Times Square late on a Friday afternoon. K-9 Rowland

Time Square late on a Friday afternoon is where the story begins for me this coming year. The transition of people leaving at the end of a work day seems to weave itself into a larger crowd of theater goers, locals, and tourists as they pour in. Saint Patrick’s Day this year fell on a Sunday, with the parade happening on Saturday. Friday night brought out a larger crowd because of the parade. Walking into a sea of color there was a comfort in knowing I had no specific place to be as that night I was staying in town to cover the next days event. Turning off of 42nd Street I was greeted by the sight of tourists extending their arms as high as they could, while smiling towards selfie sticks, trying to capture the essence of Time Square on the small screen of a cell phone.
Nothing can possibly capture the brightness of standing in Times Square. It’s as flashy as a circus moving in an never ending wave of color, constantly shifting, flowing, and draping itself around you, above you, and finally enveloping you. It’s beautiful and gaudy all at the same time. Welcoming and yet you know when it’s time to go and find a quieter place. I’ve always allowed myself 10 to 15 minutes of Time Square if I’m not going to a show or dinner and that night I wasn’t there for a show or dinner.
What brought me there was looking to photograph the dogs that serve. Late on a busy Friday afternoon I knew somewhere in this crowd was a K-9 unit quietly but vigilantly patrolling the area. No sooner had I thought that than I laid eyes on an on duty officer with his K-9 partner and for ten minutes I took photographs of this wonderful K-9 unit in Times Square.
Officer Schmidt and K-9 Rowland are a unit of one working together to keep New York City safe.
Thank you Officer Schmidt and K-9 Rowland for the work you do.