# Gritty City Imagery Matt Weber Lenses Raw NYC Street Photography with Emotional Weight By Sophia Pelka | Published 2012-04-07 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/matt-weber References: [english.mashkulture.net](http://english.mashkulture.net/2012/04/05/nyc-street-photography-by-matt-weber/) & [weber-street-photography](http://weber-street-photography.com/) Matt Weber has been a resident shutterbug if the [bustling New York streets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/new-yorks-streeteasy) for over 25 years. His depictions of the city are raw and somewhat melancholic, reminding viewers of how lonesome and consuming such a busy place can be. His portfolio of work is almost photojournalistic, with [spontaneous composition](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/all-within-the-detour) and evident character study. He frequently lenses people on the subway, outlining the splendor of individuality. No one cares what you do in the Big Apple. Weber was a taxi driver for six years, and brings his veteran knowledge of the city into his works. The majority of his photographs are [black and white](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/profiles-in-color), creating both a weight of emotion and a certain relatable context. Even those who've never stepped foot in a large city can recognize the sorrow, the emptiness and, at times, the pure careless joy. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.1/10 - Popularity: 74% | Activity: 41% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Raw Street Photography:** Opportunity for photographers to capture the authentic and unfiltered essence of city life. - **Emotional Storytelling:** The ability to convey powerful emotions through visual storytelling, creating a connection with viewers. - **Recognition of Urban Loneliness:** An increasing awareness of the isolating and melancholic aspects of city living, leading to discussions on mental health and well-being in urban environments. ### Where This Applies - **Photography:** Photographers can explore new techniques and styles to capture the raw and emotional aspects of city life. - **Media and Entertainment:** Opportunities to showcase and distribute raw street photography through various media channels and platforms. - **Urban Planning:** Urban planners can use the insights from raw street photography to design more human-centered and inclusive cities. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Digital City-Inspired Art Works](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/grand-central-station.md) - [Painting-Immersive Photo Exhibits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/new-ground-exhibition.md) - [British Youth-Culture Photography Books](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/home-and-away.md) - [Whimsical Sculptural Furniture Series](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/city-block-series.md) - [Otherwordly Art Exhibitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/william-monk.md) - [Skateboard-Themed Photography Books](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rabbit-hole-1.md) - [Laser-Cut Urban Artistry](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/laser-cut-city-maps.md) - [Vibrant Public Art Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rico-gatson.md) - [Miniature Artful Hip-Hop Landmarks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/danny-cortes.md)