My southern eye of New York

As a young adult from Atlanta, GA, moving to New York City was both exciting and overwhelming. I had spent my entire life in the comfort of home—surrounded by family, familiarity, and a slower pace. Suddenly, I found myself alone in one of the biggest, fastest cities in the world. I was homesick, isolated, and searching for something to ground me. In an effort to lift my spirits, my mother sent me an old Canon Rebel G 35mm film camera. I had never shot on film before and had no idea what I was doing—but that camera quickly became a bridge between me and the world around me. Film photography became my way of making sense of New York, of connecting with its people, and of learning its rhythms. This collection was captured entirely on the cheapest 35mm film rolls I could find across the city. Each frame represents a moment of discovery, a step toward belonging. These photos allowed me to see and be seen, to slow down and observe the everyday lives unfolding around me. More than anything, this body of work reflects how I—a young Southern Black man—saw the people of New York. It’s a personal visual diary, shaped by distance, curiosity, and the quiet search for connection in a city that often moves too fast to notice.