INTERNET IMPRESSED BY STUNNING PHOTOS OF NEW YORK BY GEN Z PHOTOGRAPHER

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The 21-year-old student's stunning NYC images earned more than 1.4M likes on Instagram—and even a nod from SZA.

A 21-year-old photographer has gained viral attention online—and even a seal of approval from R&B star SZA—thanks to his striking images of New York City.

A post shared by Cal Cole to Instagram under @graphic.cal on February 13, features a carousel of scenic and tastefully edited images of the city and has since garnered over 1.4 million likes, stunning viewers on the platform with its cinematic aesthetic. The collection of science-fiction inspired shots had been taken during Cole's exchange semester at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn.

Cole told Newsweek that his experience studying in New York was "one of the most incredible" periods of his life, and that he had wanted to capture the city's beauty.

"I majored in photography at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn between August and December, 2024," Cole, who is from Manchester, England, told Newsweek. "I turned 21 whilst away, met some great people, and shared a college dormitory with two other exchange students who became good friends.

"I was also really happy with the work I made there."

Cal Cole poses in front of a framed selection of his photography. Credit: @GRAPHIC.CAL

His caption for the viral post, "favorite NYC work," is simple yet evocative, while the first image in the carousel is overlaid with text reading: "Photos I took on exchange semester in NYC."

The laid-back captions, which contrast with the artistic images, have led to plenty of comments poking fun at how unserious Cole seemed about his work. Little did viewers online know that the Gen Z photographer had actually put plenty of thought, passion and emotion into what he shot in New York.

Cole credits the collection to legendary photographers such as Saul Leiter, Andreas Gursky and Ernst Haas—some of his greatest inspirations.

A Life Behind the Camera

Cole's journey in photography began long before his viral success, with him snapping pictures on his phone during his childhood.

"I've been photographing and sharing work to social media for around seven years now, since I was gifted a second-hand DSLR camera for my 14th birthday," he said, although he now uses a Canon EOS 5D Mark II.

His early works hinted at his artistic potential, and by the time he was 16 or 17, his images were already gaining traction online. His following has grown rapidly since then, with his 100,000 followers in 2024 doubling to 200,000 shortly after the viral success of his NYC post.

"While studying at Pratt, I spent a lot of time in the library looking at the work of other photographers," Cole said. "It's been nice that some people in the post have recognized those influences."

Many viewers of the post had noted the cinematic feel of Cole's work, comparing it to the visual language of Blade Runner and Interstellar, films that Cole cites as major sources of inspiration.

"A lot of my inspiration comes from science-fiction futurism, so it was nice that people noticed these references," he added.

Those with a keen eye for detail shared in the comments section that they had also noticed themes of of solitude, calmness and melancholy in the images, themes that Cole had intended to convey in the body of work.

'SZA Liked the Post'

Despite the overwhelming support online, Cole was initially unsure about how his NYC work compared with his previous projects, and how it would be received online in an era full of digital hate.

"Whilst I was in New York, I was second-guessing the work a lot and felt like my photos of Manchester were much stronger," he said.

"Upon returning home, I realized that it wasn't worse—it was just different.

"Some of my friends even said they preferred it."

Cole said he had been primarily focused on making work for his photography critique class every Tuesday rather than curating content for social media.

"Because of this, I didn't expect the post to do incredibly well—I just kind of felt like sharing the work," he said.

Despite his uncertainty, the post resonated widely with viewers across the world.

"When it did in fact get seen by a lot of people, the comments were overwhelmingly positive, which was really nice," he said. "I'm very lucky to get so much support from strangers, and I enjoy reading what people have to say—it's very reassuring."

While the feedback has been largely positive, Cole is no stranger to criticism—particularly from traditionalists in the photography industry. Some have taken issue with his editing process, which involves tweaking colors and incorporating abstract effects in Photoshop.

"I don't mind and understand this as a criticism from other people's perspective," he said. "For me, I see the editing as part of the process, but it's fine for others to disagree.

"I see it as one of the consequences of having your work seen by lots of people with differing opinions."

The virality of the post has had more than just an impact on his audience; it has also helped Cole reach significant personal milestones.

"The post is actually what helped me hit 200,000 followers, which is a goal I didn't even think of aiming for last year," he said. "I've also sold prints of the work across the world, which is really cool to think about."

One of the most surreal moments of his newfound online fame came when a high-profile fan expressed her admiration for his work on the platform.

"SZA also liked the post," Cole said. "It is crazy to think that SZA has seen my face and my work.

"I have loads of her songs on my playlist!"

As his artistic career continues to develop with him now back in his hometown, Manchester, Cole remains focused on his passion for photography and sharing his vision with the world.

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