Published by MACK in 2012, The Present is the final installment in Paul Graham’s trilogy of photographic projects exploring contemporary America, following American Night (2003) and a shimmer of possibility (2007).
The book re-examines the traditional genre of New York street photography through a distinct structural approach. Shot on the streets of New York, the images are presented in pairs or short sequences taken from the exact same vantage point, separated only by fractions of a second or a slight shift in focus.
While American Night manipulated light (aperture) and a shimmer of possibility manipulated time (shutter), The Present focuses on selective depth of field and human consciousness. A slight rack focus or step in time shifts the viewer’s attention from one individual to another within the same crowded street space.
Rather than capturing a singular "decisive moment," the paired images highlight the provisional, unscripted nature of everyday life, where narrative focus shifts instantly as people move through the frame.
The physical book uses 13 custom gatefold pages (unfolding horizontal and vertical spreads) to physically mimic the act of looking, revealing the second or third image in a sequence as the reader unfolds the page.
True to Graham’s photobook design philosophy, the main body contains no accompanying text or captions, allowing the rhythm of the visual pairs to drive the narrative.
Published by MACK in 2012, The Present is the final installment in Paul Graham’s trilogy of photographic projects exploring contemporary America, following American Night (2003) and a shimmer of possibility (2007).
The book re-examines the traditional genre of New York street photography through a distinct structural approach. Shot on the streets of New York, the images are presented in pairs or short sequences taken from the exact same vantage point, separated only by fractions of a second or a slight shift in focus.
While American Night manipulated light (aperture) and a shimmer of possibility manipulated time (shutter), The Present focuses on selective depth of field and human consciousness. A slight rack focus or step in time shifts the viewer’s attention from one individual to another within the same crowded street space.
Rather than capturing a singular "decisive moment," the paired images highlight the provisional, unscripted nature of everyday life, where narrative focus shifts instantly as people move through the frame.
The physical book uses 13 custom gatefold pages (unfolding horizontal and vertical spreads) to physically mimic the act of looking, revealing the second or third image in a sequence as the reader unfolds the page.
True to Graham’s photobook design philosophy, the main body contains no accompanying text or captions, allowing the rhythm of the visual pairs to drive the narrative.