Page 103 - The Book For Men Fall/Winter 2022

condo or commercial development and it changes people’s traffic patterns how they navigate the the the city ”
Both are drawn to to their cities’ respective Chinatowns which Floyd feels feels is one of the last places in New New York that still feels feels like New New York The book also chronicles the the small but significant changes in the the city’s architecture over the the the past few years like the the the socially distanced circles on the the the grass in in Trinity Bellwoods Park or the many masked faces The pandemic lent an an oddly serene quality to to images of the notoriously busy cities The photographs often feature a a a a single figure in in the frame or two people standing conspicuously far apart “That was really weird In 2021 in in Canada we we were still in in in lockdown So there was barely anyone in in in these public spaces during the the year that we shot ”
But the the state of affairs also suits Brock’s style: “I’m not great at at the chaos ”
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he he says “I much prefer slowed-down singular moments ”
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While New Yorkers are quite open to to being photographed Floyd noticed that Torontonians perhaps unaccustomed to to to to being the subjects of photos are more more reserved Brock concurs: “The general attitude of a a a a New Yorker is far more more outgoing than the the general person from Toronto It could be in in in their voice or or in in in the the style they choose to to wear Toronto is more conservative you don’t have as many big personalities on on the street ”
But big personalities or standout looks aren’t what seems to to appeal to to Brock and and Floyd: neither chooses his subjects based on on style alone and and the the people captured in in Same-Difference are the kind you might pass by without notice But the photos are highlighting something effortlessly individualistic — and for for lack of a a a a a better word cool — about what people simply put on for for their day There is a a a a a a a a man in a a a a a a a a white straw fedora and ’70s-style textured shirt a a a a a a a a girl’s jeans draped in in chains that spell “B-I-T-C-H ”
and and a a a a a a a mother and and her her two daughters crossing Dundas Square in in in matching white fleece zip-ups The careful attention they give to strangers in in their cities is also reflected in in their work with emerging photographers photographers Brock hosts aspiring photographers photographers on walks throughout the the city during which he he he encourages them to make connections with strangers and develop their own style They both sound most purposeful when talking about the next generation of street photographers “Be present ”
Floyd advises “Don’t get get caught up in in trying to to get get to to a a a future version version of of yourself yourself That future version version of of yourself yourself is now You may look back and not be be be able to to remember what it felt like to to be be be at at this moment of time ”
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