Art, Culture, Film
by Alex Sheremet

DIGITAL GRUNGE: Alex Sheremet’s Cityscapes in 4K

A photo of Richmond, Virginia, taken by Alex Sheremet in 2025, depicting a brightly lit orange street lamp with orange smoke and a blue dusk. It is the title image for Alex Sheremet's "Digital Grunge" series.

A few months ago, I started to use the Canon EOS M50’s 4K video option for much of my digital photography. Since I edit my digital photos quite a bit, 4K video offers a good balance of crispness and fuzziness, allowing you to more easily control how illustrative the final result should be. It also allows you to choose the best photographic still and not worry about precise timing. The M50 doesn’t have the best autofocus, yet this can be an advantage for catching (or omitting) certain details in the shot. Some images, such as “Thoughts Hang Like Rain” (below), would have been difficult without 4K video and haphazard autofocus. As a result, there can be a grunge feel even in more delicate shots.

These photos were taken in the second half of 2025, across New York City, Minneapolis, Pittsburgh, Virginia, and Nebraska. Although the Canon M50 is mostly my support camera for stray shots, they can be excellent photographs in their own right, since few cameras are as light, nimble, and forgiving. Because I shoot V-Log on my LUMIX, I use Vivid preset on the M50 to make these shots more dramatic. This is especially useful for desaturating the color grade later, as it will still look quite rich.

You can view my 35mm Analog Grunge series here, as well as 100s of my best photos over the years.

* * *

DIGITAL GRUNGE (2025)

