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Fighting Bad Guys in Berlin,' this has to be one of the best tote bags ever. This portrait was taken on one of my more recent trips to Europe. I have been visiting Berlin since about 2000, and it just never disappoints. The people, the fashion, and the energy keep me coming back.

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.

 

One of my favorite cities to photograph would be Berlin, and also one that I have been going to since I was very young. On a recent trip, I took this image of two ladies who were part of a hen party in Berlin, and the cowboy hats and moustaches were perfect for this quick candid moment.

This particular image captures four waiters ready to serve at a resturant in Geneva, Switzerland. Its them all with different expressions that just gets me everytime.

I took one of my favorite recent street shots at a street parade in Queens, New York. The lady looked like she had stepped straight out of a time machine into another dimension—a parallel universe to everything else going on around me at the parade.

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.

One of my favorite images is this one, taken in Paris. I was sitting in a cafe when this gentleman walked past me, all dressed up and looking like he had just come out of a time machine. I dropped everything, ran out of the cafe, and, doing my best, asked him in French if I could take his picture. The man kindly obliged, and it's still one of my favorite portraits today.

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.

2018 was probably one of my favorite snowstorms in recent memory in New York City which led to this image. A store clerk from the fashion brand Thom Browne came outside for a quick selfie, and I was able to take this image with my Leica SL2 with a 28-90 Elmarit lens.

Image taken during a heavy snowstorm on 5th Avenue, New York City. This is a favorite of mine for its timeless feel. It was taken on the Leica SL with a 28-90mm Elmarit F2.8-4. I used to use this setup for snowstorms with a rain cover, but now I've opted for the S lenses.

Early morning on 9th Avenue during a snowstorm in New York City. It's that one time that I find the city is in a tranquil state, and I can tune everything out and focus purely on capturing the city that I love. I find you can capture images that have a timeless quality, and the elements often make the advertising boards and distractions in the background fall away into the distance.

This particular image was taken on probably the best weather day I have ever seen in New York. I was teaching a class for Leica Akademie USA that day, and we all lucked out. That morning alone we had multiple competition winners. The image was taken under the FDR Drive on the lower east side of Manhattan, New York.

 

 

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