I have lived in New York City my entire life (just over five decades). I've briefly lived and travelled in other countries and cities, but always felt the magnetic pull to return to the city of my birth. It's both painful and comforting. I think anyone who lives here understands that sentiment. It is not an easy place to live but the rewards are endless. Each day when I leave my apartment, my eyes are on high alert, constantly darting around the streets, looking for "the moments" ; constantly in search of "the light" and if I'm lucky, combining it with texture, and even better, an emotional or psychological component.
To be honest, I shoot mostly with my phone. I'm a professional photographer and always have a camera with me, but I use it for assignments and it feels cumbersome when I am on the street. I love the freedom of the phone and the flexibility it allows. I also love that it shows me angles that are not exactly at my eye. Sometimes this creates an image that I would not have seen otherwise, nor been able to make with a traditional viewfinder.
