PHOTOGRAPHER TOM DURANTE
Tom Durante
Photographer · New York City
On the roofs. A view most of us will never get to stand in.
Why this conversation
Tom Durante climbs to the tops of New York's skyscrapers and points his camera straight down. Since 2014 he has been chasing a view almost none of us will ever stand in, the city seen from its own crown, dizzying and strangely still. I wanted to talk to him about the pull of the rooftops, about the fight-or-flight calm he finds up there, and about the line he draws between what is illegal and what is wrong.
The work
Since 2014, the New York based photographer has been on a never-ending quest for a perspective that is overlooked and off-limits to everyone passing below. He titled the project "On the Roofs: Not Everything Illegal Is Immoral," and presented it in a group show at Superchief Gallery NFT. "Ever since I began exploring the rooftops of NYC," he says, "it quickly took over my whole life."
The conversation
Your greatest inspirations or influences?
My biggest inspiration is New York City. The architecture, the vibe, the energy. Without it I would not be here with you today. Also the friends I have made, Sam, Thurbz, Alex, Justin, E, Drift, Skam, Phaser, and the list goes on. These people are so talented and driven, and seeing their motivation and creativity peak, and the way they push me when I need it, inspires me beyond belief.
Tell us a bit about your creative process.
The way I photograph the city is a mix between showing the beautiful architecture and the emotions attached to powerful life moments. It all starts with an idea of somewhere to go or an image to coordinate. I spend hours gathering information on places, and from there the dream begins to consume me, and the mix of anxiety and excitement keeps me up at night. There is a strange mix between fight or flight and pure peace. I try to take a minute, breathe some fresh air, and listen to the sounds of the city fading in the distance below me to gather my thoughts. From there, it is all about the visual documentation.
How did the pandemic affect your creativity?
At first it was strange. The whole world changed overnight. There was about a five month span where I did not even see New York City, and man, I missed it like crazy. My city is my biggest inspiration, and without it in sight I began to feel lost. But life is all about adapting, and the same way restaurants adapted with outdoor dining, I fine-tuned my craft with the change of the times and did things bigger and better than I ever have before.
Who do you consider an icon of our time?
In my particular field, Drift is a huge icon. The guy went from a prison cell to one of the highest-selling artists on OpenSea within five months. If that does not tell you something about his drive and his impact on the art world, I do not know what will.
What does wellbeing mean to you?
Over the years, exploring has become incredibly therapeutic for me. As someone who has struggled with my mental wellbeing for a large part of my life, it has turned me away from less healthy outlets. Having those moments where you give something your absolute all and watch your problems fade as you stare into the city is more meditative for me than almost anything else.
Not everything illegal is immoral.
See more of the view from up there, and read the full feature.
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