Then and now: The changing face of New York City

in #photography6 years ago (edited)

Previously unseen images by legendary photographer Weegee offer fascinating snapshot of city's transformation over course of 70 years.

1

26FFADDE00000578-3012579-A_man_is_pictured_lying_drunk_on_the_ground_on_Center_Street_in_-m-3_1427373288215.jpg

A man is pictured lying drunk on the ground on Center Street in a 1945 picture called 'Derelict sleeping on the sidewalk outside police headquarters' (left). A woman walks past the same engraved sign for the former Police Department on March 18 this year (right).

2

26FFABDE00000578-0-image-a-5_1427359560065.jpg

A lightning bolt strikes above Lower Manhattan on July 27, 1940 (top) in a picture taken by legendary crime photographer Arthur Fellig. A picture taken from the same vantage point (bottom) shows how the skyline has changed over the last 75 years.

3

26FFACB900000578-0-image-m-9_1427359614984.jpg

Bright lights: Weegee's photograph 'Neon billboards on Times Square' (top), taken in September 1957, and an image taken from the same spot earlier this month (bottom) shows how the area has changed over the years.

4

26FFADCE00000578-0-image-m-68_1427364030669.jpg

Then and now: Shops and businesses have sprung up along Doyers Street in the heart of New York's Chinatown (bottom). Weegee photographed a fire on the same street (top) on January 17, 1941.

5

26FFAC9100000578-3012579-Weegee_photographed_The_Empire_State_Building_in_1943_left_from_-m-6_1427373334179.jpg

Weegee photographed The Empire State Building in 1943 (left) from behind a 'loans sign'. A picture taken this month (right) shows how the view from the same spot has changed in the last 70 years.

6

26FFACA200000578-3012579-Another_picture_provided_by_the_International_Center_of_Photogra-m-12_1427373420344.jpg

Another picture provided by the International Center of Photography shows the Times Building in 1952 (left) - free from the neon billboards that can be seen at the same spot today (right).

7

26FFAEFA00000578-3012579-Crowds_are_pictured_along_Wall_Street_in_May_1945_as_the_nation_-m-15_1427373473259.jpg

Crowds are pictured along Wall Street in May 1945 as the nation was celebrating VE Day (left). A picture taken from the same vantage point shows the area as it appears today (right).

8

26FFAE1700000578-3012579-Victory_An_August_1945_picture_called_Celebration_in_the_Garment-m-18_1427373524707.jpg

Victory: An August 1945 picture called 'Celebration in the Garment District on Japanese offer to surrender' is shown left while the same street is pictured right.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3012579/From-wartime-passed-drunk-hustle-bustle-modern-day-Times-Square-Collection-previously-unseen-images-legendary-photographer-Weegee-offers-fascinating-snapshot-New-York-transformed-past-70-years.html