I really loved reading about your process for this piece, how you followed "patterns, the geometry of long, straight hair, and the choreography of blue jeans," while also being mindful of "the amount of criticism they could receive from the anonymous and judgmental public." It shows just how much care and intention went into crafting this photo essay.
A lot of the response I’ve seen to the article critiques these girls as “boring”—a take I don’t entirely disagree with, but that also feels laced with a kind of lazy, gendered dismissal. Your framing offers so much more compassion and complexity: “"There is nothing cryptic about the West Village girl...she embodies a version of youth that feels frictionless...she’s mastered the aesthetics of self-presentation without the burden of justification....She is not performing complexity, and in a culture thriving on micro-analysis and virtue signaling, that can read as naive. But it’s a choice. Young women have always been, and will always be, scrutinized for what they do or don’t do, what they wear, and what they say or don’t say."
I wish The Cut had included more of your photos in their piece! And it absolutely made me laugh that some of the girlies were from Hoboken—because of course they were.
l love the gaze of the dog directly at the camera from under the table, between crossed bare legs, and surrounded by hints of the story theme; cowboy boots below and designer accessories on a cafe table above, bedecked with afternoon drinks. Also love the iconic selfie shot that made cover. Mission accomplished!
Fascinating. I think of it as a photo essay and you remind us of the crazy way that people interpret these images. Just imagining a group of young men like this - gangs? So many strange stereotypes in this world. So many judgements made from afar. But on the surface? A really cool photo essay. Thanks.
Did you approach them first and then photograph them, or just shoot away and interact if they questioned you? Your usual 2-person off camera flash team or mostly available light? Love the framing and saturation of these images!
West Village Girls? I dig the idea but maybe on this side of the water, back in the eighties, we would have called this affluent type a Sloane Ranger. Only now the more contemporary version which is close to the West Village Girl, would now be labelled as Replacement Sloanes, having replaced this original generation who are now in their sixties abit like Carrie Bradshaw would be!!! 😎
I really loved reading about your process for this piece, how you followed "patterns, the geometry of long, straight hair, and the choreography of blue jeans," while also being mindful of "the amount of criticism they could receive from the anonymous and judgmental public." It shows just how much care and intention went into crafting this photo essay.
A lot of the response I’ve seen to the article critiques these girls as “boring”—a take I don’t entirely disagree with, but that also feels laced with a kind of lazy, gendered dismissal. Your framing offers so much more compassion and complexity: “"There is nothing cryptic about the West Village girl...she embodies a version of youth that feels frictionless...she’s mastered the aesthetics of self-presentation without the burden of justification....She is not performing complexity, and in a culture thriving on micro-analysis and virtue signaling, that can read as naive. But it’s a choice. Young women have always been, and will always be, scrutinized for what they do or don’t do, what they wear, and what they say or don’t say."
I wish The Cut had included more of your photos in their piece! And it absolutely made me laugh that some of the girlies were from Hoboken—because of course they were.
Thank you, Isabelle! This is one of the trickiest assignments I've done in terms of representation and approach.
l love the gaze of the dog directly at the camera from under the table, between crossed bare legs, and surrounded by hints of the story theme; cowboy boots below and designer accessories on a cafe table above, bedecked with afternoon drinks. Also love the iconic selfie shot that made cover. Mission accomplished!
Fascinating. I think of it as a photo essay and you remind us of the crazy way that people interpret these images. Just imagining a group of young men like this - gangs? So many strange stereotypes in this world. So many judgements made from afar. But on the surface? A really cool photo essay. Thanks.
Right on. Great job on a very difficult subject (to photograph).
“And girls. they wanna have fun…”
Great photos and great writing!
Lauren from Ave Pildas Archives here: loved this piece! You display such great understanding of your subjects. Bravo!
Did you approach them first and then photograph them, or just shoot away and interact if they questioned you? Your usual 2-person off camera flash team or mostly available light? Love the framing and saturation of these images!
West Village Girls? I dig the idea but maybe on this side of the water, back in the eighties, we would have called this affluent type a Sloane Ranger. Only now the more contemporary version which is close to the West Village Girl, would now be labelled as Replacement Sloanes, having replaced this original generation who are now in their sixties abit like Carrie Bradshaw would be!!! 😎
Love the article and the photos. The picture with the brown dog is just perfect!