New York City has a captivating urban landscape. Follow this photographic journey through the lens of local New York photographer, James Maher.
This is a time-lapse exposure of a busy city crowd moving through Grand Central Station. The effect was created completely in-camera. The woman seemed to be a lonely tourist waiting for someone to come rescue her. She was so amazingly still that she looked afraid to even move. I never saw anyone come, and she soon walked off by herself.
Waiting in Grand Central Station, New York City © James Maher
This is a photo that I’ve been wanting to take for a long time. It captures two New York City subway trains in motion. This image was also created completely in-camera at the 72nd Street station in 2010.
Subway Trains in Motion, 72nd Street, New York City © James Maher
This photo was taken from the top of my mother’s building on Broadway and 94th street on a hot summer night in June of 2007. Lightning was flashing all around the building and the wind was gusting hard. Soon after this photo, it started to pour and the lightning strikes got close enough that I thought it best to leave. Earlier in the day, it is believed that one of these strikes hit a substation in Queens and was the cause of a blackout in the Bronx and on the Upper East Side, which created a lot of chaos during the 90 degree weather.
Lightning over Manhattan, New York City © James Maher
This photo was taken during the huge blizzard that hit the city in 2003. The snowstorm created such bad conditions that for much of the day I was completely lost in the park. At some point I found this bridge to seek refuge under. It didn’t take long before this couple came along with the same idea.
Couple in Snowstorm, Central Park, New York City © James Maher
The Chrysler Building, in my opinion, is the most iconic building in the city. The Gargoyles are probably the most talked about aspect of this classic Art Deco building, but I much prefer the metal spire, which can often be seen glinting like a diamond in the hot sun, or glowing throughout the night.
Chrysler Building Spire, New York City © James Maher
Featured Photo © Janne Rakkolainen
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James Maher is a fine art street and studio photographer based in New York City. James credits his inspiration for photography to his love for the city and its endless supply of personalities to capture and streets to explore. His New York photography consists of both scenic and architectural views of the city, as well as the closeup daily life of the people on the streets.
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Josh
Great photos. That time-lapse exposure shot of Grand Central terminal is really impressive. And I think I remember that thunderstorm. Crazy night.
Alisa P
An excellent homage to Gotham, James. Thanks for sharing these. That tunnel shot is my favorite. Such a busy city, but a snowstorm will often make it quiet. Romantic shot too.
Gennaro
Be sure to check out James Maher’s website for a lot more great photographs of New York and beyond.
@Josh – Love that shot too. That view of the woman is timeless.
@Alisa – It’s special when you get that quiet moment in the city.
Andros
Great shots, James. Really captures the city. Can’t wait to visit again.
Leez
Completely agree about the Chrysler building. The Empire State Building may be a bit taller, but it’s not as elegant as shown in your photo. Beautiful shots all around.
Will be checking out your work.
Gennaro
@Andros – Agreed.
@Leez – Think James was spot on about the Chrysler building.
Lisa at Wanderlust Women
Great shots, especially the Grand Central woman…..makes you wonder what she was thinking or where she was going, locked in a time warp!
James Maher
Thanks everyone and thanks for posting this Gennaro, you have a great site. I agree about the quiet moments and its why I love photographing in snowstorms. Those quiet moments in the city are rare, but they are very special.
Peter West Carey
Really nice work. Thanks for the post!
Gennaro
@Lisa – Time warp was my first thought too. If you told me that was shot fifty years ago, I’d believe it.
@James Maher – My pleasure.
@Peter – Appreciate the comment.
Lisa Ann
I would have been hiding when that lightning storm was happening. Impressed that you hung in there on the roof. I will say that the shot was probably worth it though.
Great images all around, James.
Ayngelina
Love the long exposures, and the black and white really capture the grittiness of New York.
Gennaro
@Lisa Ann – Yep, you have to give him credit for hanging in their long enough for the shot.
@Ayngelina – New York in black and white works really well.
Carlo Alcos
Beautiful images. Great work James!
Jonathan
An excellent tribute to an epic city. Thanks for sharing these. The Chrysler Building spire is a lot more beautiful than I remember.
Peter Brown
Yep, that woman in the first shot looks a bit lost. I’ve had that feeling a few times in foreign train stations or airports. Beautiful shot. And nice all around.
Gennaro
@Carlo Alcos – Appreciate the comment. Completely agree.
@Jonathan – The photos do represent the city that never sleeps well.
@Peter Brown – Ha, ha. I’ve had that feeling a couple of times too when traveling. Especially the first couple of trips. Signs in the cyrillic alphabet still give me trouble.
Lady Fi
Those black and white photos are spectacular and really capture the emotions!
London Caller
New York is such a lovely place!
And James is so talented.
I really love the first photo.
Kinda Zen to me with stillness and movement.
Ingrid
This makes me want to visit New York City again. Lovely.
Gennaro
@Lady Fi – Appreciate the comment.
@London Caller – Stillness and movement. I like that.
@Ingrid – Come visit. The more tourism the better.
Kiran
Thanks for visiting my blog!
I love all the shots, especially the ones in Grand Central and with lightning 🙂 Captivating.
Ashley Turner
I love New York City. The tunnel shot is very romantic. You wouldn’t think of that solitude in city.
Gennaro
@Kiran – Likewise
@Ashley Turner – Sometimes you forget the many faces of a place.
joanna jenkins
NYC is one of my favorite places– Your beautiful photos are a good example of why. Thanks for sharing.
Michael Hodson
some great NYC shots here – that first shot is truly spectacular
Abi
Wow – I love all of these shots but that first one seems to come from a movie poster in the 50s. Great work.
amudrea
I love those photos! Nice shots! They are very impressive! ! It’s been a long time I really dreamed to go to New York City and now I really really wanted to go there because your photos is like telling me to go there. Sooo beautiful!
Alex
Excellent shots of NYC – and the black and white adds to the atmosphere.
Time lapse is interesting – done in camera? Which camera?
Best,
Alex