Restless Spirits Ep. 7: Phil Penman
At AETHER, we value a life well-lived. Consequently, we’re always on the hunt for like-minded adventurers and individuals that inspire us, such as our latest Restless Spirits subject, Phil Penman. Originally hailing from the UK, Penman has spent the last several decades living in New York City, during which time he’s established a reputation as one of the most eminent street photographers currently working behind-the-lens. So, for the latest installment in our Restless Spirits series, we sat down with the Dorset-born photographer to discuss his history, process, and craft, as well as the importance of truth in photography and living in the moment.
After crossing the pond in his early 20s — initially moving to Los Angeles in the summer of 2000 before relocating to the Big Apple in January of 2001 — Penman cut his teeth working various photography jobs including an array of commercial gigs and snapping photos as a paparazzi. He quickly fell in love with the city, its inhabitants, and the idiosyncratic opportunities NYC provided for photography. His early years in the city also taught him what he considers to be the single most important aspect or lesson of his photography; knowing how to anticipate a shot and when to take the picture.
“It’s like the hunter and the fisherman, with the street photography,” Penman begins. “It’s like knowing, ‘right, I’ve got to bide my time, take my time, wait for the picture to play out and then shoot, and then sometimes you just know it’s gonna be over in a matter of seconds and you gotta grab it.’ And it’s that ability to know when to do that, that’s what makes a good street photographer.”
Honed over more than a quarter-of-a-century snapping pictures on the streets of New York, his eye for anticipating and capturing moments in time have ultimately lead to Penman being crowned with dozens of awards and accolades, as well as being recognized as one of the “52 Most Influential Street Photographers.” What’s more, Penman’s extraordinary body of work and generous slew of prestigious awards have also resulted in him being selected as an official Leica Photographer, brand ambassador, and a street photography teacher for the German firm’s Akademie classes.
Above and beyond the artistic merit of his photography and the beauty of his shot composition, Penman also sees immense value in his work’s ability to accurately document history. In today’s era of misinformation, deep fakes, and other AI-generated images, the need for raw photography is arguably more important now than ever before.
“What is the truth in photography?” asks Penman. “A lot of the images we’ve seen throughout history have been manipulated. So, you know, we’ve seen this for a lot of news photography as well. I think this is one of like the last true forms where you’re just documenting what you see and what actually happened and you’re not trying to spin a narrative. Street photography is like one of the last bastions of truthful photography I think. I’ve never been into manipulating my images, you know, someone has to archive history and it’s only going to get more and more difficult.”
Penman takes this notion one step further by primarily shooting in black and white. On top of being more naturally emotive, these desaturated shots boast a rawer feel, providing an unadulterated look at the realities of our world without color correction or filters. Wearing our new Monochrom Edition AETHER + Leica Reporter Jacket, Penman is a true artist behind-the-lens, possessing an inherent ability to envision a shot prior to taking it. There’s an undeniable beauty to Penman’s black-and-white photos, many of which also possess an unmistakable simplicity. Penman’s choice to regularly photograph in black-and-white often enhances the subjects in his shots, better highlighting shapes and textures — details that can make a world of difference, especially when capturing cityscapes.
Another noteworthy aspect of Penman is his philosophical outlook on photography. Though you’d never know it from looking at his world-class work, the British-born lensman actually values the experience of taking the pictures over the final pictures themselves. Having said that, this ability to be in the moment and hyper-conscious of his surroundings have no doubt contributed to his ability to regularly capture award-winning photos — as well as the legendary status he’s achieved in the street photography realm.
And it’s this ability to live for the moment and revel in the process that resonates with us so deeply. As important as the destination may be, the true fun should always lie in journey and the process — whether that’s hiking, skiing, motorcycling, exploring the city, or working behind-the-lens.
The AETHER + Leica Jacket is now available in Monochrom exclusively at aetherapparel.com.
Stay Restless
