Built & Re-Built to Last: New York City in the Age of COVID-19

The past 2 years have been a historic time for humanity and for NYC-based street photographer Derek Fahsbender has been a practice in adaptation. Although known primarily for his street portraiture, Derek turned his attention away from the scant human element and instead focused on the living, breathing changes in the city itself. From retailers’ boarded up storefronts-turned-de facto art galleries to restaurants forced into a world of outdoor dining, Derek gives us a street-level look at New York City as you’ve never seen it before: built and re-built to last.

Bio:

Derek Fahsbender is a Bronx-based photographer and Official Fujifilm Creator best known for capturing the aesthetic of the urban landscape and the colorful characters within.

Drawing inspiration from the unforgiving streets of New York City he remembers while growing up in the 1980’s, Derek’s work seeks to bring the viewer beyond the postcard portrayals of big city life and into the shoes of the common person. Derek has always had a fascination with observing people and, after studying psychology and sociology during his college years, his interest in people watching was taken to new heights. Self-taught in the basics, Derek’s journey into documenting his everyday life would set in motion an evolution in his work from random snapshots to artfully crafted, people-centric depictions of the inner city.

Today, Derek is regarded as much for his photos as he is for the way in which he captures them. His knack for seamlessly immersing himself all types of environments, paired with an infectious personality, allow Derek to create photos that convey the emotions he felt when capturing each photo. He is currently working on a number of projects and hopes to soon bring his vision to places outside the boundaries of the five boroughs.

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