“My black and white photos of Coney Island pay a tribute to the photography of the time, whilst trying to reimagine how photos would have appeared back then…”
A couple of weeks back I took a trip down to the strange, historic district of Coney Island. It is a place bursting with so much character and personality, I had to record it. It is famously known for the amusement park, arcades and seaside resort. The park was hugely successful in the first half of the 1900’s, but then fell into decline after the second world war. There is still evidence of neglect to certain parts of the park, but it still remains a popular destination in the warmer months to New Yorkers and tourists alike.
The photos were shot on black & white film as I felt that it would really capture the essence of the location. Also, Coney Island was developed in the 1920s and the only documented images of it from that period were in black and white photography. This way my photos pay a tribute to the photography of the time, whilst trying to reimagine how photos would have appeared back then. By making the photos black and white it also removes some of the evidence of modern day trends with contemporary colours and fashion, as well as adding to the atmosphere of the location.
text and images by Chris Wilson
