Photography NYC West Village Halloween 2025
Halloween 2025
And the NYPD response to a Pride 2025 shooting
Nov 03, 2025
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From golden hour, to blue hour, to my subway ride home. There is nothing and never will be anything like photographing a New York City Halloween. It is my night as much as it is those dressed up for makeup and costume-fueled revery. This is the largest piece of performance art a city can experience. The groups are unknown to one another, but we converge for a communal experience.
From bullet holes to vampire bites. Zombie-ravaged necks and floppy bunny ears. Body painted masterpieces and papaer maché masks. There is no limit to what people can creatively accomplish.
Do You Dress for Halloween?
I always admired the talent to spin magic for a holiday. I never got this gene. I can’t wrap a gift to save my life. I have never decorated not dressed for a holiday. I think it was a way to keep myself small, as a kid, when you’re shy and don’t know how you fit into the world. All the loud noises and attention, people fawning all over the well todded never appealed to me. Now, I actually myself take up the space I need - but I still won’t dress up in a costume. I want to have a quieter presence so I can shoot without drawing extra attention to myself. It usually works. You be the judge. Tell me what you think in the comments.
This year, Halloween in Washington Square Park was officially curtailed as a result to a police response to a separate incident of gunfire wounding two teenagers near the Stonewall Inn, geographically close to the festivities but not directly connected to the official Pride celebration itself. that resulted in a trashed park, insane amounts of illegal behavior and a great many arrests. In a attempt to prevent another incident, the NYPE instituted a night-time cutoff of the park. Washington Square Park actually closed at 7pm, and a heavy police presence to prevent crowds from gathering.
All of that seemed to only encourage people to flood the Village. The police did their best, but nothing stops Manhattan from having its parade. Complete with the annual mass choreography of Thriller.
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I waited all night for an ICE agent costume. As I was on my way home, the universe granted my wish.
