10/06/2024
New York, USA
My personal journey into overlooked spaces, where the walls carry decades of stories
The idea for Timeless Alleyways emerged while wandering through the backstreets of New York. I found myself drawn to the narrow passages and shadowed alleyways, places where the history of the city felt tangible. These spaces aren’t the landmarks or tourist attractions you’ll find on a map, but they hold an undeniable charm—places where life unfolds in quiet moments, and the walls bear the marks of countless footsteps over the years. As I explored these alleyways, I realized they were not just part of the city’s infrastructure; they were living, breathing entities with stories to tell.
One of the core elements of this project is the use of analog film photography. There’s something deeply fitting about capturing these timeless places on film. Just as these alleyways have remained untouched by the fast-moving world, the process of shooting on film mirrors that same sense of patience, intention, and permanence. Film forces me to slow down, to observe, and to be selective in what I capture. Every frame becomes an act of preservation, a way of honoring the stillness and history of these streets. The grain, the texture, and the imperfections of analog film bring out the raw, authentic character of these places in a way that digital simply cannot replicate.
Throughout the project, I focused on capturing the subtle details—the worn cobblestones that have been shaped by centuries of footsteps, the faded signs that once advertised local businesses, the shadows cast by laundry lines stretched across narrow alleyways.
These details, often unnoticed by the rush of daily life, hold a certain kind of beauty. They are remnants of a slower time, a time when life moved at a different pace, and the streets themselves seemed to breathe with the rhythm of the people who lived there. Through my lens, I aimed to freeze these moments and allow them to live on in a world where everything else is constantly changing.
As I journeyed deeper into this project, I realized that Timeless Alleyways wasn’t just about the physical spaces, but also about the people who inhabit them. The alleyways I photographed are home to many—shopkeepers opening their doors for another day of business, elderly residents watching the world go by from their doorsteps, children playing in the streets as their parents chat nearby. The human element is as much a part of these streets as the bricks and mortar. In capturing these quiet, everyday moments, I wanted to showcase the delicate interplay between the spaces and the lives that give them meaning.
Another aspect of this project that deeply resonated with me was the sense of nostalgia and memory that these alleyways evoke. Walking through them, I couldn’t help but think about all the lives that have passed through these spaces over the years.
Each alleyway feels like a portal to the past, a reminder of what the city once was before modernization transformed its landscape. In many ways, Timeless Alleyways is a love letter to these forgotten places, a celebration of the city’s history, and an acknowledgment that these spaces still have something to offer in the present day.
One of the most striking realizations I had during this project was that these alleyways, while seemingly forgotten, are still very much alive. They aren’t relics of a bygone era; they are integral to the fabric of the city. They connect neighborhoods, provide refuge from the hustle and bustle of main streets, and serve as quiet retreats for those looking to escape the chaos of city life. In Timeless Alleyways, I sought to capture that duality—these places may be quiet and unassuming, but they are filled with life and history, and their presence continues to shape the urban landscape.
