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It’s interesting how different the world can seem through a camera lens. Some people might be excited to take it out only for special occasions or when they see a colorful sunset. But others will keep it in their hands all the time and will make simple moments more special by making them permanent in their camera roll. 

It is always interesting to see what moments people think are worth capturing and this time we stumbled upon Eric Kogan’s Instagram where he posts photos just from the streets in New York when he sees some interesting coincidences that can either make you laugh or leave you speechless.

More info: Instagram | Eric Kogan

Eric Kogan is a photographer who was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, but when he was 5 years old, he came to the states. He currently resides in New York, but he actually grew up in New Jersey. It was his father’s idea to move to the US as he was fascinated with American culture. 

New York has a special place in the photographer’s heart as Coney Island was always like a second home to him, spending entire childhood summers with fellow Russians who have a dense community there. In 2008, Eric started studying at Pratt Institute and has lived in Brooklyn ever since.

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Eric is an artistic soul all around. He has a day job in the event industry and he has a background in painting. He started taking pictures during his school years, where he was able to use the photography lab. 

Bored Panda reached out to Eric and he told us that “the studio was a really significant place to me, behind its door I could cancel everything out except for creativity.” The excitement about photography didn’t fade and in 2004 he took his first course on fine art photography and “it taught [him] to pay more attention to [his] immediate surroundings, and it marked the beginning of looking for new discoveries in ordinary places.”

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Eric thinks that the best place to do that is the street. He told the online photography magazine Up that he finds street photography to be inspirational because it pulls the unexpected from the common. 

You can notice so many things when you observe your surroundings and even a commute to work can result in an inspirational and interesting photo. That’s exactly what Eric does and presents his followers on Instagram with various coincidences that attract his attention in the streets of New York.

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We asked if Eric would like to explore the streets of other parts of the world and he absolutely would. He said, “I have many photos from abroad that, despite being out of context with my current body of work, played a role in shaping my approach to the medium. They helped me see things back home that I may have failed to register without exploring the world.”

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Mary Rose Kent
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love the building! There’s very little brick construction in California because it tends not to do well in an earthquake.

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If you look at the moments that the photographer captures, you will realize that they are not staged and based on serendipity. What is more, they are often temporary, like the clouds lining up or birds standing in just the right spot. 

Photographers have their own methods on how to capture the perfect shot: for example, nature photographers may wait for months until they finally have what they want on camera.

We asked how Eric manages to seize those temporary moments. He explained, “A friend of mine once described the decisive moment as being able to tell the future. I thought it was such a fascinating way to look at it, and I've definitely found patterns to follow in how clouds and birds behave. I either sense a formation happening and start maneuvering, or catch only a glimpse of it and wait for the occurrence to happen again. Sometimes it can happen again quickly, other times have challenged my patience for years.”

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As the photos are not staged and are results of the spur of the moment, they probably don’t have thought-out significance beforehand. But it doesn’t mean they are meaningless either.

The photographer wants people who look at these photos to know that “It’s all about connecting with others, sharing what I find important, and seeing what could be taken from them. My aim isn’t to provide anyone with answers, it’s rather to ask questions. The personal takes and individual relationships that people have expressed through them is really where the meaning lies.”

What was your favorite moment captured by Eric Kogan? And what do you think of his photography overall? Let us know in the comments and don’t forget to upvote the photos that left the biggest impression for you!

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Mary Rose Kent
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Imagine trying to put this together as a jigsaw puzzle without looking at the box...

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mOmmyOfthree
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That is mesmerizing. It almost tricks your mind. I love these posts so much. The creativity makes me love this app even more!

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ABerCul
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Which way do we go? ⬆️⬇️↙️↖️➡️⬅️↔️↪️

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Robert T
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So that's how they make road markings! You train a pigeon to poop in straight line!

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James Pasquini
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Catch a falling cloud and put it in your pocket. Save it for a rainless day.

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Sarjana Lastname
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This too, reflection, timeless photograph. Harmonic, I can see this enlarged at wall. Simple and complex same time

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Mary Rose Kent
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The texture of the paint makes it look like the building is made of tissue paper

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BoredHuman
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is a building developers cover. They use it to cover up a building that is going to be demolished to show the world what is going to take its place. The cover has been printed with a photo of the new development. It is an advertisement.

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