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January 14, 2026

Bronx dog-walkers in the rubble of a dangerous New York: Camilo José Vergara’s best photograph

‘Huge parts of the city were being destroyed. This was part of my attempt to preserve the whole damn thing. The area became a juvenile prison’

Bronx dog-walkers in the rubble of a dangerous New York: Camilo José Vergara’s best photograph

TL;DR

  • The author immigrated to America from Chile in 1965 and studied at the University of Notre Dame and Columbia.
  • A teacher encouraged the author to take up photography, leading to explorations of New York City.
  • The author observed significant segregation and the effects of deindustrialization, such as job losses and store closures.
  • Walking around New York in the late 60s and early 70s was described as potentially dangerous due to desperation but also exciting.
  • A specific photograph captured children and their dogs in the Bronx, highlighting individual personality against an urban backdrop.
  • The author's photographic goal was to preserve the urban reality of New York City as it was disappearing.

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