Matt Weber "New New York", (Street photography), Color, Coney Island, Kids & Teens, Women of New York

Summer of ’14

**Coney-Surf-Teen-Beauty-Happy-2014 copyThis might be my favorite summer snap from 2014. I just read that Arthur Leipzig had died and he spent some time shooting Coney Island before I was born. I have  many books from the photographers who worked New York back in the days of the Photo League, and I hope that some of my work contains a tiny essence of their spirit…

Good quick read on Mr. Leipzig in the Times.

Matt Weber "New New York", (Street photography), Coney Island

Coney Island 2014

Coney-Black-family-matt-weberOn 9/11 I photographed the final tower’s collapse with my 200mm lens. I never picked the lens up again. I don’t know why this happened, but I have only used two lenses, a 28 & a 35mm since then. The old saying “If you your photos aren’t good enough, you weren’t close enough” sometimes has some truth to it, but you can get too close and that can be bad as well. I think we live in a time where experts, and so called experts can’t shut the fuck up! It is very tiring to read all of the so called rules which are now available everywhere, online and in print. By far the worst is “How to become a fearless street photographer” Every soldier knows that some fear is necessary for self preservation and when on the street, being fearless can get one into trouble but quick.

The only advice I would give, and I won’t charge anyone a penny, is shoot what you want, when you want, but use some common sense! That’s what it’s there for…