Daniel Sackheim's Noir Photography Book 'The City Unseen' Explores Los Angeles' Shadowy Underbelly

Emmy-winning director and photographer Daniel Sackheim captures Los Angeles' gritty, shadowy side in his forthcoming book 'The City Unseen,' scheduled for release on May 12. The black-and-white photographs highlight the city's noir valence, focusing on historic buildings, trains, and individuals in urban spaces. Sackheim's dramatically cinematic effects use deep shadows and crisp highlights to create a timeless quality, with daytime shots feeling eerily lit. He is curating an exhibition with photographer Julia Dean at Ren Gallery, slated to open in May. The book explores L.A.'s dualities, contrasting its sunny reputation with a mysterious underbelly popularized by figures like gangster Mickey Cohen and novelist Raymond Chandler, whose works were published between the 1930s and 1950s. Copies will be available from Hat & Beard Press, and Sackheim's work can be seen on Instagram. The series leans into the city's paradoxes, where stillness and trepidation coexist in urban spaces.