Interview with Noel Camardo

I grew up in downtown NYC in the 1980’s. I spent a lot of time sitting on the stoop outside of my parent’s shop, watching the downtown cast of characters go by. This stuck with me, and by 17 I figured out I could indulge this with a camera. Close to 20 years later I’m still at it, making photographs of strangers. Currently I live in Brooklyn NY with my wife, painter Caris Reid.

I don’t value one lighting condition over another, I like all times of the day equally, I treat noon, the same as morning or evening light.

Currently I have two projects that I’m working on. The first project is focused on income inequality, race relations and the displacement of main streets across America.
The second is an ongoing series of Manhattan street scenes.

When I take a picture I give equal weight to everything in the frame, a puddle has as much visual importance as a figure. There’s no hierarchy in my photos. Usually my photographs are the result of a long walk, that could be in the woods, a strip mall parking lot or fifth avenue. It’s that feeling of not knowing what you’ll encounter next that keeps me going.

I want to capture the essence of our time.