The Life of Brooklyn in the 1970s through the Lens of William Gedney

William Gedney took these fascinating photos. He was born in New York in 1932, moved to Brooklyn in 1951 to attend the Pratt Institute of Art. Gedney’s work shows a passion for portraiture, street photography, and night photography.

Gedney died of AIDS in 1989. Sadly, however, his work did not receive the recognition it deserved during his lifetime. Gedney’s creation gained momentum after his death and is now widely recognized.

Here are some fascinating black-and-white vintage photographs that capture Brooklyn life in the 1970s.

#1 West Indian day, Prospect Park, Brooklyn, September 1975.

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#2 West Indian day, Prospect Park, Brooklyn, September 1975.

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#3 West Indian day, Prospect Park, Brooklyn, September 1978.

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#4 West Indian day, Prospect Park, Brooklyn, September 1978.

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#5 Coney Island, 1975.

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#6 Coney Island, 1975.

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#7 Brooklyn, 1975.

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#8 Brooklyn, 1975.

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#9 Youth taking part in the annual march in the Bay Ridge neighborhood of Brooklyn, circa 1977.

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#10 Religious group in Coney Island, 1979.

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#11 Religious group in Coney Island, 1979.

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