On this episode of The PHYS Podcast, Tyson Martin sits down with New York City street photographer Amy Horowitz for a thoughtful conversation about long-term documentary work, human connection, public space, and the patience required to build meaningful photographic projects.

Amy is one of the most compelling voices working in contemporary street and documentary photography today. A graduate of the International Center of Photography, her work has earned international recognition for its ability to transform ordinary public spaces into intimate explorations of identity, vulnerability, and human experience.

At the center of this conversation is Amy's acclaimed debut photobook, A Walk in the Park?, published in 2025 by Schilt Publishing.

Created over years of photographing in and around Washington Square Park in New York City, the project explores the complexity of young adulthood through a series of deeply observed portraits and quiet moments. Rather than relying on spectacle or confrontation, Amy's photographs invite viewers into conversations about belonging, self-discovery, connection, and the subtle ways people inhabit public space.

The project reflects a style of photography built on trust.

On patience.

On returning to the same place again and again until relationships and stories begin to reveal themselves.

The result is a body of work that feels both personal and universal.

A Walk in the Park? has received widespread recognition from organizations including the LensCulture, Head On Photo Festival, Paris International Street Photography Awards, Women Street Photographers, and the Brussels Street Photography Festival, among many others.

In this conversation, Tyson and Amy explore the challenges and rewards of long-form photographic storytelling, the ethics of photographing strangers, and what happens when we slow down enough to truly observe the people around us.

In This Episode:

• Amy Horowitz's journey into street and documentary photography
• Studying photography at the International Center of Photography (ICP)
• The making of A Walk in the Park?
• Photographing Washington Square Park over an extended period of time
• Building trust and connection while photographing strangers
• Why empathy is essential in documentary photography
• The role of patience, observation, and presence in long-term projects
• Turning a photographic project into a published photobook
• Navigating exhibitions, awards, and international recognition
• Staying grounded as your work reaches a larger audience

Amy's photography reminds us that meaningful stories rarely happen on demand.

They emerge through attention.

Through consistency.

Through a willingness to spend time with people and places long enough for deeper truths to surface.

Her work demonstrates that street photography can be more than a record of what happened.

It can become a tool for understanding how people move through the world, how communities form, and how public spaces shape our lives.

This conversation is an inspiring exploration of documentary photography, portraiture, photobooks, creative patience, and the human connections that make photography matter.

Whether you're a street photographer, documentary photographer, visual storyteller, artist, or someone interested in the ways photography can help us better understand ourselves and one another, this episode offers valuable insight into creating work that is both thoughtful and lasting.

The strongest photographs often begin with something simple:

Paying attention.

Follow Amy Horowitz
Instagram: @dont_smile_nyc
Threads: @dont_smile_nyc
Website: www.amyhorowitzphotography.com

Book: A Walk in the Park?