Photographer Lawrence Wilkes roams New York City with a mission to capture stories, moments and fleeting interactions that best depict life in NYC. Lawrence is retired and considers himself a hobbyist when it comes to photography, but his eye for composition and storytelling through his photos shows a serious talent that Flickr members have enjoyed for years.
photo credit: Cliff Hausner
Lawrence says he’s always had a point and shoot in hand. Reflecting on his journey with photography he says, “I’ve been retired for over a decade. I bought a camera just to give myself something to do. Photography has always interested me and it was something that I could do alone in weather, fair or fowl. Lately, I’ve been having a lot of fun with street portraiture. Approaching strangers, engaging them in conversation and requesting a photograph is an art in itself, but like photography, the more I do it, the easier it gets. On rare occasions I’ll discover eyes that truly invite me in. Some people possess eyes that hold a kaleidoscope of stories. “
While much of his current Flickr Photostream may be considered street photography, when asked about his style he insists that he lacks style. Lawrence explains further, “I’m devoid of style. I’m aware my lack of style can be frustrating for some. Followers come and go faster than Macy’s shoppers on Christmas Eve, but finding interesting people and moments is challenging enough. Creating a style is vital for someone who wants to work professionally. For me, it’s just a hobby so it doesn’t concern me. I just want to hold New York City in my hand one image at a time. I want to see New York in the faces I photograph. Each picture is a piece to a puzzle I’ll never complete.“
While New York City is his photo shoot location of choice, what ultimately brings his attention to a certain spot is the people. Lawrence finds museums to be a great place to achieve that balance of interesting subjects and great lighting. He says, “I spend more time looking at the people than the art, but I can’t help but think the art is informing my photography. I’m drawn to solitary figures, so it isn’t surprising how attracted I am to Edward Hopper’s paintings. I’m lucky to live in New York. There are so many terrific places to observe people. “
When it comes down to gear, Nikon is his go to. Gear has come and gone but ultimately, Lawrence says, “I bought a Z9 when it came out in 2022. By then I had a sense of what I was doing and what I wanted in a photograph, so I only accompanied it with one Z lens, the 50 1.8. That’s it. That’s my baby. That’s my kit. I don’t need anything else to create the photographs that make me the happiest. I suppose I should mention I keep a Leica Q2 in my bag as well, but it’s collecting dust. I’ve never had the patience to learn how to fill a 28mm frame intelligently. “
The Crosswalk
We asked Lawrence to choose one of his favorite photos and this shot captured near a crosswalk in NYC is the winner. Lawrence describes the photo and the story behind it.
“It’s just a photograph of a woman standing at a crosswalk. It’s the first photo I had taken where everything clicked (excuse the pun). She’s dressed in black and white, standing crossed-legged in a black and white crosswalk… just perfect. She casts a nice shadow and the other shoes in the image are black and white as well. The crosswalk stripes contrast well with the curve of the sidewalk and the manhole cover. The whole scene just amused me. Discovering moments like that is not my strong point so I was truly pleased that I saw all the elements and was able to capture it. It’s so simple, but it still makes me smile.”
“When I first noticed her stance,” Lawrence says, “I wasn’t quick enough to get the photograph, so I continued to walk behind her. Five blocks later she stopped at a light and crossed her legs again and I got the image I was hoping for…urban harmony.”
Lawrence isn’t just snapping beautifully composed NYC pics, for many years he was a distance runner. He participated in the New York City Marathon several times until an injury brought that to an end. Lawrence quips, “I traded in my Nikes for a Nikon. I’m still able to walk for hours on end which is essential for street photography. I have to put in the time to produce any results that satisfy me.” Lawrence is also an avid collector of movie and theater memorabilia. He’s built his large collection over the last 50 years leaving his photos in much competition for wall space in his home.
Lawrence has been a Flickr member since 2014. He enjoys sharing photos to Flickr and says, “It’s a supportive community. It’s well organized. It’s easy to find others who pursue the same genre. Perusing their work inspires me and keeps me motivated. I love that Flickr offers the ability to create albums. If someone appreciates a photograph I made in the subway, they can go to that album and find all my subway photographs in one place without having to scroll through my entire gallery.”
If you enjoy beautifully composed images that capture life in the city, Lawrence’s Flickr site is not to be missed. If you’ve been to New York City, you may find your experiences in the city mirrored in his Flickr Photostream. And if you’ve never been, taking a scroll through his site will bring NYC to you.
If you want to check out more of Lawrence’s work you can give his site a follow here! And for more stories behind his photography check out his Human’s of New York interview.
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