Vergara, Camilo J.

Camilo José Vergara received his M.A. in sociology from Columbia University. He has authored numerous articles and books on life in poor, minority communities. As a photographer he has been widely exhibited in the United States and abroad.

From the description of Views of Los Angeles. 1980-1994. (Getty Research Institute). WorldCat record id: 80053162

Documentary photographer, focusing on evolution of urban spaces.

From the description of Camilo José Vergara photographs, 1977-2009. (Duke University Library). WorldCat record id: 606595662

Camilo José Vergara is a New York-based photographer documenting the changing urban landscape of inner cities throughout the United States. He began focusing on urban neighborhoods in the 1970s, and since then has published numerous photography compilations and essays. Vergara is known for his ability to capture transition within a city and its structures, such as the re-use of buildings and their eventual abandonment and reclamation by nature. His titles include Silent Cities: The Evolution of the American Cemetery, The New American Ghetto, American Ruins, Twin Towers Remembered, and How the Other Half Worships .

Vergara earned a B.A. in sociology from the University of Notre Dame (1968) and a M.A. in sociology from Columbia University (1977). He has received several awards for his work, including a 2002 MacArthur Foundation genius grant.

From the guide to the Camilo José Vergara Photographs, 1977-2009, (David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University)