"The Combat Zone"

Sadly these last couple of weeks have been primarily revolved around revision which leaves little time for general musings, killing time and other discoveries. However, on Tuesday I did find some time to check out a pocket sized exhibition, a couple of streets back from Invalides.

"The Combat Zone" is the name affectionately given to the roughest area in Boston in the 1960's. It was renowned for being violent, run down and at the centre of a racial war. Locals therefore found their little piece of refuge in bars, clubs or games arcades as a way of getting off the streets and into some kind of haven. Jerry Berndt, armed like a war zone reporter, explored the hostile streets of the "The Combat Zone" capturing scenes of poverty, solitude and desperation.

Despite it not being the sunniest of topics, the photos had a certain rawness with no obvious use of extra lighting or scripted positions for the models. Just on the spot shots capturing a moment. 

Head down to the Camera Galerie in the 7th to see this rather ominous yet insightful collection of photos.