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CLICK ON A PHOTO ABOVE TO VIEW ----------------
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New York City has been getting a lot of love lately. But
what so many of the recent well-wishers miss is that New
York's spirit lies in the everyday lives of it's inhabitants.
The vast majority of us here don't spend our days skipping
through Central Park and our nights don't play out like
episodes of Sex in The City.
Boogie's photographs are about the vitality of living here,
and that there's something to be learned from those who
are struggling to do so.
I spoke to Boogie about his photos, and his motivation for
taking them:
BN: First of all, where and when did you shoot these?
BOOGIE: All ARTCOUP photos were taken in New York
and Belgrade. I'm Belgrade native, vacationing there once
a year. Both cities are very cinematic and inspiring.
And both have something in common, some kind of raw energy,
anger, it's hard
to define it.
During 1998/1999, I used to go to Coney Island almost every
weekend, made a
bunch of great shots there. Even became friends with some
crackheads, Manu,
Jay and Jays girlfriend Tony, the prostitute. They were
so happy when I gave
them some photos, and surprised to be treated as human beings.
Very nice
people. Old circus trailer that they used to live in later
burned down, so
they moved to Florida. Never saw them since.
I always carry a camera with me, even when buying groceries
(you need strong
back for that) . Have that sick fear that I might miss something
big.
People on the margins of society always inspired me. People
noone cares
about, homeless, neglected, unnoticed. Sometimes they have
wisdom other
people don't. (of course sometimes they're just plain nuts)
BN: Do you live in Brooklyn?
BOOGIE: I live in Williamsburg (S4th), moved here
from Long Island City 7 months
ago.
BN: How did you get into photography? Did you go
art school?
BOOGIE: Nope, no formal education in photography.
My background is in computers
(B.Sc. in computer programming). I have to do photography
in order to stay sane. With the camera, I put myself in
role of observer, rather than participant.
My addiction to photography began about 10 years ago, when
I first started
collecting vintage cameras. Then I tried using them, and
that was it ... in
fact it was all my father's fault, he is an amateur photographer
(painter by
vocation), my grandfather was one, too. My grandfather was
even busted by
communist after WWII for photographing something he shouldn't
have. I still
have his last will he wrote while in prison. It probably
comes with blood, I
would do whatever it takes to get a good shot.
-Bret Nicely
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