Luminous portraits of NYC’s new young icons

Kids in America — Having moved to New York from a small town, Ethan James Green knows what it’s like to feel like an outsider. In his first monograph, he channels that to capture the city’s next generation – a network of young free spirits unafraid of individuality.

Photographer Ethan James Green grew up in Caledonia, a village just south of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Small and sleepy, with corn fields that seemed as if they stretched on forever, it felt miles away from anywhere.

So when he moved to New York City in his teens to pursue a career in modelling, it was inevitably quite the culture shock. When I first came it was very overwhelming,” he remembers. “There was just so much going on.”

Eventually, though, he began to settle. Combining modelling gigs with a job working for David Armstrong – the American photographer best known for his portraits of young men –  the city became home as Green submitted to its daily whir. Under the mentorship of Armstrong (who died in 2014, aged 60), he began to further explore photography, too.


“After a few years, David moved to Massachusetts,” Green explains. “But when he was moving, a lot of people were asking if they could buy his prints, so he asked if I wanted to do a sale.”

“I was going through all of the prints in his studio and a lot of them were from his first book The Silver Cord – which is all black and white, a lot of portraits that he shot of friends. I loved them so much and felt so inspired. I wanted to shoot the equivalent of the people in those pictures today.”

The result is Young New York, a series of intimate portraits that capture the city’s next generation of free spirits and Green’s first monograph, published by Aperture. Having began when a chance meeting with the model and actress Hari Nef saw him approach her in a nightclub smoking area and ask to take her picture (which he did, in a park about a week later, with exciting results) the project quickly snowballed. Friends of Hari’s saw her picture and wanted one of their own, friends of friends followed suit, and so forth.


Shot in black and white, the photos depict a young population breathing new life into NYC: models, actors, artists and club kids, all of whom belong to an unspoken network of people that Green refers to as “new icons”. Young New York is a celebration of individuality – one that he hopes will resonate with a whole new generation of Americans.

“I feel like the pictures can allow someone to see someone who’s just like them. And that [can] give them the courage to make that move. You know, thinking, ‘Oh, I can do that too,” he adds. “New York, it has this new energy because of the young people arriving. I think there’s a new wave. The book, I hope, represents those people are that are making New York special again.”  


Young New York is available now from Aperture.

Enjoyed this article? Like Huck on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.


You might like

Colourful collage of album covers and record sleeves on display in a gallery or museum setting, with glass panels on either side reflecting the vibrant arrangement.
Culture

Largest-Ever Display of UK AIDS Memorial Quilt Opens at Tate Modern

Grief Made Visible — Comprising hundreds of panels made by lovers, friends and chosen family, the UK AIDS Memorial Quilt returns in full for the first time since 1994 – a testament to grief, friendship and the ongoing fight against HIV stigma.

Written by: Ella Glossop

Rustic footbridge across a river, with people crossing it on a sunny day. Warm tones and shadows suggest an outdoor, natural setting.
Sport

In Medellín’s alleys and side streets, football’s founding spirit shines

Street Spirit — Granted two weeks of unfettered access, photographer Tom Ringsby captures the warmth and DIY essence of the Colombian city’s grassroots street football scene.

Written by: Isaac Muk

Black and white image of several people in suits, some with long hair and unconventional appearances, alongside a large ship or boat model. Text overlaid: "FREAKS AND FINANCES".
Culture

On Alexander Skarsgård’s trousers, The Rehearsal, and the importance of weirdos

Freaks and Finances — In the May edition of our monthly culture newsletter, columnist Emma Garland reflects on the Swedish actor’s Cannes look, Nathan Fielder’s wild ambition, and Jafaican.

Written by: Emma Garland

Vibrant book covers against bleak, rocky hills and buildings; 'Babylon' and 'Albion' text in bold lettering.
Culture

Dalia Al-Dujaili: “When you’re placeless, nature can fill the void”

Babylon, Albion — As her new book publishes, the British-Iraqi author speaks about connecting with the land as a second-generation migrant, plants as symbols of resistance, and being proud of her parents.

Written by: Zahra Onsori

A collage depicting a giant flup for mankind, with an image of the Earth surrounded by planets and people in sci-fi costumes.
Culture

Why Katy Perry’s space flight was one giant flop for mankind

Galactic girlbossing — In a widely-panned, 11-minute trip to the edge of the earth’s atmosphere, the ‘Women’s World’ singer joined an all-female space crew in an expensive vanity advert for Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin. Newsletter columnist Emma Garland explains its apocalypse indicating signs.

Written by: Emma Garland

Huck 79

We are all Mia Khalifa

How humour, therapy and community help Huck's latest cover star control her narrative.

Written by: Alya Mooro

Huck is supported by our readers, subscribers and Club Huck members. It is also made possible by sponsorship from:

Signup to our newsletter

Sign up to our newsletter to informed with the cutting edge of sport, music and counterculture, featuring personal takes on the state of media and pop culture from Emma Garland, former Digital Editor of Huck, exclusive interviews, recommendations and more.

Please wait...

Accessibility Settings

Text

Applies the Open Dyslexic font, designed to improve readability for individuals with dyslexia.

Applies a more readable font throughout the website, improving readability.

Underlines links throughout the website, making them easier to distinguish.

Adjusts the font size for improved readability.

Visuals

Reduces animations and disables autoplaying videos across the website, reducing distractions and improving focus.

Reduces the colour saturation throughout the website to create a more soothing visual experience.

Increases the contrast of elements on the website, making text and interface elements easier to distinguish.