Second printing of Perfect Strangers: New York City Street Photographs byMelissa O’Shaughnessy (2025)
Signed by Melissa O’Shaughnessy to title page
Large format hardback in near fine condition, the book is new but there is some very minor crushing to the tip of the spine
About Perfect Strangers: New York City Street Photographs
Following in the street-photography tradition of Helen Levitt, Alex Webb, and Vivian Maier, OShaughnessy captures the kinetic bustle of the changing streets and passing crowds in New York City. Over the last seven years, she has photographed daily on the streets of New York. Through her curious and quirky vision, we witness the play of human activity on the glittering sidewalks of the city. Woven into her cast of characters are the lonely, the soulful, and the proud. She has fallen for them all – perfect strangers. The book is a celebration of contemporary city life, as well as an homage to the chaotic rush of New York City: the intersection of businessmen and tourists, shoppers and grand dames, with families frozen in confusion, wonder, pain, frustration, sometimes even joy. It is also a reminder of the citys energy and diverse and captivating life, at a time when its streets have been altered by the Covid-19 crisis. As one of a growing number of women street photographers contributing to this dynamic genre, OShaughnessy enters the territory with clarity and a distinctly humanist eye, offering a refreshing addition to the tradition of street photography.
