New York Instagrammers Breaking the Law

Hamza Diaz, a 17-year-old photographer, spends so much time in New York City that he started meeting people he knows there. The guy loves to walk along the Manhattan Bridge - but not where ordinary people walk, but along its very top. Diaz is part of an unofficial but growing community of so-called "criminal Instagrammers" who turn New York City into a playground and battlefield every night. They compete to be the first to photograph their hometown from the most unexpected angles, often from the air.

(Total 9 photos)

1. The "urban explorer" subculture has been around for a long time, but Diaz and his ilk have taken it to the next level.

2. This young community is akin to graffiti artists who constantly break the law in the name of art.

3. It must be said that until recently this community remained inconspicuous and unpopular, but not so long ago there was a sensation that pushed this company of young “roofers-instagrammers” to the forefront.

4. What happened is this: A couple of German artists replaced the American flags on the Brooklyn Bridge with white flags, but Instagram users (especially those who are in this community) thought that it was Hamza Diaz who did it.

5. And so Diaz woke up famous, and his photos began to multiply and multiply all over the Internet.

6. Diaz says that it is best to climb the bridges early, early in the morning, when the lights have just been turned off.

7. I must say, Diaz was inspired to this activity by Ukrainian and Russian roofers who shot a video of how they climb a 600-meter skyscraper that is still under construction in Shanghai (you can see photos and videos from Shanghai here). After looking at it, Diaz realized that this was the occupation he had dreamed of all his life.

8. This "criminal" behavior only encouraged others to follow Diaz's example, and every night more and more young people go on their exciting journeys across the bridges and rooftops of New York.

9. Hamaz Diaz has never been arrested yet, although after the white flag incident that caused a stir, he now watches every patrol car that passes by with a wary eye while he sits on the crossbar of the bridge with his legs dangling.