The traditional community I attempted to capture was Harlem. Walking down 125th St., I saw such vibrancy, such color. I saw black people showing off their culture in a community that they knew embraced them, accepted them, respected them, and even protected them. I knew I must capture this community, and share it.
After cruising the streets, surreptitiously snapping photos, feeling like an outsider and experiencing paranoia, I almost gave up on capturing Harlem. And then, this weekend past, I had a breakthrough. Harlem artists opened their doors for the Harlem Open Artist Studio Tour and the related Strivers Art Circuit Tour. I was welcomed into the homes and galleries of some of Harlem’s finest artists, for food, for wine, for conversation, and for photos.
This photo collection is a sample of the images I captured.