Usually when a photographer misses half of their subject’s body from a shot, that would be judged a failure destined to be discarded in the darkroom bin. Not so with Mark Cohen, whose work stands apart precisely because of his unusual crops, which came about from his equally unusual technique. Roaming the streets of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, during the 1970s and onwards, Cohen held out his camera at arm’s length, not looking through the viewfinder at what he was shooting, and using a wide angled lens.

The result is a strangely compelling collection of knees, torsos and half-heads, with interesting backgrounds thrown in for good measure. At times intrusive and voyeuristic, at others intimate, Cohen is primarily known for the black and white images taken in his hometown, but he also produced important work in the field of colour photography; both oeuvres are represented in a major retrospective at Danziger Gallery, New York, which is on now and runs until 20 June.

Mark Cohen
Boy in Yellow Shirt Smoking. Scranton, PA. 1977.
14 x 17 inch dye transfer print
Courtesy of Danziger Gallery
in collaboration with Rose Gallery.

Mark Cohen
Bubblegum. 1975
16 x 20 inch gelatin silver print
Courtesy of Danziger Gallery.

Mark Cohen
Volumetric Leg Picture. 1975.
16 x 20 inch gelatin silver print
Courtesy of Danziger Gallery.

Mark Cohen
Young Girl at Beach. New Jersey. 1977.
14 x 17 inch dye transfer print
Courtesy of Danziger Gallery
in collaboration with Rose Gallery.

Mark Cohen
Defiant Girl up on Fence. October 1973.
16 x 20 inch vintage gelatin silver print
Courtesy of Danziger Gallery.

Mark Cohen
Belly Button Cartwheel, 1975.
16 x 20 inch vintage gelatin silver print
Courtesy of Danziger Gallery.

Mark Cohen
Karate Stance. Wilkes-Barre, PA. 1977.
14 x 17 inch dye transfer print
Courtesy of Danziger Gallery
in collaboration with Rose Gallery.

Mark Cohen
Untitled. Wilkes-Barre, PA. January 1975.
16 x 20 inch vintage gelatin silver print
Courtesy of Danziger Gallery.

Mark Cohen
Upside-Down Girl. 1974.
16 x 20 inch gelatin silver print
Courtesy of Danziger Gallery.

Mark Cohen
Untitled. August 1978.
16 x 20 inch vintage gelatin silver print
Courtesy of Danziger Gallery.

Mark Cohen
Untitled. 1976.
16 x 20 inch vintage gelatin silver print
Courtesy of Danziger Gallery.