Travis Jensen's new book, Barbary Coast Now: An Ode to San Francisco, "paints an entirely new picture of San Francisco--one that is both beautiful and uncensored. There are no cliche postcard views of the Golden Gate Bridge or comforting scenes of the city from the sea. Instead, Barbary Coast Now follows the ups and downs of San Francisco, from World Series celebrations and culture parades to police brutality protests and hardcore street life.
"For almost a decade, Travis Jensen has recorded the subtle (and not so subtle) nuances of everyday people in San Francisco. His unique perspective turns ordinary circumstances into extraordinary encounters with people from all walks of life: the merciless venture capitalists of the Financial District to the effervescent personalities of the Tenderloin.
From quick snaps during his commute to purposeful searches for the perfect picture, Jensen has captured candid street portraits, urban landscapes, and poignant glimpses into the hearts and minds of the city’s locals. Each photo is a testament to the tension in the juxtaposition of new versus old: the tech boom, rising housing costs, and displacement of long-term residents like himself."
Purchase a copy of Jensen's Barbary Coast Now here and read photographer Fred Lyon's forward to the book below.
What motivates a photographer to pursue exceptional images? Rarely does the search reveal itself except in retrospect. Then, the results shape the value of the answer. Perhaps the best clues are in the images.
Travis Jensen’s vision has always seemed mature, avoiding the tentative glance of the outsider. This ability to establish instant rapport in a range of situations allows him to explore personalities beyond the surface. What bubbles up is often a surprise: perhaps an urgent appeal, a flash of humor, or an instant of shared recognition. It’s this peek into the soul that lifts the viewer’s experience above the genre now labeled as “street photography.”
The history of photography is so relatively short that emphasis is easily misplaced. Eugene Atget in Paris and Arnold Genthe in San Francisco’s Chinatown each responded to the latent life of public spaces. Jacques-Henri Lartigue has left us a unique view of Belle Epoch grandeur, while Helen Levitt wrapped us in the pulsing streets of New York. Of course, the potential of city streets for photographic storytelling is irresistible, with its variety of existing light and architecture. And oh, the people! It’s such a high that few personalities rise above the excitement of the moment.
So seldom does one encounter a constant surprising eye like Travis Jensen’s. It’s rare to find the discipline disguised as accident, bringing strong design qualities to unlikely locales and raising storytelling well above the aesthetic norms of proficient photojournalism. What a fresh, compelling facelift for an over-used and abused form!
—Fred Lyon
