Nick Cunningham

After moving to New York City in 2013, I spent much of my free time wandering the city with no particular destination in mind. Before I ever began photographing, I was fascinated by its many distinct neighborhoods, each with its own mix of people, architecture, and character. As I explored, I found myself slowing down and paying closer attention to scenes that are easy to overlook amid the pace of everyday life.



A few years later, I began experimenting with a camera as a way to deepen the experience. Photography pushed me to look even more closely, but also presented a new challenge: New York looks and feels familiar to most people. For millions, that familiarity comes from living here, while others have come to know the city from afar through films, television, and countless photographs. Over time, I became increasingly motivated to look beyond what sits directly in front of me at eye level, searching for unexpected ways of seeing what others might simply walk past.

That pursuit drives my approach to photography, which to me is like putting together the pieces of a visual puzzle. I begin by wandering the streets until something stops me in my tracks, which is often as simple as a patch of light, a puddle in the gutter, or a busy street corner. From there, I look for ways to transform the familiar through reflections or unconventional angles, overlapping parts of the scene to create layers, or using objects around me to create a new frame within it. Once the composition begins to take shape, I patiently wait for the right people or moment to bring the remaining pieces into place.

Through this process, the city itself remains the central subject of my work, but one I am constantly looking to reimagine in new and unexpected ways. The satisfaction of seeing the puzzle come together keeps me searching for the next one.