The ‘Real’ New York: Gritty Scenes Of NYC Street Life In The 1970s
South Bronx
Camilo José Vergara/Library Of Congress
The photographer and documentarian Camilo José Vergara uses photographs as “a means of discovery, as a tool with which to clarify visions and construct knowledge about a particular city or place.” Pictures, for Vergara, are the starting point in asking questions or linking to other images or investigating new territories and ideas. Continue reading »
Photographer Captures American Apparel Ads in their Gritty Natural Environment
One of the most ubiquitous sights in Los Angeles is the American Apparel billboard. They are mostly small signs, found in strategic neighborhoods such as Silverlake and Echo Park and featuring a young, attractive women in Dov Charney’s products. The billboards reflect a vintage softcore aesthetic that make the ads nearly unmissable.
Los Angeles-based artist Thomas Alleman set out to capture these tiny billboards in their natural environment. The end result is “The American Apparel,” a gritty look at the role these ads play in the streets of Los Angeles. There are billboards overlooking homeless squats, perching over a street corner, hiding behind buildings and looking down on alleyways.
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