cover image 360 Degrees New York

360 Degrees New York

Nick Wood. ABRAMS, $24.95 (160pp) ISBN 978-0-8109-4624-8

Wood's panoramic photographs of New York City skylines, subway stations, bridges and landscapes may disorient readers at first, but ultimately this collection should impress them. A London-based photographer, Wood presents 100 full-color photos depicting dizzying views of various Big Apple landmarks. Some scenes work better than others. For example, the shot of the 60-year-old Empire Diner, which reveals a chrome counter, barstools, tables, windows and even the outside patio--all in one long photograph--seems warped, as if Wood twisted the restaurant's interior to make it fit inside the photo. Other scenes are easier to grasp, such as the panorama of Madison Square Park, which shows the sanctuary's wide paths and park benches and captures the Empire State Building in the distance. The four-panel centerfold is breathtaking. Taken from an East Midtown rooftop, it shows the city at dusk, with the sun setting behind the Hudson River and the moon rising up over Brooklyn. For New York natives and tourists alike, Wood presents a fresh, intriguing view of the city.