New York without the filter: Striking photos of street life at its best reveal why NYC really is the coolest city on the planet
- Ruben Natal-San Miguel's poignant photo series focuses on street culture across the city
- He has spent the past 14 years capturing dozens of striking images in Brooklyn, Harlem and other areas
- His exhibition 'Street Life: A New York City Vanishing Act' is on view through October 3 at Soho Photo
A New York City photographer has been desperately trying to capture the street life he knows and loves in New York before new developments, technologies and trends erase it forever.
Ruben Natal-San Miguel has already taken thousands of striking images - with the best ones going on show in a new exhibition.
'I want to capture all the vibrant, unique life on the streets of New York,' Natal-San Miguel told DNAinfo.
'The interesting character of many neighborhoods is disappearing, or being displaced — but it's that interesting street life that I love and that I'm passionate about showing.'
Extra large radio: The image above titled 'Radio Man' shows a man holding an old-school styled radio while smoking a cigarette
Fun in the sun: Ruben Natal-San Miguel captured the image above titled 'Marcy's Playground' in the Bed-Stuy Brooklyn neighborhood
Soaked: Ruben Natal-San Miguel captured the image above titled 'Water Rituals #1' in the Bronx
Grilling Meat: Ruben Natal-San Miguel captured the image above titled 'Barbie Q' in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City
Baby boy: In the image above titled 'Edwin,' a man shows off his numerous tattoos in Harlem was captured in Harlem by Ruben Natal-San Miguel
Colorful: The image above shows dozens of colorful balloons on Coney Island in Brooklyn
The Puerto Rico native added that he sees some of his images as 'vestiges of street culture being lost to gentrification.'
For the past 14 years, Natal-San Miguel had been riding around on his bike taking his photos - mainly in Brooklyn and Harlem.
After he started his project, he moved to Harlem in 2003. 'I felt inspired by the neighborhood,' he told DNAinfo. 'I thought, a lot of what you see and hear about this area, when you don't live here, is crime, but there's so much more here, so many good people.'
He also said he felt safer there - having survived the 9/11 terror attacks of 2001, when he was working in the North Tower of the World Trade Center for a financial firm.
Beach life: Ruben Natal-San Miguel captured the image above titled 'The Living Doll' at Orchard Beach in the Bronx
Bronx love: Ruben Natal-San Miguel captured the image above titled 'Bronx' at Orchard Beach in the Bronx
Vibrant: The image above titled 'Boricua on Fire' shows a vibrant colored radio heavily decorated at the Orchard Beach in the Bronx
Pose: Ruben Natal-San Miguel captured the image above titled 'Latino Marilyn' in New York City
Columbus Circle: The image above, titled 'Honcho,' shows a young man in the 59th Street Columbus Circle subway station
Money: Ruben Natal-San Miguel captured the photo above, titled 'Lady Money Sings The Blues,' showing a woman smoking a cigarette
He shared that since moving to Harlem, he has witnessed his neighbors being displaced more and more by rent increases and building conversions.
'I take more photos in The Bronx now,' Natal-San Miguel told DNAinfo. 'But that's changing too, like everywhere else.'
His new exhibit, 'Street Life: A New York City Vanishing Act,' is on view through October 3 at Soho Photo on White Street.
NYPD blue: The image above, titled 'Stop & Frisk,' shows a young person holding a blue NYPD basketball in Harlem
Wink: Ruben Natal-San Miguel captured the image above, titled 'Wink,' that shows a woman's chest tattoo
Chain: Ruben Natal-San Miguel captured the image above of a person wearing a 'Fierce' necklace in New York City
'Priceless': The image above captured by Ruben Natal-San Miguel shows a man displaying his chest tattoos off in Queens
Bright: Ruben Natal-San Miguel captured the image above, titled 'Lewis Getting His Fried Chicken Fix' in the Bronx
Printed fan: A woman shows off her fan in the image above titled 'Animal Print Fan' in Harlem
Rollers: The image above, titled 'Glamour Break Diva,' shows a woman talking on a cellphone while smoking a cigarette in Harlem
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looks like a hell hole to me
by bob fears 181