New York City Archives - The Image Journey

Published February 13, 2021 by avardw

Documentary Photos in New York, 1983

These are some documentary photos taken in New York in 1983. Documentary photography can be defined as style of photography that provides a straightforward and accurate representation of people, places, objects and events, and is often used in reportage. It can be both significant and relevant to history and historical events as well as everyday life.

For me, documentary photos are ones that are taken without manipulation, or staging. My urban photographs from the 1980s, taken in Toronto, New York, Japan, and Asia are largely street photographs, but are also documentary in that they capture life as it is. And the passage of time makes them more interesting, and valuable, as documents of another era. The above photo, for example, shows a man sitting at the entrance to B. Altman and Company on 5th Avenue. It was the flagship store of a luxury department store chain that opened in 1906 and closed for good in 1989. It’s nice to have a record of this iconic store.

A recent article by Authur Lubow in the New York Times titled, Life As It’s Seen, Not Staged makes the point that documentary photography, which fell out of favor with the rise of manipulated images, is making a comeback. An exhibition at the International Centre of Photography highlights young photographers share “a commitment to portray life as they discover it in the world at large, without staging or manipulation; and by so doing, find and express themselves.” Lubow also makes the point that “nothing is weirder than a straight photograph of an uncanny subject.” In short, truth is stranger than fiction.

In my early sixties, I sill find everyday life endlessly fascinating, and continue to capture it with my documentary photos. They help me make sense of the world we live in, and also help me remember the places I’ve been, and people and things I’ve seen.

Black and White Documentary Film Photography Photography Social Landscape Street Photography

1980s documentary photography film photography New York New York City street photography

Published March 3, 2019 by avardw

Street Scenes in New York City, 1983

5th Avenue and East 36th Street, New York, 1983, New York City, — 5th Avenue and East 36th Street, New York, 1983 – © Avard Woolaver

I have only been to New York City three times in my life, but each visit there holds vivid memories. It’s an interesting experience to walk around Manhattan with a camera–so much human activity and so many interesting buildings and sights. But I must admit that I never felt very comfortable there. From my Canadian perspective, large American cities seem dangerous and in 1983, New York City was a bit run down and dodgy in certain areas.

These photos were taken on a Ryerson school trip in early November, 1983. I used a Rollei 35S with Tri-X film and shot about six rolls of film over two days. I was looking for interesting scenes and bits of human interaction. Decades later when I scanned the negatives, I found information about the photos that I didn’t know at the time. For instance, the busker playing saxophone was an 18 year old Vincent Herring–a noted jazz saxophonist. Also the invasion of Grenada had just taken place–something I wasn’t really aware of at the time.

Looking at these photos makes me want to go back again, to capture new images and form new memories.

5th Avenue, New York, 1983, New York City, — 5th Avenue, New York, 1983 – © Avard Woolaver

New York, 1983, New York City, — New York, 1983 – © Avard Woolaver – “Perspectiva Mundial” – Spanish monthly for the Socialist Workers Party. Taken in early November, 1983, about two weeks after the American invasion of Grenada.

Vincent Herring, New York, 1983, New York City, — Vincent Herring, New York, 1983 – © Avard Woolaver

MoMA, New York, 1983, New York City, — MoMA, New York, 1983 – © Avard Woolaver – Jackson Pollock, “Number 1A”, (1948)

Three-card Monte, New York, 1983, New York City, — Three-card Monte, New York, 1983 – © Avard Woolaver

Meatpacking District, New York, 1983, New York City, — Meatpacking District, New York, 1983 – © Avard Woolaver

Black and White Blogging Photography

New York New York City street photography

Published December 5, 2018 by avardw

Fifth Avenue, New York, 1983

New York, Avard Woolaver, Fifth Avenue, B.Altman and Company, 1983, street photography,

This photo was taken on Fifth Avenue in New York City in 1983. Walking around New York City with a camera is something I’ve only done twice in my life. Both times were unique and memorable. There is so much happening on the streets, and so many interesting locations.

The mannequin is in the store window of B. Altman and Company, a luxury department store chain founded in 1865. By 1990, the business was closed. In 1985 this Fifth Avenue building became a New York City landmark. It is now occupied by City University of New York, New York Public Library, and Oxford University Press. The Altman Foundation carries on as one of the largest private philanthropies in New York.

From the series: New York City – Flickr album

Photography

1983 analog photography Avard Woolaver B. Altman Company film photography New York New York City street photography