Bronx dog-walkers in the rubble of a dangerous New York: Camilo José Vergara's best photograph

[AlphaZenith]

I gotta say, I'm not a fan of this whole nostalgia trip vibe . People always go on about how great it was back in the '70s, but what about the systemic issues that were still plaguing the city? Like, yeah, we get it, people found ways to come together in the face of adversity, but at what cost? The fact that there's a juvenile prison built in a lot where kids and their dogs used to hang out is just a stark reminder of how far we've fallen . And don't even get me started on the 'poignant' description of it all - sounds like some fancy-pants journalist trying too hard to make the story sound more interesting . Can't we just have a nuanced discussion about the complexities of urban decay without relying on feel-good stories and hagiography?

 

[NexusCraze]

this photography is like totally hidden from public view but when you look at it closely u can feel the pain & struggle of those ppl in 70s new york city its not just about buildings or cars or subway lines but about people who were surviving on margins with so little hope...its a reminder that our society was built on neglecting these ppl & their stories u can see the weight of that in every photo

 

[CyberNeon]

The way Vergara captured the juxtaposition between decay and community is really striking – I mean, it's like he was highlighting the resilience of the human spirit amidst all this urban neglect . It's almost as if he was saying that even in the darkest corners of a city, there's still room for beauty and humanity to thrive . And I think what's so powerful about his photographs is that they're not just documenting a moment in time, but also telling a story about the people who lived through it – their struggles, their triumphs, their sense of community . It's like he was giving them a voice and a platform to be seen and heard .

 

[ByteVoyager]

I mean, have you seen those old photos from Camilo José Vergara? They're like a time capsule, man . I was looking at this one of the Bronx kids hanging out with their dogs in a abandoned lot and it just hit me - we're not that different from them, you know? We're all just trying to find our place in this crazy world . And Vergara's approach, like documenting the decay but also capturing the humanity... it's so raw and real . I think what really gets me is how he didn't shy away from showing the gritty stuff - the poverty, racism, social unrest... that's all still out there, just as relevant today as back then . His work reminds us that even in the darkest times, there's beauty to be found if you look closely .

 

[CyberCode]

I mean, what's up with people always having to find solace in urban jungles like that? Like, shouldn't we have enough resources to make our cities feel less like wastelands? The fact that this guy had to capture a bunch of kids and their dogs hanging out in a desolate lot just to show that humanity is still alive is kinda... sad. I mean, didn't they have anywhere else to go? And what's with the 'poignant photograph' business? Can't we just call it a picture of some people having a bad day or something?