North Philadelphia | Book
"Daniel Traub's North Philadelphia is not only a portrait of this often misunderstood neighborhood, but it is also a deeply personal exploration of a community Traub has long known and loved. . . .Traub does not mask the difficulties of the area, but the work is not without hope or dignity. . . .formally beautiful and elegantly conceived." – Photo-eye
North Philadelphia is a photographic portrait of a neighborhood in prolonged crisis. The book presents a compelling glimpse into an urban area that hovers between decay and possibility, and is emblematic of many such regions across the United States.
Growing up in Philadelphia, photographer Daniel Traub came to know this section of the city as a youth while working on an urban renewal art project. Many years later, after spending a decade in China photographing communities at the margins of Chinese society, he returned to North Philadelphia to explore the economic and racial divide in his own country.
Made between 2008-2013, North Philadelphia combines images of dilapidated homes, vacant lots, and street corners with portraits of the residents. While it is an unvarnished view of a neglected corner of America, it is also a book imbued with beauty and moments of revelation.
Title: North Philadelphia
Photographer: Daniel Traub
Essay by Daniel Traub
Designer: Masumi Shibata Publisher: Kehrer Verlag Hardcover, 24 x 30 cm, 120 pages, 52 color ills., English
Year: 2014
ISBN 978-3-86828-478-2
☆ Selected title – German Photo Book Award 2015
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