Big City
Cary Markerink

Bright Lights Big City 1984-1986

In 1984 my project Big City was awarded a photo-assignment by the Amsterdam Municipal Archives. In this series I experimented with several types of film and (filtered) strobe-light to infuse a dynamic feeling in representing Amsterdam as a Big City even if one could argue that the city more resembled a large village at the beginning of the last decennium of the 20th century. 

Generally I would walk the streets and photograph on special days when groups of people would gather, like public holidays, memorial days, the weekly Thursday shopping nights, openings, anything that resembled a ritual, mixing this with city stills and hurried crowds at general meeting points like railroad stations or the airport, all within the larger city limits. 

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Van Baerlestraat, March 26 1985, benefit auction on behalf of the Concertgebouw

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Dam Square, May 4 1985, A minute of silence during National Remembrance Day to commemorate the death of Dutch soldiers and members of resistance groups during WWII and armed conflicts since.

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Paleisstraat, Koninginnedag, Wednesday April 30 1986

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Festive re-opening of the restored Amstelbridge, April 12 1986

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Phone-booth, Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal behind Dam Palace, 1984

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Nieuwendijk, November 1984, Decorating the Street for X-mas Sales

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Kalverstraat, late-night shopping, September 1984

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Household Fair at RAI Congresscenter 1986

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Festival of Broken Dreams, Museumplein 

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Regulierbreestraat seen from corner of Rembrandtsquaire 1985/86

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Vijzelstraat / Corner of Noorderstraat 1986

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Photography auction at Christies 1983

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Fridaynight Amstel Railroad Station,  April 7 1986

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Schiphol Airport, Arrivals, 1986

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Gaasperplas, Kite Festival, September 1986

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Underpass Weesperstraat / Rapenburgerstraat 1986

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