Andrew J. Lederer

Brooklyn as Dream:
Delicate, pink, cherry blossoms in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, filling the air, falling on children, lovers and -- sprawled across the grass -- a bombastic blonde, fully dressed in the manner of a pre-hippie,'60s actress or model, looking like a classically-imagined stewardess in civilian clothes.

Brooklyn as Medieval Nightmare:
The healthy-looking, dead rat sprawled across the blacktop by the laundromat, looking ready for a photo shoot, a drop of something -- maybe blood -- not far from his head.

The sweet counter girl at Dunkin Donuts with her misshaped, darkened lip.

The delicate, pink, cherry blossoms in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden falling on Chassidic boys with Down's Syndrome.