GOST Books: Mark Cohen – Tall Socks
- A new collection, Tall Socks, presents a series of photographs taken in New York City during a transformative period.
- In July 1973, while participating in a film production workshop at NYU, a photographer spent a month immersed in the city.
- The New York City of the 1970s faced significant challenges.
Tall Socks: Unveiling new York City in the 1970s
Table of Contents
- Tall Socks: Unveiling new York City in the 1970s
- Tall Socks: A photographic Journey Through 1970s New York City – Q&A
- What is “Tall Socks” and what does it showcase?
- What was New York City like in the 1970s?
- What makes the photographic style in “Tall Socks” unique?
- What kind of moments are captured in the photographs?
- How does “Tall Socks” portray the experience of being in 1970s New York?
- Key details of the “Tall Socks” collection:
A new collection, Tall Socks, presents a series of photographs taken in New York City during a transformative period. These images, largely unseen untill now, offer a unique perspective on urban life more than 50 years ago.
A Month in the City
In July 1973, while participating in a film production workshop at NYU, a photographer spent a month immersed in the city. With short daily classes, ample free time was dedicated to exploring New York with a camera. The resulting images, capturing the essence of the era, remained mostly as negatives for decades.
New York City in the 1970s: A City in Transition
The New York City of the 1970s faced significant challenges. The city was “notorious for high crime rates, social disorder, an unsafe subway adn a declining quality of life.” Economic stagnation led to an exodus of middle-class residents to the suburbs. Yet, amidst these hardships, the city pulsed with life.
The photographs in Tall Socks reflect this duality. Graffiti, litter, and urban decay are visible, but so is the energy of a city constantly in motion. The collection captures a New York “full of life and on the move.”
The sequencing of the images creates an impression of constant movement, mirroring the experience of walking through a bustling city. The viewer is taken on a journey where “there is change from block to block, from step to step, and details and impressions are observed.”
Moments of Contrast
The photographs reveal a city of contrasts. While “an undercurrent of threat” is present in some images, such as “the glare of a stranger and menacing subway stations,” there are also moments of “humour and joy.” These moments are found in unexpected details: “a child’s tall socks, a lady with peacock feathers, an incongruous elephant or a girl carrying a plank of wood across a cobblestoned street.”
A Unique Photographic Style
A distinctive photographic style is evident in the images. The photographer often held the camera at hip level, capturing intuitive shots, frequently up close to the subjects. This technique provides “an unusual perspective,” presenting the world from a lower vantage point. This approach focuses on frequently enough-overlooked details, “cropping figures and peering curiously into doorways and down streets,” transforming the familiar into something “both fresh and strange.”
tall Socks: Details
- format: 185 x 254 mm Portrait
- Pages: 128
- Images: 73
- ISBN: 978-1-915423-74-0
- price: £50 | €60 | $65
Tall Socks: A photographic Journey Through 1970s New York City – Q&A
This article explores teh photo collection, Tall Socks, a visual time capsule of New York City in the 1970s. Through a Q&A format, we delve into the collection’s unique viewpoint, the challenges and vibrancy of the city during that era, and the distinctive photographic style employed.
What is “Tall Socks” and what does it showcase?
Tall socks is a collection of photographs taken in New York City in July 1973.These images, largely unseen for decades, offer a glimpse into the urban life of the city during a transformative period, capturing both its hardships and its unique energy. The collection acts as a documentary of a specific moment in time, reflecting the social and visual landscape of 1970s NYC. tall Socks participates in a tradition of documentary photography that seeks to capture a moment in multiculturalism reflecting underrepresented voices.
What was New York City like in the 1970s?
the 1970s were a challenging time for New York City. Some key characteristics of the city during this period include:
High Crime Rates and Social Disorder: The city had a reputation for being unsafe.
Economic Stagnation: This led to a decline in the quality of life and an exodus of middle-class residents to the suburbs.
Urban decay: Graffiti, litter, and signs of neglect were visible throughout the city.
Vibrancy and Energy: Despite the hardships, the city pulsed with life and constant motion.
Activism and Change: Marked by a commitment to multiculturalism.
What makes the photographic style in “Tall Socks” unique?
The photographer used a distinctive style, characterized by:
Low Vantage point: Holding the camera at hip level to capture shots from an unusual perspective.
Intuitive Shots: Capturing spontaneous moments up close to the subjects.
Focus on Overlooked Details: Cropping figures and curiously exploring doorways and streets.
Transforming the Familiar: Presenting everyday scenes in a fresh and strange way.
What kind of moments are captured in the photographs?
The photographs in Tall Socks capture a range of contrasting moments, including:
Undercurrent of Threat: Evident in images of menacing subway stations and the glares of strangers.
Humor and Joy: Found in unexpected details like a child’s tall socks, a lady with peacock feathers, or incongruous scenes like an elephant or a girl carrying a plank of wood.
Images that reflect underrepresented voices.
How does “Tall Socks” portray the experience of being in 1970s New York?
The sequencing of the images in Tall Socks creates an impression of constant movement, mirroring the experience of walking through the bustling city. This approach invites the viewer on a journey where, as the book describes, “there is change from block to block, from step to step, and details and impressions are observed[.]”
Key details of the “Tall Socks” collection:
| Detail | description |
| ————— | —————————– |
| Format | 185 x 254 mm Portrait |
| Pages | 128 |
| Images | 73 |
| ISBN | 978-1-915423-74-0 |
| Price | £50 / €60 / $65 |