New York

Chinatown is always a go to in New York ! Never a moment goes where you don't see something interesting. This particular day was no different.

The New York Comic Con convention is always a highlight of the year. For a few glorious days, thousands of people, expertly dressed up as everything from the living dead to characters wielding massive chainsaws, stroll the streets.

 

They walk shoulder-to-shoulder with oblivious tourists and people in business suits rushing to work. It's the ultimate, chaotic juxtaposition—a street photographer's dream and nightmare all rolled into one!

 

This year, I was fortunate enough to be teaching a class during the convention. My students got a front-row seat to this spectacular display, a truly unique eyeful of NYC that they won't soon forget. Hopefully, they captured some once-in-a-lifetime pictures that serve as a vibrant reminder of this collision between fantasy and reality.

 

The sheer spectacle of a fully costumed Stormtrooper ordering a hot dog, or a group of superheroes waiting patiently at a traffic light, offers an unparalleled opportunity to practice candid street photography and environmental portraiture. The city's daily grind suddenly becomes the ultimate, dramatic backdrop for the world's greatest cosplay.

Every year, typically for a precious week in mid-October , a magnificent event occurs: the setting sun aligns perfectly with the eastern-facing windows of Grand Central Terminal's main concourse. This phenomenon, which I eagerly anticipate, bathes the entire hall in a dramatic, incandescent glow, transforming the vast space into a temporary, golden cathedral.

 

It offers an unparalleled opportunity for photographers to capture a truly iconic image of this architectural masterpiece. 

 

The window of opportunity is incredibly brief, often lasting only 30 minutes or less, making the event a thrilling, high-stakes challenge. The critical factor, of course, is the weather; a single overcast day means months of waiting for the sun's position to realign.

 

I was determined to make the most of this year's alignment. Here is one of my latest efforts, where I experimented with slower shutter speed techniques. The goal was to contrast the timeless, monumental granite architecture with the hurried blur of commuters, allowing the flow of human movement to become a ghost-like abstraction within the enduring golden light. I hope the results capture the ephemeral magic of that moment.

One of the great things about Central Park and Bethesda Fountain is that it attracts people from all over. I think if you stayed there for a week, you would see most of the tourists in New York City. It also lends itself well to photographic opportunities, not only because of the great location but also because of the people who come and perform there. This particular lady was teaching dancing outside to a small group. The shapes she was making with the flow of her body to the music were fantastic against the city skyline.

Image taken yesterday whilst trawling the streets of Manhattan. Got chatting with this gentlemen and his friends.

Thank you to everyone who attended this past weekend's Leica Akademie Street Photography Masterclass in New York. The experience of meeting and teaching such a talented group was deeply rewarding.

 

We spent the weekend exploring the vibrant life of NYC, and there’s no better place to practice than on 5th Avenue, where the city’s pulse is strongest. It was inspiring to see each of you approach the challenge of 'the decisive moment' with such focus and creativity.

 

The image shared here captures just a fraction of the energy we found. I hope you left the masterclass feeling energized and equipped with new tools for your photography. I wish everyone continued success and the best of luck in their photographic journeys."

Now would you buy a hot dog from this stand even on a snowy night ?

I woke up to photograph the early morning party-goers as they made their way home from a night of drinking on Halloween. Watching a man dressed in stockings as he lay strung out on the uncomfortable benches of the Staten Island Ferry.

 

I thought this would be enough, but then I saw Our Lady peering up through the early morning fog.

It pays to be out at 3 a.m.

When you’re out there, you're looking for the raw essence. Most people are trying to blend in, to get past the next corner. But then you find the others. The ones who stand out. You see them, and you know immediately: they are the picture.

 

The gentleman with the extraordinary fashion—that’s the whole point. He’s the one who decided the rules don't apply, who is visually screaming his own story without saying a word. That’s the 'Think Different' you’re talking about, right there on the pavement. That quote from Jobs wasn't about a computer; it was a hymn to the rebels and the misfits.

 

I shoot people like that because they have heart. They have courage. They make the work worth doing. You walk up, you pay them respect with the lens, and you get a glimpse behind the curtain. That moment, when they allow you into their space—that is the whole reason we leave the house.

 

It’s less about the photography, , and more about who you will meet and what you will see. The camera just makes it possible. It gives you the shot, but the street gives you the story.

 

The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York is a place I regularly visit for inspiration. I find great value in studying artists I admire, such as Piet Mondrian, Jackson Pollock, and old masters like J.M.W. Turner. Their work has consistently influenced my photography, and the museum itself is an incredible subject to capture.

 

Many of the great photographers I admire, including Elliot Erwitt, have expertly photographed museum-goers interacting with famous works of art. On this particular visit, however, the museum's architecture became my primary focus. The building's design, with its incredible shafts of light landing on the walls, created its own unique work of art.

Recently had the pleasure of seeing the exhibition "Constellation" by Diane Arbus. The image is a friend, Andreas from Leica Zurich, walking past one of Arbus's prints.

 

The show was so refreshing to see. Images that on today's social media would be completely destroyed and Diane Arbus cancelled were being enjoyed by so many people. It gave me faith and reinforced the fact that most of the images we are taking are not for today, but for 20 years from now.

 

The amazing portraits of the people she met deserve to be in our history books too.

It was a deeply emotional moment. I came across thousands of police officers lining the entire length of 5th Avenue, from St. Patrick's Cathedral to 42nd Street, to honor two fallen officers, Jason Rivera and Wilbert Mora. They were shot during a domestic abuse incident in Harlem.

That morning, it was snowing. As the motorcade approached me, I had a quick idea: I lowered my camera to slow the shutter speed, hoping to capture the light trails passing by as the officers' bodies were carried past me.

For a brief second, you sometimes get stopped in your tracks. This is exactly what happened while out teaching a workshop one night. I turned around and saw a dog literally staring in a window at a toy dog. The classic phrase, 'How much is that doggie in the window?' instantly came to mind.

 

I quickly grabbed my camera and took this shot, knowing very well it would be gone in a second.

An Emotional Departure

 

This image captures the naval ship US Comfort as it departed from New York in 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 lockdown. The photograph is part of a multi-year project documenting the profound impact of the pandemic on New York City and its residents.

Taken from Weehawken, New Jersey, the image documents a moment filled with deep emotion. The departure of the ship, which had been a symbol of hope and a critical resource during the city's struggle with the virus, resonated strongly with everyone who witnessed it. Its leaving marked a poignant turning point for a city that was just beginning to grasp the full scope of the crisis.

Gone but not forgotten. I will never truly understand the magnitude of how big that day was. It changed my life forever. To read a full account of my day and to see all the pictures you can read it here

 

 

 

 

The photo was taken at the Jazz Age Lawn Party, which is this super popular 1920s-themed festival on Governors Island. It's not a regular jazz festival—it's more like a time machine where everyone dresses up in flapper dresses and suits, and you can listen to a live orchestra, have a picnic, and just soak up the vintage vibes. It’s a great place for people-watching and, as it turns out, taking incredible portraits.

 

 

I took this particular shot  using the Leica 50mm f/1.4 Summilux. This isn't just a regular camera lens; it's a bit of a legend. Was fun to experiment with and I would say the main advantage is having the ability to do close up focus. 

I'm thrilled to announce my new book, Phil Penman - Street Scenes, is out now! Published by teNeues, this book is a culmination of my work capturing the raw, gritty and those candid moments that I'm so drawn to from around the World.

 

Purchase Here