Manhattan - Light and Dark

An outsider’s view on a city that never will mean the same to two people talking about it, focused on distance and connection, stillness and chaos.

“At least the version that found me, somewhere between myth and reality.” - Alex Winkler

Made during two months in Manhattan in 2025.

Steam rising from a Manhattan street at night under streetlights
Steam rising from a Manhattan street at night under streetlights
Man bent over carrying large plastic bags on a busy street
Man bent over carrying large plastic bags on a busy street
Two women dancing together in the street, skirts swirling
Two women dancing together in the street, skirts swirling
Woman with short dark hair and a nose ring holding a cigarette
Crowd of men gathered around chess games in a city park
Older man in glasses at a cluttered workbench
Older man in glasses at a cluttered workbench
Man in a suit with a cloth over his head standing beside a city bus
Man in a suit with a cloth over his head standing beside a city bus
Woman dancing with her arms raised on the street, a man beside her
a superman cosplayer posing with his fists to his waist
a superman cosplayer posing with his fists to his waist
a woman in a trenchcoat looking at the camera, half her face dissolves into the light
an old man feeding pigeons, with two pigeons on his arms
Woman pulling on a jacket in front of the World Trade Center and a mural
Man in a bowler hat with hands behind his back facing a passing bus
a person on the phone crossing in front of a statue
Dog in a wheeled harness walked along a park path
FIREFIGHTER AT NIGHT SHIFT
Young man playing a grand piano in a station hall
Close-up of the eye of a bronze bull
a mid aged woman handing out flyers looking for someone
a mid aged woman handing out flyers looking for someone
Blonde woman in a white shirt dress crouching on the sidewalk, holding a bag
Construction fence beneath an American flag and dramatic clouds
a man sitting at a bar with his cat, looking seriously at the cat, the cat looking at the camera
person in poncho, with suitcase and an umbrella, crossing the street by night, while it is raining
Woman in a dark top leaning against a wall in a dim corridor
Smiling man in a pale suit and tie
German shepherd blurred in motion among pedestrians' legs
Woman in a black dress leaning on a taxi at night
two men sitting far apart, facing an artificial waterfall
Man in a hat smoking in a dark doorway
Uniformed officer adjusting his jacket among other officers
a couple walking on the streets by night, sharing an umbrella
Tattooed hand holding a can, a watch on the wrist
Two young men in leather jackets in a bar, one holding a cigarette
Double exposure of guitarists playing, blurred in motion
Man laughing with his mouth wide open among raised hands
Woman in a striped top eating ice cream beside people at a counter
People outside the Gramercy Theatre, a woman looking into the camera
Figure blurred in motion before a shuttered storefront
Woman in a cowboy hat seated in a booth beneath a Willie Nelson poster
Person with long hair and a cap, a cigarette in the mouth, at night
Older man in a cap and glasses holding a long tube beside a monument
Young man in a patched leather jacket leaning on a subway platform pillar
Young man in a cowboy hat with his arm in a sling outside a diner
Older woman in a bandana and cardigan
Man at a long bar beneath rows of bottles
Young woman with long dark hair in a denim jacket in front of a bus
Young woman with long blonde hair holding earphones on a street at night
Man in a patterned shirt seated in a dim bar
Long shadows of pedestrians cast across a sunlit sidewalk
Uniformed officer adjusting his jacket among other officers
Chrysler Building lit at night above a stone eagle on a building facade
Cyclist riding through an intersection at night beneath a streetlight
Man in a cowboy hat painting the Manhattan skyline on an easel by the river
Young man covering his face beside a stop sign at night

Messages from Manhattan

Two uniformed FDNY officers on the street, one adjusting his jacket 
The Chief

“Face the storm; if you try to outrun it, it will catch up with you anyway.”

Manhattan, 11th of September 2025 after the firefighter memorial speech

Elderly man in a suit holding an American flag 
Jeffrey

“When the towers came down I knew the old New York is dying, I asked myself if I will see the dust settle or if I will be going down with it.”

Manhattan, 11th of the September 2025
Three men in caps and bandanas laughing together
Elderly man in a cowboy hat and a jacket covered in patches 
Joe (former search specialist)

“I’m here to honour the fallen and drink with the survivors”

Manhattan, 2025
Elderly man in a cap and overalls seated on a doorstep 
Roberto monticello (the mayor of meatpacking), documentary filmmaker

“Life gets really boring when no one wants you buried.”

Manhattan, 2025
Man in glasses holding two magnifying lenses up to his face 
Paul (Casertta eyes)

“The eye never sleeps.”

Manhattan, 2025
Older man in a rolled-sleeve shirt looking into the camera, a city street behind 
Will rhymes (Photographer and Alex Winkler's first editor)

“Never waste a step, a word, or an opportunity”

Manhattan, 2025
Woman with short hair standing against a white wall, hand to her face 
Alice Omalley (photographer, professor at Icp)

“For the love of God, who I don’t believe in (after reading the news).”

Manhattan, 2025
Young man seated with his hands clasped, looking into the camera 
tyron, Subqoute from his aunt Cassandra

“Get your shit together while you can.”

Manhattan, 2025
Smiling man in a zip jacket inside a shop 
MichAEl: Air Force veteran

“Getting wounded in a war is terrible; getting wounded during so-called times of peace is worse.”

Manhattan, 2025
Man in a white shirt and tie behind a bar 
JAke (Actor and bartender)

“I love living and time travelling in this town.”

Manhattan, 2025
Man in a cowboy hat, glasses and denim jacket in front of a clothing rack 
MAson

“Gravity is your friend, it tells you whether you are falling or flying.”

Manhattan, 2025
Bearded man in sunglasses seated under an umbrella, holding a cane 
J. Eric Cook

“We are living art.”

Manhattan, 2025
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