Make no mistake… this is not a picture of a building. It is what is absent in the picture that allows us to see the main idea and true subject of the photograph.

What at first may seem to be a rather pedestrian photograph – perhaps even something a tourist simply admiring the city may take – proves to be much more substantial as we peel away the layers to reveal, in this case, the essence of New York. Because of the shadowing and angle of the shot, the “structure” of the building(s) can’t be seen. We can not identify a specific building, only that this is undoubtedly a fairly tall building. If asked what I see in this picture, I would respond “New York”, as would many people. That in itself shows the fame and iconic nature of the city – it’s reputation. It is that fame that makes up 95% the substance and glamor of the city (something that one learns rather quickly after living in New York City for a month). The amount of lights on in the building are reminiscent of the popular slogan that New York is “the city that never sleeps”. The high-rise nature of the buildings is indicative of what New York, specifically Manhattan, is known for – its high rises.

The same school-of-thought that is initially used in art, where not everything is captured at a first glance, it often requires critical thinking and a closer look, is reflected everywhere throughout New York City. New York City itself IS art. If you look long enough and hard enough you just may see it, maybe in what you don’t see.