Dogs and Dog Tags

When I'm looking at a portrait, I almost always want to see eyes and a face, so I try to make portraits that way. But when I was talking to this man in Coffey Park, and photographing him and his dogs, an interesting switch happened. He was facing me, but turned his head away, and his dog that was facing away turned her head back towards the camera, asserting herself as the main subject of the portrait.

I think he said that she was the mother of one or maybe both of the other snarling dogs- who I guess couldn't care less about being photographed.

Covered Car

I did some internet research and as far as I can tell, this is a 1951 Pontiac Chieftain. The plates say Bolivia, but somehow it got tucked away in an old lot in the corner of Red Hook.

Woman with Bag

I met this woman while she was waiting for the bus, and when I asked her if I could take her portrait she held her pose with uncanny focus and stillness. When I got the film back I kicked myself for not including her whole bag in the frame, but as I've spent time with the image I've come to like just seeing the little handles that pick up the blue of her shirt.

Boys Before School

I met and photographed these boys a block from my apartment, early on a February morning. It was one of my first trips out in my neighborhood shooting this square format film, and this image helped convince me to stick with the project. The photo was included in the exhibition Click at the Brooklyn Museum and someone commented that the boys reminded him of a young Al Capone, who apparently also smoked stogies on the streets of Red Hook. A friend said the one on the left reminded her of Jay-Z. Another said it was the saddest picture in the exhibit. Another said he sees these boys everywhere, but I've been keeping an eye out for them when I'm walking in the neighborhood and I haven't seen them again.