April | 2016 | Edwin Roman

Recently, I had a conversation with a friend about photography and experiencing the moment. I mentioned that when I visited San Diego in 2014, I went whale watching and did not take a single photograph. I did take photographs around San Diego, but wanted to experience the whales without distraction — it was something I always wanted to do, see whales on the Pacific. In this conversation, I also noted that I regretted being so restrained with my film camera in the 1980’s and 1990’s (stemming from the fact that I did not have much money to spare) because there are places in New York City I would have loved to have captured during that time, not unlike the way in which one of my favorite living street photographers, Matt Weber, did. While I may not have photographs, I remember these places as they once existed and carry them in my heart like the whales of San Diego. Still, I would have loved to share them with the world today. Interestingly, sometimes, I’ll see a photograph by Weber and think, “Wow, I could have easily been in that shot.” Or, “I wish I had taken that shot.” Painfully, the photographs that I did take were lost during a move.

Now I have a digital camera and am significantly less judicious about turning my shutter loose. I have decided that to make the distinction between photography and experiencing the moment, I will capture the life and scenes from everyday life. There is a New York that is being lost and it should be captured. In the spirit of everyday New York City life, I present to you some rainy day pictures of my beloved home town.