The Breaks

Photographs by Gus Powell 11/20/2017Updated 11/5/2018

To Gus Powell, the City’s “timing, momentum and veiled tenderness” set it apart from everywhere else. He trains his lens on street-level flow. People go about their business, navigating city sidewalks and crosswalks. They are frequently, purposefully, headed in opposite directions. Downtown Brooklyn may be a central business district, but it radiates personality and swagger to Powell, recalling the 1980s-era city of the native New Yorker’s adolescence. The storefronts of Queens’ Jackson Heights pop with color; the light in its train station offers what he calls a “theatrical quality,” setting a stage for commuters. Influenced by street photographer Joel Meyerowitz and absurdist filmmaker Jacques Tatis, Powell picks compositional moments according to an almost naturalistic rhythm: “It’s like watching the waves at the beach—you start to know where the breaks are most promising.” See which ones he captured in this gallery. —Andrew Rosenberg

Newsletter

What's good in NYC? From coverage of the latest attractions in the five boroughs to deals on Broadway show tickets, incredible cuisine and more, our emails will make sure you never miss a thing.

*Email