The Polaroid Kidd – Ridin’ Dirty Face
April 16, 2008
“Her Sweet Perfume’s All Over Me.”
Mike Brodie aka “The Polaroid Kidd” is a somewhat accidental documentary photographer. By photographing his friends, their homes, and lifestyles, Brodie has captured a marginalized segment of the American population that’s not so prevalent in main stream society. His haunting photos of hobos, punks, and squatters criss-crossing the country in boxcars are reminiscent of Horace Bristol’s Grapes of Wrath era pictures that captured migrant workers on their way to California ….except now with facial tattoos. They’re truly amazing.
Pictures from Polaroid Kidd’s show at Needles & Pens Gallery
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 The dirty moniker of Mike Brodie smudged along the gallery wall |
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hello-
i’m a documentary photography student, and i was hoping to somehow get in touch with mike… the infamous polaroid kidd… is that possible? let me know. thanks!
-ann-marie
aslashm@gmail.com
Mike Brodie’s my hero.
great post!
hello brodie long time no see im just sittin here in roseville do you remember me i sure remember you just wondering how the worlds been for you if you like to drop me a line or come by i wouldnt mind till again byebye
What the hell happened to ridindirtyface.com? It should go back up, that site rocked…
again here i am in roseville come see me if you will ill keep a light on
Amazing
It looks like someone else made the same attempt and failed, but I just stumbled upon Mike’s work here and would kill to get ahold of him. I’m doing a documentary and he is my featured artist. If anyone happens to know how I could try to speak with him, let me know. Thanks.
- Courtney
what the fuck? You took off the picture of Smashley and I ridin suicide!
[...] Vivere il viaggio da vagabondo, da squatter, attraversano gli stati zaino in spalla e chitarra. Dormire dove capita tra case abbandonate, vagoni di treni merci, baracche, boschi, stazioni di servizio. Mangiare quando ce n’è, camminare in gruppo lungo le strade e respirare la puzza dell’umanità che prevale su quella della civiltà moderna. Incontrare nuovi compagni di viaggio e perderne altri. Sopravvivere felici, o almeno tentare. Queste sono le foto di Mike Brodie “The Polaroid Kidd” tratte da una sorta di documentario fotografico chiamato “Ridin’ Dirty Face”. Foto tratte da Girltears [...]
Brodie, are you at all concerned that you taking pictures just for the sake of your fame will over expose MY culture and lead stupid yuppie children to try and ride trains? Are you at all worried that YOU might Single Handily ruin traveling life for everyone?
I think you are horribly selfish to take your beautiful pictures to show for house people. Shame on you!
“house people”– that’s a riot! You don’t “your culture”. It’s a part of the collective history of a place and time belonging to all, and needing to be documented.
You don’t OWN “your culture”..what I meant to say.