Cool Group on Union Street
Saturday began with an afternoon feast on Webster Place at Mark and Penny’s home. It was a post Bar Mitzvah party for their son Glenn. My buddy Ron and I drank, smoked pot and danced for several hours to a live band called Grape Jam.
At some point, I left to go for a swim at Union Temple. In my drunken state, I felt like I was flying through the water. Then, I returned to the party to drink and smoke some more.
Because I intended to photograph at the Park Slope Food Coop’s Halloween party later that night, I went home for a nap at 5:00 PM.
I woke with a start at 9 PM. Am I going to miss my chance to photograph at the Coop’s party? I was sure that there would be some really interesting people there. Plus, my recent photography book HALLOWEEN was going to be the prize for the best costume.
Luckily, I had prepared my equipment earlier. My Hasselblad 501C and 50mm lens, flash unit with fresh batteries and a tripod were packed and ready. Three camera backs were loaded with 400 ASA Tri-X.
When I got to Union Street, the party was in full swing. I asked a friend to announce that anyone who wanted to be photographed should come outside. Many people did.
Earlier that day I had asked my brother if he’d like to come with me to the Coop’s party. He surprised me with his response “Nah, too intellectual for me.” So, I went alone. However, my brother’s take proved to be correct.
The first person I photographed was dressed as Walt Whitman with long white hair and beard and held a copy of Leaves of Grass.
Walt Whitman
Later on, I encountered a party goer wearing a long white shift and holding a wooden sword. When I asked who he was, the man responded snarkily, “I’m Hamlet’s father.”
Hamlet’s Father and Passersby
I shot several rolls of film using a new (to me) technique. I put my Hasselblad camera on a tripod, set the 50mm lens aperture to f/8 and made 1 to 3 second exposures along with one “pop” of my hand-held flash.
Mamie (who won the prize for best costume) and Dwight Eisenhower
Gypsy
Pirate and Wonder Woman
I had a great time and photographed until I ran out of film. Then I went inside to join the party and began dancing until about 4:00 AM. Wide awake and wired, I stayed to help with the after-party cleanup. I bought a sixpack of beer on the way home, where I smoked another joint and listened to records until 6:00 AM, when I fell asleep.
Best of all, I was up in a few hours to develop my exposed film. The results exceeded my expectations! I really liked the combination of blur and stillness. Each photo was slightly different depending upon how still the subject had been during the long exposure.
Sunday afternoon was spent recharging my batteries, both personal and photographic. I processed the rest of my film and reloaded my camera backs. I was going to photograph another Halloween party that evening at the SHIRTS house, the home base of my brother Robert’s band. At the time I lived on the top floor of this three-story group home, which also included the band’s rehearsal studio.
I photographed this party in the same way as the night before, but with a lot less energy. My long, late night had caught up with me, and I disappointed my date who arrived ready to party. I got high again but passed on dancing with her, saving my diminished energy for photographing our friends.
Howie in Chains
Larry with a Beer Can
Tom and Patty
Two Nurses
I left the party early – and alone – to go upstairs to sleep. I had to be on a construction site early Monday morning.
***
Larry Racioppo’s new book is HALLOWEEN: Capturing the Spirit of New York City for Fifty Years, 1974–2024 (The QUARTO Group), photographs by Larry Racioppo, introduction by Kevin Baker.
Racioppo’s photographs are in the collections of the Museum of the City of New York; the Brooklyn Museum; the New York Public Library; the Brooklyn Public Library; El Museo del Barrio, New York; and the National September 11 Memorial and Museum.