Warren in Montclair, New Jersey, USA
The image is of Warren, who is an elderly African American man we have known for over 8 years. He runs an auto repair shop next door to our studio in Montclair, NJ, USA, where he feels like a fixture in our neighborhood. He likes to sit in that chair and take naps. He’s a gentle, solid figure who represents an old school man of integrity and continuity.
Place you live: Montclair, New Jersey
Place your photo was taken: This photo taken on Bloomfield Avenue in Montclair, NJ, at my neighbor Warren’s auto repair shop.
Can you sum up Montclair? A beautiful old American suburb, with 100+ year old wooden houses, many large and beautiful trees, lovely parks, very good public schools, a strong civic and progressive mentality among its residents, a very diverse community which is nearly 40% non-white (so truly the American dream of an middle to upper-middle class community where blacks and whites lives side by side at every socio-economic level) …all only 12 miles west of Manhattan with direct train and bus routes to and from NYC.
Occupation: Photojournalist
Preoccupation: Being engaged with the world in a meaningful way.
A perfect day in Montclair? A spring day where the foliage is in full bloom, a high school baseball game is underway in the field nearby, life feels warm, comfortable, alive, natural and our fellow parents and families have come together to cheer for our young lads.
If someone was visiting, what must they do? Go for a walk in Brookdale Park, then go for sunset at Eagle Rock Reservation and view the 9/11 memorial, which also affords a sweeping view of Manhattan, including a direct view of ground zero and then go out to eat at one of the many wonderful restaurants in town.
A perfect meal in Montclair? Raymond’s Cafe, the Salmon salad
What is the best thing about your spot? Being in a peaceful place that feels a million miles away from NYC but is only a short hop away.
What is the worst? There are few people between the ages of 18-30.
A little known fact about where you live? The great comedian Stephen Colbert lives here and it’s also the birthplace and home of the Yankee baseball great Yogi Berra.
Where is your favorite place in the world? Impossible to say… my home with my family.
Who are your three favorite photographers? That depends on the day but Henri Cartier Bresson, Sebastiao Salgado and Eugene Richards certainly are fine any day of the week.