In La Ultimate Bodega En Soho, Santos turns his lens on the immigrant communities that have embraced him since childhood. From kids casually strolling to their local bodega, to the neighborhood workmen grabbing coffee on the go, the book is filled with candid moments that celebrate the essence of everyday life in the city. Each photo is a slice of urban life, capturing scenes that, while seemingly mundane, resonate with a timeless authenticity. Santos' ability to highlight the beauty in the ordinary makes this collection a tribute to a city that thrives on diversity and resilience.
Santos describes his approach to photography with a refreshing dose of humility. "We are all photographers as we live with phones in hand, what seems like every moment. I am no different. Nokia, Blackberry, and numerous iPhones were used to capture these photos. That they survived till now amazes me. I don't collect sh*t, not even JPGs. They were taken in the moment, which was as far as that was supposed to go," he explains. This unpretentious approach to his craft makes La Ultimate Bodega En Soho feel genuine and relatable, as if the viewer is right there on the bustling streets alongside him.
The book's title, La Ultimate Bodega En Soho, serves as a metaphor for the rapidly changing landscape of New York City, where the humble bodega-a cultural staple-now exists alongside the high-end boutiques of Soho. Santos' photographs serve as a reminder of the city's ever-evolving identity, where new and historic elements coexist, illustrating the tensions and harmonies inherent in urban life.
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