New York street photography
I lived in New York for several years while attending NYU for my undergraduate degree. To me, New York is a place of contradictions- the destitute and the super rich share the same sidewalks, subway cars and public spaces. This diversity in proximity allows for life to be more rich, more unpredictable and more spontaneous. While living here, I feel in love with street photography that captured these spontaneous moments of everyday life in the city. In these photographs, architecture is the backdrop and the users are the subject.
New York has cleaned up considerably in the past 30 years (so I hear) but there is a still something messy about it which I think people love. Rather than living in a series of clean, controlled, isolated spaces, you are exposed to real life, real people and urban spontaneity. This city wasn't designed in a few months from a computer screen; it is the product of time and sharing the same island with millions of people. No other American city is like New York and shouldn't be, but we as designers and planners can take lessons from it and from almost every other place in the world. The number one lesson I have observed in New York and other great cities is: there is no chance for an urban life when everyone is dependent on a car and public transport isn't an option.
Below are a few photographs of New York street life by Bruce Davidson who photographed New York City subways and Garry Winogrand who photographed the city during the middle of the 20th century:
New York has cleaned up considerably in the past 30 years (so I hear) but there is a still something messy about it which I think people love. Rather than living in a series of clean, controlled, isolated spaces, you are exposed to real life, real people and urban spontaneity. This city wasn't designed in a few months from a computer screen; it is the product of time and sharing the same island with millions of people. No other American city is like New York and shouldn't be, but we as designers and planners can take lessons from it and from almost every other place in the world. The number one lesson I have observed in New York and other great cities is: there is no chance for an urban life when everyone is dependent on a car and public transport isn't an option.
Below are a few photographs of New York street life by Bruce Davidson who photographed New York City subways and Garry Winogrand who photographed the city during the middle of the 20th century:
I absolutely enjoy such photographs that capture the essence of life.
ReplyDeleteAt the same time, I don't understand the obsession of architectural magazines to avoid any person in their photographs. The dream to have surreal spaces is still very prominent but I personally don't agree to it.
New York was the first big city I visited in the States and i agree with you that the fact i could have fun walking and using public transport for going everywhere made the experience more fulfilling.
ReplyDeletePublic transit is a super unique mixing-chamber of every kid of person and way of life imaginable. It is almost as if the playing field is leveled for the brief amount of time between entering and exiting the subway station. Doesn't matter if you are an investment banker or a bodega owner, you both experience the same station. When you get back to ground level, you go your separate ways.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on the fact that social life with an urban structure that relies 100% on car is very bad. Miami is a good example of this, where people move from bubble to bubble and never interact with other people. From your house (that the elevator takes you straight to your door) to your car to your work. Where are people supposed to interact if there is no moment to do it on their every day life?
ReplyDeleteI agree that using car the only way of transporting, to a certain extent, isolates the urban life. People always look out from a car to another and get off only when there is a purpose. This will loss interpersonal occasion.
ReplyDelete