Reading on subway platforms, Prince Street (2014); Bus driver, Tribeca (2013); Man with stroller, 12th St.(2012) - Lawrence Schwartzwald
In the early 1970s, Schwartzwald picked up a copy of Andre Kertesz’s On Reading and felt inspired looking at the black-and-white candid images of people reading around the world and wanted to do something similar. But it wouldn’t be until many years later that Schwartzwald would pick up a camera—around age 40—and decide to snap a few pictures at some of the literary events he was attending.
When he wasn’t photographing, Schwartzwald was usually reading, something he said he enjoys more than just about anything. Although it wasn’t necessarily a conscious decision, his eye for a great picture combined with his love of books and influence from On Reading began to come together and he started a prolific series of people reading.
“The images have to come out and find you as much as you find them,” he added. “You can’t just come out and create it.”
“You just get a visceral reaction, like writing a great story or reading one for that matter, there’s an emotional, psychological component to it that you sense and occasionally you’re able to capture it because sometimes you may have literally one frame to get it off and you either get it or you don’t.”