Xiomaro, best known for his photography of Long Island’s National Parks, signed a contract with Fonthill Media, a leading publisher in England. Under the worldwide agreement, the artist will author a book focusing on his photographs further west and familiar to commuters – New York City. Xiomaro’s book will spearhead the publisher’s new series “Photographer’s America,” and will be part of the artist’s international ramp-up to the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration in 2026.
Over the past 13 years, the National Park Service has commissioned Xiomaro (pronounced SEE-oh-MAH-ro) to create fine art photographic collections. His work has been covered by the New York Times, Fine Art Connoisseur magazine, PBS, News 12, and other network television news programs. On Long Island, Xiomaro has photographed the High Dune Wilderness and the William Floyd estate – both at Fire Island National Seashore – as well as Sagamore Hill National Historic Site, which is the home and “Summer White House” of President Theodore Roosevelt. The artist’s images have been exhibited at Long Island Museum, Nassau County Executive and Legislative Building, Patchogue Ferry Terminal, and Oyster Bay Historical Society.
So how did street photography become part of Xiomaro’s oeuvre? In 2015, the artist decided he did not want to wait until the next National Park commission before he could engage in photography. To keep his creative vision and camera skills sharp, Xiomaro started photographing his daily commute from Roslyn Heights to Manhattan – and the very best of that collection of personal work will comprise his book for Fonthill Media. By focusing his collection on candid and artistic portrayals of Big Apple life during the first quarter of the 21st century, the book will capture contemporary times, portraying what Xiomaro terms “future history.”
The book will feature approximately 160 color and black-and-white images capturing the essence of New York City’s streets. Xiomaro’s perspective delves beyond iconic landmarks, focusing on the daily lives and diverse interactions within Manhattan’s cramped 23 square miles. “As Long Island commuters know, New York City’s Broadway, Rockefeller Center, and Times Square are among the icons drawing visitors across the U.S. and around the world – but for me, the real attraction is the evocative mash-up of people who live, work, and play within its gritty streets,” said Xiomaro. The collection offers a glimpse into the rich diversity of daily life, showcasing a variety of scenes from ordinary moments to mysterious and enigmatic scenarios. The photographs, all unstaged and free of AI manipulations, freeze the dynamic human condition for examination in ways that cannot be appreciated within the city’s real-time chaotic energy.
“Think of it as a photographic time capsule,” adds Xiomaro, which he explains will set the book apart from others featuring mid-century street photography or staged street portraits accompanied by interviews that provide viewers with less to engage their imagination. “I’m putting together a book that appeals to a broad readership, including lovers of visual art and history, as well as travelers and casual smartphone photographers.” Information about the artist’s work is posted on his website, www.xiomaro.com.
