Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
then open in external browser
and click "Open in External Browser" 
40 Photos Showing Curious Coincidences On New York City Sidewalks By Eric Kogan
Interview With Artist
It’s interesting how different the world can seem through a camera lens. Some people might be excited to take it out only for special occasions or when they see a colorful sunset. But others will keep it in their hands all the time and will make simple moments more special by making them permanent in their camera roll.
It is always interesting to see what moments people think are worth capturing and this time we stumbled upon Eric Kogan’s Instagram where he posts photos just from the streets in New York when he sees some interesting coincidences that can either make you laugh or leave you speechless.
More info: Instagram | Eric Kogan
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Mary Rose Kent 4 years ago
It’s beautiful but it’ll eventually tear the building apart.
Load More Replies...
Randy Klefbeck 3 years ago
When I was a child about 8 years old, we visited a mountain town on vacation and saw a seeding pine growing out of eight foot square inch rock. When revisiting the exact same place as a mid thirties adult, the tree had split the rock, found the ground with roots, and grown to over 20 feet tall.
lisa Pottheiser 4 years ago
Have you seen the north side of the Metropolitan museum? This is gorgeous!
lisa Pottheiser 4 years ago
Have you seen the north side of the Metropolitan Museum? Love this!
Eric Kogan is a photographer who was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, but when he was 5 years old, he came to the states. He currently resides in New York, but he actually grew up in New Jersey. It was his father’s idea to move to the US as he was fascinated with American culture.
New York has a special place in the photographer’s heart as Coney Island was always like a second home to him, spending entire childhood summers with fellow Russians who have a dense community there. In 2008, Eric started studying at Pratt Institute and has lived in Brooklyn ever since.
RELATED:
#2
Lord Mysticlaw 4 years ago
Like it's the ghost of the tree caught in the reflection, quite sad.
kingstork1 4 years ago
The poor chopped-down tree lives on, in an alternate dimension.
Load More Replies...
. 4 years ago
the reflection of the tree is right under a tree stump, making it look like the tree is growing from it (although upside down)
Load More Replies...
#3
Mary Rose Kent 4 years ago
That looks like a mimosa tree, which means come spring it’s going to look gorgeous!
Eric is an artistic soul all around. He has a day job in the event industry and he has a background in painting. He started taking pictures during his school years, where he was able to use the photography lab.
Bored Panda reached out to Eric and he told us that “the studio was a really significant place to me, behind its door I could cancel everything out except for creativity.” The excitement about photography didn’t fade and in 2004 he took his first course on fine art photography and “it taught [him] to pay more attention to [his] immediate surroundings, and it marked the beginning of looking for new discoveries in ordinary places.”
#4
Eagle Girl 4 years ago
Aww this is making me miss my white dove. She just showed up one day, probably following the flock I feed every morning. Used to sleep perched on the ledge over my home. Then one day... she was just gone..
#6
Sheila Stamey 4 years ago
A haiku The bird without cage , In reflection, saw himself. Free to see, beauty.
Joris Meijs 4 years ago
It makes me think of a great work of art in my town : Sky Mirror (for Hendrik) Anish Kapoor De Pont Museum Tilburg.
Eric thinks that the best place to do that is the street. He told the online photography magazine Up that he finds street photography to be inspirational because it pulls the unexpected from the common.
You can notice so many things when you observe your surroundings and even a commute to work can result in an inspirational and interesting photo. That’s exactly what Eric does and presents his followers on Instagram with various coincidences that attract his attention in the streets of New York.
#7
Mike Everly 4 years ago
Perspective is everything. From the looks of it, they were standing there for a while.
Load More Replies...
raemastah 4 years ago
I ACTUALLY STARED AT THIS FOR 10 MINUTES AND FINALLY WORKED OUT WHAT IS HAPPENING. ok so the officer in the front is leaning on the pole thingy and then the other officer is a little farther back so when he put his head down it looked like the officer in the front was like a hybrid or smthn
We asked if Eric would like to explore the streets of other parts of the world and he absolutely would. He said, “I have many photos from abroad that, despite being out of context with my current body of work, played a role in shaping my approach to the medium. They helped me see things back home that I may have failed to register without exploring the world.”
#9
Mary Rose Kent 4 years ago
I love the building! There’s very little brick construction in California because it tends not to do well in an earthquake.
Mazer 4 years ago
There are some brick facade buildings down by the Bay Bridge entrance/exit and the horse stables at the Cruise Field area were brick ( not certain if they are still standing after all the construction in the area).
Load More Replies...
#10
Roxy Eastland 4 years ago
I don't think it's an unexpected coincidence that a plant is growing where there's a water source.
lisa Pottheiser 4 years ago
Even when it made its way through a Crack in the cement?
Load More Replies...
Monica Hayes 4 years ago
fav movie! every time i watch it i am still breathless and sobbing at the end!
Load More Replies...
#11
A B C 4 years ago
*yuppie. At least copy it correctly if you're trying to insult people.
Load More Replies...
lisa Pottheiser 4 years ago
When things align... as for Mary, your comment is horrible. What kind of human being are you?
If you look at the moments that the photographer captures, you will realize that they are not staged and based on serendipity. What is more, they are often temporary, like the clouds lining up or birds standing in just the right spot.
Photographers have their own methods on how to capture the perfect shot: for example, nature photographers may wait for months until they finally have what they want on camera.
