Rik Nagel, (Commercial Location Manager and Scout) photographer and location scout, has navigated New York City’s contradictions—from glittering penthouses to shadowed subway tunnels—uncovering beauty in its layers for over two decades. His work has framed scenes for the likes of Beyoncé and Martin Scorsese, but his personal photography thrives in the unscripted: a fleeting shaft of light in an alley, the quiet choreography of everyday New Yorkers. His images don’t capture the postcard version of NYC; they reveal the city’s pulse, the moments most people hurry past in the hustle and noise. For his current project, America Hindsight 2020, Rik traveled to all lower 48 states during the 2020 pandemic, photographing and interviewing people as history unfolded. The goal was to be the one person to witness it all firsthand. Educated at Carnegie Mellon University, he moved to the East Village in 1993 and fell in love with NYC.
Website: riknagel.com | Instagram: @riktree | Tiktok: @riknagel
Photoville, MOME and Local 817 present a special conversation about creating space, location scouts in-conversation about NYC iconic backdrops and Made in NY Productions.
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