73. Jacob Riis + Early 20th century 35mm cameras
"Camera without a home"
atelier ying, nyc.
This homage is a series I'm planning about children. The industrial revolution photographers like Riis and Lewis Hine were reformers. And the camera's early history was integral in this important work.
My only ties to Riis has been that I live near Mulberry Street, which was a slum in his time and part of his explorations. And I've played golf on the tiny par 3 short course in the Riis Park named after him, near the ocean in Brooklyn.
The child workers Riis documented are invited to a camera house which one enters only by the 2.5 foot diameter "lens" crawl space. There is another means of egress by secret tunnel, not shown. A pool house is on the roof, where the visitors can take in some sun during a game of Marco Polo. Inside the camera (and on the left) is an arsenal of ultra rare pre-Leica 35mm cameras from the early 20th century. The visitors are invited to take them out onto the Street, or to swing open the compartment hatches along the façade of the building and shoot from prescribed vantage points. a set of assorted ladders are provided inside.
I would not stoop so low as to denigrate the life experience of these children by giving them this homage as a gift or present it with any kind of significance, it would only demean and patronize them. This is simply an invitation to a playground; a diversion for a few hours from life.
Design drawing and writings are copyright 2013 by David Lo
73. Jacob Riis + Early 20th century 35mm cameras
"Camera without a home"
atelier ying, nyc.
This homage is a series I'm planning about children. The industrial revolution photographers like Riis and Lewis Hine were reformers. And the camera's early history was integral in this important work.
My only ties to Riis has been that I live near Mulberry Street, which was a slum in his time and part of his explorations. And I've played golf on the tiny par 3 short course in the Riis Park named after him, near the ocean in Brooklyn.
The child workers Riis documented are invited to a camera house which one enters only by the 2.5 foot diameter "lens" crawl space. There is another means of egress by secret tunnel, not shown. A pool house is on the roof, where the visitors can take in some sun during a game of Marco Polo. Inside the camera (and on the left) is an arsenal of ultra rare pre-Leica 35mm cameras from the early 20th century. The visitors are invited to take them out onto the Street, or to swing open the compartment hatches along the façade of the building and shoot from prescribed vantage points. a set of assorted ladders are provided inside.
I would not stoop so low as to denigrate the life experience of these children by giving them this homage as a gift or present it with any kind of significance, it would only demean and patronize them. This is simply an invitation to a playground; a diversion for a few hours from life.
Design drawing and writings are copyright 2013 by David Lo