Leica Masterclass with Phil Penman – From Lens to Legacy

The British-born, New York-based photographer Phil Penman has dedicated over 25 years documenting the ever-changing scene of New York City's streets. His distinctive black-and-white approach to street photography has cemented his reputation as one of the most significant visual chroniclers of the modern metropolis. Before rising to prominence for his personal street work, Penman built a substantial career as a news and magazine photographer. His reportage has appeared in prestigious international publications, including The Guardian, Paris Match, National Geographic, Time Magazine, The Independent, and The New York Review of Books. Throughout this period, he photographed major public figures and captured historical events. His dedication to documenting history is perhaps most evident in his powerful work following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. This searing reportage has been featured across major news outlets like NBC's Today show, the BBC, the History Channel, and Al Jazeera, and his compelling images are now preserved within the archives of the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, serving as a vital record of that tragic day. Penman's contributions to documenting modern American history have continued to earn high-level recognition. His poignant images covering the pandemic lockdown in New York City were acquired by the U.S. Library of Congress. This acquisition places his contemporary documentation alongside the work of legendary Depression-era documentarians such as Walker Evans and Dorothea Lange, underscoring the cultural and historical value of his photographs. His signature street photography, characterized by its sharp contrasts and evocative sense of moment, has been widely exhibited. His work has been displayed in Galleries around the world. Most recently his work was shown as part of the 100 Year anniversary of Leica. Penman is also an enthusiastic educator, touring the world to teach photography workshops for the renowned Leica Akademie. His expertise and influence in the field have been formally recognized; he was recently named among the “52 Most Influential Street Photographers,” a list that honors him alongside genre legends like Henri Cartier-Bresson, Sebastião Salgado, Diane Arbus, and Garry Winogrand. His books have successfully brought his work to a broader audience: • Street (2019): This best-seller captured the raw energy and diverse life of New York's boroughs. • New York Street Diaries (2023): This follow-up also achieved best-seller status and was featured at the prestigious Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, further establishing his place in the fine art photography world. The book sold over 7500 Copies in its first two years after release. • Big New York (2024): Where his work was featured alongside photographic legends Elliot Erwitt and Thomas Hoepker. • Street Scenes (2025): His most recent book launched as the number one Street Photography book on Amazon and continues to be sold around the world.