Paul Kessel is a passionate street photographer from New York City. He began photography in 2007 and from last seven years, he is doing candid street photography. Paul had a previous career as a clinical psychologist and university professor.

Just before his 70th birthday, Paul began taking photography courses at The International Center of Photography. He studied there for ten years. He developed a strong interest in candid street photography. He shoots on the street almost every day. Now, twelve years later, He has been in over forty group exhibitions, has had three solo shows, and have won a number of awards. Paul was a Finalist in the Miami Street Festival in 2017 and 2018 and Streetfoto San Francisco in 2018. Also, he won The Soho Photo Gallery National Competition. His work has been shown in Europe and Asia in addition to the United States.

Thanks, Paul for accepting our invite. Please read on…

Hi Paul, thank you for joining us here today! First of all, Could you please introduce yourself?
Thank you for finding and inviting me. I am flattered. I am from New York City. I have been doing candid photography on the street for about seven years. I began photography in 2007. Portraits were my original interest. I learned how to do studio portraits, moved on to portraits on the street, followed by candid street portraits, and then candid street scenes. I had a previous career as a clinical psychologist and university professor.

Please share some of your childhood memories towards the art?
I have owned a camera since about age twelve. I was always aware of photography as my father took family pictures and when I was old enough, I looked at pictures in Life and Look magazines. I “owned” a camera but rarely used it except in brief spurts until I became immersed in photography when I was almost seventy years old.

paulkessel.com

Interview With New York Street Photographer Paul Kessel