Customer Reviews

Drive by Shootings : Photographs by a New York Taxi Driver

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This afternoon, I hailed a cab near Union Square in New York City. As we pulled away, I noticed the driver had two small black and white photos (New York cityscapes) posted next to his hack license. The pictures were small but alluring in that New York noir sort of way. One was signed "Bradford," the same name on the hack license. "Cool photos," I said. "Do you show?" To which the driver said, "My book," and he handed me "Drive-By Shootings." The book is substantial, somewhere near 500 pages with thick paper to accomadate these extraordinary photos... Bradford has an alert and whimsical eye. Of all the photography I have seen of New York, Bradford's body of work captures the energy and essence of what it is like to be here and live here, better than any I've seen. There is enormous love for the city and compassion for his subjects. There is also present a strong sense of irony alongside the photographer himself being humbled by this thing --New York City -- which is depicted here as being as tame as it is wild. Like Bradford himself, this book is very engaging. If you like New York, or have an interest in photography or art, you'll appreciate "Drive-By Shootings."

a book of photographs (and some prose) done by a NY taxi cab driver. all the photos were shot with a point and shoot camera, while he was driving his cab.

a great example of how a body of work is equal to more than the sum of the parts. in other words, the individual images are not necessarily masterpieces, but when you put them all together, the body of work could definitely be exhibited in a gallery. goes to show you that to be a successful artist, a concise body of work is more important then successful individual images alone.

also, this book is a great example of taking one's circumstances and surroundings and creating something artistic from them. there's room for creativity everywhere, especially for photographic creativity.

and in it, the author transcends what might be an ordinary job into something extraordinary. like a bumble-bee buzzing throughout the city, Braford in his cab with camera in hand shows us that in the wake of the events of 9/11/2001 (in fact, the World Trade Center buildings are in many of his shots), NYC is a city full of vitality, life, and soul.

as a published photographer myself, and someone who has not yet spent much time in New York, i really appreciate this book. it's one man's view of the city, yes. but he has such a great vantage point as part of the livelyhood of it.

I found this book to be a true depiction of what it means to be in New York - not just the skylines and the tourist attractions. Bradford's perspective - both literally (from the inside of a cab) and mentally - give the pictures a unique feel. In addition, the organization of the book - day, night, rain, snow - convey the notion that the city is continually changing it's mood and it's feel. I would highly recommend this book.

One of the greatest photo books I have ever seen. Every single frame allows you to delve into the experience of living in New York. This book includes photos the kind of which no one has ever seen before. A continuation and expansion of the photographic language first introduced by Garry Winogrand in his late (virtually unknown) work, shooting the streets of LA from inside his moving car. In this book I found images that you see in the streets of New York but that no one seemed to be able to capture on film ... until now. Thanks to David Bradford for a monumental portrait of a monumental city.

This is a very beautiful photo book. More than 600 high quality B&W Photos showing the true New Yorker spirit, with no prejudice and pre-production.

If you are a NY fanatic, it's a "must have" book for you...

I was so excited to get this book when they showed the story on 60 Minutes. The photographs were all taken with a Yashica T4 point and shoot camera, (the point and shoot of choice for most pro photographers)! The pictures are all in black and white too. The pictures are the pulse of New York City from the viewpoint of a New York Cabbie. I love this concept. I love that this man has used a wonderful point and shoot camera (now discontinued...shame on you, Yashica!), and how he photographs the city while driving. He also photographs the passengers (great idea!!). The text is fantastic. It lets you really understand where he is coming from when he took the pictures. What makes this book winderful is this combination of text and photography, and that it is a new struggling artist who makes his living by driving a cab in New York City, a very rough job indeed.

I happened to catch a ride in David Bradford's cab yesterday, 1/22/01 from Greenwich Village to La Guardia -- I was very lucky to get an autographed copy of this book from him (he managed to sign it during a typical jam on the BQE). It is a "must buy" for any NYC (or big city) lover and provides a unique, B&W, pictorial view from a cab. Highly recommended.

I am British, but have lived in New York in the past, and I bought this book to try and satisfy my cravings for 'The Big Apple' whilst in France. I found it stunning, and could not stop reading the non-fiction prose about New York cabs in general, and looking at the wonderful, evocative photos which capture the many facets of Manhattan life wonderfully. Anyone who loves New York would love this book (and probably anyone interested in photography would too!)

This book is a hurricane of black and white photos taken in New York city, by a man who knows his way around the city and camera. He was brought up in a suburb of Chicago, and decided to move to New York to follow his heart. The picture take you inside his taxi and allows you to look throught his eyes at the great city of New York. I highly recommend this book.

A stunning recollection of a New York city that is rapidly disappearing. Time makes this book more valuable by the day.
I came across a website
ThingsIseefrommycab.com that reminds me of this book. It is a nice contrast to then.