If you were to define some of the things that helps to make NYC what it is, on that list would be the musicians. These troubadours often provide entertainment for many a crowd–who often stop to listen, contribute a donation, and share the moment with followers on social media. Back in the winter of 2016, Dimitri Mais did a special project showcasing some of these musicians in their natural environment. Some of them take refuge in the subways while others simply set up shop on the streets.

Dimitri’s portraits are candid and encompass who these musicians are by using black and white combine with effective natural lighting. The lighting combined with specific use of tones highlights the subject and shows us exactly where to look in the scenes.

Do these images seem easy to take? Well, yes. Sure. But while they seem easy, sometimes it isn’t simple to actually capture the musicians in this exact state. It requires having a bit of money to donate or just finding the exact right moment, lighting, etc. It’s less of a photojournalism project and more of a documentary portraiture project.

All images by . Used with .