Company in Chinatown

(Select works from an ongoing collection of street photography in NYC’s Chinatown)

As a second-generation Chinese American, Chinatown was always a place of comfort growing up—where I’d see my dentist, get haircuts, and meet family friends over dim sum.

Now that I live just a few stops away, I often find myself wandering its streets on quiet mornings and late afternoons, drawn in by the neighborhood’s familiar rhythm.

In recent years, though, that rhythm has started to shift. Family businesses are closing, longtime residents are being priced out, and new developments are reshaping the skyline.

So, I started this series to capture the quiet rhythms and evolving character of a neighborhood I’ve long been drawn to. The kind of company you find in a morning card game, at a sidewalk produce stand, or in a passing glance between neighbors. As Chinatown continues to change, I hope these images honor the faces, textures, and spaces that make it as vibrant as it is.

- Brandon Lu (blu), 2025