James Stewart: Bernice Abbot

Bernice Abbot is one photographer I am looking because of her use of documentary photography, which I found quite interesting, she looked quite a lot at things like architecture when she took her photographs. But her main focus of her photography was based during the great depression, where she shows how people lived in poverty often picturing New York where she visited in 1929.

This is one of her pictures which was taken during the great depression in 1935 New York. Its quite haunting looking back at these pictures as people once lived like this, it shows poverty something which people do fear and so do I. This picture makes me grateful for what I have, I'm sure it had that effect at the time it shown. So this photograph is called the Encampment of the unemployed, a hoover ville or slum. I think one intresting thing I found in this photograph is contrast as the coco cola sign which is a symbol of the modern day with a non so modern problem such as the old prams the scraps of materials, the picture frames on the outside of the walls to try and brighten the place up. The One question I want ask is why did things get this bad, are hey likely to happen again.

Here is another picture of New York in the 1930s, Its very different to the picture in contrast, but like it and most photographs of the time it was taken in black and white which in a way ages the picture and adds a sense of the depression in them. This pictures shows a street with the street signs that were common at this time everywhere.

I think Abbots photographs would have been very fashionable at this time, they show a strict society and everything seems grey. I get no sense of fun or excitement when I look these photos and there pretty chilling which is probably how most people felt at this time. This photograph of a lemonade stand which would be seen as fun, but I think its kind of sad as many had to work so any job was better than being unemployed. The black and white also makes everything look dull and adds to this sense. The main focus in this photograph is focused the background is blurred like its moving traffic.

New York, Pike Street at Henry Street facing the Manhattan Bridge is this photograph of a street which again picture the gripping side of New York with its apartments and vast population. The street looks to filled with sewage and it adds to Abbots work by showing reality of the new york and the working class. I like how the bridge in the back ground add to picture as its in the mist.

Bernice's work also shows the architecture of the Manhattan bridge which I really like, what I like is how the photograph has an age as it shows the most modern style at the time which the black and white compliments. I like the sharp shapes of the art deco style.

Financial District Rooftops with chimneys, I really like this photograph and it is very grey but it adds to the photographs. I like the art deco style in architecture with its many windows and curvature.

High up, seventh avenue from 35th street. The contrast of shadows and how the streets sides are completely dark with the street is completely light. She must have taken this from this from a high rise building.