I just came across a collection of wonderful photographs of New York City's Lower East Side in the late '70s and early '80s by Michael Sean Edwards. The photos are vivid and gritty, both in subject matter and the look of the film.

Really wonderful stuff. Believe it or not, looking at these photos makes me wish I had been old enough to experience this New York. I'll admit I'm romanticizing it quite a bit but there's no denying the artistic and cultural energy of the time. Gone.

Richard Metzger at Dangerous Minds chimes in with some commentary on a few of the photos. Definitely worth the quick read.

Check out the whole NYC 1978-1985 set and all of Edwards' work. Lots of great stuff to look at.