HW Pick: Harlem Street Portraits By Harvey Stein

Well-known New York photographer Harvey Stein documents the humanity and spirit of the people of Harlem in 164 beautiful black and white photographs of his new book Harlem Street Portraits taken over 22 years, from 1990 to 2012. The images are mostly close-up portraits that reveal the friendliness and warmth of Harlem’s inhabitants, the vibrant and bustling vitality of the area, and the changing nature of the neighborhood. What may at first appear to be a casual encounter becomes a personal, intimate record, a meaningful collaboration between photographer and subject. With a population of nearly half a million people, Harlem is what the BBC calls the best community in the world. Its rich past and historical importance have made a unique contribution to our national popular culture. Stein s photographs capture and celebrate the Harlem spirit.