Jamel Shabazz: Seconds of My Life: Photographs from 1975-2024

On View: February 28 – April 20, 2025

Bronx Documentary Center Annex
364 E. 151st St, Bronx, NY 10455

The exhibition Seconds of My Life: Photographs from 1975-2024, by Brooklyn based photographer Jamel Shabazz, offers a comprehensive look at his work from the 1970s to the early 2000s, including iconic photo albums, early images of his junior high classmates and photography spanning fashion, street and documentary styles. It highlights Shabazz’s talent for capturing powerful stories of identity, resilience, and community from the streets of New York and beyond.

This exhibition is curated by Mike Kamber and Cynthia Rivera.

Spanish translations by Maria de la Paz Galindo.

This exhibition was made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature; and the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs.

“I embarked on my photographic journey 50 years ago as a curious 15-year-old kid coming out of Brooklyn, using my mother’s Kodak Instamatic 126 camera.

My primary subjects during that time were my junior high school classmates, who were more than willing to pose for me.

Back then, I would take the finished film to the local drug store for processing, and return about a week later to see the results of my efforts. To my surprise I made some pretty decent prints that I would then put into small photo albums and share with my friends. From that moment on, I developed a profound love for photography and preserving memories.

From 1975 to 2024 I have amassed quite a number of photo albums showing a wide range of images–from my original prints from the 1970’s, to some of the very first black and white prints I developed in my makeshift darkroom. There are fashion, street and documentary work featured in all of the albums”.

—Jamel Shabazz