Matt Weber (Street photography), homeless, Kids & Teens, Old New York

Brooklyn 1990

As I continue to search my older negatives, the overall feeling I get from the New York of twenty years ago is pretty depressing. This might be one of the better portraits I’ve done. It’s a sad one. Not as bad as the images we’ve all seen from third world countries, but this is New York and a twelve year old boy shouldn’t be out late at night training to become a squeegee man…

 

Street Photography © Matt Weber

Matt Weber (Street photography), Old New York, Urban Landscape

Lower East Side 1989

I was thrilled to find this image. It think it was taken on East Houston Street. This view of late Nineteenth century housing is probably very different today. If the buildings are still standing, there would be a few air conditioners in the windows. Over half of the tenants who were living here would have been replaced with upscale and much younger ones. They were known as “Yuppies” back in the day….

 

Ah the good old days!

 

Street Photography © Matt Weber

Matt Weber (Street photography), Old New York, signs, Urban Landscape

“We Love You” 1989

Yesterday I watched the Gay Pride parade and felt proud to be a New Yorker. Andrew Cuomo, like his dad Mario, has turned out to be a decent man. This bill allowing same sex marriage, has made a lot of people angry. The “keyboard warriors” have come out and many are furious. I enjoy how little anti gay bias I’ve seen on Facebook. I’m sure many of the keyboard warriors who post under aliases at other sites, are aware of how bad they would look on Facebook, posting their hateful comments under their own names…

Such spineless bastards!

Street Photography © Matt Weber

Matt Weber (Street photography), Kids & Teens, Old New York

“My Stoop” 1989

I get nostalgic for my old stoop. Stoops are great for chilling and swilling cold brews during the summer. (Guiliani did put a dent in that activity by putting the cops on “Zero Tolerance”)

In the morning this stoop was great for people watching. All the suits and secretaries would run with such serious expressions on their mugs, as they tried to catch the 8:55 crosstown bus.

Late at night, I could smoke a nice Cubano and not have to worry about yuppy neighbors squalking constantly about the stench.

Yes, stoops were also perfect for the great American past time of girl watching.

The stoop was also a place where every now and then, I’d take a photograph worth printing. This one always pleased me…

 

© Matt Weber

Matt Weber (Street photography), Old New York, signs, Times Square

“Howard Johnson’s” Times Square 1988

As I continue to search for images which I may have overlooked twenty years ago, I am constantly coming across some pleasant surprises. This sign was an iconic part of Times Sq. for several decades. Once again, I do have a master printer who has kindly offered to print my work at a reasonable price. Archival Pigment Prints of most of the images on this website, can be purchased. Just e-mail me for a quote…Thanks!

Street Photography © Matt Weber