⚪ Wolken im Eimer und... ein
Lieblingsfoto.
🟤 Clouds in a bucket and... a
favorite photo. 🌤️
📷 by Artist: #EricKogan in Loc: #NewYork USA 🇺🇸 - Title: untitled- #Art #Streetart #PhotoArt #Fotografie #Photography #Streetphotography #Bird #Mirror #Clouds #Artist ➡️ #APhotoLove

Creatures, People and Places

#EricKogan #photography
https://www.erickogan.com/

🌞 MOIN, Ihr Schmunzler*innen ☀️😁
🔴 Eric fotografiert Alltagssituationen auf eine charmante Weise und erschafft so, die kleinen Geschichten, die uns lächeln lassen. 👀
🔴 Eric photographs everyday situations in a charming way, creating the little stories that make us smile.👀
➡️ Artist: #EricKogan #NewYork USA 🇺🇸
Website: https://ogy.de/309a
Insta: https://ogy.de/y0ue
☕ #Streetart #Mastoart #Art #BuonGiorno #Bonjour #GutenMorgen #GoodMorning ☕

Photographer Spots His Doppelganger in a John Lennon Poster

When I first saw the photograph, I was a bit confused. One was Beatle John Lennon because his name was written in bold, but who was the other similar-looking person?

Well, it’s New York photographer Eric Kogan who is often traveling by foot in Manhattan. He loves street photography as it engages him with his surroundings, and he can see something new even in mundane or familiar places.

On the afternoon of October 25, 2020, Kogan was running errands. John Lennon was not on his mind at all when he dressed up to leave his house. New York was on a COVID-19 lockdown and how he looked or dressed was not of any concern.

At Houston Street near West Broadway in Manhattan, an intersection he passed very frequently, Kogan suddenly stopped in his tracks and did a double-take. Oh, yes, it was John Lennon, but…why does Lennon suddenly look so familiar? Of course, he spotted a resemblance for the first time!

“Seeing his portrait made me take a step back and have a good look at myself,” remembers Kogan of that day over a year ago. “I was alone at the time–which was good because I don’t think I would’ve embraced the moment as much as I did if I were in company–and it made me remove my mask to study my face.

“It felt like years had passed since I saw myself from the side and looked at my profile, and what began as a quick and funny coincidence grew into a tedious image to get right. I took it from many angles before arriving at the one you see here.”

It was taken with his phone with his arm extended to keep this versatile camera out of the frame.

“Most of my street photography happens with a camera and a 35mm lens, but the focal length proved to be too narrow this time, so composing on another device felt like a new and engaging experience,” explains Kogan. “It was tricky because he was so large, printed at least 25X larger than life-size. Standing near it would dwarf me, so I fought to find the perfect distance where, thanks to the illusion of foreshortening, we appeared to be equal in scale.”

And so, a very uniquely interesting self-portrait or a double portrait was born!

Eric Kogan was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1985 and lives in New York City. Kogan’s first experience with photography came in his early teens with a position at a photography lab. His first duty was processing film. He recalls his first time working in absolute darkness as a light turning on in his head as the one in the room went off. Getting creative with the medium didn’t start until college. In 2004, a fine art photography course brought him back into a darkroom.

About the author : Phil Mistry is a photographer and teacher based in Atlanta, GA. He started one of the first digital camera classes in New York City at The International Center of Photography in the 90s. He was the director and teacher for Sony/Popular Photography magazine’s Digital Days Workshops. You can reach him here.

Image credit: Photograph by Eric Kogan

#news #spotlight #coincidence #doppelganger #erickogan #howitwasshot #philmistry #selfie #selfportrait #storybehindthephoto #streetphotography

Photographer Spots Curious Coincidences on New York City Sidewalks

Eric Kogan is a New York City-based street photographer who has a brilliant eye for seeing clever and humorous compositions when everyday things come together in unexpected ways.

Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1985, Kogan was first exposed to the world of photography when he took on a film processing position at a photography lab in his early teens. It wasn't until college in 2004, however, that he began getting creative with photos after taking a fine art photography course.

These days, Kogan's main occupation is in event design while photography is his side passion.

"This industry doesn’t really have set hours -- it’s more of a lifestyle -- which gives me a lot of room to do street photography, and the vast majority of my photos were taken while heading to meetings, commuting to venues, walking around districts, searching for flowers, fabrics, and props," Kogan tells PetaPixel.

Kogan has now spent over a decade slowly collecting curious moments on camera, and what has resulted is an inspiring portfolio of whimsical street photos.

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated Kogan's work by giving him more time to dedicate to his photography, and it also broadened his horizons in terms of where he roamed.

"The most desolate places pulled me. Not because they were more socially distant but because they were a stage for some of the most random sights the city had to offer," the photographer tells Colossal. "I loved heading out in one direction only and not turning until having no more street to follow behind."

Gear-wise, Kogan uses a minimalist kit that lends itself to his patient style of working.

"I use a digital rangefinder system," Kogan says. "What I love is how simple it is, offering only the essentials, and what little functions it does, performs them flawlessly.

"I have only one camera body, one lens, and one battery. After so many years this setup has proven to be extremely efficient."

You can find more of Kogan's work on his website and Instagram.

#inspiration #spotlight #erickogan #newyorkcity #nyc #streetphotographer #streetphotography