Revisit the '60s Through the Work of Photographer Don Garbera

Whether you lived through the 1960's in New York City or just want to see a glimpse of what is was like, head to the Eastchester Public Library, where from now until the second week of July, the exhibit "New York in the 60's in Black & White" by photographer Don Garbera will be shown in the newly renovated Rashkoff Auditorium.

Library Director Tracy Wright is excited to have Garbera's work on display.

"It's taken a long time to coordinate the show due to our auditorium renovation," she explained, "We are happy to have Mr. Garbera as our premier event in our new event space at the library."

The exhibit by Garbera, a former Upper East Side resident, features 29 black and white photographs depicting life during the decade, with a strong focus on the people and events that made up the time period.

"People began to realize that they can have their own mind and express themselves," said Garbera during the opening reception for the exhibit on Saturday, "It was a time of real change and impacted future generations and led us to where we are now."

With so much happening in the City at the time, Garbera wanted to capture it all through his Nikon camera lens.

"During the 1960's, I almost never left my house without a camera, attached to a camera strap, hanging from my neck," he said. "I roamed around the city to capture as much as I could because it was all exciting. New York City has always held a strange fascination for me. All of the photos in the exhibit are a compilation of my favorites"

Garbera, a former Editor in Chief of Technical Photography, an industry publication, has been a professional photographer for over 40 years. His camera of choice: Nikon.

"My dad helped me buy my first camera which was Nikon," he said, "I just stayed with them because I wouldn't have to buy different lens, filters, and equipment to accompany the camera. Today, I shoot in color but I prefer black and white over color because it preserves the medium—you can control shadows and make things more dramatic."

People inspire Garbera, which is the reason almost every photo in the exhibit features at least one person.

"Human interest is my inspiration because there is a story behind every face," he said, as he pointed to his work called "Street Urchins," and explained the story behind the photo.

"See those boys, I was in the Lower East Side and those two kids bargained with me to take their picture. I gave them two quarters," he said.

The exhibit "New York the 60's in Black & White" will be on display in the Rashkoff Auditorium at the Eastchester Public Library for the next 4-6 weeks.