KITTY
I’ve been wanting to document the fading seedier side of Minneapolis for years. Finally took my Canonet downtown with some expired slide film (from Daniel Leonard) and got some very saturated shots. Some might say oversaturated, others might say perfectly lurid. I edited for color, WB etc., but in the end preferred the untouched film.
These streets are evoked in Tom Waits song Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis . Consider listening while looking.
There is something nice about red light districts. They are contained, which means what goes on there doesn’t overflow too much into other areas of life, but the containment also enhances their allure for those who are allured by such places. As far as debauchery goes, these places had a mystique that ubiquitous and utilitarian webcams will never have.
I also took a shot of Augie’s on 110 film and one on digital seen next to the shot on slide film at the bottom for comparison. The digital has its own merits, but I’m still partial to the analog ones. The 110 in particular feels like an affected witness to the sleaze.
