An Interview With Ethan Barber

Ethan Barber is a photographer who captures the small, cinematic moments that make New York feel like home. His work is a love letter to changing seasons, cozy traditions, and the kind of everyday magic most of us rush right past. He is the cozy corner of the internet, a photographer who reminds over a million of us that wonder still exists.

STEPHANIE: How do you go about cultivating that sense of joy and comfort in your work? Is it something you consciously aim for, or does it happen naturally?

ETHAN: Thank you for the kind words and for saying that! When I first began capturing the city in 2016, I genuinely didn’t start out with any intentions beyond just taking photos as a creative outlet and hobby. From New York’s iconic buildings, to Soho’s historic street corners, and seasonal moments across Manhattan, I just captured whatever caught my eye, whenever I happened upon it.

Over the years, I’ve watched my work evolve with the times; through different relationships I’ve had, positions I’ve held in my time as a graphic designer and art director in my corporate career, a global pandemic, and so much life in between. I’ve tried my best to take a step back and look at my body of work over the past ten years and really try to understand the overall message of what I’m trying to communicate.

On the surface, it’s simple. I want you to experience the magic of New York City in the way I have my entire life. From my earliest memories of taking the train into Manhattan multiple times a year from my childhood home in New Jersey, to having lived here for just about a decade now.

On a deeper level, this hobby of mine started out as a creative escape. I use photography (and now video) as a way to escape the noise of the world. I love slipping away with my AirPods on, camera in hand, and no agenda beyond just taking an hour or two to mentally reset. I think at its core, that’s where that sense of joy and comfort radiate from.

STEPHANIE: For someone hoping to experience that warm, cozy feeling of “fall nostalgia” without the crowds or over-the-top tourist spots, where would you recommend they go? It can even be a specific street corner!

ETHAN: Definitely head uptown if you’re able. Anything north of the 60’s on either side of Central Park is where autumn really comes alive for me. When you hit the primarily residential areas of Manhattan, you’ll naturally see less foot traffic, but you’ll also get to see how the locals live. I love just wandering aimlessly capturing whatever scenes unfold.

My ideal route is to start in Yorkville at Carl Shurz Park, then head west along 84th, passing Logos Bookstore where they film the TV show, You. As you move along the avenues, you’ll want to cross Central Park on the footpaths that run diagonal to the 79th Street Transverse. Once you hit Central Park West, walk north and zig-zag along the residential brownstone-lined streets until you get to 89th and Riverside Drive. You’ll find yourself right in the heart of the Upper West Side where they filmed You’ve Got Mail. It’s such a perfect route no matter the season, but it truly comes alive in late October-mid December.

STEPHANIE: Many of our readers are creatives themselves such as writers, photographers, artists. With such a large audience, I imagine you feel pressure in your work sometimes. How do you maintain a sense of authenticity and joy in your work, especially during these high-visibility seasons?

ETHAN: In a world that is increasingly divided and the ever-looming threat of AI breathing down our necks trying to replace us at every angle, it’s a struggle. I really strive to center myself as much as possible so that I can move forward each day with a clear mind. Going out for regular walks with my camera always seems to do the trick. I also have recently reignited my love for reading books and playing video games. Both of these hobbies have allowed me to carve out hours in my day away from the world to rest and recharge.

In regards to my workflow, I don’t batch content. I almost always edit my reels (and photos) on the same day I share them; usually posting immediately after I’m done. I think this helps keep my concepts fresh, timely, and authentic to what I’m feeling in the moment. This ultimately translates through whatever story it is that I’m trying to tell.

STEPHANIE: Fall in New York has such distinct moods: chilly mornings, golden light, I'd say a bittersweet sense of time passing. Is there a particular place, sound, or ritual that always makes you feel like fall has truly arrived?

ETHAN: It’s that first morning when you wake up, your air conditioner has shut off, you crack open your windows and a brisk gust of 5:30 morning air rushes in for the first time in months. It’s the moment you walk outside and the first golden leaf seemingly falls out of nowhere even though all of the trees are still green. It’s all the coffee shops introducing Pumpkin-flavored everything at the end of August. It’s seeing kids dressed up in their school uniforms begrudgingly headed back to school after a long summer break. It’s the first evening that you notice it got dark way faster than usual. It’s the slight tint of yellow in the trees all across Central Park.

It’s not just one thing, it’s so many little things. Next thing you know, it’s the end of October, Halloween is around the corner, and you can’t leave the house without your favorite jacket. It’s in that moment when you realize that autumn has arrived and is here to stay.

STEPHANIE: If someone wanted to capture the feeling of fall in a photograph, not just the visuals, what advice would you give them?

ETHAN: Think about what autumn means to you, then put any or all of those elements into practice. For me, autumn is all about the melancholic transition of summer into winter. Warm, sunny days turn into cold, chilly nights. Outdoor picnics in the park and day trips to the beach become indoor dinner parties and cozy movie nights. There's a magic in knowing that you just saw your last 7pm sunset for the next six months. It's a time of reflection and bittersweet awareness that winter is coming.

These feelings I what I strive to capture in my work as I document life in Manhattan. It’s a husband carrying groceries home after a long day as his partner picks up their kids from school. It’s a cat propped up against a 3rd story brownstone window sill on 87th Street, illuminated by a warm glow as it overlooks the falling leaves. It’s an older couple walking hand-in-hand through the park with the realization that they've made it through another season of life together. Think about what autumn means to you, then take those elements and find ways to capture them in your own unique style and voice. Don’t just try to capture what autumn looks like, but instead, aim to capture what it feels like...

Fans of Ethan’s work will be overjoyed to know that his 2026 calendar is available for order! I was thrilled when I heard about it. Yes, because I love Ethan’s work, and I’m a huge fan. Selfishly because…OMFG, of course! Perfecttttt gift. Beautiful, useful, and takes up little space. I’m ordering mine soon so it gets here ahead of the holiday rush. Order yours here!