Exclusive | How legendary photographer Dustin Pittman captured vintage New York, from Mick Jagger to Madonna

Legendary photographer Dustin Pittman was the man shooting the scene in New York in its vintage years in the late ’60s, ’70s and ’80s — from music and fashion icons to Hollywood royalty.And his new book, “Dustin Pittman: New York After Dark,” turns the page back on the golden era.“It was an incredible period.It was an incredible time,” Pittman told The Post.

“It was really loose, really easy.You could roll with people.

“People had respect for one another as artists, as musicians, creative people.It was so wonderful.”But Pittman wasn’t just an observer peeking in on intimate celebrity encounters.“I always considered myself not just a photographer, but a participant,” he said.

“I didn’t treat them like celebrities — they were my friends.”The Godfather of Punk, Iggy Pop, is the cover boy of “Dustin Pittman: New York After Dark,” prowling across the stage with the Stooges at Ugano’s Club in 1970.“Iggy did his Iggy thing,” said Pittman.“He was all new, and it was amazing … We just hit it off really well.”So much so that Pittman was granted a very special exception.“Iggy had this one rule that if a photographer got too close, he would break their camera,” he said.

“But Iggy said to me, ‘Dustin, you never have to worry about me breaking your camera.You can get as close as you want.’ “Pittman shot Lou Reed with the Velvet Underground during their residency at Max’s Kansas City in 1970, which would turn out to be his final performances with the band.“Lou Reed and I were very, very close,” he said.

“And that gig was historic.They played two sets a night for two or three weeks.And what was great about it is that there were maybe not even 30 people there watching them play.

But they weren’t watching them play — you got up and you danced next to Lou Reed playing ‘Heroin’ and ‘Sweet Jane’ and all those songs.And every set they would improvise.”David Johansen of New York Dolls fame wrote ...