Hold the phone

Street photography has always been about capturing the fleeting, candid moments that define everyday life, and for me, there's been no camera that I've become more comfortable with than the iPhone. Since the original iPhone 2G was released, I’ve been using it to document life around me—on sidewalks, subways, and city corners. Its discreet design and ever-improving camera capabilities have allowed me to shoot spontaneously without drawing too much attention, which can be helpful when you’re trying to capture genuine, unposed scenes.

New York City is an endless source of inspiration. There's a raw honesty in the way life plays out on its streets—unfiltered, unpredictable, beautifully chaotic. Using an iPhone allows me to remain almost invisible, which is essential for capturing those unguarded, fleeting moments that define good street photography. There’s a kind of intimacy that emerges when people don’t realize they’re being photographed, and the iPhone's discreet form lets me blend in with the crowd without drawing attention to myself or the act of shooting.

My true passion lies in black and white street photography. I’m drawn to the timelessness of monochrome—the way it highlights contrast, form, and emotion. Stripping away color forces the viewer to focus on the composition and the story. There’s a certain elegance and honesty in black and white that I’ve always gravitated toward. My edits tend to accentuate shadows, texture, and depth, turning the ordinary into something quietly cinematic.

The works of Lee Friedlander, Garry Winogrand, and so many other legends have been truly inspirational in the way I see the world through a len—or a phone. Their ability to capture everyday life with humor, poignancy, and a deep sense of humanity continues to inspire my approach. I study their work not to mimic it, but to absorb the ethos—the philosophy behind the frame. As they do/did, I also find myself chasing that balance between chaos and order, that perfect slice of unscripted reality. True slices of life that pass us by on the street and, oftentimes, go without notice.

Over the years, I’ve watched mobile photography evolve alongside the iPhone itself. Each generation has brought sharper sensors, better dynamic range, and new tools that make it even easier to create compelling images. But for me, it’s not about the specs. It’s still about being present, walking with curiosity, and keeping my eyes open. Whether I'm in Manhattan or a small town , the iPhone remains my go-to—not because it's the most powerful camera, but because it's always with me, ready when the moment reveals itself.