New York Street Diaries is an impressive coffee table book for all the fans of the Big Apple. Phil Penman shows the big city on the east coast of the USA from a side that is rarely seen, calm and tranquil. The pictures were taken partly during the great snowstorm and partly during the Corona Lockdown and are thus contemporary witnesses of the pandemic restrictions that completely turned our previously-known world upside down. Born in Great Britain (Poole, Dorset), he has been photographing the streets of New York for well over two decades. He is known, among other things, for his photographs of famous personalities such as Michael Jackson, Madonna, Jennifer Lopez or Bill Gates. When the biggest tragedy in New York’s history shook the city on 11 September 2001, Phil Penman was on the spot and created unique footage of the events with his camera.

Penman knows how to capture the city in its most sensitive moments in an impressive way. He catches intimate moments in his black-and-white photographs and shows the people and streets of New York City far away from the hustle and bustle. The city life of the metropolis is presented so closely that some pictures inevitably evoke a smile in the viewer. Penman literally catapults his viewer into the scene with a refreshing directness and the feeling of really being present.

 

UK-born, NY-based photographer Phil Penman has documented the rapid flux of New York City’s streets for over 25 years. With clients ranging from People Magazine to The Daily Telegraph, he has photographed living legends including Jennifer Lopez and Bill Gates, and captured historical moments such as the September 11th Terrorist Attacks. Penman’s distinctive style, versatility, and dedication to his craft have won him prestigious awards and exhibitions, and a distinction as one of the “52 Most Influential Street Photographers”.