I took these New York photographs in the early morning hours of summer 1998 while walking along the streets and avenues of the East Village of Manhattan.

I live and work on the western border of this ever-changing city neighborhood. Just before and just after sunrise, the air is still cool and the light is filtered, reflected and grey. It creates an even, soft and often eerie glow. At this time of day, before the city is truly awake, the streets are as quiet as they ever get, yet I experience the city as a visually noisy grid of anonymous facades.

It is always amazing to me to be in an outside environment that is totally made. I am compelled to collect images of these places as private moments along the public urban trail.