and one eye, a black back and tail, and a white underside, legs, and paws.
November 26, 2025 at 12:28 PM
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
#FotoVorschlag
“Farbe: Schwarz-Weiss / Keine sw-Bilder!”
(Color: Black and white / no bw photos)

A display at the Metropolitan Museum’s recent exhibition “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.”

#photography #museum #metmuseum #exhibition #fashion #nyc
A display of three identical, dark-toned male mannequins wearing different designer outfits in white or cream hues, against a black curtained backdrop. The only spot of color is provided by the blue shoes worn by the mannequin on the far left. Part of the Metropolitan Museum’s exhibition “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” about the history and current expressions of Black dandyism. Designer info from left to right, from the museum placards: 1. Bianca Saunders Ensemble, autumn/ winter 2024-25 Shirt of white cotton plain weave, trousers of black wool-silk twill 2. Maximilian Davis Ensemble, spring/summer 2021 Top of white cotton poplin, trouser of white cotton drill 3. Ib Kamara Ensemble, spring/summer 2023 Sleeveless jacket and trousers of cream wool twill
November 26, 2025 at 11:14 AM
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
#FotoVorschlag
“Eisige Zeiten” (icy times) and a late entry for “Dinge mit Gesicht” (things with a face)

A photo from last winter that made me laugh. This grumpy car is clearly DONE with snow!

#photography #streetphotography #winter #wintervibes #snow #facesinthings #pareidolia #car #nyc
Photo of the front of a car parked on the side of a city street. It’s almost completely covered in a thin layer of snow, which contrasts with and highlights the windshield wipers, an indentation in the hood, and the front grill. These resemble facial features making a hilariously grumpy expression: the car seems to be glaring directly at the camera, with furrowed brows and gritted teeth.
November 25, 2025 at 11:53 PM
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
#AutumnVibes

#photography #urbanphotography #streetphotography #autumn #autumncolors #autumnleaves #brooklyn #nyc
Photo of a yellow traffic light at the end of a long extended metal arm, in front of trees with yellow-gold leaves. An apartment building rises above the leaves at right frame. The sky above is a pale blue with wispy clouds.
November 25, 2025 at 1:41 PM
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
#AutumnVibes
#TextureTuesday

#photography #plants #autumn #autumnleaves #autumncolors
Photo of large, heart-shaped hosta leaves in their autumn colors (yellow, orange, rust) drooping onto a brick pavement among other fallen dried leaves.
November 25, 2025 at 1:34 PM
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
#FotoVorschlag
“Eisige Zeiten” / Icy times

Central Park last January. It was so cold my fingers hurt from taking this shot.

#photography #urbanphotography #nyc #centralpark #winter #frozen #wintervibes
Photo of a large reflecting pool on an frigid winter day, its stone borders encrusted with snow, one of its corners stretching into the extreme foreground. Bits of debris lie scattered on its frozen blue surface, which reflects shadowy upside-down images of high-rise apartments in the background. The sky is a wintry blue with high wispy clouds, partly obscured by the silhouettes of leafless tree branches hanging down from top frame.
November 25, 2025 at 12:40 PM
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
#FotoVorschlag
“Dinge mit Gesicht”/ #FacesInThings

The Man in the #Moon. Most people see one particular face, but I’ve always tended to see a different one; I think the patterns created by the lunar “seas” allow for more than one possibility. Which face do you see?

#astrophotography #pareidolia
Photo of a waxing gibbous moon, nearly full, against a black sky. Crater details are visible, and the darker areas of the lunar maria create patterns that may resemble faces.
November 24, 2025 at 1:04 PM
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
#FotoVorschlag
“Dinge mit Gesicht” / Things with a face

Trinity Church in downtown Manhattan, looking shocked at the modern world.

#photography #urbanphotography #streetphotography #monochrome #blackandwhite #MonochromeMonday #architecture #nyc
Black and white photo of Trinity Church in NYC seen at a distance through a canyon of tall buildings, with pedestrians and street traffic in the foreground. The church steeple appears to be squeezed in by buildings on both sides, and the windows and a clock on its facade resemble a narrow face with an open-mouthed shocked expression.
November 24, 2025 at 10:15 AM
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
At my local mailing center, a little hometown pride.

#photography #nyc #brooklyn #art #stickers #stickerart
Photo of a collection of New York-themed stickers inside a cardboard box. Among the most notable: an illustration of a smiling bearded man in a suit and tie (Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani) under the text “Mam Daddy,” a heart-shaped sticker with a graphic of the Brooklyn Bridge, an illustrated cat lounging on a store shelf with the text “Bodega Baddie,” and a hand-drawn “I (Heart) NY” image with a smiley face on the heart.
November 23, 2025 at 2:07 PM
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
#FotoVorschlag
“CO2-Emission”

Wildfire smoke in Idaho.