We asked how Eric manages to seize those temporary moments. He explained, “A friend of mine once described the decisive moment as being able to tell the future. I thought it was such a fascinating way to look at it, and I've definitely found patterns to follow in how clouds and birds behave. I either sense a formation happening and start maneuvering, or catch only a glimpse of it and wait for the occurrence to happen again. Sometimes it can happen again quickly, other times have challenged my patience for years.”
#12
#13
Mary Rose Kent 4 years ago
It’s either patience or lucky timing...either way it’s pretty cool!
MikeMaxis 4 years ago
Not really, just had to walk in the right direction to frame it.
Load More Replies... 
As the photos are not staged and are results of the spur of the moment, they probably don’t have thought-out significance beforehand. But it doesn’t mean they are meaningless either.
The photographer wants people who look at these photos to know that “It’s all about connecting with others, sharing what I find important, and seeing what could be taken from them. My aim isn’t to provide anyone with answers, it’s rather to ask questions. The personal takes and individual relationships that people have expressed through them is really where the meaning lies.”
What was your favorite moment captured by Eric Kogan? And what do you think of his photography overall? Let us know in the comments and don’t forget to upvote the photos that left the biggest impression for you!
#17
Lp Johnson 4 years ago
It's Really HARD to catch a plane in flight, unless you're Already focused on it. This is a GREAT catch!
#18
#19
Mary Rose Kent 4 years ago
It’s hard to make amusing photos without living creatures...I LOVE IT!
#20
James Pasquini 4 years ago
My first thought was, "Do the balloons change color with the light?" lol!
Load More Replies... 
#21
#22
Mary Rose Kent 4 years ago
Imagine trying to put this together as a jigsaw puzzle without looking at the box...
snipergun 4 years ago
Even with looking at the box it would be difficult 😊
Load More Replies... Lovin' Life 4 years ago
Maybe, maybe not... but reminds me of depression.... looking for a window in the wall you have put up. Looking for a way out.
#23
mOmmyOfthree 4 years ago (edited)
That is mesmerizing. It almost tricks your mind. I love these posts so much. The creativity makes me love this app even more!
#24
Eagle Girl 4 years ago
OooHH..this is dark. Those are pigeons scattering to avoid becoming Hawk food
#25
Leah Williams 4 years ago
You can kind of tell it's not though because there are lots of tiny leaves that accumulated over time
Load More Replies...
#26
Robert T 4 years ago
So that's how they make road markings! You train a pigeon to poop in straight line!
Sue Rogers 4 years ago
I thought he had toilet paper stuck to his foot. LOL!
Load More Replies...
#28
James Pasquini 4 years ago (edited)
Catch a falling cloud and put it in your pocket. Save it for a rainless day.
#29
#30
Mary Rose Kent 4 years ago
He seems to be doing a pretty good job on his own...
Load More Replies... 
#31
Sarjana Lastname 4 years ago
This too, reflection, timeless photograph. Harmonic, I can see this enlarged at wall. Simple and complex same time
#32
#34
Eagle Girl 4 years ago
Right? Looks like something out of 'The Magicians"
Load More Replies...
Chloe *Leah* Pheonix 4 years ago
If RPGs have ever taught me anything, it's to break through that wall
J Aislynn d'Merricksson 4 years ago
In an RPG, that's exactly where you need to use the hammer 🤣
#35
Celtic Pirate Queen 4 years ago
We get this over our house every night with crows heading towards the sunset. Creepy as f*ck. We lost count at about 160 one night.
Hens' Teeth 4 years ago
I don't usually care for cars that have paint jobs done that have weird stuff on it, though I like looking at others people cars that have it, I wouldn't mind have this as a paint job on my vehicle lol
Sarjana Lastname 4 years ago
Reminds first photographic art made in begun of 1900's. Enlarge this and sell it. I find symbolism in it ....
#36
Mary Rose Kent 4 years ago
The texture of the paint makes it look like the building is made of tissue paper
Dorothy Parker 4 years ago
It's s so pretty and well composed. We under appreciate how beautiful pigeons are.
#37
BoredHuman 4 years ago (edited)
This is a building developers cover. They use it to cover up a building that is going to be demolished to show the world what is going to take its place. The cover has been printed with a photo of the new development. It is an advertisement.
BoredHuman 4 years ago
This is a condo/ homes developer cover. They use it to cover up a building that is going to be demolished to show the world what is going to take its place. The cover has been printed with a photo of the new development.
Load More Replies...
#38
janny the wonder women 4 years ago
I'm taking over this world!!! Well maybe just this sidewalk.
#39
#40
GoddessOdd 4 years ago
I would expect to see a hand, or at least some fingertips on the edge of the box... how is she holding on to it?
Add New Image
What do you think ?
renee barnes 4 years ago
Thanks for posting! These are brilliant some of the best photos I've seen!
Kenny Kulbiski 4 years ago
Enjoyed all of these but have to admit a couple of them still have me confused. For those of you that got them all immediately, don't feel too superior, I'm easily confused.
renee barnes 4 years ago
Thanks for posting! These are brilliant some of the best photos I've seen!
Kenny Kulbiski 4 years ago
Enjoyed all of these but have to admit a couple of them still have me confused. For those of you that got them all immediately, don't feel too superior, I'm easily confused.
You May Like 50 AI Art Fails That Are Both Horrifying And Hilarious 72 Creative Graffiti Art That Turned Blank Walls Into Objects Of Admiration 40 Famous Paintings That Changed Art Forever And Cost A Fortune Doing It
Eglė Bliabaitė
Eligijus Sinkunas
Viktorija Strelciunaite
Related on Bored Panda
