The disturbing
beauty of thunder storms over New York City is documented by twenty
years of photography from the roof top and windows of a loft situated
on the Brooklyn Waterfront, directly on the inlet of the Newtown
Creek and East River.
Formally a
giant factory complex and still one of the highest structures
in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, the building offers a strategic vantage
point overlooking a vast artificial valley of Long Island City
and the East River surrounded by the eastern portion of the Manhattan
Skyline and Queensboro Bridge. This affords the opportunity to
observe, study and photograph lightning. Seldom revealed on this
massive scale is the clash between natural forces of weather and
artificial cityscape. New York City's buildings and bridges, considered
the most developed real estate in the world are dwarfed by the
architecture of lightning. Even in our modern age of technology
and comforts, there are still random moments of susceptibility
to the uncontrollable chaotic forces of nature.
This on going series is photographed at night, late evening and
early morning entirely without the use of filters. Color differences
are light reflecting from the city on to the various weather systems.
Exposures are approximately ten to thirty seconds and contain single
lightning displays. Most situations required a wide-angle lens because
of the close proximity to the bolts.
Surrounded by ageless myths and legends, lightning triggers inherent
fear and awe. A near miss, a reminder of vulnerability and vibrating
aftershock leaving the realization that we are all small specs in
a huge order of things. Lightning striking New York City's buildings
and bridges can be seen as nature's attempt to reclaim terrain,
to strike out at civilization's arrogance and abuses against the
environment. As concrete structures invade higher and higher; nature
lashes back firing down bolts of electricity, retaliating, trying
to maintain sovereignty over domain and to fend off man's encroachment.
A battle of extremes clashing together. Andy Warhol suggested that
good art imitates nature; taken full circle, the best art is nature. |