Steven Siegel is a veteran film photographer, based-in Bergen County, New Jersey, USA. He has been photographing over 30 years and most of his photos are about street scenes in New York City from the 1980s to now.

“When young people today look at my shots from the 1980s, they are aghast. To them, New York of the 1980s is almost unrecognizable. And they are right. 

Some older people are nostalgic for ‘the good old days’. For example, they remember the Times Square of the 1980s… And what they remember is not so much the danger but the grittiness and (for lack of a better word) the authenticity. Yes, there was sleaze, but there were also video arcades, cheap movies, restaurants, and weird places.”

Here is an impressive photo set that Siegel documented everyday life of Times Square area during the 1980s.

Everyday Life of Times Square Area

Everyday Life of Times Square Area

Everyday Life of Times Square Area

Everyday Life of Times Square Area

Everyday Life of Times Square Area

Everyday Life of Times Square Area

Everyday Life of Times Square Area

Everyday Life of Times Square Area

Everyday Life of Times Square Area

Everyday Life of Times Square Area

Everyday Life of Times Square Area

Everyday Life of Times Square Area

Everyday Life of Times Square Area

Everyday Life of Times Square Area

Everyday Life of Times Square Area

Everyday Life of Times Square Area

Everyday Life of Times Square Area

Everyday Life of Times Square Area

Everyday Life of Times Square Area

Everyday Life of Times Square Area

Everyday Life of Times Square Area

Everyday Life of Times Square Area

Everyday Life of Times Square Area

Everyday Life of Times Square Area

Everyday Life of Times Square Area

Everyday Life of Times Square Area

Everyday Life of Times Square Area

Everyday Life of Times Square Area