Brooklyn: The City Within

Having collaborated on numerous photographic works over the years, notably the book projects Violet Isle and Slant Rhymes, Alex Webb and Rebecca Norris Webb have most recently turned their attention to Brooklyn, their home of over 20 years.

Their distinct interests and working processes have resulted in, Brooklyn: The City Within, a book which Webb describes as “a musical piece in three movements, distinguished by different rhythms” – with his photographing the famously diverse neighborhoods and inhabitants of the borough, while Norris Webb dwelt upon the “green spaces at the heart of Brooklyn,” pairing short texts with her images. The book’s design echoes this dichotomy, resulting in a physical object which neatly emphasizes the variety of the place.

Brooklyn is one of the most dynamic and ethnically diverse places on the planet. In fact, it’s estimated that one in every eight US families had relatives come through Brooklyn when settling in the country. Alex Webb and Rebecca Norris Webb have been photographing this New York City borough for the past five years, creating a profound and vibrant portrait. Alex Webb has traversed every corner of the borough, exploring its tremendous diversity. This parallels his work made in the past forty years, traveling to photograph different cultures around the world—all of which are represented in the place he now calls home.

Contrasting with this approach, Rebecca Norris Webb photographed “the city within the city within the city,” the green heart of Brooklyn—the Botanic Garden, GreenWood Cemetery, and Prospect Park, where Brooklynites of all walks of life cross paths as they find solace. Together, their photographs of Brooklyn tell a larger American story, one that touches on immigration, identity, and home. Together, their photographs of Brooklyn tell a larger American story, one that touches on immigration, identity, and home.

About the authors

Alex Webb is best known for his vibrant and complex color photography, often made in Latin America and the Caribbean. He has published nine books, including Istanbul: City of a Hundred Names, Aperture, and Violet Isle: A Duet of Photographs from Cuba (with Rebecca Norris Webb). His latest book, The Suffering of Light, a collection of thirty years of his color work, was published by Aperture (2011). Alex has exhibited at museums worldwide, including the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; High Museum of Art, Atlanta; and Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego. Alex became a full member of Magnum Photos in 1979. His work has appeared in National Geographic, New York Times Magazine, Geo, and other magazines. He has received numerous awards and grants.

Originally a poet, Rebecca Norris Webb has published three photography books that explore the complicated relationship between people and the natural world: The Glass Between Us, Violet Isle: A Duet of Photographs from Cuba (with Alex Webb), and My Dakota, which interweaves her text and photographs from her home state of South Dakota. In 2012, My Dakota was selected as a Time, PDN, and Photo-Eye best photography book of the year. Her work has been exhibited internationally, including at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the George Eastman House, Rochester, New York In 2012, My Dakota was exhibited at the Dahl Arts Center in Rapid City, South Dakota, and the Robert Klein Gallery, Boston, and will be exhibited in summer 2013 at the Ricco/Maresca Gallery, New York, and the North Dakota Museum of Art, Grand Forks. Her work has appeared in Time, Orion, and Le Monde Magazine.