The magazine of the art-form of the photo-essay
“A free, really high quality photo-essay magazine. Fabulous!”
Stephen Fry. British actor, writer and film & documentary maker
May 2014 issue
by Andrew White
Brownsville, Brooklyn, a one square mile area of mostly public housing developments, became the the murder capital
of New York City in 2010. Despite the area’s numerous social problems, there are many people in the area trying to
make the neighborhood a better place.
This documentary project examines different avenues of human interaction and the private and public moments that
occur within this troubled area. These photos attempt to shift the focus from the crime and violence endemic to the
area and instead highlight the beauty, complexities and the rich culture that exists within this neighborhood that has
remained untouched by gentrification.
High rise public housing viewed from the 3 train, Brownsville, Brooklyn, 2012.
Outside "Exclusive Barbershop" on Mother Gaston blvd, Brownsville, Brooklyn, 2012.
A customer gets his hair cut at Exclusive Barbershop, Brownsville, Brooklyn, 2012.
High rise public housing buildings in Brownsville, Brooklyn, 2012.
Children play at the volunteer farm ran by Project EATS, a non-profit that promotes healthy eating in low income
communities and self sustaining farms, Brownsville, Brooklyn.
Where the 3 Train and L train converge, Brownsville, Brooklyn, 2012.
First rain on a hot day in May, under the 3 train, Brownsville, Brooklyn, 2012.
A young boy plays basketball with a group of friends at the basketball courts between the Tilden Housing projects,
Brownsville, Brooklyn, 2012.
Van Dyke Playground, Brownsville, Brooklyn 2012.
A couple in their Easter Sunday's best, Brownsville, Brooklyn, 2012.
Carlos Harrison and his basketball clinic knows as "The Brooklyn Way". The clinic takes children from the Brownsville
and East New York neighborhoods ages 3-14, Brownsville, Brooklyn.
Julie Robertson plays with a friend at her great grandmother's house in the Howard Houses, Brownsville, Brooklyn,
2012.
A group of friends who call themselves "The Money Team" smoke marijuana on a Saturday afternoon in the Tilden
Housing projects, Brownsville, Brooklyn, 2012.
A girl walks on a pathway between the Tilden Houses, Brownsville, Brooklyn, 2012.
Friday night on Bristol St. Brownsville, Brooklyn, 2012.
A patron dances at the Transit Wheeler's annual "Trophy Party", Brownsville, Brooklyn, 2012.
Last call at the "Transit Wheeler's Trophy Party". The Transit Wheelers are a SUV gang out of Brownsville, many of
the members are MTA employees, Brownsville, Brooklyn, 2012.
A young girl writes RIP on a banner placed outside of the Brownsville Recreation Center on the night of the death of
Greg Jackson, the community center's president. Brownsville, Brooklyn, 2012.
Betsy Head Park at dusk, Brownsville, Brooklyn, 2012.
