Sights in the city - Jamel Shabazz

During the summer of 1980, under the direction of his father, a photographer, Jamel
Shabazz armed himself with a Canon AE1 SLR camera and passionately photographed
the urban landscape that he called home. New York City-"the city that never
sleeps"-was the ideal epicenter to photograph because of its 24-hour subway system
and the many businesses that are open late into the night.
Never without a dull
moment, New York's energy inspired him to use the streets as a canvas for the majority
of his work for over 35 years. Photographing in the streets put Shabazz in the heart of
all of the action-he carried his camera everywhere, always set and at the ready. Like
a fisherman seeking a fruitful catch, Shabazz ventured into locations full of life and
uncertainty in hopes of capturing a unique moment.
More importantly, he sought to
gain insight into the conditions of the larger world and its inhabitants.
Sights in the City is a testament to Shabazz's visual journey, contianing 120 color and black-and-white
photographs, most of which have never been published. His images are both intimate
and provocative in nature, each having its own DNA.