I finally found this negative and rescanned this image which has always been one of my better “Urban Blight” pictures…
©Matt Weber
September 8, 2012
“Flats To Let” South Bronx 1987 (New Scan)
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This is one of those images where you literally have to see it to believe it.
I’ve watched some video footage on YouTube that reveals the decay of the city during the 70s & 80s, but your shot captures it very well with the man sitting on the stoop as comfortably as if it were the front porch to his home sweet home. We can only imagine what was running through his mind.
Was it relatively safe walking through these neighborhoods with a camera, Matt?
A blog I check out recently posted a documentary about third avenue in 1980. Definitely the less glamorous side of NYC back in the day, although I’m sure there are still similar situations today that are less apparent to the average tourist. If you haven’t already seen it:
http://www.snagfilms.com/films/title/third_avenue_only_the_strong_survive
Comment by greg — September 8, 2012 @ 10:58 am
The man on the porch really adds a lot to it because otherwise it looks terrible but doesn’t give the impression of habitation. Nice shot.
Comment by mostlymonochrome — September 8, 2012 @ 1:17 pm
amazing social documentary capture. Wonder what is there now?
Comment by phrenzel — September 9, 2012 @ 6:34 am
Thanks all…When I think of how I Casually stopped my cab and shot only one frame, I remember how typical scenes like this were back then…
Comment by Matt Weber — September 9, 2012 @ 9:25 am