Photographer
Paul McDonough has a knack for catching passing, off-kilter incongruities on the New York City streets. He arrived in the city in 1967 and started taking photographs of unique moments happening around him; the
New York City 1968-1972 series is said to be his first as a photographer.
Capturing weirdness on the streets of New York City might seem like an easy feat, but McDonough has a rare ability to capture a confluence of gestures in the exact moment in which a great photograph happens.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibxdNbh_Y_qc3cu2ubzYJ0JFq671yqMSTPP8xj7sIPX7-FiNMQVJrfR6UdmxJaHs6rDL6elwRf3LEv7CX3N6fHgoh3z6L981D6vcDjv3IHkIMa088Q2AXHYnEN9VGqEy-WkE-Pk263SFI/s640-rw/New+York+City+from+1968-1972+(2).jpg) |
Two Women in White Shorts, 1973 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFSYv8-4p4BzX4awiLgJ9fsn3K4WBbDnB0srDWSmnNVvqvyqhwYOtyGot7iJ5Z_ONn-AA4VT0pCMWzsFsyNBlT35tuyXsooby-4uD0AQ5V6MRSVYFdTcW-Bwadgs-Qg-7nOKsZZJ5S79U/s640-rw/New+York+City+from+1968-1972+(3).jpg) |
Women in Fur Coats, 1974 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ32le0pBQM9-JzR4xgC9EXoTdo1JGGyRSUXhHeNvEy2Vpxs-JcU1RWpSoaDnNjkU_Pohi-RpteqjnZCIwN3mRh943NvPlET8iDFxOPsoSzKzm3NXg_AjytnzP1DOAODGSEPog7e5ILzU/s640-rw/New+York+City+from+1968-1972+(1).jpg) |
Two Men on Stand Pipes Watching Parade, 1975 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlEihP95SJPninuVb_tTuGc0_Kr-Orfc0HVYIQI2ZPYIeKxHwKBCdjKz9_suCP_-0crji_daF-9gLMhcDD5kiFNZKxTLYvVfpQkKRUbgXVQ-u8L-Ocv0wezh-yBjy0XdAPqlrAJeRzV8s/s640-rw/New+York+City+from+1968-1972+(5).jpg) |
Me and Woman on Crutches, 1973 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiWWw9uQ5AL5tvjVr5BscvB3V4vP1-zEb2y9XtQLpXbH-VnPHuYLqncuPwnOG9rkipbCIhu0iIRa8huMwn780K1GtWCG-GZhzSdW7y73t0bTL9VR5cW_kP8eKw8AqrGEnWvj_Cdc6e6eg/s640-rw/New+York+City+from+1968-1972+(6).jpg) |
Hari Krishna and Blind Man, 1973 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtXHJcfVG4c5faTOst0Jz1I_R8CuRhvHvBIyueIjLQVzM84yxEgPdBOCyAkC9GKUKO5I6RI_dD6xd545W9LFLSbejqdhYJHz7l2RxzVmoy6eqzt7BzyCRgoJuuxROL23SglU9dLrxp7-Y/s640-rw/New+York+City+from+1968-1972+(4).jpg) |
Three Car Salesmen, 1973 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgksobHOv6DQ5OtL-lvS8dLUWPzyey8GcD-fzBVXHw2d4aCKHAHFjAihcnalQg39mDTshM1o2RPRQyDhz1DTvsgHz2YW14KsDgFw0Pgmwo8g2ZW6UMtgolvNZFnvvZdLYC4Jl76zf4uM5o/s640-rw/New+York+City+from+1968-1972+(7).jpg) |
Doorway with Man, Baby in Stroller, and Girl, 1973 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikCLK8CqE-tk6ObqnI0BKj_-n5mHhtEVogy8g0D2-p2Ea6sXlBozIDy-Aqf2zFFbRcB6XlfLLYL8l3bhVg2W9BN1-s-bAHF1xleoWKnPkkx0YLjtXKuVqPRTldqTLXbr1-XFeJ5b2skCw/s640-rw/New+York+City+from+1968-1972+(9).jpg) |
Street Corner, East Side, Man with Shopping Bag, 1973 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqEP7eeIoYAGyYnFBR8jc2DZZl0LIw0TaMICT5V5r_BOlHIM4NBLPby3x1SeYetPIdh_tirKtNK4x4MJW-MsPuh9HEiC3F4Eo5Zz4ISKrdoWnek6HBbgIDh10CS0rdmkpy84lUH2LjUgU/s640-rw/New+York+City+from+1968-1972+(8).jpg) |
