Evidence

Evidence collects police photographs from New York City taken between 1914-1918, presenting a raw glimpse into crime scenes and their aftermath. Each black and white image captures moments frozen in time - murder victims, crime scenes, and pieces of evidence preserved by police photographers. Lucy Sante provides historical context and analysis through essays that explore both the photographs' utilitarian purpose as police documentation and their unintended artistic merit. The photographs themselves are presented with minimal commentary, allowing them to stand as stark historical documents. These archival images reveal the textures and details of early 20th century New York City life through an unusual lens. The photos capture not just crimes but also the material culture, architecture, fashion and social conditions of the era. The collection raises questions about mortality, memory, and the thin line between documentary photography and art. Through these official records of tragedy and violence, broader truths about human nature and urban life emerge.

Readers praise Sante's research and curation of 1914-1918 NYPD crime scene photographs. They connect with the raw, unposed nature of the images and Sante's commentary on how they capture a specific era of New York City life. Readers liked: - The historical context provided for each photograph - The balance between academic analysis and engaging narrative - The glimpse into both mundane and dramatic aspects of early 1900s NYC Readers disliked: - Some found the subject matter too dark and disturbing - A few noted the print quality could be better in certain editions - Price point considered high by some for the page count Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (90+ ratings) One reader on Goodreads noted: "The photos tell stories that no staged picture could capture." An Amazon reviewer wrote: "Sante makes you feel like you're walking through old New York with a deeply knowledgeable guide."

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📸 The photographs in "Evidence" were rescued from NYPD archives, where they were nearly destroyed in the 1970s. These crime scene photos span from 1914 to 1918. 🔍 Lucy Sante discovered these photographs while researching at the Municipal Archives and spent over a decade studying and curating them before publishing the book. 👤 The author, Lucy Sante, transitioned from male to female in 2021 at age 67, and her earlier works were published under the name Luc Sante. 📷 The crime scene photographers were required to capture everything exactly as found, without artistic interpretation, creating an unintentionally stark and powerful documentary style. 🗽 The photos provide a rare glimpse into working-class New York life during the 1910s, showing interior spaces and daily life details that were rarely documented otherwise.