#photography #minimalism #landscape #wildfire #smoke #haze
Photo of a conifer forest seen through wildfire smoke. The trees at bottom frame, closest to camera, are the clearest; subsequent “layers” of trees become more indistinct until they vanish into the haze. The tones are muted: a dark green for the nearer trees and an orange-tinged gray for the rest.
November 23, 2025 at 10:52 AM
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
#SilentSunday

#photography #streetphotography #nyc #color #colors #colorful
Photo of the interior of a New York subway train. A passenger — evidently a cotton candy vendor — sits and holds up a tall wooden staff covered with large transparent packets stuffed with cotton candy, in shades of yellow, blue, green, pink and purple. The packets hang down both sides of the stick and completely obscure the vendor except for one shoe and the hand holding the stick. Sunlight through the window behind the vendor (the train is traveling on a section aboveground) glows through the spaces between the stick and the packets, giving them the appearance of being lit from within.
November 23, 2025 at 10:23 AM
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
#Caturday + #FotoVorschlag
“Bad (Badezimmer? Schlecht?)” / Bad or bathroom

Max liked to sit in the bathtub and beg me to turn on the water, then immediately ran away when I did so; apparently that was bad? I could never figure it out. Crazy goofy cat.❤️

#photography #cats #catsofmastodon
Photo of Max the handsome gray tabby cat sitting in a bathtub, behind a patterned beige curtain and just under the spout, looking at the camera with plaintive eyes. No, you couldn’t resist that look either.
November 22, 2025 at 5:23 PM
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
#FotoVorschlag
Bathroom

A couple of years ago, some friends and I wandered into a glamping (“glamorous camping”) site on #GovernorsIsland, #NYC. Even though we hadn’t made reservations, I got to check out one of their tented private restrooms. Not quite “roughing it”!

#photography #camping
Photo of the interior of a tented private restroom on a high-end camping resort. A rustic wooden vanity unit with a porcelain sink sits against a standalone wooden wall, on which is mounted an oval mirror flanked by two lights in ornate holders. The floor is of narrow wooden strips, and the space is surrounded by light-colored tent canvas.
November 22, 2025 at 3:25 PM
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
#Caturday
Flashback to young Max with his big brother Sachi, whom he adored. Ever since we adopted Max he stuck to Sachi like glue, and poor Sachi grumpily tolerated it (though I know he loved him back).

#photography #cats #catsofbluesky
Photo of two cats sitting on the sill of a sunlit window: a young gray tabby with wide curious eyes and an older gray and white cat with a more disgruntled expression. In front of them is a side table with some clutter.
November 22, 2025 at 12:52 PM
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
#FotoVorschlag
“Bad (Badezimmer? Schlecht?)” / Bad or bathroom

Lyrics to a bad (good) song on the staircase to the bathroom at a pizza place in Columbus, Ohio.

#photography #stairs #staircase #rickastley #rickroll
Photo of a staircase of black wooden steps, flanked by a textured wall of stone blocks to the left and a banister wrapped in purple tinsel to the right. A yellow standalone caution sign sits at the top of the stairs. The lyrics to Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up” are printed in white all-caps letters on the steps, in ascending order: We're no strangers to love You know the rules and so do I A full commitment's what I'm thinkin' of You wouldn't get this from any other guy I just wanna tell you how I'm feeling Gotta make you understand Never gonna give you up Never gonna let you down Never gonna run around and desert you Never gonna make you cry Never gonna say goodbye Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you We've known each other for so long Your heart's been aching, but you're too shy to say it Inside, we both know what's been going on We know the game and we're gonna play it And if you ask me how I'm feeling Don't tell me you're too blind to see
November 22, 2025 at 12:17 PM
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
Resharing for #FotoVorschlag
“Bad (Badezimmer? Schlecht?)” / Bad or bathroom

A hidden bathroom door behind shelving at Diem Eatery in Brooklyn.

#photography #door #bathroom #restaurants
Photo of a wall of shelves full of pop culture knickknacks. Upon closer look, the shelves hide a closed door with an arched top. Cutaways in the shelf dividers allow the door to swing open. Photo of the same wall of shelves as the previous image, but with the door opening outwards and revealing the shelf cutaways more clearly.
November 22, 2025 at 11:37 AM
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
A cosmic bloom for #FlowerFriday. I’ve shared a cropped version of this before, but here’s a wider view.😊

#RosetteNebula #photography #astrophotography #bloomscrolling #nebula
Wide view of the Rosette Nebula, a vast gas cloud formation that evokes the petals of a blooming rose, against a field of stars. Data taken from the Amateur Astronomers Association’s Gateway Remote Telescope. Processed by me in Siril and GIMP with final edits in Snapseed.
November 21, 2025 at 2:03 PM
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
A time for reflection.

#autumnvibes #autumnleaves #photography #reflection
Photo of fallen gold-brown leaves (and a cigarette butt) on the surface of a rain puddle that reflects an upside-down image of tree branches and a curved streetlight against a gray sky.
November 21, 2025 at 1:53 PM
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
#AutumnVibes in Brooklyn. When the leaves start to fall, Justin Hayward’s “Forever Autumn” starts playing in my head…

#photography #streetphotography #autumn #autumnleaves #brooklyn #nyc
Photo of fallen gold-brown leaves scattered on a wide sidewalk on a residential street. Curbside trees line one side of the sidewalk while apartments behind iron gates line the other. The lens is at a low angle so that a couple of leaves are prominently in focus in the foreground, while the rest of the image is softly blurred.
November 21, 2025 at 1:47 PM