Trying Street Photography in NYC
On the New Year’s Eve, I had an opportunity to try street photography for the first time in the heart of New York City. Daddy’s friend, Michael, who is a professional photographer and educator, kindly took us on a photo walk around Midtown Manhattan, starting near Bryant Park and ending at Grand Central Station. It was an eye-opening experience and I learned so much about this fast-paced and dynamic genre of photography.
Given how quick things happen on the streets, Michael lent me one of his auto-focus digital cameras for the day, a Nikon D850. He explained that street photography often involves capturing fleeting moments, so having the ability to shoot quickly without worrying about running out of film was ideal for a beginner like me. He also anticipated that I would be a bit shy about pointing my camera at strangers, so he gave me an 85mm lens to use. This was a great suggestion because it allowed me to keep a comfortable distance from my subjects while still capturing close-up shots.
Our walk started in Bryant Park, a lively spot in the middle of Midtown. To my surprise and excitement, we ran into none other than the legendary street photographer Louis Mendes! He was standing on the corner of Bryant Park, holding his iconic Graflex Speed Graphic camera from the 1950s, which he has famously used throughout his entire career. He was so kind and welcoming, especially when he noticed that I was learning photography. He even took a Polaroid photo of us using his Graflex camera! Louis was excited to see young people interested in photography, and he happily posed for me to take several portrait shots of him holding his beloved camera. It was such an inspiring moment to meet someone so passionate about his craft, and I’ll always treasure those photos.
As we continued walking east along 42nd Street toward Grand Central, I practiced taking photos of street vendors, tourists, and the everyday hustle and bustle of New York life. At first, I was worried that people would feel annoyed or uncomfortable seeing me take their photos, but to my surprise, most of them were incredibly friendly! Some even smiled and posed for me, and a few invited me to come closer and show them the photos I had taken. It was such a warm and unexpected experience, and I began to feel more confident about capturing candid moments.
When we reached Grand Central Terminal, I was absolutely blown away by its beauty and energy. The terminal is such a special place, where commuters are rushing to their next destinations while tourists take their time marveling at the grandeur of this historical landmark. The combination of its majestic architecture and lively atmosphere made it a photographer’s dream. Michael taught me a special technique here: using a very slow shutter speed to blur the motion of moving people while keeping static objects, like the iconic Grand Central clock, perfectly sharp. This created such an interesting effect that felt like it symbolized the passage of time – a busy world in constant motion, grounded by timeless stillness. I couldn’t stop experimenting with this technique, and it quickly became my favorite part of the day.
This photo walk was my first time trying both street photography and an 85mm lens, and it felt completely different from the style I’m used to. Usually, I shoot with a slow, manually focused film camera and a 35mm wide-angle lens, which feels more relaxed and deliberate. But street photography is so fast-paced, spontaneous, and unpredictable. At first, it felt a bit intimidating and overwhelming, but by the end of the day, I realized how exciting and rewarding it can be. I also learned how different tools, like an 85mm lens, can shape the way I see and capture the world.
This experience helped me appreciate the wide variety of genres in photography and reminded me how much there is to explore and learn. Meeting Louis Mendes, interacting with strangers on the street, and experimenting with new techniques all made this day memorable. I can’t wait to try new styles of photography and keep pushing myself to discover new ways of seeing the world through my lens.
