5th Avenue

The New York City 5th Avenue Easter Day Parade is always a highlight for most photographers. It sometimes feels like there are more photographers than participants! This past year offered up some truly amazing opportunities for great images. One particular lady caught my eye as she was completely monochromatic, providing a stunning, focused subject amidst the vibrant chaos.

A Photographer's Dream

I strongly encourage you to attend next year. It’s a fantastic venue to learn and practice people's portraits and to quickly gain confidence in engaging with strangers. The atmosphere is unique: almost everyone there is dressed up, in a festive mood, and actively wants their picture taken. They are more than happy to pose, making it an ideal, low-pressure environment for refining your approach, composition, and interpersonal skills.

If you are looking to build your portfolio with unique, character-driven images, or just want to overcome the fear of asking people for a portrait, this parade is an unmissable annual event.

See you there next year!

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."

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.