New York City-based photographer Evan Joseph has just published a book showcasing his home town, New York City at Night: A Tour of the City that Never Sleeps. The book, co-authored with Marcia Reiss, a specialist on New York history, combines written commentary on the city’s most famous sights with stunning aerial photographs.
In his announcement of the book, Evan wrote “in addition to collecting my best night photography shot from balconies, rooftops and the middle of traffic, I spent weeks this spring hanging out of a helicopter after dark to get truly unique views of my very favorite spots in the city.” I asked Evan to tell me more about the experience. “I’m thrilled to publish my first book,” he said. “It was a tremendous creative and technical challenge, and the ‘long form’ of visual storytelling is very satisfying.” Long form is right; the book, Evan said, “collects five years of my night photography, then about four months of work that was new for the book,” including “almost a month of night helicopter shoots.”
These images are so distinctive because Evan knows how to look for a different side of the city. “The photos show that there is color and richness and life to the concrete jungle that you can only see after dark,” he explained. “This is a city that really shines with its own light.”
Evan’s hard work is greatly appreciated by residents of the city. In fact, the New York Post has recently published a short profile to accompany the book release. They wrote,
If you follow high-end New York real estate, you’re likely familiar with Joseph’s work, even if you’ve never heard his name. When Dolly Lenz or Leonard Steinberg or many of the city’s other super-brokers need a spectacular picture of a listing, they call Joseph.
And he has happily risked life and limb for the perfect real estate shot.
“Every single day, I’m constantly hanging off a balcony or standing on something that won’t support my weight,” Joseph says. “I do it all the time when I’m trying to shoot penthouses.”