This Is What Major Cities Would Look Like Without Any Lights. And Oh God, Paris Looks Stunning.
Thierry Cohen photographs the world’s major cities, seeking out views that resonate for him and noting the precise time, angle, and latitude and longitude of his exposure. As the world rotates around its axis the stars that would have been visible above a particular city move to deserts, plains, and other places free of light pollution. By noting the precise latitude and angle of his cityscape, Cohen is able to track the earth’s rotation to places of atmospheric clarity like the Mojave, the Sahara, and the Atacama desert. There he sets up his camera to record what is lost to modern urban dwellers. Compositing the two images, Cohen creates a single new image full of resonance and nuance. The work is both political and spiritual questioning not only what we are doing to the planet but drawing unexpected connections between disparate locations. Cities that never sleep are made up of millions of individuals breaking natural cycles of work and repose. Cohen’s photographs attempt to restore our vision, and in beautifully crafted prints and images offer the viewer a possibility – to re-connect us to the infinite energy of the stars.
Paris
Rio de Janeiro
San Franscisco
The Empire State Building, New York City
Los Angeles
Sao Paulo
Shanghai
The Brooklyn Bridge, New York City
Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Los Angeles
Tokyo
Paris
Paris
Shanghai
