New York Air (Abrams)

For New York Air, George Steinmetz, the superb aerial photographer of the Earth's remote and exotic regions, turns his camera on one of its most dynamic cities. New York City, with its iconic skyline; its mix of modern architecture and historic buildings; its rivers and islands; its infrastructure of roads and bridges; and its rooftops used for every possible purpose, is his magnificent subject--the great stage for twenty-first century life. Shooting from a small helicopter in all seasons and from dawn to dusk, Steinmetz captures both the brute physical presence and the romance of the metropolis. Included are the classic sites like Central Park and Times Square, important new projects like the Highline and the September 11 Memorial, wide coverage of both Manhattan and the other boroughs and all kinds of urban spaces, from museums to sports arenas to beaches. But what particularly distinguishes the photography is that it portrays the city at all scales and often reveals people at play, at rest, and at work.