February 24, 2008
"I was alone in a world that I didn't know or understand ... fear and freedom at that moment were the same"
Stephen Wilkes's images of Ellis Island capture the beauty and the hope of what it was the main entry point for immigrants coming to the USA during between 1892 and 1954. During this 62 years about 12 million people passed through it. As part of Ellis Island there was a hospital, where individuals who arrived with health problems were kept in observation to avoid the possible spread of disease among the general population. During this time they were so separated from their families and from reaching their dream to enter the "land of hope". About 1% of the people who arrived were not allowed to enter the country.
Over a period of five years Stephen Wilkes, photographed the hospital complex, recording the remaining of the place with a beauty of light and color than was never associated with the history of Ellis Island, and so it provides a unique record of what it was a place for both hope and a place for angst for the few that were not admitted into the USA. You can see the full collection of images at the Monroe Gallery Website.
The website, Ellis Island Ghosts, is an exquisite example for website design to display photography. Don't miss to read the text of the Introduction and the Author's Note. This work was published in a book.
If you are as impressed about the work of Stephen Wilkes as I am, you may consider the possibility to attend an workshop that will be lead by the photographer at the upcoming Palm Springs Photo Festival (workshop here).
Miguel Garcia-GuzmanBookmark It
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Posted in Books, Photographers, Photography, Workshops 
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