Picture Perfect New York: "Seeing the Statue of Liberty is like meeting a superstar."
New York photographer Caroline Tompkins looks at everything very closely when she is out and about with her camera. That's how she discovers details among the urban canyons of her adopted home that most people overlook: how the water ripples in the East River, for example, or how New York is reflected in the glass facades of its skyscrapers
Unmistakable New York City
This photo is unmistakably New York City, even though you can’t see any of Manhattan's iconic buildings. I took it from High Line Park, which opened in 2009 on a disused freight train line in western Manhattan. It runs nine meters above street level and allows you to view the city from new angles. Simply wonderful!
A brief look at a super star
I love to keep my eye out for the State of Liberty, kind of like seeing rain and sunshine and being on guard to see a rainbow. This ever present symbol of freedom always feels like seeing a celebrity when you get a good view of her.
The most beautiful detour in Manhattan
This is entering onto the Park Avenue Viaduct, and it’s one of my favorite views of the city. It’s one of the few places in NYC where it’s really better to be in a car. You get to wrap around Grand Central Terminal, and feel like you're using some kind of secret passageway.
The american dream in a souvenir shop
I’ve lived in New York City for 15 years, and the longer I live here, the more I think the cheap and cheesy souvenirs are what feel genuine to the New York and American experience. Not despite, but precisely because of their kitschy exaggeration. The souvenir shops are usually run by immigrant families living out their American dream by selling a facade of it back to you.
New York in flux
I’ve taken this photo on the ferry ride back into Greenpoint from the Financial District. I wanted to let my shutter be a little slower to feel the motion you feel on the water. If you’re looking to impress a date on a trip to NYC, take them on the ferry.
About
Photographer Caroline Tompkins lives in New York and works for magazines such as "The New Yorker", "Rolling Stone", "Vogue", and "Wallwaper". She has also participated in numerous exhibitions in the US and abroad.
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