My Love Affair with Coney Island
I can’t remember the first time I went to Coney Island, but I fell in love with it right away. This was back in the 80s, it was run-down, like much of New York City at the time, a much different than it is today. It felt local, almost abandoned, as many people were hesitant to go there—and maybe rightfully so. The boardwalk was run down, the amusement park rides looked like they had seen better days and yet, it still had a pulse.
Something about Coney Island kept drawing me back. It wasn’t polished or trendy, and it didn’t try to be. It was a place where the city’s toughness and resilience felt almost tangible, it was the energy of New York—gritty and unfiltered.
Despite all the struggles New York faced at the time—crime, crack, and a city in financial turmoil—there was a raw beauty in places like Coney Island. For me, the 80s in New York were some of the most memorable years of my life, and Coney Island is a big part of that.
Black and white photographs of Coney Island New York from the years 2008 -2024.
A Story to be Told
I want to document not just the place but the people who make it what it is. The vendors selling trinkets, the locals sitting on benches chatting the day away, the crowded beach on hot summer days, kids playing in the surf, the Sideshow, the Carnival Games, there’s so much happening all around you. The faces, the interactions, the small moments that play out between strangers—these are things that intrigue me and keep me me going back. There is no off season at Coney Island, I go whether it’s summer, winter, or a dreary, rainy day.
Over the years, I’ve taken thousands of photos there, starting with black-and-white film in the 80s, which I hope to begin digitizing this year. Black and white has always felt like the right vibe for Coney Island—it strips away distractions and leaves you with the essence of the moment, the contrast between light and shadow, an honest expression and emotion. Recently, I’ve diligently worked digitally, editing over 2,000 images down to 120 for these galleries that I feel represent the spirit of the place. It’s always been about the people for me. Photography, in a way, is my way of acknowledging them—capturing a glimpse of their personality, their presence, their existence in that fleeting moment.
Black and white photographs of Coney Island New York from the years 2008 -2024.
Inspiring so many
When I am out shooting and see somebody or something that compels me to take that photo, I want to take that photo and share the experience with others. I think how will anyone know these people, these places, the way they were in that exact moment? Am I able to impart the feelings or emotion that made me take the photo? Will what impacted me have the same effect on others? It’s not just about getting a “good shot”; it’s about connection. The connection between me and the subject and then you and the photograph. It’s about preserving something before it disappears, about seeing people who might otherwise go unnoticed. Coney Island inspires me in this way.
These black-and-white images, spanning from 2008 to recent years, are grouped into manageable galleries, and I hope they convey the essence of Coney Island and the people who make it what it is. It’s a place that has changed over the decades, but for me, its soul remains the same. It’s still a place of resilience, of stories waiting to be told, of fleeting moments worth capturing before they’re gone.
Visit the Galleries
Gallery One Gallery Two Gallery Three Gallery Four Gallery Five Gallery Six