From the series,
Subway 1980
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"Davidson, whom historian Peter Pollack has described as "something of a romantic," took almost every conceivable precaution to invalidate charges that he was exploiting the subculture he recorded. It was not a quickie project, but a long-term study. Davidson decides against using a hand-held camera, and chose instead to work with a large view camera on a tripod--thus eliminating any hope of secrecy, or of shoot-and-run techniques, and forcing himself to be open, planted, and vulnerable. He gave away several thousand prints to the residents of the block, and made sure that they all got copies of the book when it was published."
From A.D. Coleman's review on East 100th Street By Bruce Davidson 1970.
view East 100th Street here