Empty New York
For me, a "time capsule" of images from this past month documents spending time by myself in the city. I considered going with "Alone in New York," but I feel that this implies New York being what it once was. Describing not my own experience, but what New York as a whole feels like right now captures these images the best. Not only are the streets quieter as a whole, but winter adds another layer of serenity and stillness to the world, as does the fact that most of the outdoor shots were taken early in the morning, when many were still asleep. My days have looked relatively monotonous. Though these were not all taken on the same day, they represent the idea of a day in New York right now. Of empty streets and empty parks, of quiet celebration in a typically massive holiday, of living and existing alone in our respective little boxes in the city. I wanted to emphasize the starkness of these photos. There is soft, almost affectionate view of the city portrayed, but in contrast it is often filled with hard lines and bright, clear air, and this is what I hoped to get across through this selection of images.
Ellen Liu
