Lower East Side, New York City Possibly 1963 - 2006

William Carter made this photograph, Lower East Side, New York City, sometime in the mid-20th century, and what strikes me is the tonal range, the blacks and grays, like a charcoal drawing made by light. It really leans into the gritty feeling of the city, the textures of the brick, the grainy shadows. You know, photography is never neutral; it’s always someone’s point of view, their choices about light and shadow. Look at how the light falls on the bricks around the windows. See how Carter captures the rough texture and the way the peeling paint seems almost sculptural? And how that contrasts with the kids climbing all over the fire escape? This detail really makes the image for me - this one kid hanging off the edge with a toy gun. Is he threatening or just playing? It’s a moment of pure, unscripted life. I'm reminded of Helen Levitt, another photographer who captured street life in New York. Like her, Carter finds poetry in the everyday. It's a reminder that art isn't just in galleries; it’s everywhere, in every moment if we’re open to seeing it.