Ben Maltz – Hidden Manhattan

HIDDEN NEW YORK: AN EXPLORATION OF CITY HISTORY AND OBSCURA THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHY AND RESEARCH

I began seeking to answer how New York City’s past manifests itself in the present. What started as an exploration of all five boroughs quickly became a more detailed journey around Manhattan. I set out to conduct neighborhood studies structured by a list of predetermined places of interest I wanted to visit. After photographing nearly four hundred places, I crafted a book detailing what I’d learned. I was especially fascinated by the lesser-known histories associated with each site. I learned more about the city I love, honed in on my photography skills, and continued my passion for walking long distances. In all, I took 7,101 photos for this project.

Two hundred of the visited sites were chosen and compiled into a book, complete with heavily researched descriptions. I included photographs taken with my iPhone and attachable DXO camera. These images were juxtaposed with historical photographs when appropriate. The book is meant to be referenced page-by-page when needed, perhaps displayed on a coffee table. Additionally, I printed twenty of the images I did not include in my book on 16” by 20” sheets for display. Eighteen of the images are paired in diptychs.

Born and raised in New York, I have long since fallen in love with the city. I take extreme delight in peeling away the layers of history and learning more about my hometown. My goal is to inspire others to dig deeper and appreciate their city as I do.

Excerpts from the book: