Known for his unique black and white street photography that documents sensitive moments in the life of young Black Americans, Black Boys is a unique photo story capturing the lives of young African Americans living in and around New York City. Told through a highly versatile and unique collection of photographs shot solely on 35 mm black and white film, Wagner’s photographs not only reflect on current social dynamics in black America, but also shows how the medium of photography often can be just as unpredictable as people are.

Spanning 48 pages, the photographs displayed in this book are not just snap shots alone, but a narrative allowing the viewers to see parallels between their own lives and the lives of the young black boys Wagner himself connect with. Individually, his photographs are independent moments in time; in print, Wagner is able to build narratives that are not guided by linear time but rather by emotion. He has a passion for visual literacy and photo sequencing, as he understands the power of images informing and enriching one another. 

Biography

Currently based in Brooklyn, Andre D. Wagner makes photographs which encapsulate American life and its social landscape. City streets, people, parades, public transportation, and the youth of the twenty-first century are his visual language. Originally from Omaha, Nebraska, Wagner received a BFA in Social Work and Digital Media in 2010. He is now fully dedicated to photography, practicing visual social work in the streets of New York. Wagner's practice also includes developing his own black and white negatives and making silver gelatin prints in a traditional darkroom.

Specifications

29.7 cm x 21.0 cm. 48 pages. 44 photographs. Black and white digital print. Printed on 170 gsm. matte paper. Softcover, perfect binding. Limited edition of 50 copies. Numbered individually. Published in 2013.