Bruce Davidson : Los Angeles 1964

BruceDavidsondescribesthegenesisofthisprojectthus:"Esquire'seditorssentmetoLosAngeles,andwhenIlandedatLAInternationalAirportInoticedgiantpalmtreesgrowingintheparkinglot.Iorderedahamburgerthroughamicrophonespeakerinadrive-incalledTinyNaylor's.Thefreewayswereblankandbrilliant,chromium-platedbumpersreflectedthePacificOcean,buttheairqualitywassaidtobebad.PeoplelookinglikemannequinsseemedatpeaceontheSunsetStripwhileotherswereeuphoricastheywateredthedesert.IstoodtherereadywithmyLeica,awareofmyshadowonthepavement.Iwalkeduptostrangers,framed,focusedandinasplitsecondofalienationsandcynicism,pressedtheshutterbutton.SuddenlyIhadanawakeningthatledmetoanotherlevelofvisualunderstanding.Butintheend,forsomeunknownreasons,theeditorsrejectedthepictures,andIhadtoreturnhomewithabigboxofprints,puttheminadrawer,andforgotallaboutthetrip."