The last cigar

Until about a month ago there was a cigar shop on West Broadway in Soho that always had a group of customers outside enjoying cigars, which made it a great place to take photos. Now it seems to be closed, though the last couple of times I've walked past, there are still a few cigar smokers outside. It feels like the end of an era.

Interrupted

Back after a long break. I interrupted this guy doing something on his phone and asked if I could take a photo. Maybe I should have asked him to move his hands out of the frame, but this way I captured the moment more authentically. I really like the texture of the wall behind him.

Portrait

A portrait from last year. Now that the weather is improving I'm getting back street photography, it looks like this is going to be a good year for outdoor portraits.

Portrait

Admiral

On a street corner in Athens. I took a shot from a distance and he noticed me, we got to talking and I asked for a portrait.

Portrait

Park portrait

I hadn't really planned on taking a portrait photograph of this gentleman but he noticed me sneaking a photograph from a distance, so I ended up with a genuine portrait.

Portrait

Waiting at the corner

I saw this guy standing at a street corner and he looked like he was waiting for someone, so I asked him if he'd mind having his portrait taken. I take horizontal portraits that often,  but here the "vintage Soho" backdrop called out for it.

Alphabet City

A few months back I posted a photo of this guy repairing a motorized bicycle. Here's a more conventional portrait, with bicycle of course.

Group portrait

I was taking a photo of something else under a bridge in Central Park when this group of kids told me I should take a photo of them, they posed pretty well!

East Village portrait

Just around the corner from the Hells Angels headquarters. They're pretty quiet neighbours, apparently.

Impromptu

A while ago I went on a photowalk that stopped by a small public garden in the East Village. While everybody else was photographing the garden I zeroed in on this gentleman and asked, "Do you mind if I take your photo?".

Skateboarder

The fighter

I saw this guy waiting outside a restaurant in the meatpacking district on a Friday afternoon. I asked him if he was a local and he said he was from California, visiting New York on business. I asked what kind of business and he said, "I'm a fighter".

Indoor portrait

One night only

A guitarist I saw performing on the sidewalk in Soho. The circles in the shop window are an unexpected bonus!

The pedestal

When you see a guy sitting this way on a pedestal, you have to ask him if he'd mind having his photograph taken.

Veteran

I saw this gentleman relaxing on a sidewalk bench and struck up a conversation with him, he said that he was 82 years old and he had joined the Navy when he was 16. He's a local and he lives just across the street, but the neighbourhood has changed a lot, he said. I can believe it.

Glico man

A stranger hanging out on Ebisu-bashi in Osaka, next to a famous local landmark.