Portraits in Passing

Philip-Lorca diCorcia is known for his powerful street portraits that look like scenes from a movie. In his Heads series, he photographed random people walking through Times Square using hidden flashes, turning ordinary moments into dramatic, emotional portraits—without the people even knowing they were being photographed. One man sued him for using his photo without permission, but the court sided with diCorcia, saying that art is protected by free speech. This was an important win for street photographers, showing that capturing real life in public spaces can be both legal and artistic.

It’s far from diCorcia’s level, but this is my take on photographing New Yorkers in passing.