Beach Boulevard, Brian O'Neill
This book is a visual diary of sorts - out of the past, and through the present.
Pink hues begin to meld with the sea haze along the beach as the sun sets over the site of the old high school, now replaced by common establishments. Two young women wait for a young man, circling a street corner on their bikes as another day begins to pass tonight along the beach. This area was once orange groves and oil fields as far as the eye could see. What now fills the horizon? Further inland, homes hide behind ten-foot brick walls, trying to remain in the shade. And, at the end of a long day of walking the hot pavement and breathing the fumes of individual liberty, a rare young man tells the tale of his false imprisonment and asks where the pier is - so that he can retrieve his backpack and dog. I tell him, follow along Beach Boulevard.
****
Brian O’Neill is a sociologist and photographer based in Illinois, for the moment. His work explores the relations of society to nature, using a variety of documentary and analytical techniques. Much of his photographic and sociological output to date has investigated the practices and meanings of "industry" to local communities and environments. Rather than the typical documentary question - what is going on here? - Brian's work provokes a confrontation with society that begs the question: how did we get here to begin with? Beach Boulevard is his first photographic publication.
****
8“ x 9.5”
77 pages
Spiral Bound
Limited Edition of 100
ISBN: 978-1-7355008-2-9
This book is a visual diary of sorts - out of the past, and through the present.
Pink hues begin to meld with the sea haze along the beach as the sun sets over the site of the old high school, now replaced by common establishments. Two young women wait for a young man, circling a street corner on their bikes as another day begins to pass tonight along the beach. This area was once orange groves and oil fields as far as the eye could see. What now fills the horizon? Further inland, homes hide behind ten-foot brick walls, trying to remain in the shade. And, at the end of a long day of walking the hot pavement and breathing the fumes of individual liberty, a rare young man tells the tale of his false imprisonment and asks where the pier is - so that he can retrieve his backpack and dog. I tell him, follow along Beach Boulevard.
****
Brian O’Neill is a sociologist and photographer based in Illinois, for the moment. His work explores the relations of society to nature, using a variety of documentary and analytical techniques. Much of his photographic and sociological output to date has investigated the practices and meanings of "industry" to local communities and environments. Rather than the typical documentary question - what is going on here? - Brian's work provokes a confrontation with society that begs the question: how did we get here to begin with? Beach Boulevard is his first photographic publication.
****
8“ x 9.5”
77 pages
Spiral Bound
Limited Edition of 100
ISBN: 978-1-7355008-2-9
This book is a visual diary of sorts - out of the past, and through the present.
Pink hues begin to meld with the sea haze along the beach as the sun sets over the site of the old high school, now replaced by common establishments. Two young women wait for a young man, circling a street corner on their bikes as another day begins to pass tonight along the beach. This area was once orange groves and oil fields as far as the eye could see. What now fills the horizon? Further inland, homes hide behind ten-foot brick walls, trying to remain in the shade. And, at the end of a long day of walking the hot pavement and breathing the fumes of individual liberty, a rare young man tells the tale of his false imprisonment and asks where the pier is - so that he can retrieve his backpack and dog. I tell him, follow along Beach Boulevard.
****
Brian O’Neill is a sociologist and photographer based in Illinois, for the moment. His work explores the relations of society to nature, using a variety of documentary and analytical techniques. Much of his photographic and sociological output to date has investigated the practices and meanings of "industry" to local communities and environments. Rather than the typical documentary question - what is going on here? - Brian's work provokes a confrontation with society that begs the question: how did we get here to begin with? Beach Boulevard is his first photographic publication.
****