Bruce Davidson: Subway (Hardcover)

~ Arthur Ollman (Author), (Photographer), Henry Geldzahler (Contributor), Fred Brathwaite (Contributor)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

The intrepid documentary photographer Bruce Davidson, veteran of the civil rights movement and the ghetto ( East 100th Street ), has taken his camera into the New York subways, and has emerged, as might be expected, bereft of a camera. That was a small price to pay for these sensitive and intensely colorful pictures. He hopes that we will see the beauty he found there, but the gritty, seamy images reproduced here will not increase ridership. The bizarre inhabitants of the underground are the majority, with the sober nine-to-five'ers seeming distinctly out of place. In addition to the excellent reproduction quality, this NEA-supported project is enhanced by Davidson's down-to-earth text, a brief afterword, and technical notes. Recommended. Kathleen Collins, Library of Congress
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description

Since the ground was broken, New York City’s subway system has been the stuff of legend as well as a source of inspiration and fear. Originally published in 1986, this dark, democratic environment provided the setting for photographer Bruce Davidson’s first extensive series in color. Subway riders are set against a gritty, graffiti-strewn background, displayed in tones Davidson described as "an iridescence like that I had seen in photographs of deep-sea fish." Never before has the subway been portrayed in such detail, revealing the interplay of its inner landscape and out vistas. The images include lovers, commuters, tourists, families, and the homeless. From weary straphangers to languorous ladies in summer dresses to stalking predators, Davidson’s compassionate vision illuminates the stubborn survival of humanity. From the spring of 1980 to 1985, Davidson explored and shot six hundred miles of subway tracks. In his own words, "I wanted to transform this subway from its dark, degrading, and impersonal reality into images that open up our experience again to the color, sensuality, and vitality of the individual souls that ride it each day." Now nearly 25 years later, and on the eve of the subway’s 100th anniversary, St. Ann’s Press is publishing a new edition of Davidson’s classic book. This edition adds forty unseen images to the original book, and includes a new introduction by Arthur Ollman of the Museum of Photographic Art in San Diego, and a foreword by Fred Braithwaite (aka Fab Five Freddy), the original graffiti artist. It also includes Bruce Davidson and Henry Geldzahler’s original essays. Foreword by Freddy Braithwaite (Fab 5 Freddy) Texts by Arthor Ollman, Henry Geldzahler and Bruce Davidson. Hardcover, 9.75 x 12 in. /132 pgs / 102 color 0 BW 0 duotone 0 other

Product Details

• Hardcover: 132 pages
• Publisher: St. Ann's Press; illustrated edition edition (April 2, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 097136818X
• ISBN-13: 978-0971368187
• Product Dimensions: 12.2 x 9.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,256,588 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Moving and Beautifully Reproduced Photograghs, May 22, 2004

By	David Enzel (Chevy Chase, MD USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

In 1980, Bruce Davidson began to photograph the New York subway system. He first started photographing in Black and White and then decided that the project required color. Davidson generally asked permission before photographing someone -- ironically the one notable exception was a man Davidson did not know was blind. It is one of my favorite images (p. 54). He offered to send them a print of the picture. Yet most of the photographs do not appear posed. The breadth of life on the New York subway system is impressive. You will see beautiful women, daring and frightening young men, some violence, people dealing with crowded situations, lonely people, business people, elderly people, musicians, graffiti, people in love, street people, an arrest -- in short the full panoply of life in NYC. It's just wonderful. The images are a bit on the dark side which fits the subject. Davidson used a flash -- as this was necessary. Many of the images have too much flash but I did not find this to be more than a modest distraction.

The quality of reproduction is excellent. I learned about the variety of humanity below the ground in New York. The enterprise was not without risk. Someone stole one of Davidson's cameras. The book does not make the NY subway seem to be a safe place but certainly one where it's possible to genuinely connect with the humanity we all share.

Highly recommended.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Captivating photographs and interesting dialog, July 23, 2005

By	M. Hamilton - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If you like street photography done in a dark and gritty fashion, this book is for you. The pictures show life at its most honest moments during the daily commute in the subway. The subjects are quite a collection of characters, covering all ranges of our social stratum. Two years in the making, using the subways during all hours of the day and night, he interacted with a wide range of people, endured muggings and even assisted the police in capturing another mugger in a sting operation.

The most fascinating part of the book, to me, is the dialog that tells about how Bruce did the photography. Armed with two film cameras, a strobe light, and a battery pack- he would either approach the subjects or wait until they sat near him. He would then open up a conversation and get permission for the picture along with promising to send a copy. Because of this approach, his writings have a person touch to them. You'll find some comical twists or an interesting tale about how some of the pictures came about.

You'll find that it is a bit more than a coffee table book. If you're an aspiring photographer- you'll learn some valuable tips on the art and if not, then you'll still enjoy the beautiful photographs.

5.0 out of 5 stars extremely well done, a glance of humanity, June 14, 2006

By	Daniel A. Hollander "Dan" (Chicago) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As an amatuer photographer, this is one of my favorite books of all time. It beautifully captures Subway riders in their natural habitat, making outsiders look strikeingly out of place. This book will not disappoint.