In Conversation with @watchingnewyork

Ever since I was younger, I had idolized New York and everyone in it; living their own lives in such a hustling and beautiful city and expressing their personal creativity with a sense of freedom and individuality. When I finally got to visit for the first time, New York had lit up right in front of my eyes. Getting to surround me with patrons of the city was inspiring and left me wanting more. I had found Johnny Cirillo (@watchingnewyork) on Instagram a couple of years ago and followed him immediately. The transparency and honesty breathed life into his work and kept me a dedicated follower. @watchingnewyork is a photo project to capture the genuine street style of real New York residents exactly how they are. In exchanges of emails, I was able to interview Johnny Cirillo about this photo project:

Image taken from @watchingnewyork on Instagram

What was your initial inspiration to start your photo project on Instagram, @watchingnewyork? 

Bill Cunningham. He had been an inspiration to me for years and years and on the day that he passed away I thought I would honour him by doing what it was he loved, shooting street fashion. 

Documentary, Bill Cunningham: New York, on the veteran New York fashion photographer

What about someone’s outfit draws you in to take their photo and ask them some questions? 

There’s a number of things: it could be something on-trend or a trend that's on its way out, it could be a collection I'm working on i.e Berets or Tracksuits. It could be because I’ve never seen anything like it before. There are so many reasons why I take a photo but I think the most common theme is confidence. I love to see someone carry themselves with confidence, it always translates through the clothes. 

Image taken from @watchingnewyork on Instagram

With many of your photos being taken in Williamsburg and Manhattan, which borough of New York is your favourite to shoot and why? 

I like them all but I am drawn to Williamsburg for a couple of reasons. I find there to be plenty of artists in the area. Lots of creativity and that shows in the way they dress. It's also a heavy thrifting town. Tons of reused and second-hand items which I love to see. In some parts of Manhattan, I struggle to get permission from the subjects as they are often in a rush or just not interested. Brooklyn is different. People like to stop and chat about what they’re wearing so I gravitate towards the area a lot. 

Image taken from @watchingnewyork on Instagram

How would you compare “real-life NYC street style”, such as what you photograph, to the fashion we see on social media worn by celebrities?

I consider everyone I shoot to be a celebrity. They all deserve to be seen in some way. I am not knocking high “celebrity” fashion; I quite like it. But the clear stark difference is that I am capturing people coming and going through everyday life that aren’t planned on being photographed. I think that brings a different level of relatability.

Image taken from @watchingnewyork on Instagram

If you could pick any other city in the world you’d like to photograph real-life streetwear, which city would it be?

I have never been to Italy and have family there. Milan seems like a romantic place I would fall in love with. I often search what’s going on there to compare the differences. It's beautiful. 

Image taken from @watchingnewyork on Instagram