Streets ahead: The explosive New York scene that changed photography - in pictures

Between 1935 and 1965, New York was the epicentre of a revolutionary new style of photography. A new exhibition captures its energy

Main image: Look sharp ... Brooklyn Gang, 1959. Photograph: Bruce Davidson

  • Dan Weiner, East End Avenue, New York, 1950

    Born in New York City in 1919, Weiner was exposed to the documentary photography of Jacob Riis and Lewis Hine while studying at the Pratt Institute. A member of the US Army Air Corps during the second world war, he discovered a 35mm camera. His experiments with small-format photography led him to close his studio in 1949 and dedicate himself full time to photojournalism. He was killed in a plane crash while on assignment in 1959. The New York School Show is at le Pavillon Populaire, Montpellier, France, to 10 January
    Dan Weiner, East End Avenue, New York, 1950Born in New York City in 1919, Dan Weiner studied painting at the Art Students League in 1937 and at Pratt Institute from 1939 to 1940. While at Pratt, he joined the Photo League and was exposed to the documentary photography work of Jacob Riis and Lewis Hines. During World War II, while in the US Army Air Corps, he discovered the 35mm camera. His experiments with small-format photography led him to close his studio in 1949 and dedicate himself full-time to photojournalism. He was killed in a plane crash while on assignment in 1959.

  • Ruth Orkin, Couple in MG, 1951

    Orkin grew up in Hollywood in the heyday of the 1920s and 30s. At age 10, she received her first camera and began by photographing her friends and teachers at school. At 17 she took a bicycle trip across the US to New York City, to see the 1939 World’s Fair, taking photographs on the way. Orkin moved to New York in 1943. She worked for many major magazines and took portraits of some of the greatest musicians of the time, including Leonard Bernstein, Isaac Stern and Aaron Copland.
    Ruth Orkin, Couple in MG, 1951Ruth Orkin grew up in Hollywood in the heyday of the 1920s and 1930s. At the age of 10, she received her first camera and began by photographing her friends and teachers at school. At 17 years old she took a bicycle trip across the United States to New York City to see the 1939 World’s Fair, taking photographs along the way. Orkin moved to New York in 1943. She worked for all the major magazines and took portraits of many of the worlds’ greatest musicians of the time including Leonard Bernstein, Isaac Stern and Aaron Copland

  • Bruce Davidson, Brooklyn Gang, 1959

    Known for documenting social inequality, Davidson worked as a freelance photographer for Life magazine and, in 1958, became a member of the Magnum agency. From 1958 to 1961, he created seminal bodies of work such as Circus and Brooklyn Gang. Connecting with a social worker to make initial contact with a gang in Brooklyn called the Jokers, Davidson became a daily observer and photographer of this alienated youth culture. He currently lives in New York City, and continues to make photographs.
    Bruce Davidson, Brooklyn Gang, 1959Known for documenting social inequality, Davidson worked as a freelance photographer for Life magazine and, in 1958, became a full member of Magnum Photos agency. From 1958 to 1961, he created such seminal bodies of work as Circus and Brooklyn Gang. Connecting with a social worker to make initial contact with a gang in Brooklyn called the Jokers, Davidson became a daily observer and photographer of this alienated youth culture. He currently lives in New York City, and continues to make photographs

  • David Vestal, West 22nd Street, New York, 1958

    Born in California, Vestal studied painting at the Art Institute of Chicago. He began studying photography with Sid Grossman at the Photo League in 1947. He developed an approach that set him apart from other New York School photographers: he took single pictures, most of them strongly composed, instead of working on projects or series. Most of his street photography and cityscapes were made in New York.
    David Vestal, West 22nd Street, New York, December 1958 Born in California, David Vestal studied painting at the Art Institute of Chicago between 1941 and 1945. He began studying photography with Sid Grossman at the Photo League in 1947. He developed an approach that set him apart from other New York School photographers: he took single pictures, most of them strongly composed, instead of working on projects or series. The majority of his street photography and cityscapes were made in New York.

  • Leon Levinstein, Coney Island, 1954

    Levinstein was born in West Virginia. He was enlisted in the army in 1942. Shortly after his discharge in October 1945, he moved to New York City to work as an art director in an advertising agency. In 1947–48 he studied with John Ebstel and Sid Grossman at the Photo League. He earned his living as a graphic designer and generally remained outside of the art world. Levinstein’s work has a graphic virtuosity. He is best known for his candid and unsentimental black-and-white figure studies.
    Leon Levinstein, Coney Island, 1954Leon Levinstein was born in West Virginia. He was enlisted in the army in 1942. Shortly after his discharge from the army in October 1945, he moved to New York City to work as an art director in an advertising agency. In 1947–48 he studied with John Ebstel and Sid Grossman at the Photo League. He earned his living as a graphic designer and generally remained outside of the art world. Levinstein’s work has a graphic virtuosity. He is best known for his candid and unsentimental black-and-white figure studies.

