Outer Boroughs finds beauty in rarely photographed outer-borough neighborhoods in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens and Staten Island. Through compelling streetscapes and cityscapes, evocative pictures of structures, objects, interiors, group shots and candid portraits of individuals taken between 1990 and 2009, William Meyers (born 1938) pays tribute to the outer boroughs and fills a void in the photographic tradition of the changing city. Historical photographs of New York City are almost exclusively of the landmarks, buildings and streets of Manhattan, and the best-known New York street photographers—figures such as Berenice Abbott, Weegee and Helen Levitt—tended to work solely in Manhattan. But Meyers' photography explores the unsung pockets of the outer boroughs where most of the city's inhabitants live and work, the overlooked and underexplored spaces of the city.
William Meyers, "Long Island City, Queens", 2004, is reproduced from William Meyers: Outer Boroughs.
PRAISE AND REVIEWS
Jocks & Nerds
Benedict Browne
Outer Boroughs: New York Beyond Manhattan is a photography book featuring the work of American photographer William Meyers. Born in 1938, Meyers broke the current conventions of photographers in New York, who would focus solely on documenting Manhattan. The book sees Meyers explore Brooklyn, The Bronx, Queens and Staten Island, capturing various structures, objects, interiors, groups and individuals.
The Guardian
The Editors
From 1990 to 2009, photographer William Meyers wandered the outer reaches of Queens, Staten Island, the Bronx and Brooklyn to capture the beauty of the city’s lesser-known neighbourhoods.
The Gothamist
Jen Carlson
The exhibition is the first time that the complete collection of these photographs (acquired by the Library in 2008) is being displayed.
Another Magazine
Giulia Mutti
Capturing the rarely documented beauty of the suburbs through street scenes, cityscapes, interiors and intimate portraits of locals going about their everyday lives, Meyers fills a gap in the city’s photographic heritage. While the book stands as a visual memento of New York City’s continuous evolution, we look back at the outer boroughs’ overlooked, vibrant history.
New York Journal of Books
Richard Rivera
Meyers’ vision of the city’s open spaces is gritty, detailed, and often stark rather than romanticized. He is a photographer whose work is validated and represented in collections of the Museum of the City of New York and The New York Historical Society, and shows great insight in how he connects and depicts the citizens of the city. He is clearly a people person, engaging and romanced by his subjects. The response captured by his camera displays a genuine affirmation of emotion. His portrayal of the people of New York is full of character, attitude, and generosity of spirit.
FORMAT: Hbk, 8.75 x 7.75 in. / 192 pgs / illustrated throughout. LIST PRICE: U.S. $50.00 LIST PRICE: CANADA $67.5 ISBN: 9788862084017 PUBLISHER: Damiani AVAILABLE: 5/26/2015 DISTRIBUTION: D.A.P. RETAILER DISC: TRADE PUBLISHING STATUS: Out of print AVAILABILITY: Not available TERRITORY: NA LA
William Meyers: Outer Boroughs New York Beyond Manhattan
Published by Damiani.
Outer Boroughs finds beauty in rarely photographed outer-borough neighborhoods in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens and Staten Island. Through compelling streetscapes and cityscapes, evocative pictures of structures, objects, interiors, group shots and candid portraits of individuals taken between 1990 and 2009, William Meyers (born 1938) pays tribute to the outer boroughs and fills a void in the photographic tradition of the changing city. Historical photographs of New York City are almost exclusively of the landmarks, buildings and streets of Manhattan, and the best-known New York street photographers—figures such as Berenice Abbott, Weegee and Helen Levitt—tended to work solely in Manhattan. But Meyers' photography explores the unsung pockets of the outer boroughs where most of the city's inhabitants live and work, the overlooked and underexplored spaces of the city.
