Robert Herman (1956-2020)

Robert Herman, 64, a quintessential New York street photographer, died Friday, March 20, from suicide. He left a note, asking: “How do you enjoy life?”.

Herman’s photography was recognizable by its vivid colors and engaging stories. He captured the people of New York as if they were pages in an open book, allowing the viewer to easily read it.

Herman was born in Brooklyn, where he worked as an usher in his parents' movie theater. This experience formed his exclusive vision, as he got exposed to a wide range of movies. After studying film at NYU in the late 1970s, Herman turned to photography. He created two monographs: The New Yorkers and The Phone Book, both of which were greatly renowned by his peers and the public. The first monograph is a collection of New York City photographs made during the 1978-2005, created by Herman using Kodachrome. The images presented in this photo book are a unique time capsule, full of lively, vibrant color schemes that make use of New York’s street light.

The Phone Book was published in 2015 and was chosen as one of the best photography books of 2015 by Elizabeth Avedon. It was shot using the Hipstamatic App’s square format, and featured the images Herman took from his around the world travels.

His impact on New York street photography earned him a place at various group and solo exhibitions around the world, and also made him a frequent guest speaker in universities and galleries in Italy, Germany and the U.S.

Lens Culture reported that Herman was struggling with bipolar disorder, which he combatted with street photography as a personal therapy method.

“I felt like a very vulnerable person. Photography was my intermediary between me and the world. I was trying to find peace wandering the city. After a while you get in a Zen space and the world slows down. And when you’re an outsider, you notice things that other people just walk by.”

Our thought and prayers go out to his friends and family during this incredibly painful time.