London in New York

Christopher London is a New York City based lawyer, activist, aspiring writer and founder of Manhattan Society.com, a 501 (c) (3) conduit; a free press vehicle for essential New York Arts & Charity.  Christopher is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Law School and Boston University where he majored in Economics.  He works as a legal consultant by day and serves as a society commentator; diarist; webmaster and photographer by night.  Christopher’s written work, social commentary and photography has appeared  in the Wall Street Journal, Forbes.com, New York Times, New York Magazine, New York Post Page Six, Fox News, Fox News (Boston), E! Entertainment Television (Forbes Billionaire Heiresses and The Downfall of Designer Anand Jon) Cape Cod Today, Money Magazine, Avenue, Quest, Gotham, Hamptons, Panache Magazine, Palm Beach Society, Social Life Magazine (where he serves as the Society Editor), Prestige (Asia) & Town & Country Magazines as well as New York Social Diary and the Newport Mercury. He was profiled by Ask a New Yorker, GuestofaGuest.com, Gawker, Gawker (a second time), Luke Ford and Amy Sohn and was in a Page Six Sighting with Kate Winslet. Likewise, however, Chris and his partner Gregory Partanio, the Photo Editor of ManhattanSociety.com are more well known for the images which they take privately and remain exclusively in the collections of private citizens.

While I never set out to become a photographer or even a blogger my interest evolved by necessity to do my work journalistically.  In my efforts to document the social, cultural and philanthropic under current in  Post 9/11 New York City while facing my own struggles and professional and personal uncertainty, ironically I found salvation and ultimately the rejuvenation of my own broken spirit in devoting myself to the preservation of our metropolis to people, causes and struggles far more significant than my own plight and the work of the myriad New Yorkers who became local volunteers.  You take a walk in another man’s shoes and you begin to understand many things, including the fact that some folks do not have a voice.

I channeled what had been a notorious social addiction, legal and promotional skills to advising, consulting and working with friends, new and old, to promote and assist in the raising of awareness of and fundraising on behalf of New York’s vital institutions.  Instead of merely hoping for change I took it upon myself to contribute to the evolution of our society.   I began to photograph those around me of all socio-economic backgrounds who were devoting themselves to to fundraising while they were also dealing with their own personal struggles and began to make my opinions more publicly known.  It has obviously evolved well beyond that but I still try to use my voice to assist in providing exposure and promotion to organizations, institutions and citizens in in my hometown that do not always gain the spotlight in the major national media or get drowned out in the culture of distraction and celebrity.  This mission remains true even if my social commentary at times makes me sound, according to a trusted friend, like I am “riding bareback through Society like Joan of Arc in flames.” I do not deny that even if I identify more with this quote from urban activist Jane Jacobs:  ”I do not know who this celebrity called Jane Jacobs is. It’s not me. You either do your work or you’re a celebrity; I’d rather do my work.”  And my work is simply is to be a foot solider for Liberty, Freedom and the principles of Democracy that our country was founded upon. I do not believe in Classism; in the end as a people we have to move the ball forward and not penalize success.  In covering the post 9/11 philanthropic undercurrent, my hope and aspiration was to bring greater exposure from a fresh perspective of the great American stories here in our metropolis involving citizen philanthropists who are small business owners, entrepreneurs, professionals in law, finance, industry and media. Our society is comprised of a patchwork of contributors or every day heroes who through responsible and civic minded citizenry, thoughtful philanthropy, political activism and policy making contribute to the vitality of our democracy and the fabric of our society.