Californian photographer Matt Black’s The Geography of Poverty uses Instagram’s geotagging capabilities in a novel and entirely utilitarian way. The project involves visiting and photographing poor communities throughout his home state of California, building up a map that charts deprivation and poverty in a state that’s home to the world’s eighth-largest economy. The idea of mapping poverty through art is a fascinating one, but the best thing about the project is the photos themselves (which we first saw at Photographs on the Brain). They’re stark, grainy images that seem to belong to a bygone era, looking like they were shot on high-speed black-and-white film — which only makes the fact that they’re a record of contemporary America all the more startling. You can see Black’s map here, and follow his work on Tumblr and/or Instagram.
Clouds, Arvin, CA. Photo credit: Matt Black
Apartment, Pixley, CA. Photo credit: Matt Black
Mailbox, Teviston, CA. Photo credit: Matt Black
Orange Grove, Easton, CA. Photo credit: Matt Black
Rangeland, Madera, CA. Photo credit: Matt Black
Shanty Camp Nails, Fresno, CA. Photo credit: Matt Black
Vegetable Picker, Firebaugh, CA. Photo credit: Matt Black
Homeless Camp, Fresno, CA. Photo credit: Matt Black
Toy Horse, Frazier Park, CA. Photo credit: Matt Black
Front Door, Taft, CA. Photo credit: Matt Black
Farn Worker Camp, Alpaugh, CA. Photo credit: Matt Black
Crop Duster Markers, Corcoran, CA. Photo credit: Matt Black
