Leland Bobbe: New York City’s Seamy 70s

The old grit of the Big Apple

“New York City in the 1970s was a dark, dangerous and gritty place. Before gentrification, neighborhoods had unique personalities; no Starbucks, Duane Reade or Gap every few blocks. Son of Sam, the big blackout, a city on the verge of bankruptcy. Times Square wasn’t a playground for Middle America and the Lower East Side didn’t look like the Upper East Side. The Bowery was the end of the line for many. Some of these shots were taken shooting from the hip, pre-focused to 6′ with a 28mm lens, without looking through the viewfinder so I wouldn’t be noticed. My intention was to capture the grit and personality of a unique period in New York City history.

Long live The Ramones.” – Leland Bobbe

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• Series Information