I know what you are thinking…I can just feel it. Why in the world is a nature photographer such as myself taking photos of the streets. Well if you aren’t thinking it I sure have been. Every photo in this post has been vetted from about a thousand during my stay here in NYC this past week and until now I really had no idea how to explain to the viewer what my criteria actually was. As I studied my two Instagram feeds, one dedicated to color and the other black and white, I feel a pattern started to emerge.
There it is. Do you see it?
New York City is one of the most interesting places to visit for me as a photographer. What I find fascinating is how an entire city can coexist with tourists.
When I embarked on my daily walk first thing in the morning, I equipped myself with a light hoodie and that was it. Later in the day it stormed. New Yorkers seem to be prepared for anything and everything as there was a particular group of New Yorkers who had umbrellas. How the heck?! Not only do some New Yorkers like to walk…they are highly prepared to walk.
During my limited observations coming out to the city year after year, I feel New Yorkers are hyper local, traditionally hanging around their little corner of the five boroughs. These residents typically ride bikes. Photographers, crank your shutter speed to high.
I had also overheard a local resident tell another that ‘New Yorkers are the best entertainers in the world.’ Such a true statement. New Yorkers display their livelihoods for everyone to see. I think its because residents have learned to ignore tourists.
New York City seems to function despite the chaos. It’s as if the residents feed off the tourists and visa versa. Photographers call this an energy or vibe. I just call what you see on the streets a sign of a healthy and vibrant community.
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