Among the photographs that hang on their respective sides of Design on Main in downtown Ames, it’s easy to see the connection that journalist and photographer Michael Corones shares with New York City.  

Titled “Gotham,” the haunting black and white and the vibrant colors paint a picture of New York City through Corones’ own experiences. The gallery opened Friday night with a reception at the College of Design’s satellite facility. Design on Main will feature Corones’ work until Jan. 28.

“It’s mostly shots that I stumbled into while wandering around New York City, where I moved four years ago or so,” Corones said. “I always walk around with at least my cell phone or camera.”

Corones said that while his more recent images were taken with a proper Sony camera, he captured much of his older work with his cell phone. It wasn’t until he began receiving positive feedback from the people around him that he began taking photography seriously.

“I think I’ve learned pretty quickly [during] the last four or so years since I’ve moved to New York,” Corones said. “But I didn’t really have any interest in or knowledge of any ability until that happened, so I kind of stumbled into it.”

One of Corones’ photographs featured in “Gotham” depicts an old, decaying piano resting on the shore of the East River.

“It was actually on TV locally,” Corones said. “I walked by it a couple of times and it fell further and further into disrepair because, I think, as the tide came in picking at the piano more and more. That shot’s from a couple of years ago and it was kind of a local legend.”

Other images feature Times Square, the Manhattan Bridge, the East River and Central Park Hotel.

While his fine art illustrates his adoration of New York City, Corones’ connection with a much smaller town, Ames, might be harder to notice.

Corones grew up in Ames, graduating from Ames High School. His brother Matthew, a photographer as well, graduated from Iowa State with a master’s in fine arts in 2012, according to the College of Design website. When he returned to Ames last year to visit his family, he found that his brother had an exhibit at Design on Main.

“I got to know some of the gallery folks and they invited me back to have a show,” Corones said. “I’m kind of sheepish about it because I feel like there are people [that] their life goal is to have a show, and I’ve stumbled into one.”

Along with his talent behind the camera, Corones has worked as a journalist for nearly 15 years. His writing has been featured on Reuters.com, along with the Washington Post, the Denver Post and the San Jose Mercury News, according to the College of Design website.

“[Journalism is] my day job, which I still really enjoy,” Corones said. “So that’s where some of the writing comes in, but [photography] sort of scratches the itch that the writing and editing and technical part of journalism doesn’t.”  

Corones said that while he doesn’t have any set plans for the future, he intends to continue exploring New York City, taking a camera with him wherever he goes.