“One belongs to New York instantly, one belongs to it as much in five minutes as in five years.” –Tom Wolfe

Last week I was organizing some of my old photo folders and I stumbled upon some shots I took in Manhattan. Even though I had yet to become an architectural photographer, I remember wishing I could stay and shoot every single building in New York City. It is the antithesis of Los Angeles: dense, soaring, pulsing with an unapologetic sense of urgency. It may not be my home, but it certainly feels like somewhere I belong.

I thought it was interesting to go back and see how far I’d come. Most of these were shot with the Leica M6 I was using at the time.

 

Water towers across the Upper West Side.

 

The Apthorp condominium building at 78th & Broadway, built for William Waldorf Astor in 1908.

 

Looking across the Lower East Side at the not-yet-complete 76-story ‘8 Spruce Street’ by Frank Gehry.

 

Waiting for the F Train.

 

Looking down on Midtown Manhattan.

 

Looking down Broadway from Canal Street at the incredible Woolworth Building.