I don’t usually focus on a specific group of people when I shoot. Most of my work doesn’t follow a narrative—it’s more about moments, textures, movement. But with the Jewish communities in Brooklyn, especially in Williamsburg and Borough Park, I made an exception.
Capturing a timeless photograph is already a tall order. But finding people who look timeless? That’s a rarity these days. Compared to the glass-and-grind pace of Midtown Manhattan, Brooklyn’s Jewish neighborhoods are a gold mine for classic imagery.
The men wear fedoras, hoiche hats, and platchige biber hats. The women walk by in elegant headscarves and vintage-style heels. Their clothing carries tradition, not trend. And that visual language gives you more to work with as a photographer.
An afternoon in Williamsburg will often yield more usable photographs than a month spent wandering Midtown. Not because the light’s better. Not because the buildings are prettier. But because the people—unknowingly—carry the kind of style that lasts.
If you’re looking to shoot with a timeless eye, skip Midtown. Go to Brooklyn. And while you’re at it, stop by Oneg Heimishe Bakery. The babka’s as rich as the photo ops.
