Harlem

These photographs are part of a sub-series to my ongoing project of Harlem. Due to the effects of gentrification, Harlem is undergoing cultural changes within the community as cultural traditions are now becoming lost. As a Harlem native, I have been photographing my neighborhood as a way to preserve the community. This particular sub-series documents the historic and cultural traditions within the community as an ode to Harlem life. Rather than to photograph from a traditional documentary sense, I photograph from a perspective that is more personal, which speaks of my connection to the neighborhood. My photographs can be thought of fragments of my thoughts and experiences. The entire series is shot in B&W film for its ability to strip down a subject to its essence, which are described as “timeless” for their poetic imagery and composition. My goal is to simply instill natives with a sense of pride and nostalgia of being from such a historic neighborhood but more importantly, through the eyes of Harlem native. My photographs are not only just a homage to this historic neighborhood, but rather a refection of the people’s vitality — A reflection whom many people call home