Mrs.

B
Photography
4-1-15
Berenice Abbott
Berenice Abbott strived to capture life in the city. She worked as Man Ray's darkroom
assistant when she was just kicking off her career (Berenice Abbott, 2013). Her images capture
the true beauty about the city life in New York during the early 1900s. Her work really inspires
me by making me want to capture images that show the rhythm of life. Abbott's innovative work
has really set a bar for taking pictures in the city and has inspired many others along the way.
Abbott lived from July 17, 1898 - December 8, 1991 (Berenice Abbott, 2013). She was
born in Ohio but moved to Paris where she worked as a darkroom assistant for Man Ray. Later
she moved to New York and photographed the city (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica,
2014). She began using whatever free time she had such as lunch breaks to photograph people
(Berenice Abbott, 2013). All of Abbott's photographs were taken with a View Camera (Get the
picture; Berenice Abbott). Man Ray led her to discover a photographer named Atget who
ultimately inspired her to become a photographer (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica,
2014). She inspired people who used a modernist photographic style because she was the first to
make this style well known. She used a camera and often photographed at high
angles. Her go to style was a modernist photographic style which looked
towards the future in New York City (Hagen, 1991).
The First Avenue and East 70th Street, Manhattan picture was a
Gelatin silver print taken on October 8, 1935 (Abbott, 1935). The image is of a
(Miriam and Ira D. Wallach)

street in New York where there is a lot of business going on as you can tell by the tall buildings,
the smoke stack, and advertisements. Historically it is a reference point to what New York used
to look like and shows the pollutants that the smoke stack is giving off to the environment. Her
message is that New York is only going to become more industrial. She portrays it very well by
including the smoke stack and advertisements. I learned that by including certain buildings I can
show what type of town or city it is.
The Squibb Building with Sherry Netherland in the Background is on
of Abbott's photographs that really captures the essence of architecture of
New York City (Abbott, 1935). The picture was a Gelatin silver print taken on
November 21, 1935. In the picture there is a railing close up but out of focus
with a crowded city street in the background and skyscrapers. It shows that
NY is a very social city because the street is jam packed. Abbott is trying to
say that NY is a place with endless opportunities because of all the industry

(Miriam and Ira D. Wallach)

with the skyscrapers. She displays her message quite well because the
picture shows a bunch of people who could be in search for opportunities and the huge buildings
could be supplying them. This image influences my own work by making me want to capture
crowds of people from a distance so you can only wonder what they are all doing.
This is the George Washington Bridge, taken on Riverside Drive and
179th Street, Manhattan (Abbott, 1935). The Gelatin silver print was taken
July 17th, 1936. It shows new architecture such as the suspension bridge
where as the other two show city life. Technologically this shows the growing
architectural world. Her message is that technology is advancing and so is the

(Miriam and Ira D. Wallach)

city. She portrays it well by including new sophisticated technology. The image influences my
work by making me want to capture more images that display technology.
The Hot Dog Stand was taken on West St. and North Moor in Manhattan New York
(Abbott, 1935). The Gelatin silver print was taken April 8th, 1936. Unlike the
other three that display the city, this image captures an average person getting
by by selling hot dogs on the street. Historical influences include the Great
Depression which made ways to earn money scarce and this man is selling hot
dogs to make a living. The message is that you have to do what you have to do
in order to make a living. She portrays the intended message well by showing
(Miriam and Ira D. Wallach)

a man with no customers trying to make a living in the big city. This
influences my work by making me want to capture more images of businesses.
After Abbott's approach to capturing images of the city, it will never again be looked at
the same way by people who have not been to New York. Her biography influenced the
photographer's work by making her realize how interesting city life is and wanting to capture life
in the city. She portrays the city as a place of endless opportunity if you look in the right places.
Abbott's work really influences my own approach to photography by giving me a whole new
way to even angle the camera and what types of images to capture. You shouldn't just simply
give up on something, because no matter what there is always another opportunity waiting for
you, just as Abbott saw in her work.

Works Cited

First Avenue and East 70th Street, Manhattan. (no date) Available at: http://
digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47d9-4f4e-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99 (Accessed: 26 May
2015)
Get the Picture: Berenice Abbott (no date) Available at: http://archive.artsmia.org/get-the-picture/
print/abbott.shtml (Accessed: 26 May 2015)
Berenice Abbott - Bio (no date) Available at: http://www.phillipscollection.org/research/
american_art/bios/abbott-bio.htm (Accessed: 26 May 2015)
Berenice Abbott (2013) Available at: http://www.iphf.org/hall-of-fame/berenice-abbott/
(Accessed: 26 May 2015)
George Washington Bridge, Riverside Drive and 179th Street, Manhattan. (no date) Available at:
http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47d9-4eb1-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99 (Accessed: 26
May 2015)
Squibb Building with Sherry Netherland in the background, 745 Fifth Avenue, Manhattan. (no
date) Available at: http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47d9-4f46-a3d9-e040e00a18064a99 (Accessed: 26 May 2015)
Hot Dog Stand, West St. and North Moore, Manhattan. (no date) Available at: http://
digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47df-3360-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99 (Accessed: 26 May
2015)
HAGEN, C. (1991) Berenice Abbott, 93, Dies; Her Photographs Captured New York in
Transition. Available at: http://www.nytimes.com/1991/12/11/arts/berenice-abbott-93-dies-herphotographs-captured-new-york-in-transition.html (Accessed: 26 May 2015)

The Editors of Encyclopdia Britannica (2014) Berenice Abbott | biography - American

photographer, in Encyclopdia Britannica. Available at: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/
topic/589/Berenice-Abbott (Accessed: 26 May 2015)