Ryan Weideman, NYC Cabbie and Fare Vintage Silver Gelatin Photo Black White Street Photograph, c.1990

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14" x 18" sight size. 24.5 x 28 mat size.
Ryan Weideman NYC taxi cab driver street photography (the good … Read more 14" x 18" sight size. 24.5 x 28 mat size.
Ryan Weideman NYC taxi cab driver street photography (the good old fashioned days of yellow cabs pre Uber and Lyft). Ryan Weideman graduated with an MFA from the California College of Arts & Crafts, In 1980 he moved to New York to pursue street photography. Influenced by the other photographers of the period including Lee Friedlander and Mark Cohen. Soon after renting a tenement on West 43rd Street (an apartment in which he still lives), a chance encounter with a neighbor who drove a taxi led Weideman to his newfound profession. Over thirty years, Weideman would continue working as a cab driver part-time, photographing his clients to view the changing city in a new way. “After the first week of driving a taxi I could see the photographic potential,” shared Weideman. “So many interesting and unusual combinations of people getting into my cab. Photographing seemed like the only thing to do. The backseat image was constantly in a state of flux, thronged with interesting looking people that were exciting and inspired, creating their own unique atmosphere.” Not wanting to waste time turning around to capture the action, Weideman found himself both as subject and photographer. Notable passengers include Allen Ginsberg—famed Beat Generation poet. The photo now belongs to the Brooklyn Museum. Other passengers simply made an impression. He worked in the tradition of the great street photographers like Eugene Atget, Berenice Abbott, Vivian Maier, Robert Doisneau and Robert Frank capturing the raw excitement of city life. Ryan Weideman’s work is in the collections of many prestigious institutions including the Brooklyn Museum, the Oakland Museum and the Art Institute of Chicago. Weideman’s awards include Guggenheim Fellowship Grant (1992-1993), a New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship (1986-1987), and a NEA Fellowship Grant. See less