  • Arthur Leipzig, Subway Lovers, 1949

    Leipzig was born in Brooklyn, New York. He began his career in photography when he enrolled in a class with the Photo League in 1941. Learning from the work of Paul Strand and W Eugene Smith, Leipzig shot thousands of rolls of film over five decades, producing beautifully constructed yet socially powerful photographs that take a sincere look at street life.
    Arthur Leipzig, Subway Lovers, 1949Arthur Leipzig was born in Brooklyn, New York. He began his career in photography when he enrolled in a class with the Photo League in 1941. Learning from the work of Paul Strand and W. Eugene Smith, Leipzig shot thousands of rolls of film over five decades, producing beautifully constructed yet socially powerful photographs that take a sincere look at street life.

  • Ted Croner, Sharpie in a Cafeteria, 1946

    Croner was born in Baltimore but grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina. During the second world war he worked as an aerial photographer with the US Army Air Corps. In 1946, he enrolled in Alexey Brodovitch’s photography class at the New School for Social Research. Towards the end of the 1940s, his work was successfully exhibited at MoMA in New York. Alongside commercial assignments for Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue, he pursued his own photography, producing experimental, cinematic images of cafeterias, solitary diners and the city after dark.
    Ted Croner, Sharpie in a Cafeteria, 1946Ted Croner was born in Baltimore, MD. and grew up in Charlotte, N.C. During World War II he worked as an aerial photographer with the United States Army Air Corps. In 1946, he enrolled in Alexey Brodovitch’s photography class at the New School for Social Research. Toward the end of the 1940’s his work was successfully exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Alongside commercial assignments for Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue, he pursued his own photography, producing vigorously experimental, cinematic images of cafeterias, solitary diners and the city after dark.

  • Louis Faurer, Twins, New York, 1948

    Faurer was born to immigrant parents from the Russian/Polish border and spent his early years in South Philadelphia. He began studying at Philadelphia’s School of Commercial Art and Lettering in 1937. He also worked freelance, painting advertising signs and lettering posters. That same year, Faurer purchased his first camera. Along with several of his colleagues from Philadelphia he opened studios in New York. He gravitated toward fashion photography and, in 1947, was invited to join the staff of Harper’s Bazaar.
    Louis Faurer, Twins, New York, 1948Louis Faurer was born to immigrant parents from the Russian/Polish border and spent his early years in South Philadelphia. He began studying at Philadelphia’s School of Commercial Art and Lettering in 1937. He also worked freelance, painting advertising signs and lettering posters. That same year, Faurer purchased his first camera. Faurer and several of his colleagues from Philadelphia opened studios in New York. Like many photographers of his generation, Faurer sought employment working for magazines, but unlike his photojournalist peers, who pursued careers at such publications as Life magazine, he gravitated toward fashion photography. In 1947, he was invited to join the Harper’s Bazaar magazine’s staff.

  • Helen Levitt, New York, 1942

    Born and raised in New York, Levitt made most of her photographs in the city’s streets. Her interest in photography began in 1931; she learned darkroom technique while working for a portrait photographer and by 16 had decided to become a professional. She was especially inspired by the photographs of Walker Evans and Henri Cartier-Bresson, both of whom became friends. Following Cartier-Bresson’s lead, Levitt bought a 35mm camera and settled on the subject matter she would pursue for the next 40 years: community street life.
    Helen Levitt, New York, 1942Born and raised in New York, where she made most of her photographs in the city’s streets. Her interest in photography began in 1931; she learned darkroom technique while working for a portrait photographer, and by age sixteen had decided to become a professional photographer. She was especially inspired by the photographs of Walker Evans and Henri Cartier-Bresson, both of whom became friends. Following Cartier-Bresson’s lead, Levitt bought a 35mm camera and settled on the subject matter she would pursue for the next forty years; community street life.

  • Don Donaghy, Philadelphia, 1963

    Donaghy was a fourth-generation native of Philadelphia. He studied commercial art at the Philadelphia Museum School of Art but found himself uninterested in pursuing a career in the commercial industry. Donaghy was drawn to the streets of Philadelphia with his camera, where he dedicated himself to street photography. Among the artists he collaborated with were Robert Frank, Weegee and Richard Avedon. Donaghy kept true to himself and created work that sought to express personal truth about life and art.
    Don Donaghy, Philadelphia, 1963Don Donaghy was a fourth-generation native of Philadelphia. He studied commercial art at the Philadelphia Museum School of Art but found himself uninterested in pursuing a career in the commercial industry. Donaghy was drawn to the streets of Philly with his camera, where he dedicated himself to street photography. Among the artists that he collaborated with were Robert Frank, Weegee, and Richard Avedon. Donaghy kept true to himself and created work that sought to express personal truth about life and art.
Topics