Alex Sheremet's photo of a Pittsburgh skyscraper set against a massive gray cloud and deep blue skies. It was shot on the Sony CanonM50 using 4K video on Vivid preset.
“Loomings.” Pittsburgh, 2025.
Alex Sheremet's photo of a Richmond, Virginia light condominium light-system illuminating front patio grass. It was shot on the Sony CanonM50 using 4K video on Vivid preset.
“In The Flood.” Richmond, Virginia, 2025.
Alex Sheremet's photo of a woman's tattooed ring next to a ring-like highway up above. It was shot on the Sony CanonM50 using 4K video on Vivid preset.
“How Infrastructure Fades.” Chinatown, New York City, 2025.
Alex Sheremet's photo of a Minneapolis train-track next to a road, separated by a brick partition and mirror. It was shot on the Sony CanonM50 using 4K video on Vivid preset.
“Balance (City Partitions).” Minneapolis, 2025.
Alex Sheremet's photo of an Alliance, Nebraska train yard and its massive amounts of cargo. It was shot on the DJI Mini 4 drone using 4K video on V-Log.
“In The Heartland.” Alliance, Nebraska, 2025. Shot on the DJI Mini 4 Pro.
Alex Sheremet's photo of a Pittsbugh apartment complex alley in the downtown area, with bags of garbage to the right, and a woman entering the left door. It was shot on the Sony CanonM50 using 4K video on Vivid preset.
“Garbage Day.” Pittsburgh, 2025.
Alex Sheremet's photo of the New York City skyline as seen from Flushing, Queens, and the unique vantages there. It was shot on the Sony CanonM50 using 4K video on Vivid preset.
“Postcard From Queens.” Flushing, New York City, 2025.
Alex Sheremet's photo of the New York City skyline and deep cloud cover, as seen from Flushing, Queens. It was shot on the Sony CanonM50 using 4K video on Vivid preset.
“Postcard From Queens II.” Flushing, New York City, 2025.
Alex Sheremet's photo of cement trucks in dramatic lighting in Flushing, Queens, New York City at nighttime. It was shot on the Sony CanonM50 using 4K video on Vivid preset.
“Postcard From Queens III.” Flushing, Queens, 2025.
Alex Sheremet's photo of a Minneapolis underpass in an orange-lit bridge, with roses and other flowers planted on a slope against the night skyline. It was shot on the Sony CanonM50 using 4K video on Vivid preset.
“Growth of the Soil.” Minneapolis, 2025.
Alex Sheremet's photo of a Pittsburgh tunnel with road signs and construction. It was shot on the Sony CanonM50 using 4K video on Vivid preset.
“Tunneled.” Pittsburgh, 2025.
Alex Sheremet's photo in Chinatown, with himself and another figure, smoking around mirrors. It was shot on the Sony CanonM50 using 4K video on Vivid preset.
“Smoke and Mirrors.” Chinatown, New York City, 2025.
Alex Sheremet's photo of a Richmond, Virginia fountain in a park at night. It was shot on the Sony CanonM50 using 4K video on Vivid preset.
“Statues Move.” Richmond, Virginia, 2025.
Alex Sheremet's photo of King, his cat, on a patio in New York City. It was shot on the Sony CanonM50 using 4K video on Vivid preset.
“Gardens.” New York City, 2025.
Alex Sheremet's photo of a St. Paul cathedral in downtown St. Paul, Minnesota, as seen through the rain. It was shot on the Sony CanonM50 using 4K video on Vivid preset.
“Rain in the Cathedral.” St. Paul, Minnesota, 2025.
Alex Sheremet's photo of a Pittsburgh runner under a bridge and branch reflections. It was shot on the Sony CanonM50 using 4K video on Vivid preset.
“Run.” Pittsburgh, 2025.
Alex Sheremet's nighttime shot in the NOLITA neighborhood in New York City, featuring passersby turning to the camera in a blur, with a brightly lit store in the background. Shot on the Canon EOS M50 through 4K video.
“Faces.” Manhattan, New York City, 2025.
Alex Sheremet's photo of a Pittsburgh runner going past a yellow set of stairs. It was shot on the Sony CanonM50 using 4K video on Vivid preset.
“Run II.” Pittsburgh, 2025.
Alex Sheremet's photo of a Minneapolis underpass with multiple bridges and deep, dark shadows. It was shot on the Sony CanonM50 using 4K video on Vivid preset.
“Shadow Works.” Minneapolis, 2025.
Alex Sheremet's photo of a Minneapolis wall, light, shadow, and muddy dirt/vegetation. It was shot on the Sony CanonM50 using 4K video on Vivid preset.
“Mud Not Gone.” Minneapolis, 2025.
Alex Sheremet's photo of a group of South American men in Astoria, Queens, with red light and smoke all over them. It was shot on the Sony CanonM50 using 4K video on Vivid preset.
“American Conversation.” Astoria, Queens, 2025.
Alex Sheremet's shot of a silhouetted bird in Brooklyn, NYC, which looks like the viewer is caged, as opposed to the bird. Shot on Canon M50 EOS through 4K video option.
“Whose Cage Is It Anyway?” Brooklyn, NYC, 2025.
Alex Sheremet's photo of a Minneapolis woman with her hand over her mouth, and her head reclining on a pillow, her knitting needles behind. It was shot on the Sony CanonM50 using 4K video on Vivid preset.
“Tools of the Trade.” Minneapolis, 2025.
Alex Sheremet's photo of a Pittsburgh skyline through the opening in a dump truck with trash on it. It was shot on the Sony CanonM50 using 4K video on Vivid preset.
“Window Seat.” Pittsburgh, 2025.
Alex Sheremet's photo of a Minneapolis skyscraper from a dark, grainy distance. It was shot on the Sony CanonM50 using 4K video on Vivid preset.
“Towers.” Minneapolis, 2025.
Alex Sheremet's black and white photo of a woman in Flushing, Queens, with rain against the busy and bright window. It was shot on the Sony CanonM50 using 4K video on Vivid preset.
“Thoughts Hang Like Rain.” Flushing, Queens, 2025.
Alex Sheremet's photo of a Pittsburgh parking lot in the downtown area, with views of suburban Pittsburgh up ahead. It was shot on the Sony CanonM50 using 4K video on Vivid preset.
“Pittsburgh At Rest.” Pittsburgh, 2025.
Alex Sheremet's photo of ground vegetation in dramatic lighting in Flushing, Queens, New York City at nighttime. It was shot on the Sony CanonM50 using 4K video on Vivid preset.
“First of Its Green.” Flushing, Queens, 2025.
Alex Sheremet's photo of a dark figure mostly in silhouette in Minneapolis, captured on Sony's Canon M50 using its 4K video feature.
“Opposites Detract.” Minneapolis, 2025.
Alex Sheremet's photo of a Richmond, Virginia lamp covered in orange smoke at dusk. It was shot on the Sony CanonM50 using 4K video on Vivid preset.
“A Dusting of Smoke.” Richmond, Virginia, 2025.

* * *

If you enjoyed Alex Sheremet’s DIGITAL GRUNGE, consider supporting our film on a great American poet and get patron-only content on Patreon. This will help the growth of this site, the automachination YouTube channel, and the ArtiFact Podcast. Our video essays include an investigation into the death of American journalist Paul Klebnikov in Moscow, the role of white guilt in American politics, and a history of Liberia and Palestine. You can also follow us on Twitter.

More from Alex Sheremet: CITYBOY: Bruce Ario’s Great American Novel Is Now Available, Before Palestine, There Was Liberia (Hidden History), In Development: Alex Sheremet’s SELECTED PHOTOS