The year was 1976. With a soaring crime rate, the birth of hip-hop, and an emerging street art scene in New York, photographer Robert Herman found himself in the midst of a burgeoning cultural renaissance. Armed with his Nikon, Herman set out to capture the environment around him, the city becoming his boundless photo studio. With his first published photographic book, entitled The New Yorkers close to completion, I had the chance to chat with Robert about his experiences as a photographer, his techniques, and the lessons learned from capturing strangers on the street.
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So take me back to New York in 1976. What brought to New York initially?
I was living on Long Island as a kid and my parents owned movie theatres in the city so I was always going into town to work with my father in Brooklyn. I ended up in Manhattan because I decided to go to NYU film school. And while I was in film school I decided to take some still photography classes as an elective. And that’s how I got started.
Bill Russell is recognized by many as the greatest basketball player of all time. Of course Michael Jordan fans will rebuke, as will any others who view scoring as the number one measure of a player’s prowess, but no player dominated the game to the degree which Russell did, or made the impact that he did. Among a laundry list of accomplishments, Bill Russell won an unprecedented 11 championship rings in 13 seasons and was the first African-American coach of any major sport.
It was a by chance occurrence in 1975 that would chart photographer Hugh Holland’s course. Happening upon a group of skateboarders navigating the drainage pipes of Laurel Canyon Road in Los Angeles, Hugh knew instantly that he had found a compelling subject. Documenting the still infantile skateboard culture of Southern California for the next three years, Holland ventured everywhere from the San Fernando Valley to Venice Beach, and even Mexico; his purpose, to capture the essence of skateboard culture. The images within, part of Holland’s photography book Locals Only portray the carefree, whimsical nature of early California skate culture.
Is there anything better than hanging out with your friends? Probably not. Friends are just about the tightest thing in life, perhaps right behind family, although they oftentimes double as friends themselves. But like I said, we gotta utilize these weekdays and really get it in. These times won’t last forever. Amassing a colorful collection of famous faces, the pictures within capture celebrities of the past in some of their more candid moments. A settled reminder to take more pictures and enjoy yourself.
An integral figure of the Pop Art movement, Roy Lichtenstein emerged as one of the preeminent artists of the 1960′s and ’70s. Building a massive collection of vibrant pieces, Lichtenstein’s work was heavily influenced by comic book aesthetics and popular advertising, often times parodying the same subjects that he was documenting. In Interiors, a series created by Lichtenstein during the 1990s, we see his iconic style on display, typified by bold primary colors and precise stripes and dots. With his work continuing to influence many artists well into the 21st century, Interiors serves to relate Lichtenstein’s distinct interpretations of shape, style and form.
His name was Razor Ramon. At 6’7″ and nearly 280 pounds he dominated much of the competition in the WWF as one of the preeminent Intercontinental champions of the 90′s. Most notable for introducing the ladder match to the WWF alongside Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania X in 1994, Razor, whose real name is Scott Hall has seen his career and life deteriorate before his very eyes. Falling prey to the deadly combination of drugs and alcohol, today Hall is a shell of the man he used to be. Struggling to carve out a life for himself despite his addictions, the one time champion was in a turbulent free-fall when ESPN documented his rapid descent. A searing portrayal of a man, Hall’s story is a another cautionary tale about the dangers of fame, celebrity and excess.
The year was 1997 and the Gap was in need of a spokesperson for their “easy fit” jeans. Soliciting the rapping prowess of one LL Cool J, Gap executives commissioned LL to perform a 30 second freestyle for their nationwide television commercial. But little did they know, LL had ulterior motives.
