Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week 2009 Fall Winter – Austin based runway photographer Peter Tsai goes covers New York Runway Fashion Shows in historic Bryant Park in New York City.

Back in February, I was in New York to cover the runway shows at Mercedes-Benz Fashion week in New York! It was an awesome trip, had a lot of fun covering the shows and meeting lots of photographers from all over the country, but freezing cold was something I wasn’t used to! After one week of nonstop shooting, long trips on the subway, a few “dirty water hot dogs”, amazing runway shows, open bar in the tent, and lots of celebrity sightings, I came away with some amazing images.

Here’s a taste of what that week was like in a 10 photo essay.

Historic Bryant Park during Winter – This was the last fashion week to be hosted in Bryant Park – It’s moving to the Lincoln Center next season.

Backstage before a big show – Brunette makeup artists work on blonde models 30 minutes before they walk the runway.

Before the show, dramatic lighting sets the mood and security makes sure that everything is under control.

Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn talk to the cameras and to the crowd before the start of the Project Runway Season Six Finale.

And the show begins – models strut their stuff down the runway during the Project Runway show.

A model poses at the end of the runway during the Ralph Rucci show at NYC Fall Fashion Week 2009

A very interesting look from Narciso Rodriquez during NYC Fashion Week 2009

Not all of the runways are white, Akiko Agawa put on an amazing show complete with moody lighting and dramatic looking models and makeup.

The crowd applauds at the end of the Rebecca Taylor show at NYC Fashion Week Fall 2009

Tommy Hilfiger waves to the crowd after showing his Fall 2009 collection