Girl and Woman with Dog Crossing Street, 1973 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz6Gud6NmcGAKZ3xs6CAkU4tmx-qqPnFYmr0u_6J4YieaIhHOIkfa4FVilY7tB0I2SoxjYoNfR0NnT607zX4atUzvUuQJfRfnttHaeOE3U9I43gNkaXd3rNJAeuVWHFAV143BdtV4tbdI/s640-rw/New+York+City+from+1968-1972+(12).jpg) |
New York Auto Show, 1978 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAI-lP_5MJrTVWphyVFdcU5T-SsXk0vy5tM2Flbl83ivC7Elh1_yPcwzlKG2rAnOuWRPnobbbbXvCX4WSp0S4VPBY6noTzQVsQ_jUPmKyYs2LFxiDmy1QZsRDGcPm6zTc9iJZJdGtZZkI/s640-rw/New+York+City+from+1968-1972+(11).jpg) |
Three Musicians, 1978 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4oRPL8Wr1J5Bp2EcXQ4y__v00lCDIL2UQmBbpCb_poiP-Wp06-PzGKECFF683SSU6TaMgIuXweajs_OFnQbhv1Q7fWWJ1Kp9skJ9Sx3j5xku0n9GwaCSjcPoxni2qo-9Wh3uEDxY8oJ4/s640-rw/New+York+City+from+1968-1972+(10).jpg) |
Girl and Woman Touching Horses, 1973 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhraV-kigXooRutSLAeitzQ9AcHJWkk619aKslWV-HrrGZP4OunRNeihLZFgERnWqLJrYA6IE5xSJignAsQr3NgdYJH3zvQ8kV4fjuhuAgqdfu4gfpUMaT0QWqT6kAEkI3zrC_xPL5AiOQ/s640-rw/New+York+City+from+1968-1972+(13).jpg) |
War Museum Display- West Point, 1975 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk8ZfDmFVPpaAKLWdLOC5ilbC846ssQ2GQnLrRl1h1eZZJyGZSL72x12WHUvSmG_d4C4HIlu1uo8uD7HM7074NHA197fL9hZJOyl84iuq-TmXDkY21plGBCQJnUVpu-dfGx0n0SeYisAk/s640-rw/New+York+City+from+1968-1972+(14).jpg) |
The Roman Room at the Met, 1973 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik-1chmXmDT_QNH_l1WytaNf3ZjAffMHt5JusP0XuLqKnP3_9Li0IKLypLlmDnbdNvWEIfW3F8SETacMngq8qSK0WE5A_GegLVJXKjyiM3uo7M3cXE1W9C4mtkO5yd7SEroFcOmofa2bw/s640-rw/New+York+City+from+1968-1972+(15).jpg) |
Couple, Central Park Cafe, 1973 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzlYrO0UbmP5kRCqdd9G_9MIOBLImcmU4TSjrJhvtuhxuOcUcTdieNAZfxPoxk5kUy7I5kFmXUq_Z4r7ZaHIZZxKiIwew57_KoV8a6Hk0WdSkYHOES7A6z2I5LMQKDkF3vKNPz6rM1pBo/s640-rw/New+York+City+from+1968-1972+(16).jpg) |
Central Park, Boy on Band Shell, 1973 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCpe6MLRD87A1tw2DH7-4c2_4euhfOBvdawjdo2Vq0dnsk6jMkg-6V8MkxHOSPDZ-ECXqMytMqlR9soItjhT4uHC_zEOtvNZhJBbPFCpWpKQK3riZTfoJBfc6uHu33lV16Yak0L5SU6Q/s640-rw/New+York+City+from+1968-1972+(17).jpg) |
Couple and Pilgrim Statue, 1973 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiW_7AcabHUCSdShUSy_TfsQiVeKC1nUh1bNHHOXeueX30rzyLjnlksfF0yXyUtqQa-GTD1ChlR9M_A7bxl6i6vwnjH2yL13Mu7slA3V6xOidVrILSXmJA8XILUgmcuBFXFlIJqZtDFvs/s640-rw/New+York+City+from+1968-1972+(18).jpg) |
Couple in Central Park, 1969 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0HZgjpfYkO7teQNg1dR6Owi1IdB92ei7Rq4UvspMKXuGJAV0OHzXFuJMn6UQ89KKszS1r7_WdOOgJbZcE2rFi5OQdv9MNwGBHMRfVBCN5Esb8Vx5w4nWzkWhVQSlOehnHtf6u4BCoJsI/s640-rw/New+York+City+from+1968-1972+(19).jpg) |
Central Park Pond - Kids in Tree, 1973 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicpW49knpmEBZ4YQZjTCE5fj3vFFobeOD7cpBZ44d8IvB_HgwxAiQ1gZKZIIDGMslrlbe_VxPQQt3leOTBRcPZbYSPRODfrw4Hl7dD0mrKtG8Ja6n2C7r6nG00Va5Ad36dUe2QTYM2Ffg/s640-rw/New+York+City+from+1968-1972+(20).jpg) |
Central Park, Couple with Baby in Newspaper, 1973 |
(©
Paul McDonough. Courtesy Sasha Wolf Gallery, New York City, via
Slate)