NYC Street Chess
Every Move Counts
Street photographer Billy Dinh explores New York’s vibrant chess culture, documenting the people who bring the game to life. Through authentic encounters and candid storytelling, the project explores the parallels between photography and chess.
Looking beyond the board, it reveals how a shared passion can bring strangers together and turn everyday encounters into lasting stories.
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On the street, you always have to think three moves ahead. Whether on the chessboard or behind the camera, it all starts with observation.
Billy Dinh
The Leica Q Family: A Perfect Connection
Billy relies on the Leica Q, using the Q3 and Q3 43 as tools that never interrupt the connection between photographer and subject. Fast, intuitive and discreet, they allow him to react instinctively as moments unfold, capturing a split-second expression across the chessboard or the energy that fills Washington Square.
For wide-angle scenes, he turns to the Q3, while the Q3 43 offers a perspective that closely mirrors the way he naturally sees the world.
I never leave home without a camera. The same street, the same board, yet every visit tells a different story.
Billy Dinh
Leica Q3
A Wide Angle to Capture the Whole Story
‘I turn to the Leica Q3 with its 28 mm focal length when I’m looking to fit more into a frame. Whether it’s to include multiple subjects, establish a sense of location or simply give the photo some breathing room. It allows me to document additional context of what’s going on. The wide-angle lens and tiltable display allow me to play with more unusual angles of view and compositions to capture scenes that feel more dramatic and engaging. The camera’s small size makes it easier to get even closer and become part of the action.’
Leica Q3 43
Close Enough for the Quiet Details
‘The Leica Q3 43 is excellent when I’m capturing the details of a scene. As much as I enjoy getting up close, there are moments when getting closer won’t get me the desired result I’m visualizing. With the Q3 43, I get the compression and depth of field I’m looking for in these types of shots. I typically prefer a normal to longer focal length when shooting more abstract scenes like reflections, textures and motions. I like using the camera’s built-in crop to make the subject look even larger.’
Billy’s Gear
The Art of Anticipation
When doing street photography, you always have to think three moves ahead, just like in chess. Every encounter brings a new perspective, every game tells a different story and every moment has the potential to become something memorable. The Leica Q allows Billy to stay focused on the scene in front of him, confident that he’ll be ready when the next move comes.
About Billy
Billy Dinh lives and works as a photographer in Brooklyn, New York. His dramatic, atmospheric images heavily rely on light and shadow. Combined with his instinct for unique moments, they feel like scenes from a film. Looking through Dinh’s lens, we watch the world unfold and catch glimpses of life’s little moments.
