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Photographer Chris Maggio has a background in film editing. This explains, at least in part, his ability to create a story within his photo series. Standing at the intersection between spontaneous shots, staged compositions and image manipulation, Maggio’s work captivates with its take on documentary photography. Hot As Hell In Midtown includes all of the above, but also features a distinct vintage aesthetic which awakens a nostalgic response in the viewer.
The series looks at NYC on the hottest day of summer, capturing people and inanimate objects in a picturesque canvas. “By extrapolating the everyday anomalies of the City’s reality, the work explores the common, summertime suffering of a diverse city in heat, as well as the falsely perceived feelings of anonymity in a heavily surveilled public space,” explains the photographer. Images feature the bustling city in an orange glow, heat almost emanating through the screen. Glimpses of personal strain among a sea of similarly afflicted people. Melting liberty – chocolate statues overcome by the soaring temperatures. Tongue in cheek street signs bring a smile on the viewers’ faces, while photos of sunshine enveloping the city make one want a cool drink. You can see more of the photographer’s work, including the equally captivating Midtown Lunch series, on his official website. Photographs© Chris Maggio.
