“ People are far more conscious and reluctant to be photographed by strangers than they were when I was photographing them in the early-80s .”
In 2012 , street photographer and portraitist Gun Roze uncovered a series of colour negatives contained in his archives . Hidden for 30 years before the point of rediscovery , remain anonymous . As soon as the subject notices my camera , the interesting situation I was attracted to shoot is changed and no longer intriguing to me .”
Roze recognized them as images he shot in Manhattan in 1982 . With captivating subjects and unavoidable highlights of the bold , colourful and experimental fashion of the time , these gritty 80s images are an unadulterated look at bustling New Yorkers in their everyday lives . Encouraged by his friends , Roze resurrected the forgotten images for a gallery showing and has begun production on his book entitled : Manhattan 1982 .
A Toronto-born and based photographer , Roze has worked in professional photography labs in Toronto , Vancouver and New York City over the past 35 years . He considers this broad experience to be his most valuable source of information and experimentation , and learning from the mistakes of both himself and others has led him to his unique perspectives as a photographer .
“ My street photography is not the usual type of imagery that most people associate with the category . Shooting out and about daily for five years has allowed me to shoot as freely as I am interested , in an abundance of subject matter . Rarely when I photograph people on the streets do I engage with them . Instead , I capture them as I am experiencing them — often from walking behind so that they
“ Most importantly , finding the archives of Manhattan inspired me to return to street photography in 2012 , though this time from a resident ’ s perspective . I have kept up a daily practice of shooting whatever impresses me along my routes to all my destinations , and opportunities present themselves . I intentionally chose a compact pointand-shoot digital camera , both for its easy