Chris Protopapas is a Greek-Belgian who came to the United States at age 12, in 1967 and became an American in 1975.
“I got my first camera in 1974, an antique Nikon rangefinder, and have been photographing my home (New York City) and the world ever since. Most of my work is on film, and I have been slowly scanning it as time permits, on a very high-end drum scanner. ”
These fascinating black and white photos he captured street scenes of New York from the fall of 1974 to 1977 “with my Nikon S3 and a 35mm Zeiss lens. I guess I should have spent even more time documenting the city in those days, especially the little storefronts which are almost all gone now.”
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| Musician, Washington Square Park, New York City, 1974 |
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| Musician, Washington Square Park, New York City, 1974 |
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| Musicians, Centrak Park, New York City, 1974 |
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| Musicians, Centrak Park, New York City, 1974 |
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| Musicians, Centrak Park, New York City, 1974 |
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| Musicians, Centrak Park, New York City, 1974 |
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| Musicians, Washington Square Park, 1974 |
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| Orpheum theatre, 2nd Avenue, circa 1974 |
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| Rolls-Royce dealer, east 58th street, NYC, circa 1974 |
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| Soho, circa 1974 |
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| U.S. Mail trucks, Port Washington, New York, 1974 |
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| Vito's Bike Shop, Westbury, New York, 1974 |
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| Vito's Bike Shop, Westbury, New York, 1974 |
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| Vito's Bike Shop, Westbury, New York, 1974 |
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| Gay Pride rally, Central Park, 1975 |
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| Klein track bike at the New York bike show, February 1975 |
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| Optimo, cigarette vendor, New York City, October 1975 |
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| Panasonic track bike at the New York bicycle show, 1975 |
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| St. Mark's Place, between Second and Third Avenues, looking West to Astor Place, 1975 |
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| St. Mark's Place, the large building in the center is The Electric Circus, the door on the right is the side exit of the St. Marks Cinema, 1975 |
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| Accident scene, 6th Avenue, 1976 |
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| Baruchim Ha Ba'im, Civic Center Synagogue, New York City, 1976 |
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| East Village, NYC, circa 1976 |
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| Gordon Novelty Co. Broadway, New York City, 1976 |
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| Grand Central Station, New York, 1976 |
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| Hairdresser supply shop, New York City, 1976 |
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| Keen's Chop house, Empire State Building, 1976 |
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| Must Vacate storefront, New York City, 1976 |
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| Old Shoes are like Old Friends, they are Comfortable and Wear Well, New York City, 1976 |
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| Shoe Repair, NYC, 1976 |
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| Telephone shop, New York City, 1976 |
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| The High Line, 1976 |
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| Twins, New York City, 1976 |
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| Twisted, New York City, 1976 |
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| Wedding Veils, New York City, 1976 |
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| Art Sale, New York City, 1977 |
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| Big fish, New York City, 1977 |
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| Claremont Riding Academy, West 89th street, 1977 |
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| Old Fulton Fish Market, 1977 |
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| St. Patrick's Day, New York City, 1977 |
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| The Silver Dummy goes for a walk, 1977 |
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| The Silver Dummy goes for a walk, 1977 |
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| West 90th street and Amsterdam Avenue, 1977 |
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| The Model Citizens band (left to right Eugenie Diserio, Gloria Richards, Tomas Lamprecht), 1977 |