Houston Street, New York c. 1970 - 1980

Leon Levinstein made this photograph, Houston Street, New York, using gelatin silver. It’s an image pulsing with off-kilter energy. Levinstein's eye seems to be searching for meaning in the everyday, finding these little moments of strangeness. The way the light catches the figure in mid-air gives him an almost spectral presence. The high contrast in the image, the way the black clothing almost blends in with the background, makes the scene feel urgent and immediate. Look at the sharp lines of the wall behind the players, compared to the blur of the moving body. It creates this push and pull, between stillness and motion, presence and absence. It’s a reminder that photography, like any art form, isn’t just about capturing a moment, but about creating a new way of seeing. It makes me think of Garry Winogrand and his chaotic street photography. Both artists find beauty in the raw, unscripted moments of urban life. It’s like they’re saying, "Hey, look at this! Isn't it weird and wonderful?"