Winter in New York City can be a harsh time to be here. Endlessly dark months and bitterly cold temperatures seem to drag on forever and force us to be mostly indoors. There is beauty to be found even during these darker months, however. Over the years I’ve found it creatively necessary to go out in inclement weather and hunt for images. When there’s a snow storm I see it as a limited window of time where everything visually familiar about the city changes in unexpected ways. It’s like being in live painting or an apocalyptic movie set.

There’s a thrill of anticipation of what a familiar spot might look like under particular weather conditions. I’ve found the experience of just being out there very creatively fulfilling.

Here’s a collection of some of my favorite stills from exploring during winter storms over the years. Some of these images haven’t been shared before. Hope you like them!

Times Square New York City Winter Snow Storm Street Photography by Eric Van Nynatten — Times Square, New York City, Winter 2022

Tribeca Soho New York City Winter Blizzard Snow Storm Street Photography by Eric Van Nynatten — TriBeCa, New York City, Winter 2021

Dumbo Brooklyn Manhattan Bridge Umbrella New York City Winter Blizzard Snow Storm Street Photography by Eric Van Nynatten — Dumbo, Brooklyn, Winter 2017

The Roxy Hotel Tribeca Soho New York City Winter Blizzard Snow Storm Street Photography by Eric Van Nynatten — TriBeCa, New York City, Winter 2021

Radio City Music Hall New York City Winter Snow Storm Street Photography by Eric Van Nynatten — Radio City Music Hall, New York City, Winter 2017

Lower East Side New York City Winter Snow Storm Street Photography by Eric Van Nynatten — Chinatown, New York City, Winter 2022

Downtown Manhattan Woolworth Building New York City Winter Snow Storm Street Photography by Eric Van Nynatten — Downtown, New York City, Winter 2022

You can shop for prints here.

For more work you can check out my Instagram - @ericvannynatten

This is not a sponsored post, just sharing what helps me creatively and why I started shooting more with my iPhone.

Quite often, when I’m feeling uninspired or not very creative, simply leaving the house without the extra weight of a dedicated camera for walk seems to really help. I think It’s the thought of going out without the specific intention or pressure of having to capture something.

When I started shooting and experimenting more with my iPhone in 2017, I started to feel like the pressure for perfection was greatly reduced. I can edit with much more freedom in whatever place I found myself at and experiment with pulling colors and shadows a little beyond what I usually do with images.

Although I still regularly use and appreciate my mirrorless cameras and their huge sensors, there’s a special place for smartphone photography in my creative toolbox.

Here are some of my favorite Observations from 2021. All were shot on iPhone 11 or 13 and edited using VSCO & Snapseed.