During my coverage of the Covid 19 Pandemic in New York City I’ve been concentrating on the lack of social interaction, emptiness of the Streets and just how it is affecting our daily lives. It has become clear walking around just how much we need people and interaction. We currently live in a time where street signs are placed around public parks telling us we must social distance at least 6ft apart, homeless roam the streets and subway trains, and people line up for hours to pick up their groceries.
This particular image was shot on 5th Avenue on a very rainy foggy day, I chose to go out on this day because I wanted the weather to define my backdrop and add drama. A lot of my work is defined by the backdrop and the weather to set the stage. I then choose which areas I want to cover based on this.
For this day I wanted to shoot in midtown New York and concentrate on capturing iconic locations and how the impact of Covid 19 has affected them. Boarded up Boutiques, and streets where once car horns honked and people rushed around. This has now been replaced with an emptiness with only the sounds of the birds chirping to keep you company. You can almost hear your heart beat.
This particular image was shot with my Leica SL with a 90 -280mm long lens attached to compact the image. I used the tall buildings which I feel for effect to frame the image and then used the small silhouettes of people crossing the road to add scale. The image was edited in both color and black and white but after much debate I chose to go with black and white for its vintage qualities. I feel it will last the test of time better this way.
Very limited work was done during the edit as I prefer to let the elements of the weather dictate the way the image will look. I do prefer to go a little bit darker and then, if anything, dodge and burn the elements of the image that I want to have your eye drawn to. For this image it would be the road, so that the silhouettes stand out more.
When shooting the image a security guard with a mask walked past and stopped to glance at me. He watched as I stood in the middle of 5th Avenue for minutes without a car pass by. We both exchanged a look, realizing what we were both witnessing. When were we ever likely to see New York like this ever again, or more importantly , want to see again !
What do you think are the TWO most impactful features that make your image a good photograph? Don’t be shy!
That’s for the viewer to decide. I learnt a long time ago that art is in the eye of the beholder. I shoot images I like and if they resonate with people then I’m glad, but just because one person says an image is great only means it is great to them.
If you would be able to make this photo once again, what would be the ONE thing you would like to do better or different?
The image would have been better if the buses were not there, but at the same time it would not be reality. Some I know would photoshop the buses out. This is of no interest to me, I either got the shot or I did not.
Phil Penman shared his photograph in the FRAMES Facebook Group.
Photographer
Phil Penman, USA
Equipment and Settings
Leica SL + Leica Apo Vario Elmarit-SL 90-280mm/2.8-4.0
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Raj Sarkat
April 15, 2020 at 11:38
Wonderful documentation the effect of Covid-19 on New York City. Fantastic write up and image.
Phil Penman
April 15, 2020 at 12:30
Many thanks Raj . Greatly appreciated
Rob Jenkins
April 15, 2020 at 14:54
After the diminutive figures crossing the street, my eyes drifted up to the lone bird in the sky, which feels to me a reclamation of the city by nature. Excellent image.
Lisa Hanley
April 16, 2020 at 14:31
Looking at the silent Street into Misty dew of the unknown leaving you wondering where your headed
Dennis Stierer
April 17, 2020 at 14:45
This is a wonderful image. It has the feeling of desolation of man and the hope of the bird flying. I have seen many images of isolation, but this one tops the list. The black and white adds to the drama.
Hani Dabbagh
April 17, 2020 at 16:40
Very evocative. Well done.
Adrian Hill
April 17, 2020 at 17:41
Lovely work. The tones are superb as is your composition. Fine Art photography for sure.
Strephon Duckering
April 22, 2020 at 11:42
A very beautiful image, in my opinion. I love the recounting of the interaction with the security guard and the extraordinary lack of traffic. It lends the image a valuable context.
Rivki Locker
April 22, 2020 at 14:48
Beautiful image. The tall buildings create a feeling of scale and make me feel the people are small and even unimportant. A very evocative image.
Bill Matlock
April 22, 2020 at 22:25
Gonna try my best not to came across as a fanboy but after looking at the 5th. Avenue shot, I went to your website and was just blown away with the style and quality of your work. You commented on photoshopping the busses out of the shot. I got curious, did a quick and dirty edit taking them out and felt it was six of one, half a dozen of the other. I also took out a few, and I mean just a few, of the lights/signage on the sides and felt this added something of value.