Michael Massaia: Signals Crossed/ No past, No present, No future

Michael Massaia: Signals Crossed/ No past, No present, No future by Aline SmithsonMay 12, 2015

©Michael Massaia

Michael Massaia is a keen observer of New York City. Michael has spent the past nine years documenting areas and objects that never extend too far from his front door. Isolation, disconnection, and an attempt to put a spotlight on the ordinary are the constant in all of his work. Today we feature two of his projects, Signals Crossed and No Past, No Present, No Future. Signals Crossed calls attention to large-scale urban imagery and the night time glow of these LED screens. Using large format cameras, Michael creates otherworldly, surrealistic backdrops to anything static in their way.

Michael is a Fine Art Photographer and Printmaker, who specializes in large format black and white film image capture, and large format Platinum and Silver Gelatin Printing, as well as digital image capture and printmaking. Michael works alone and is the sole craftsman from the instant the negative is exposed to the moment the final print is made.

©Michael Massaia

Signals Crossed is a portfolio that attempts to explore the phenomenon and effect of the proliferation of animated LED billboards that are currently blanketing urban environments. Using moderately long exposures to capture the hidden, chaotic, and, at times, beautiful patterns that occur in between and during the animated advertisements, was my attempt to display these patterns as a true analogue for the disorder and overstimulation that the digital age is having on the collective thought process. The end result is the intending ads melting away, and what remains, is a mirror of its effect on the viewer.

©Michael Massaia

All the images were captured using 8×10” & 4×5” view cameras. All the images were shot between 11pm and 4am in NYC. I hand make the final prints as 20×24”, 30×40”, and 40×50” toned silver gelatin prints.

©Michael Massaia

©Michael Massaia

©Michael Massaia

©Michael Massaia

No past, No present, No future

Over the past sixteen years, I’ve spent the majority of my late nights and early mornings in Hotel Lobbies throughout Manhattan. Throughout those sleepless nights, I was always taken by how that environment seemed to exist in a constant – no past, no present, no future state. When the guests retired, I was left alone to experience the intimate nature of these places. This portfolio documents those long nights.

All of the images were captured using 5″x7″ and 4″x5″ view cameras. I hand make the final prints as toned silver gelatin prints and platinum prints.