New York City in Black & White
I documented the streets and people of New York City, my quintessential experience and relationship with the city, my acquaintance with the people on the streets, the warmth and intimacy I felt, the beauty and innate humanity of the city, a glimpse of the socioeconomic culture, and the overall Manhattan madness. I lived in New York City from 2011 to 2015, and thereafter I visited the city a few times. During the time I stayed in NYC, I walked on the streets for hours and roamed in the parks. I strolled through popular destinations and unusual places to get connected with the city. And I took many photos of the New Yorkers on the street.
New York City is immense and spectacular. For the very first moment, it grasps you with all its radiance and adumbration, swirling lights, and blending shadows. But over time, I have seen a melancholy side to it. Even after all this hustle and bustle, sometimes I felt empty and lonely. I took photos of the people on the streets, activities, cityscapes at the golden hour, and pretty much everything that intrigued me. I followed my instinct; I shot what I truly felt and whatever fascinated me deeply.
Photographing NYC Streets and People
Gradually, I felt the spirit of the city, immersed in the chaotic rhythm, witnessed how men and women interact and mingle on the street, saw the utmost desire to unleash oneself, and felt the throbbing with possibilities. And I believe New Yorkers are more progressive than anyone else in the world. I was comfortable approaching people and photographing them in the streets. The people of New York City are enlightened in art, media, blogging, and photographic projects. I love simplicity, directness, and intimacy, and I photographed people on the streets the same way.
New York City has a balanced mix of modern skyscrapers and medieval architecture, and that gives it a nostalgic and contemporary look and feel. I wonder about the charismatic energy and vibrancy it has. The entire city is like a fairground—charming, fashionable, intimate, accessible, and always in a mood of celebration. I found New Yorkers to be friendly, open-minded, and exuberant. I chose to go closer, interact with them like a friend, and spend some time photographing them. At times, I kept myself away and witnessed them from a distance, trying to relate their emotional and social context to my own.
New York City streets have the perfect setting for street photography; they are the world’s most evocative cityscape, against which candid and memorable moments play themselves out every day, from low life to high energy. Here on the streets, one story relates to another, like the intertwined avenues and streets. Even though they are all united by the same mood of the city and floating together on the wave, each person is distinct from the other.
