Aristide Economopoulos – a freelance photographer in the New York metropolitan area. For over two decades, Aristide was a staff photographer with NJ Advance Media, where he specialised in documentary essays and covered a variety of topics, from international conflict, urban violence, natural disasters, politics to local community news and sports to hog wrestling in Indiana.
An eight-time Photographer of The Year with the New York Press Photographers Association, he has won numerous awards including World Press Photo, Sony World Photo Awards, Siena International Photo Awards, Pictures of the Year International, National Press Photographers Association’s Best of Photojournalism, Casey Medals for Meritorious Journalism and The Scripps Howard Foundation National Journalism Award. In 2005, he was part of the team that won the Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Reporting.
A portfolio of his work from the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in Manhattan was awarded first place in Pictures of the Year International. Photo District News magazine named one of his photos from that day one of the decade’s 10 best documentary photos. His work is permanently displayed at The National September 11 Memorial Museum in Manhattan. His photographs have been exhibited at museums and galleries throughout the United States and internationally. He also lectured at numerous institutions and universities, including the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.
A graduate of the Rochester Institute of Technology, he previously worked at the State Journal-Register in Springfield, Illinois and the Dubois County Herald in Jasper, Indiana. Economopoulos resides in Jersey City, New Jersey, USA.
“Coney Island: A Living Microcosm of New York City“
With its quirky charm and vibrant spirit, Coney Island is a microcosm of New York City. As the city has evolved over the past decade, so has this iconic urban beach resort. It has endured the devastation of a hurricane, weathered the forces of gentrification, and navigating the uncertainty of a global pandemic. Yet, through it all, Coney Island remains resilient, never losing its sense of joy, community, or rich diversity.
For the past eight years, I’ve dedicated myself to documenting these changes as a photographer. What began as a deeply personal project, a form of healing after a painful divorce, has blossomed into a visual chronicle of a community full of life, history, and transformation. Through my lens, I’ve captured the essence of Coney Island—a place that has both embraced change and fiercely guarded its working-class roots.
For just the price of a $2.75 subway ride, Coney Island has been a beloved summer escape for New Yorkers seeking relief from the heat and relentless pace of city life for over 200 years. As the birthplace of the American amusement park, this historic seaside town has faced threats of gentrification but has managed to retain its unique urban character. Decades ago, it was on the verge of decay, but today, it has reinvented itself with a more family-friendly atmosphere while still holding onto the gritty charm that makes it unmistakably Coney Island.
Through my photography, I aim to celebrate this ongoing evolution while honoring the vibrant spirit of a community that continues to define itself against the backdrop of a changing city.
