New York City has many faces. The mental image that is conjured up by anybody that has not experienced it may be the skyline, Times Square, or the Statue of Liberty. However, the true nature of our city is far more elusive than that, but all one has to do is look. This collection of photographs was an attempt at representing New York City from some less common perspectives than the ones from the Staten Island Ferry or the top of a double decker tour bus. Some of these images were take from rooftops, others from over and under passes. What I’ve found in taking these photographs is that our city has many beautiful sights, but the best way to see it is by looking at the people.
The first image, Sonder, is of people walking near Union Square is a fairly typical view of New York- everybody seems to be in a rush and few people are actually taking the view in. For many people living, working, and going to school in the city, this is an everyday setting. Despite the inherent diversity that is typical for New York, there seem to be two unifying factors in this photograph- the prominence of the colors red and black is difficult to ignore. Black seems to be a staple in the wardrobe of a New Yorker, whether it is in the form of a business suit or a sleek outfit. The red brick buildings bring the whole scene together.
The photographs “Small World” and “Perched” were taken from a rooftop. The former was an attempt to capture just how small the world can seem from up high- and how unbelievably big it is relative to our minuscule perspectives. The person in the second of these photographs appears to be sitting very comfortably in what seems to be a fairly uncomfortable position- the effortless cool of the reflective sunglasses, fiery sunset, and being on top of the world is portrayed in his posture. Some of the most beautiful aspects of New York City can be seen from places where one can’t be seen by too many others. These secluded corners are ironically where you can see the most life. These photographs capture the carefree and youthful attitude that drives some of the most fascinating parts of our city.
In “Green” and “Think Green” we can see some more secluded parts of the city that aren’t usually associated with the bustle of Manhattan. They were taken on Staten Island and in the East Village, respectively. These breaks from “city life” are often necessary to remind us of the beauty of the natural world, something that we get very little of. I found the human head planter to be especially beautiful and interesting because it reminded me of the Shel Silverstein poem “The Thinker of Tender Thoughts,” and it seemed to be a good representation of many of the people that make New York City their home. There is an amazing abundance of diverse perspectives and backgrounds that are all allowed to flourish. I found the idea that somebody was watering this plant instead of cutting it, as was done in the “poem” (which is actually just a series of pictures), a symbol of the accepting nature of our community.
In the pictures “Night Lights” and “Twilight,” we can see some of the beauty that is a byproduct of the sheer number of people that populate NYC. Although our stars are often, if not always, obscured by light pollution, we create our own sort of galaxies with artificial lights. The city at twilight seems to have a magic to it. While many people are heading home from their long, long, days, this can be the perfect time to take a second out of ones commute and look around.
In regards to Susan Sontag’s idea that photography not only captures images but also interprets them, often in a skewed manner (On Photography), I would agree completely. I believe most of these images are a romanticized look at New York City that not everybody experiences or even has the opportunity to experience. However, I would also argue that all we have in this world is our perspective. If one chooses to view the world through rose tinted glasses, they will live a rose tinted life. I don’t believe that there anything inherently wrong with this. Even in the event that the way something is portrayed in a photograph is not the way that the viewer usually thinks about a given subject, the photographer is exposing them to a new perspective, which is one of the many beauties of art.