Rocking a light blue Fubu cap in the commercial, executives foolishly disregarded the LL’s subtle clothing item, allowing him to visually promote the urban brand within the television spot. Initially referencing the easy fit jeans within the first few bars of the freestyle, LL continued on, “G,A,P gritty ready to go. For us, by us, on the low…”
“For us, by us, on the low”? The significance of the phrase is undeniable. What transpired was one of Gap’s biggest marketing blunders, and subsequently FUBU’s introduction to the world. It took Gap executives a while to understand exactly what LL had pulled off, but once they did they were furious. Plugging the FUBU brand on Gap’s dime, LL managed to introduce FUBU to a national audience, telling that same audience to buy it “on the low.” The following year FUBU earned upwards of $350 million.
“In 1983, a local TV station held a contest for anyone who wanted a chance at reporting the weather. My role was to take head shots of contestants after each screen test. Five winners were chosen out of nearly one hundred applicants. The pictures were never used, but I developed the negatives anyway (without proofing them). These images had been lost until recently and I am seeing them for the very first time.”
Cliche though it may be, I think it’s worth restating every once in a while. The destination is cool, but the journey is really what it’s about. Everybody wants to blow up, particularly if they’re doing their thing exceptionally well. But once you’re there, you’re there, and there’s no turning back. As far as Mike goes, I think a lot of us are pretty well acquainted with his journey.
I remember sitting in Ms. Kennedy’s classroom, rifling through sports biographies as fast as I could, absorbing any and all information that might help me become a little more, well, like Mike. Stories about Michael — how baseball was his first love, or how he rocked the number 23 because he just wanted to be half as good as his brother, who rocked 45 — I learned the mythology like Bible-belt kids learn the gospels. Like any good story though, Michael’s is as inspiring today as it is was when I was ten. Just another reminder that sometimes, where you come from is just as important as where you take it to.
“There are a lot of boys that are stronger than me that could be great champions, but they can’t fight temptation. Temptation is all around us! Pretty girls with their chests big and ripe.”
A little perspective goes a long way. And as is usually the case when I run into something that reminds the vastness of the universe, I’m also reminded that it’s bigger than just me. Aside from being a leading proponent of the turtleneck, Carl Sagan was also one of the wisest, most insightful minds in popular science over the last century or so, and valuable perspective oozed out of just about every segment of Cosmos, his now-legendary 1980 PBS series. Looking back from 2011, it’s easy to be cynical about Sagan’s wide-eyed wonder, or his idealistic tone. It can’t all be as simple as he made it sound…can it? On the other hand, it’s just as easy to be inspired by his radical curiosity, imagination and vision. Like perspective, there’s no telling where a little of each of those might take you.
There are few visual artists who have had more diverse output over the last half century or so than Richard Hamilton. For the hoop fans, sorry if there was any confusion. Often described as one of pop art’s earliest heroes, Hamilton was responsible for some of the era’s most memorable images. Though broadly speaking, Hamilton’s work falls pretty exclusively into the category of pop art, exploring celebrity, modernity, and other iconic cultural symbols, it’s also notable for its variety. From complex collages to minimalist pieces, Hamilton’s career has seen him bounce from one aesthetic to another without missing a beat, up until his passing earlier today.
There are few things weaker than getting arrested. I’m not sure if you’ve ever had the privilege of getting your picture taken while arguably doing your worst, but I was fortunate enough to have been captured after copping my DUI last year. With the purpose to “neither judge the guilt or innocence of those portrayed,” author, photographer and filmmaker George Seminara has compiled this collection of photographs for your viewing pleasure. Sourcing photographs from the 50′s to the 90′s, Seminara’s collection highlights the various personalities that have ended up on the other side of the law. If nothing else, use this as inspiration. You can go to jail and still be successful.
On December 14, 1974 Marvin Gaye sang the National Anthem at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum before the Raiders beat the Dallas Cowboys 27-23 in front of a national television audience. Marvin donned his iconic red beanie in the Bay Area’s temperate 53-degree weather and blessed America with its self-affirming anthem. He looked at ease, but earlier that year, on the very same field, Marvin Gaye had confronted some of his biggest demons by returning to the national spotlight… live in Oakland, CA.
