Customer Reviews

The Light of New York

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a collection of moody black and white photographs taken at dawn with a large-format pinhole camera. There are no people or moving cars but lots of rays of light from the rising sun and brooding clouds. The effect is fantastic. Sometimes the photos look like they were executed in charcoal. The details are mostly very crisp even though the palette is dark.

The major landmarks are all present. Two of Mlle Liberty, 3 or 4 of the Empire State Building, a wonderful shot of the Flatiron Building, etc. (Only 1 of the Chrysler Building, however, and not one of Berts's best.) There are some nice shots of Central Park. He likes the Brooklyn Bridge--and he's good at making large objects like bridges and the Empire State Building look massive. The use of black and white and dawn's early light defamiliarizes the postcard icons and restores them to their original majesty. There are also some nice shots of Little Italy and lesser known buildings, too. This is a great book. If you like it you should check out Light of Paris by the same photographer.

I can't resist offering up one more recommendation, this time for a book that's almost the opposite of The Light of New York in its approach but which is still a wonderful and fun look at the Big Apple: Manhattan Lightscape. Its colors are magnificent.

I got this book for Christmas and love it. Very possibly the most amazing black and white photographs I have ever seen. Each time I flip through this book I notice more details in the photos that I hadn't noticed before. I recommend this book to anyone, but especially those who love photography and/or New York.

New York City at dusk or dawn with a magical lighting and a unique photo processing that highlight architectural details of iconic features of the city. Manhattan for lovers!

Amazing book for anyone into photography. New York is captured beautifully in breath taking photos.

This book is one of the best books that one can appreciate the photographic style of the photographer. The fact that it was shot on film and the long shutter speeds are great. I am assuming that a bit of research went into picking out the various locations and picking out the right time of night or dusk to shoot was taken in consideration.f

Great book all around and great conversation piece for people that appreciate photography and the art behind it.

This was the item I put down as my Secret Santa gift at work several years ago. To my delight, one of the better paid employees drew my name and purchased this book for me (it was abut $35-$40 at the time). I DID ignore the $20 maximum Secret Santa wish list. I WANTED this book!

This has to be one of the most beautiful black and white photography books I have ever laid eyes on. AND that the images are of New York City... this cannot be beat. Don't contemplate this purchase, just buy the book!

Amazingly detailed photos of difficult to capture New York scenes. Absolutely breathtaking for anyone familiar with trying to photograph these iconic scenes themselves.

This book is just beautiful,some of the best black and white photos of NYC that I have ever seen.A must have for the coffee table. And at $10.00 a great bargin as well.

Beautiful photographs!
Nice technique by JM Berts. Very interesting!
Buy it if you love NY!