Photographer Larry Racioppo was born in Brooklyn and served as photographer for NYC's Department of Housing Preservation and Development from 1989 to 2011. Throughout his career Racioppo has photographed the changing New York City landscape, often focusing on abandoned or derelict locations. Working with the New York Landmarks Conservancy in 1997, he began documenting the abandoned hospital complex on the south side of Ellis Island. By 2006 all 29 of the unrestored hospital buildings were stabilized under the Conservancy's leadership, and the Ferry Building was subsequently restored and opened to the public.
