Fred Herzog, Bogner’s Grocery (1960)
I’ve seen the street photography of Fred Herzog previously but a brief essay by Geoff Dyer in today’s New York Times Magazine prompted me to look anew at Herzog’s work. Herzog came to Canada in the early 1950s from Germany and from the late 1950s through the 1960s pioneered color street photography in his adopted city of Vancouver. His candid shots provide a splendid if unvarnished documentary of the city and its people during that period. The vintage images also subtly illustrate many things that have changed in Vancouver and other urban areas throughout Canada (and America) in the past several decades.
More of Herzog’s work can be seen at Vancouver’s Equinox Gallery and on its website.
Fred Herzog, 2nd Hand Store Boy (1959)
Fred Herzog, Alexander Street (1967)
Fred Herzog, Granville Street from Granville Bridge (1966)
Fred Herzog, Granville/Robson (1959)
Fred Herzog, White Lunch Granville (1959)
Photo Credits: Fred Herzog and Equinox Gallery
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Wow. Love it!
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Great shots, Brett! Thank you for sharing the work of Mr Herzog! 🙂
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Brett, these are wonderful! I hadn’t heard of Herzog before, but I am certainly going to check out more of his work now! Thank you! Cher xo
Cher, I hope you enjoy them! 🙂
Interesting how vintage color photos convey such a different feeling than black and white.
Very much so!
As an immigrant from Germany (1965) to Calgary, I can really appreciate Herzog’s outstanding photographs of Vancouver. Thank you!
Peter, a nice connection!
I love his work, thank you
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Wonderful vintage photos.
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Gosh, Brett. That’s a great find of Vancouver photos of yester years. I go by this area on my daily commute to work.
Very cool! 🙂
Thanks for sharing. We’ve just moved from Alaska and now live in Iowa where street photography should be amazing. I can’t wait to get back behind the camera.
That sounds terrific! Hope you enjoy yourself.
Absolutely wonderful photographs! But is the “2nd Hand Store Boy” a young Kirk Douglas?
Sure looks like he could turn out that way! 🙂
Great photos—a slice of life!
Great description!
Amazing photos! I spent several minutes zoomed in looking at each. Thanks for sharing!
That’s an interesting thing to do with some photos.
It always amazes me to see vintage photographs of Vancouver. My how things have changed! Thank you Brett, and happiest of holidays to you! Aleya
Yes, vintage images like this are a pleasure to ponder. Happy holidays to you as well, Aleya. 🙂
You know I’m a sucker for old soda signs! And I love the feel of rainy street photography!
Old signage gets me every time too! 🙂
I love these photos. Mr Herzogs’ work is amazing. To think I used to walk those streets 20 years after he took the pictures.
Darlene, very much so! 🙂
Some wonderful images of a simpler time. We lived in Vancouver when I was a kid during the late 1960s and although my memories are almost non-existent, many of these scenes probably still existed when we were there a decade or so later. I love the one in the rain – so typical!
Many thanks for posting, Brett, and greetings of the season!
Richard, thanks. Very typical of that earlier period. The one with what appear to be very young kids (guessing about 5, 6 or 7 y.o.) going in and out of a local store with no parents around as far as one can tell strikes me as something that you wouldn’t see as much anymore.
The signs, the cars, and the clothes are like date stamps on these photos. What a treat to see this, Brett.
Lovely thought!
Thanks for the additional photos. I thought the essay in The Times was intriguing. I think I first visited Vancouver in 1959, so it was fun to see these
Very much so! 🙂
The first thing that comes in my mind when seeing this photos are the memories that it holds. I wonder the feelings of people associated with it or just around in that time. Happy holidays, cheers.
Thanks and happy holidays as well!
These are great photos. Vancouver may have changed, but those rainy shots feel just like today. Happy holidays!
The more things change . . . 🙂
This means so much more to me now that I live in Vancouver! His work keeps bobbing up, and I pay attention every time.
Penny, I imagine on your sojourns around the city that you cross many of these same paths that Herzog documented. By the way, I wasn’t sure whether you were now in Van City. That’s quite a change and I hope a good one for you. Best, Brett
I am indeed — downtown Van (well, nearly: just south of False Creek & quite central) All the best to you as well.
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Really interesting images. Can’t figure out what they had in mind on that sign for the Allen Hotel.
Yes! That sign looks odd. From the vantage point of one of the other photos in this set I think the coffee cup that appears to be above the Allen Hotel sign is actually part of the White Diner signage that is nearby on the same block.
The years of my youth and early marriage. Thanks for a trip down memory lane of wonderful years.
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Reblogged this on From 1 Blogger 2 Another.
I grew up with glass bottles we would put in our wagon and cart off to the local delicatessen. 🙂 They would give us nickels and we would then purchase penny candies. I like that Seven Up had a bright green bottle and the deep green Coke bottle was a contrast.
I like vintage posts like this one, Brett!
Robin, yes, those were the days! I collected Coke and other bottles for spending money as a kid as well! 🙂
Aww, I finally came back to check if I had missed any new posts, Brett.
I’m glad you’re “almost old enough” to remember turning in bottles for change. 😉
I also wish to send you belated wishes for special moments, good health and wonders to discover in 2018! 🎉 ✨ 🌈
Robin, thanks and best wishes for the new year to you as well! 🙂
Thank you, Brett! Stay warm. . .🌞
You too, Robin!
Wow these pictures are amazing
Herzog had a great eye! 🙂
time traveling….incredible photos. thank you for sharing them. love the little boys clothes and hair back then.
Quite the style back then! 🙂
Love the photos a lot. Times had passed, but the taste lingered in our tongue. i am not Canadian, but serendipitously you reminded in something i really crave to it.
Thanks!
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/the-collision-fred-herzog-the-holocaust-and-me/article4104746/
https://keithgoldstein.me/2017/12/17/fred-herzog-and-the-holocaust/
Keith, thanks for sharing this link. The interview is quite interesting. For me, this highlights how as humans we are all so complicated.
Best, Brett
Terribly so, at times….
Thanks for sharing these.. Herzog’s work is incredible and hopefully your post will help spread the word to those not in the know.
Mark, thanks!
Reblogged this on The Tales of the Roses.
wow gorgeous photographs 😍
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The colors are so vibrant. These pictures are wonderful. 🙂
So true. Herzog was a terrific photographer.
Beautiful pic again…!!
Yes! 🙂
Fred Herzog, Granville/Robson (1959) was my favorite picture you shared. I especially liked the bug as it is one of my favorites (the older ones). Thanks for sharing.
Thanks! That’s a terrific image! 🙂
You are welcome!