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Through the flyways and byways that surround Manhattan. Image (supplied): David Bradford

Drive-by Shootings (published by Ullmann in 2000) by David Bradford is a striking photobook that captures the raw, fleeting moments of New York City as seen through the eyes of a taxi driver. Bradford, a former art director turned cab driver, used his unique vantage point behind the wheel to document the city's streets, blending motion, light, and chance encounters into a compelling visual narrative.

Image (supplied): David Bradford

Shot from the confines of his taxi on the semi-legendary (some say overrated) 35mm Yashica T4 point and shoot camera and high ISO B&W film, Bradford’s images embrace spontaneity, often featuring interesting characters, blurred lights, rain-streaked windshields, and unexpected compositions.

The result is a collection of photographs that feel both intimate and chaotic—perfectly reflecting the energy and unpredictability of New York, through its distinct seasons.

The NYC Fashion District. Image (supplied): David Bradford

His work straddles the line between documentary and abstract street photography, capturing the city not in stillness but in movement, with each frame conveying a sense of fleeting urgency. You can really see his graphic designer / art director skills shinning through.

Limousine. Image (supplied): David Bradford

Beyond its visual impact, Drive-by Shootings is also a meditation on the act of seeing and the relationship between a driver and the city. As Bradford navigated through endless traffic, his camera became an extension of his experience—snapping moments that might otherwise go unnoticed.

Personally, being an part-time ex-taxi driver, I relate to this work, and Bradford captures a sort of romanticism that you experience being on the 'front-line' of humanity – bearing witness to a myriad of characters and random happenings.

Image (supplied): David Bradford

This 480 page book stands as a testament to the beauty of imperfection, celebrating the unfiltered poetry of everyday life in an urban landscape.

You read more about the photobook on David Bradford's website.