DIANA AT THE FALLS

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Diana at the Falls

1983-1984

 

Inspired by Anthony Bannon’s book, “The Taking of Niagara”, I made frequent trips to the American and Canadian falls in late 1983 and early1984. I photographed there with various cameras—medium format, 35mm, and with a “Diana”, a cheap plastic light leaker that had been popular with graduate students a decade earlier.

 

I never nailed photographically what intrigued me about Niagara—how at once we could make the river a toxic waste dump, a midway as seedy as any county fair’s, and a natural wonder landmark. But like many, I was drawn repeatedly to its beauty, tackiness, and power. Other than a couple of 35mm images, the plastic camera pictures come closest to showing Niagara’s complex nature.

Woman Sleeping in Car, Niagara Falls, ONT, 1983
Man Walking, Niagar Falls, ONT, 1983
Winter View, Niagara Falls, NY, 1984
Railing, Winter, Niagara Falls, NY, 1984
Man Holding Boombox, Niagara Falls, NY, 1984
Aerial View and Concrete Wall, Niagara Falls, NY, 1983
Aerial View, People Walking, Niagara Falls, NY, 1983
Ice Flow, Niagara Falls, NY, 1984
Railing, American and Canadian Falls, Niagara Falls, NY, 1983
Family Walking, Niagara Falls, NY, 1983
Shadow of Observation Tower, Niagara Falls, NY, 1983
Group Walking, Niagara Falls, ONT, 1983
Baby in Carriage, Niagara Falls, NY, 1983
Man and Contrails, Niagara Falls, ONT, 1983
Bird and Niagara River, Niagara Falls, NY, 1983
Man Raking, Niagara Falls, ONT, 1983