Michael A. Smith (1942-2018)
Broward County, Florida
1989
Gelatin silver prints
Northwest Branch Library and North Family Success Center (Annie L. Weather Health Center), Pompano Beach
8 x 10 in; 8 x 20 in; 16 x 20 in.
In 1989, renowned photographer Michael A. Smith was commissioned to document the communities of Pompano Beach. Utilizing his signature large-format camera, Smith produced 90 black-and-white gelatin silver prints that intimately captured the everyday lives, landscapes, and architecture of these communities.
The photographs serve as a visual archive that honors and preserves the history of the neighborhood, which many residents remain connected to. The images continue to resonate with residents, like the security guard from the North Family Success Center, who recalls buying lunch from Joseph Babino, the local hotdog vendor whose image hangs at the center. Dexter Richardson, another resident who Smith photographed, continues to live and work in Broward County.
Michael A. Smith was an internationally acclaimed photographer renowned for his masterful command of traditional photographic techniques and for utilizing his signature large-format camera to capture images from a deeply personal point of view. His extensive body of work earned him global recognition and a prominent place in the world of fine art photography.
Michael A. Smith
Broward County, Florida: Dexter Richardson
1989
Silver chloride contact print
16 in. x 20 in.
Northwest Branch Library, Pompano Beach
Michael A. Smith
Broward County, Florida: Joseph Babino
1989
Silver chloride contact print
8 x 10 in.
North Family Success Center (Annie L. Weather Health Center), Pompano Beach
We are grateful to Broward County Libraries for scanning a representative selection of rushes (photographic proofs) from this collection to create a digital overview of the archive for display.
