On The Street

I arrived in New York City in late August 1992. And I was fascinated by what I saw on the street from the second I arrived. Constantly taking pictures of people, and the window displays that caught my eye.

So when I began to notice Bill Cunningham's photos in the New York Times, it was like finding a kindred spirit.

The difference? Bill Cunningham has dedicated his life to taking pictures of what he sees on the street. Day in and day out he can be seen on the corner of 5th Avenue, Bryant Park - or quite frankly, anywhere the action is.

He is 81 years old and to hear him narrate his slide shows, found weekly at nytimes.com, you immediately understand the passion, and joy he brings to his work. Yet, the casualness of his photographs is misleading because it allows you to think that you too could be a Bill Cunningham. And I suppose you could, if you built up that informed eye of the world, understanding in the blink of an eye what matters and what doesn't, along with possessing the rigor and guts it takes to be a street photographer.

Bill Cunningham is the photographer I respect most. His beat is the real world. His modesty is legendary. History will show that his work is as important as Robert Frank, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Avedon, and Penn. All these legends have street photography at the heart of their work.

This week, an 88 minute documentary called Bill Cunningham New York can be seen at MoMA - made by Richard Press. That it was made at all, with Cunningham's permission is a miracle. Perseverance paid off for Richard Press.

I've seen Bill Cunningham many times on the street. And when I do, its with a charge of excitement. "There he is!" And I stand back to watch him in action and see what he is paying attention to.

But my favorite Cunningham moment was when he came in to The House of Cards, where I sometimes moonlight in the West Village. He had asked about a particular greeting card, and wondered if we had multiples of it. We did not. So off he went. Suddenly I noticed we did have more. Looking up the street, I spotted him walking his bike and to my surprise, with another man, who looked to be the same age. I hung back just long enough to watch them talking and smiling. It was a moment of real affection and tenderness. It made me very happy. To see this solitary man who has captured so much for so many - in a moment flipped of the usual. He was like us, just a man on the street with a friend, or lover. Who knew? Its not a moment he may have cared to capture, but I have.

Do not miss this film - it's premiering at MoMA this Wednesday at the NEW DIRECTORS/NEW FILMS series. For tickets go to Bill Cunningham New York.

Bill Cunningham's style of photography will always be central to MARK, we will make it our mission to be on the street capturing gay men going about their lives in the light of day. Thanks Bill, for waking up day after day and having the fortitude and desire to capture what you see.

To hear Bill, go to On The Street

To read David Dunlap's excellent piece in today's Times, go to LENS, Capturing the Elusive Bill Cunningham

Photograph: "From Bill Cunningham New York"