Joseph Rodriguez’s hope-filled images of 80s Harlem

They don’t come more New York than Joseph Rodriguez. The photographer grew up in Brooklyn, studied at the city’s acclaimed School of Visual Arts and gained an Associate of Applied Science degree at New York City Technical College. On graduating with a Photojournalism and Documentary diploma from the International Center of Photography in 1985, he went on to work for the likes of National Geographic, The New York Times Magazine, Mother Jones, Newsweek, Esquire, Stern, and New America Media, over the years winning armfuls of awards for his documentary photography through which he tells stories of “the struggles of everyday life”.

Now, powerHouse Books is turning back the clock to Spanish Harlem in the 80s. The city’s oldest barrio, Harlem has been home to the city’s latino population since Puerto Ricans moved to the area in the 1940s. Here, 30 years ago, Joseph shot his series Spanish Harlem: El Barrio in the 80s. Backgrounded by a sea of disused buildings, Joseph’s characters part a lively yet poignant portrait of a long-gone, much changed neighbourhood.

Spanish Harlem: El Barrio in the 80s will be on show at the Bronx Documentary Center from November 11 through December 23.