E J Bellocq

E J Bellocq was born to a rich white Creole family in 1873 in the French Quarter of New Orleans. He started off as a local amateur photographer before going professional. E J took pictures mostly of ships, machinery for local companies and recording landmarks.

Bellocq also had a hobby of photographing opium dens and prostitutes in the red light district. He kept his images well hidden in a sofa. E J passed away in 1949. Most of his negatives where destroyed after his death. His Prostitutes of Storyville negatives were found years after his death.

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