The Tenderloin, by Keith Goldstein

I love this corner. I love the light, the people. It is where Korea Town begins, which is part of what was known decades ago as the “The Tenderloin”. It was the heart of New York’s theater and red light districts. It stretched further north and west encompassing other neighborhoods as well.

Broadway intersects here as well as Greeley Square and Herald Square. There is a subway entrance just behind this man. New York’s “Camera District” or “Photo District”, ran along W. 32nd from Broadway to 7th Avenue. I worked in Camera Barn back then. The famous Olden Camera was on a corner building, just across from where this man is standing, straddling 6th Avenue and Broadway. Nikon always had a large billboard above the store facing north. Now it’s usually an Apple advertisement.

Ricoh GR with Ricoh 18.3mm (28mm) | Exposure 1/1667 @ f/4.5 | ISO 6400 | EV -1/3
The Tenderloin, by Keith Goldstein

I have so many fond memories of New York from the late 1970s and early 1980s. The grit, grime, the excitement of the streets. The clubs, neighborhood bars. New York didn’t seem to be as crowded then.

Lenny Kaye, the guitarist from Patti Smith’s band lived down the hall from me. Keir and Dimitry from “Deelite” lived on the first floor. A day didn’t go by that I didn’t see Allen Ginsberg, Phillip Glass, Iggy Pop, or even Quentin Crisp taking his evening stroll past the laundromat on my laundry day.

I know the New York of my youth does not exist anymore. I watch the dismantling and gentrification of places I knew and loved. Sometimes we wish we could hold onto things.

I guess, sometimes, this is what I still search for.

Award Winner: Photo of the Day | May 29
Award Score: 68 (Value 12, Clarity 12, Composition 18, Style 13, Skill 13)
Photo of the Day Award Category: Portraiture Photography
Photograph Location: New York, New York | The United States

Photographer: Keith Goldstein (Hamilton Heights, New York City, New York) Registered
Keith Goldstein was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1957. Keith was interested in art for as long as he can remember, with his mother being his biggest influence and supporter, encouraging him in his earliest artistic endeavors. Keith’s first connection with photography came about in high school when he was given a collection of photography magazines to draw from. Instead of drawing from them, he began to read them, becoming extremely fascinated with the medium. It wasn’t until he dropped out of college after his second year, and was working in a warehouse, that he decided on photography as a means to creative expression. Keith began studies at night school with David Attie and moved into New York City, receiving his BFA with Honors in photography from the School of Visual Arts. It was there, working with Tad Yamashiro, that he began to experiment with a more emotive way of expression. Wanting to explore this further, Keith went on to continue his experimentation with Carl Toth at Cranbrook Academy of Art. After receiving his MFA in Photography, he subsequently moved back to New York City and began, through a course of personal experiences, to unravel everything that he knew and was for the next 15 years of his life. Keith has been exhibiting his work since 1980. His work has been published in many publications including – ABC News Australia, Now Public, Flak Magazine, JPEG Magazine, File Magazine, Snaps Magazine, SHOTS, Boulevard, Mercury Records, Diversion Magazine, Cadillac Motors, I Magazine, Penquin/Putnam, Simon & Shuster, St. Martin’s Press, and on many book covers. Keith’s tools to finding his place and exploring his feelings towards the world have always been simple – one camera and a couple of lenses. “Being unencumbered does allow you the most freedom”, he says. Keith has been making his living as fine art photographer, a stock shooter, a corporate event photographer, and a photo editor.

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