© Matt Weber
© Matt Weber
Times Sq. 2010
© Matt Weber
Photographing NYC for 25 years, six of them while driving a New York City taxi. Trying very hard to capture the city as life unfolds, meaning I never stage any of my photos! Also I am a close confidant of the immortal Dave Beckerman, (quintessential NYC photographer) and owner of the first photography blog in the known universe. View all posts by Matt Weber
Black and White Street Photographs of New York City by Matt Weber
So Matt…how do you feel about Times Square being converted into an outdoor shopping mall?
I’m not a fan. The energy seems stagnant. Times Square should have that hustle and bustle city feeling.
Yes, but I’m even more upset about Coney Island’s gentrification…The Times Sq. situation is something which I’ve gotten use to. In many ways everything is over…They won. Money has become the only thing. The warning signs ($3 coffee)were there, but no one could stop it. Ballgame over…literally (S2,500 Yankee tickets to a regular season game, reduced to $1,250…What a bargain) I use to go bowling at Times Sq. lanes in ’78…75¢ a game…Now $14 for ten frames…It’s over!
Hey Matt, here’s a technical question if you don’t mind. Are you still favoring 800iso films? If so, are you using a ND filter of any kind to open up your apertures when shooting in daylight? Thanks!
Only because I’ve never experienced Times Square’s heyday of the 70’s and 80’s am I willing to “accept” it’s gentrification. But I’ve been visiting over the last 7 years and the closing of streets so pedestrians can sit in LAWN CHAIRS just goes against everything New York is…at least in my mind. If you want to relax, walk a few blocks north and plant yourself in Central Park. 🙂
I can’t imagine having lived there all my life and experiencing the changes first-hand. I’m both envious and frustrated for you. 🙂
Surprisingly the lawn chairs haven’t totally screwed up traffic in Times Sq. The bike lanes have had a much worse effect from what I’ve seen. It does suck, but as I’ve said before, having to always keep one eye open to avoid being robbed, wasn’t that great either…
Nick, I have always loved fast film because I can shoot under ALL conditions 24 hours a day…