This black-and-white photograph was taken on Broadway in New York, exactly at that time of day when the light can be harsh, honest and unexpectedly beautiful. As the city bustles around us, this portrait captures a quiet, almost sculptural moment. The young woman stands half in sunlight, half in shadow, adding emphasis to her features and creating an intriguing play between light, texture and contrast.
What immediately struck me was how the direct sunlight seemed to cut her face in two: one side brightly lit, the other softly sunk in shadow. This gives the image a raw, timeless look, almost cinematic. It is a style that lends itself perfectly to black and white, as all distractions disappear and form, emotion and light play the main role.
The background - a typical New York street full of details - remains deliberately out of focus and functions as a backdrop that enhances its presence, without dominating. This creates a photograph in which the energy of the city remains palpable, yet the moment feels almost intimate.
For me, this image is an ode to chance encounters, to the power of direct daylight, and to the beauty created when someone pauses for a moment in the midst of Manhattan's hustle and bustle.
Sjoerd Lammers
The Netherlands
Olympus OM-D + iPhone/Hipstamatic
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