Coney Island House

A Documentary Series: Stories of House Music on the Coney Island Boardwalk 2004-2022

Photo: June 26, 2004

The photo above is the first one I took upon arriving on the Riegelmann Boardwalk (Coney Island Boardwalk) on this day in June 2004. As a street photographer, I make choices to be where people are going to be to document the myriad of stories that happen around the city.

The Summer Solstice in Earth’s Northern hemisphere begin on the 21st of June. Coinciding with the Solstice is the annual Mermaid Parade on Surf Avenue, with walking participants continuing onto the boardwalk. This has to be prime people-watching opportunity, right? I went out for the parade, but came across the thing that would occupy a good deal of my weekends for the next 18 years.

There was music in the streets! Actually, on the boardwalk. The Black Underground, a DJ Production group that brought out their audio equipment to spin music for the masses. The genre they specialized in playing was House Music. Developed and nurtured in the clubs of Chicago in the 1980s. Shared and expanded to clubs on both coasts thereafter.

Photo: September 2007

The human connection is one of the foundations within house music. Teach the children. The universal appeal of dance is felt even in the smallest of souls. Fostering a level of trust and mutual understanding. Dance brings people together! The music of the dance, solidified the bonds between us.

The level of enthusiasm is evident, the learning is without conscious thought that it's actually happening. The memories, and connection to the music will last forever. It’s about harmony and connecting.

Photo: June 2022

I close out today’s article with this photo above—being one of the most recent from the series. With more than 18 years devoted to this series, the technology that I used to record it from the beginning has changed. Then, changed again! You use what you have at hand to do the work you’re compelled to do.

In 2004, the transition of the photography world from film (analog) to digital sensors (digital) was in the sophomore stages of development. There was so much more technologic developments to come that would be improved upon from what was already in production. I preface this all to say… I first shot this series in color digital, then went to black & white film (analog). When digital was finally in it’s senior years, I plunged into the improved color digital world of photography.

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Til next time…

Kenneth