The photographs of Gary Winogrand, William Eggleston, and Diane Arbus all
interpret the social climate of America in the 1960s. Their photos are all
in black and white, which makes them feel timeless and eternal as they
depict people, places, and events. Some of Gary Winogrand's pictures simply
show snapshots of American fashions in the 1960s. For example, his New York
shot dated 1961 shows two women from an unusual angle. They are wearing
sexy miniskirts, showing that the fashion of that time. The 1962 photo of a
couple in New York City shows them standing outside a gate with a dog
behind it. This captures an upper-middle class feeling. The 1964 shot of
the World's Fair shows several people gossiping on a park bench. The
atmosphere is joyous and lighthearted. However, some of Winogrand's photos
include more social commentary. For example, his 1964 shot of a bi-racial
couple at the Central Park Zoo has both the black man and white woman
holding monkeys. This shot exhibits the ability for Americans to overcome
racism but also hints that racism is still alive in America. Another
picture, shot in Los Angeles in 1964, shows a man and a woman in a moving
automobile. The male driver has a broken nose and the scene suggests that
he was involved in some kind of fight. Winogrand's 1964 picture of the
American Legion Convention in Dallas, Texas depicts a wounded man begging
on the floor; he seems to be missing his legs. Finally, Winogrand took a
stunning photograph of a 1969 peace demonstration in New York City. In the
background are flag-waving demonstrators and in the foreground some
policemen congregate. One of them is also holding a folded flag. This
picture shows the conflicts in American culture during the Vietnam War.
Like Gary Winogrand, Diane Arbus also took many of her photographs in
New York City. Many of these simply show some social commentary. For
instance, a boy is making a...