3-089-889 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Portrait-New York, 1916. Additional Info: In 1916 Paul Strand began using a camera fitted with a false lens that would allow him to create portraits without his subjects being aware of it. He wanted to explore the notion of recording individuals close-up, without them posing. With an old brass lens attached to the side of his camera and facing forward, Strand could appear to take a photograph of something ahead of him, when in reality he was shooting at ninety degrees to his line of sight, the working lens partially hidden under his arm. These strong and commanding portraits depict average New York citizens.