Photo Essays, Spot News and Stock Photography

Archive for ‘April, 2019’

Turn of the Century

TURN OF THE CENTURY

If you say that this photo is far from technically perfect I would have to agree. It feels good to break the rules once in a while. Remember that this is photojournalism not studio photography. A good deal of photojournalism has its roots in conflict photography. War photography. Photos are taken under extreme conditions. In photojournalism the message is what is important not necessarily the technical expertise of the photographer.

Which brings us to this photo we call “Turn of the Century“. After much research we assess that this photo was taken in lower Manhattan c. 1914. Lower west side to be more precise. Somewhere between Houston and West 23 Street and possibly Christopher Street. The hat shops in that area are prolific. Also notice the battle scars on the boy from a recent fight as well as the Adrien Brody lookalike that he is standing with. We do not need perfection in this photo to understand the circumstances and the setting. Sometimes less is actually better as the mind fills in the scene what the eyes cannot see.

The weary, haunting stare of a Depression era shopkeeper.

CELLULOID HEROES

Who will remember us after we are gone? In part, perhaps folks will remember DPI by the images we have left behind.

 

“…I wish my life was a non-stop movie show

A fantasy world of celluloid villains and heroes

Because celluloid heroes never feel any pain

And celluloid heroes never really die…”    –   The Kinks (1972)

 

Spirit Airplane

PLANES, TRAINS and AUTOMOBILES

Forgive us for using the film title, but it just seemed appropriate. The lead photo is a Spirit airplane one of several produced based on the Spirit of St. Louis, “Spirit Airplane“; New York State c.1929. How far airlines have come. Below are two photos; “Mexican Railroad Station“, Mexico c.1935 and “The 1929 Reo“; U. S. (1935). A fine automobile to drive during the Great Depression. The Mexican Railroad Station could never be confused with rush hour on the L.I.R.R.

 

Mexican Railroad Station

 

 

A 1929 Reo parked with its driver.

A 1929 Reo parked with its driver.

The Milk Delivery Truck

THE MILK DELIVERY TRUCK

An image worthy of those taken by the Farm Security Administration photographers during the Great Depression. We think that this is one of those special images. There is a lot to digest in this photo. The milk cans in the truck, the visible gas pump, Davis grocery store with the Coca Cola sign, the man sitting in the chair in the shade and the pinball machine next to him. The truck’s grill sets the time frame. One of those great images from the 1930s, “The Milk Delivery Truck“, Austin, Texas (May 5, 1934).