Davidson, Disrepair, and the NYC Subway

In the troubled New York of the early 1980's, Bruce Davidson made a series of images that showed the frailty of a big city in disrepair. In time, these images would show New York to be an American touchstone of resilience.

Since coming across this piece from the New York Times last year, I've gone back and watched it over and over. The portraits are some of the most genuine I have ever seen. It's not because of the spontaneity of the captures either; Davidson would often ask to take the photo and then have to talk the subject back into being comfortable in front of the camera.

Although these images are remarkable, I feel like the emotion of the city just bleeds through from the structural and social disrepair these people were living in. Everything is just so filthy and hot and sweaty - but the people are passionate and real. On the one hand, my reaction can be written off to watching too many movies romanticizing NYC ("that's not a knife"). On the other hand, New York has come a long way since then, and if these photos show us at all what the everyday was like, then maybe the city deserves the awe and wonder these images inspire in us.

Check out the video from the New York Times displaying Davidson's work (narrated).


Also, since it is Sunday and you hopefully have some free time on your hands, go check this out:

Magnum - Davidson's Portfolio

Magnum - If you don't know what Magnum is (*shame on you)