Trending Now - 15+ Eerie Photos Of Central Park When There’s No People, Taken By Insomniac Photographer
When you think of Central Park, the first things that come to your mind are probably massive crowds of people and warm sunshine. New Jersey-based photographer Michael Massaia, however, stays up late at night to make sure he captures views of the iconic park that few ever witness, and his results are positively haunting.
Back in 2007, Massaia developed a serious case of insomnia. “I sometimes go through long periods of time where I can’t sleep… I would go for long walks…” he told ND Magazine. But rather than seeking medication or therapy, he decided to do something productive with his lucid after-hours; he began photographing the vacant landscapes he came across in large format, using the dawn’s faint illumination as his only lighting. Living near the Big Apple, his strolls eventually led him to Central Park, which he shot numerous times between 2008 and 2014.
“The park appears to go through a period of metamorphosis during those late night/early morning hours,” he wrote on his official website. “And I was determined to capture it.” Taken on black and white film, Massaia’s photos truly show Central Park like most of the world has never seen before – empty, isolating, and eerie. Scroll down to see each bone-chilling shot and its location in the park.
More info: Michael Massaia, Facebook, Instagram
Southeast View, 2012
Image credits: Michael Massaia
The Mall, 4 a.m., 2013
Image credits: Michael Massaia
Airplane Installation, 2012
Image credits: Michael Massaia
South View, 2009
Image credits: Michael Massaia
Sheep Meadow Sunrise, 2012
Image credits: Michael Massaia
Northwest View, 2014
Image credits: Michael Massaia
Westside Sunrise, 2009
Image credits: Michael Massaia
Gapstow Bridge, 2009
Image credits: Michael Massaia
South View, 2012
Image credits: Michael Massaia
Center Path, 2009
Image credits: Michael Massaia
Bow Bridge Predawn, 2012
Image credits: Michael Massaia
Private Gardens, 2013
Image credits: Michael Massaia
5th Ave. Exit, 2009
Image credits: Michael Massaia
Half Moon, 2009
Image credits: Michael Massaia
Hallet Sanctuary, 2009
Image credits: Michael Massaia
Zoo Entrance, 2016
Image credits: Michael Massaia
Path & San Remo, 2016
Image credits: Michael Massaia
East Side Exit, 2009
Image credits: Michael Massaia
Clock Installation, 2016
Image credits: Michael Massaia
Zoo Entrance, 2012
Image credits: Michael Massaia
South Path, 2009
Image credits: Michael Massaia
Predawn, London Planetrees
Image credits: Michael Massaia
Pre-dawn, The Rambles, 2012
Image credits: Michael Massaia
South View, 2010
Image credits: Michael Massaia
North Woods Exit, 2012
Image credits: Michael Massaia
Summer Solstice, 2016
Image credits: Michael Massaia
January Dawn, 2017
Image credits: Michael Massaia
January Dawn, 2017
Image credits: Michael Massaia
January Dawn, 2017
Image credits: Michael Massaia
January Dawn, 2017
Image credits: Michael Massaia
January Dawn, 2017
Image credits: Michael Massaia
4 a.m., Path & Eldorado, 2017
Image credits: Michael Massaia
First Spring, 2017
Image credits: Michael Massaia
5 a.m., European Beech Tree, 2017
Image credits: Michael Massaia
Second Spring, 2017
Image credits: Michael Massaia
Night Fall, The Ramble, 2017
Image credits: Michael Massaia
Central park
Image credits: Michael Massaia
Central park
Image credits: Michael Massaia
