Tod Papageorge captured the essence of L.A. beachgoers between 1975 and 1988 using a 6x9-cm camera, creating theatrical vignettes from the dynamic scenes on the beach. His photographs reflect sun-drenched bodies engaged in activities or lying on the sand, presented in black-and-white. Despite his presence with the camera, few subjects acknowledge him, highlighting the natural spontaneity of the moments captured. His methodology involved standing still while guests, unaware of his presence, developed their own narratives within his frame, revealing intimate glimpses into their beach experiences.
Fifty years ago, a glitchy yet terrifying animatronic shark persuaded movie audiences never to go in the water again. Luckily-for the photographer Tod Papageorge, at least-it didn't keep people off the beaches.
Papageorge was slowly making his way across the country, from New York City, where he'd become known for his 35-mm. street scenes, to Los Angeles, where he'd shoot throngs of sun-dazed, sweat-glazed beachgoers.
Amazingly, few of Papageorge's subjects stare directly at the guy lugging a 6x9-cm.-format camera around the beach, although, as he said, 'even on the nude beaches, I was out there in my street clothes, looking like an idiot.'
In both cases, I just would stand still and pretend I didn't exist, and eventually people seemed to accept the fact that I didn't exist, that I'd somehow spontaneously combusted.
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