On October 29, 2012, Hurricane Sandy hit the Eastern Seaboard, altering the physical and psychological fabric of the region. Thousands were evacuated due to flooding, power outages, and fires, and major transportation systems were crippled. Emergency response systems and vital infrastructure were tested to an extent previously unknown in our region. Throughout the ordeal, images of the storm’s destruction saturated traditional media outlets as video rolled on televisions and photographs covered the front pages of the major daily newspapers.
A contingent of photographers chose to document this natural disaster via their smartphones and distribute their images via social media, which enabled instantaneous visual reporting without the baggage of professional equipment. The photographers in this book chose a democratic and immediate way to share their work and their experiences with the world through photo-sharing software applications such as Instagram, which allowed them to simultaneously distribute their images to other social networking services including Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and Flickr. Through a network of “followers” as well as such venerable media institutions as Time and The New Yorker, they were able to instantly reach a mass audience with real time news.
The resulting photographs create a unique time capsule that exemplifies the complex nature of the storm and its impact on a relatively small region with
very diverse geography, wide-ranging population densities, and housing that ranges from one-room beach bungalows to 100-story skyscrapers. With smartphones, these photographers captured incredible moments on the move. From alarming sights at the height of the storm to the shock and awe of residents in the days afterward, to the unimaginable extent of the devastation in the weeks that followed, these images demonstrate the power of photography to document and tell poignant stories.
Even though the waters have receded and emergency response has ended, the recovery process will continue well after the one-year anniversary of the storm. As these efforts progress and the restoration and improvement of essential infrastructure are implemented, images such as these form an important historical record of this dramatic natural disaster. They demonstrate not just the event and community response but serve as reminders of the ongoing effort needed to restore the affected areas. Today homes are being rebuilt and beaches and boardwalks being repaired, but the images in this volume raise questions about the future of the region and the impact of future storms.
Sean Corcoran
Curator of Prints and Photographs Museum of the City of New York
October 2013
BOOK
#SANDY
Editor: Wyatt Gallery
8x8inches
94 color photographs
ISBN 978-0-9889831-7-5
WWW.HASHTAGSANDY.COM
