Matt Weber (Street photography), homeless, Kids & Teens, Subway

Jessica 2006

Jessica lived across the street from me, if you consider sleeping in a cardboard box, living. She was a teenage crack addict and the stainless steel of the the subway was probably the closest thing to a mirror she had. The last time I saw her she was being arrested on Broadway and it seemed that she had been caught shoplifting. Hopefully she has found some help and made a comeback, but she was in a really bad way…

All Photos © Matt Weber

Matt Weber (Street photography), homeless, Old New York

West Park Church 2009

God bless the developers. They have purchased the right to develop this church. Fortunately they have installed brand new bars to prevent this horrible spectacle from ever being seen again. Maybe they will build a new community center because that’s basically what the church was before laying dormant for the past five years. The developers were of course hoping to raze the church and replace it with a “beautiful” glass tower with a separate entrance for the section 8 eyesores, who would occupy the lower floors. I’m not religious but this church did a lot more than preach the gospel. When it seemed that AIDS was spreading like the plague, this church was busy making sure that those too sick to leave their apartments were still fed. My daughter played in the Pre-K programs they offered. The church is actually the largest brownstone in Manhattan, and maybe New York. Built in 1890 it is crumbling and needs attention (money) to preserve its details. Maybe I’m being too optimistic, but I think an angel of the human variety will save it at the last moment…

All Photos © Matt Weber

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

Central Park Zoo 1967

This might be the first photograph I ever took. There were none taken in ’66…I like that this image has a dark foreboding vibe to it. I also like that this was Winogrand’s world that I may have taken my first picture in! I came here often with my grandma, and I’m sure that on one of those sunny days, Garry was clicking away while I shoved peanuts down this poor guy’s trunk…

All Photos © Matt Weber

Matt Weber (Street photography), Cars & Buses

“To Catch a Stinking Bus” 2008

While watching the “Bus”people scampering towards their destiny, I was forced to ingest a lifetime’s worth of diesel fumes. I’d beg the drivers to shut off their engines, but they were scared that they wouldn’t start again, and rarely complied with my wishes. Of course I was often sitting on my stoop with a Montecristo in my mouth, so I guess I couldn’t expect much sympathy…

All Photos © Matt Weber