GESINA + ERIK // NEW YORK

From a shaded terrace overlooking the river Elbe on a sunny day in July two years ago, to a boat ride crossing from the North to the South shore of Hamburg on a hot day in August one year ago, to a muggy night in a rooftop bar overlooking Manhattan late this August. Gesina and Erik have a way of coming back into my life, or rather staying in it, that makes me happy to know them. After two weddings this time around it’s a New York portrait session.

But first we explore the East Village where they live now. I get hooked on lobster rolls from Luke’s, we revisit the park by the East River where they practised their first dance (to escape a notoriously small New York apartment), we make our way over to the Highline and through it all have so much fun that we lose the light. Over the blinking lights of Manhattan and overpriced cocktails in plastic cups we consider the pros and cons of a German mindset when living in a foreign country. And somehow decide that it would be a brilliant idea to get up at the crack of dawn to escape the herds of tourists on the Brooklyn Bridge.

As I pull up in my cab at 6 am, the early morning struggle of a flashing 5:00 on my alarm clock quickly evaporates as I see these two sitting on a bench. Leaning in close, with warm smiles. Happiness. We greet the sun halfway between Manhattan and Brooklyn, no herds of tourists around, a golden glow over everything. Turns out our late night rooftop bar idea was spot on, this is brilliant.

All photographed on Kodak Portra 400 and Fuji 400H, developed and scanned by Richard Photo Lab.

© 2016 Ann-Kathrin Koch. Images look best without watermarks on them so please don’t use these photos without my permission.