William Meyers' 'Civics' Photographs the Unseen Machinery of New York City

Veteran photographer William Meyers, now in his 80s, has released a photo book titled 'Civics' (Apollo Publishers, 2026), a 25-year project documenting the often-invisible civic processes of New York City. Meyers, who only turned to professional photography at age 60, focuses not on prominent politicians but on the bureaucrats, ordinary citizens, and the rooms where democracy happens—from city council meetings to PTA gatherings. The book is structured thematically, covering elections, governance, press, and social capital, and aims to educate viewers on the intricate workings of civic engagement. Meyers, born in 1938, brings a rich personal history to his work: he was a Naval Air Intelligence officer during the Cuban Missile Crisis, flunked out of Georgetown University Law School, worked on the Senate SubCommittee on Employment, Manpower and Poverty, and dabbled in various businesses. He began his photography career writing about the medium for the New York Sun and Wall Street Journal. 'Civics' reveals the slow, decades-long changes that culminate in major events like Black Lives Matter protests or Occupy Wall Street, offering a microcosmic view of American democracy as the nation turns 250. The book includes photographs such as 'Union Rat' (2011), 'Statue of Liberty Souvenirs' (2010), and 'Black Lives Matter' (2020).