Life in '70s Hunters Point captured in photo book - SFGate

Sam Whiting at the Chronicle writes about a photographic treasure-trove, on display at SF Cameraworks until today and collected in a new book entitled "A Dangerously Curious Eye",

The book is divided into two sections: "Hunter's Point and Beyond" and "Through the Window," which consists of pictures that Shapiro took while driving around in his VW bus. Sometimes the windshield wiper is in the middle of the frame and sometimes his hand is at the big steering wheel.

Street-corner life was more photogenic then than now. For one thing, everybody wasn't talking on a cell phone or staring into one punching keys. Either inside or out, the hair, the cars, the plaid pants and denim leisure suits all say '70s "Soul Train."

"You put this in context, despite harsh economic realities, despite the Great Society not living up to what (President Lyndon) Johnson had planned, black people in their own communities did celebrate," says Richards. "They're poor but they're having fun. In my mind, this could be put to music."

Photographs by Barry Shapiro: Through Sat. SF Camerawork, 657 Mission St. (415) 512-2020. www.sfcamerawork.org.