idiosyncratic

ampersandgallery:

What an amazing photo! Found this on my recent business trip to NYC.

Measuring 3 x 4 3/4 inches, it likely dates from the 1940s & is printed on the kind of paper that is characteristic of photobooth photos from this era. It was likely shot at a carnival or local county fair, but I’ve never been certain whether this type of portrait was mechanical, like in a booth, or whether a photographer was involved. There is so much to like about this image, but I was partly drawn to it because it reminds me of the recently published book by Leon Borenzstein titled American Pictures (Nazraeli Press), which we have at Ampersand. This book is one of my early favorites of 2012 & features portrait photographs he shot of families in the late 70s & 80s. The backdrop is such a key component to his photographs, as is the case here—the tiled floor, simple bench & loose backdrop remind us that a photographic process has taken place. This may be obvious, but details like this recall the various types of photography that no longer exist in the digital age. Not only would it have been cool to converse with this stately African American couple, it would have been amazing to meet the photographer behind the camera.

- Collection -

04.12.2012

(via photographyprison)