Asbury Park, Ridge Avenue. Dec. 27, 2013. By Paul Goldfinger © click to enlarge. “The Other Side of Asbury” will be an ongoing photographic project.
SAMMY DAVIS, JR. Live—From his album MR. BOJANGLES. “The Birth of the Blues.”
Asbury Park isn’t exactly “the southland,” but the blues have been performed all over the world.
blogfinger.net 
Bravo ! Finally someone showing interest in areas of AP other then downtown. The ” other side ” of AP is just as interesting & photogenic. Less pretensious and more ” real “. Please do photograph the many interesting people there in addition to archectecture & street scenes there. You have assigned yourself a great & challenging new project. Very best with it.
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Frank S. Thanks for the encouraging words. I do take requests if you know of any special locations. I am interested especially in architecture that reveals the life of Asbury Park pre-gentrification.
As for the people, it’s funny that you mention that, because I was weighing that idea. But I worry that some might see that as exploitive or patronizing. Then there are the concerns about crime in certain neighborhoods of AP.
However, I am a huge fan of Bruce Davidson, a white guy from Illinois, who spent two years in the 1960’s photographing the people of East 100th Street in East Harlem—a very dangerous neighborhood. We actually were living near there at the time, but I never knew of his project. It would have been great to walk over and meet him.
So I might still consider your suggestion. —-Paul
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Yes Paul thank you for featuring west AP. Many of significant structures (both east and west side) have been torn down. Unlike OG, there is no Historic Preservation Board in AP, and AP’s Historical Society has had little overall success saving structures themselves.
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Paul : Next time I am on West Side of AP I will drive about and take notes and give you some requests.
Funny that you mention Bruce Davidson. He was a customer of mine back when I sold pro photo equipment in NYC at Fotocare. Really nice guy. Very down to earth & friendly & outgoing. Also a ” street smart ” guy. I think these qualities allowed him ability to approach & photograph people successfully.
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Frank S. Thanks for the offer. Just email me. One of Davidson’s best books is on Central Park. I have that one. —Paul
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Fine dining on the west side
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