Nothing to Fear, Just Gravity

Not long ago, I traveled to New York for the first time, shortly after a breakup. I went there to work, to photograph, and to reset myself. I rented an apartment with a 360-degree view, stocked up on food, drinks, and cigarettes, and spent almost a week on the rooftop, photographing the city with a telephoto lens. I had no urge to wander the streets or meet people; I just observed from above.

Loneliness in a desert is one thing, but feeling alone in one of the world’s largest cities is something else. I kept questioning why I felt the need to be there, to create something meaningful. Was it to be noticed? To reclaim something lost? Over time, I understood that New York’s pull affects everyone. The city has a unique way of shaping its inhabitants while being shaped by them.

I see the metropolis as the magnified top of the world, where everyone brings something and leaves something behind. The city’s form is determined by how its inhabitants use it. Nothing to fear just Gravity exposes the connections between the city and its residents, revealing the layers of urban life—from the smog above to the sewers below. Humanity is at a historical crossroads: more people now live in cities than ever before, and by 2030, three-quarters of the world will be urbanized.

Nothing to Fear, Just Gravity is a work in progress, capturing the adaptability of people—a recurring theme in my work. It illustrates how we strive to stand out while also trying to remain unseen. This project dissects the city’s many layers, merging them back together into a photobook that reflects New York’s distinct personality.