Matt Weber (Street photography), homeless

NYC 1986

Old image of the city which seemed to be on the verge of disaster. The city of today is different yet also makes me feel nervous. You have all the wealthy people who not only survived the ’80s but thrived, and in the past two years, a whole new population of people holding empty coffee cups trying to “Live” in one of Manhattan’s most desirable neighborhoods. Watching happy dads and their kids walking by the homeless with $200 Christmas trees, has always left me feeling terrible…Same as it ever was.

All Photos © Matt Weber

Matt Weber (Street photography), Coney Island, Urban Landscape

Brooklyn 2010

Well, if I’ve taken any pictures more picturesque or “postcardesque” lately, I’m unaware of them. This is one of those pictures which we could take back into the film vs. digital debate. I’d say the quality of film is fairly obvious, and you might reply that you could sample my grain and import it into your own image. That would almost be as lame as a rapper who can’t sing or play any instruments, sampling some Led Zeppelin (Who stole plenty of riffs and licks from other bands) and importing it into his song…

All Photos © Matt Weber

Matt Weber (Street photography), Fights & Playfights, Old New York

“Snow Brawl” 1988

I like looking at old work. I find stuff which I have no memory of at all. This was obviously taken on Central Park West. Snow was always a great treat for me when I was driving a cab. The people were grateful to get a ride, and the city was a winter wonderland. Late at night was great as there were very few other motorists on the streets. That’s why these guys could rumble in the middle of the avenue without fear of being run over…

 

All Photos © Matt Weber

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

Columbus Ave. 2006

All of us “Eisenhower Babies” are getting old. Soon we’ll be like him. This guy probably served in WW II and now has to navigate through a gauntlet of punks just to go shopping. How do I know they are punks? Every third word that they utter is NIGGER. Most of them aren’t even black and it’s their favorite word by miles. I know that I didn’t grow up in Washington Heights where many of them live, but 40 years ago, this neighborhood wasn’t the yuppy filled place that is now. We knew enough about history not to throw around the “N” word…I’d hope that gangster culture as attractive as it for the young ones of today, gives way to a more peaceful and less angry attitude…

All Photos © Matt Weber