New Yorkers Have Always Had An Attitude

New Yorkers have always had attitude AND style. Here are some of the first photos in the history of photography to be taken to prove it.

But why do New Yorkers have an attitude? Anyone that is not from NYC always say New Yorkers are mean, negative, unhappy and angry. I don't fully disagree because we indeed can be. There is something about this city that seeps through us all. Most people are thinking about me, me, me and some others are thinking too much about him, her, she. Both are not good and both are not bad. I think we live our lives in twos, frequently divided, concerned but also not really, aware but in our heads, empowering yet victims. The NYC subway is probably the most beautiful and telling portrait of New York City. Another thing, NYC smells, like, a lot. The first time I noticed was when I came back to NYC from living abroad. It's a mix between urine, pizza, Nutz 4 Nutz, halal food and dead rats. In NYC everyone breaks the rules. No loud music, food or nudity on the train? Yeah right. It happens everyday. Have you tried giving a homeless person your leftovers because they are asking for money? Well the reality is they are asking for money, not for food; suddenly your deed is no deed. An apartment is hard to find, everyone lives in Brooklyn, folks get robbed for their belongings everyday, the weather is neither here nor there. 

These photos were all taken in New York City in the 1840’s of folks born in the 17th century. These images were created through the first successful photographic process: daguerreotype. The process, named after Louis Jacques Mandé Daguerre, are created with the subject sitting very still for a very long time. The images are “printed” on silvered copper plate. 

Scroll through to see these "mean" New Yorkers, who by the way are the OLDEST generation of men and women EVER photographed

According to the Daily Mail, Matthew Brady might have taken these photos. He came from Irish immigrants and left the countryside for NYC in 1840. He then learned 'daguerreotype' photography and opened a successful portrait studio in Washington. He ended up photographing U.S. President Abraham Lincoln in 1862 and U.S First Lady Dolley Madison in 1848.