Exhibitions: Click! A Crowd-Curated Exhibition

Jami Saunders. Manuel, 2005. All rights reserved

Artist Statement

This image is part of a series of photographs on construction workers in Red Hook, Brooklyn. The images depict workers who have left their native countries, often leaving family behind, to come to New York and earn a living for themselves and for their family. Often speaking very little english, and working long hours in all types of weather, the physical changes we see in Brooklyn are not happening magically. They are happening because of people like Manuel. This project was shot on Type 55 Polaroid film with a 4x5 field camera.

11 Comments

A nice portrait. Needs greater zone range in all areas except face. Framing is wonderful.

I feel like this image alludes to and incorporates history, the b/w images of laborers who helped to build every borough over the past century.

only the way brooklyn is changing does not allow these immigrant construction workers to stay here after they are finished building the condos for the people who throw them out.

he's cute :)

Although this gives a good sense of person, it gives a poor sense of place. The plain backdrop really washes out the man's clothing and skin tones. An on-site background would have been much more effective, connecting him to his work. I just don't see much drama in this photograph and think there's lots of drama to be had.

No, changes are happing because of the gentrifiers hiring Manuel. Manuel and many working and middle class Brooklynites (native and immigrant) cannot afford the condos that Manuel has been hired to build! THAT is what is changing the FACE of Brooklyn!

technically unimpressive and visually uninteresting

great shot but having the highlights blown out bother me. It doesn't enhance the image. It just makes me think its an overexposed image showing your lac of control of the medium.

film makes all the difference in the world, doesn't it?

polaroid prints have an unearthly quality an alchemists camera too good to last

a quietly arresting image