In 2004, anywhere from 20 to 30 young addicts lived on the ninth floor of an elegant narrow building overlooking Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. The squatters had turned the sprawling apartment into a dark, desperate and chaotic place.
People hustled, scored, shot and smoked wherever they could. Friends conned each other for their next hit. They slept on piles of clothes on the floor. The power was shut off; the bathroom unusable; the kitchen filled with garbage. Anything of value was sold off.
For nearly three years, Jessica Dimmock followed this crew documenting what happened to them after eviction, how they fought to get clean, sank deeper into addiction, went to jail, started families and struggled to survive.
Hidden in an elegant building in a wealthy Manhattan neighborhood, was a sprawling apartment filled with young drug addicts. This is the story of their battle with addiction, each other, and themselves as they search for some kind of redemption.
Note: Not all comments will be posted due to space and time constraints.
James Allen -- UK
Nov 9, 2009 at 8:33 PM
Good to know that photography still has the power to move! beautiful and scary.
Niels -- Groningen, The Netherlands
Oct 26, 2009 at 10:15 PM
Great work. Very touching how things are changing when they have the baby, very beautifully said by the father.
DWCrabbies2010 -- Adelaide, Australia
Sep 27, 2009 at 2:18 AM
Very moving. I'd come across an article in a copy of Readers Digest about this and was instantly engrossed by it. Here are common, everyday people that you have captured and told there story beautifly. It shown that everyone has there demons and that love can conquer all (cute little bub). Would love to know how these people are going on now. Very well done.
Juliana Ruiz -- Medelln, Colombia
Aug 22, 2009 at 7:43 PM
This is a piece of art. Its so touching. It really makes you think about all those problems that drugs carry on. Plus, the way that you present this issue its so delicate but at the same time strong and overwhelming, that you really achieve the real big function with a documentary, and that is to make people realize about such an important hassle. The realization is just perfect. Loved the music, loved the photos. Wonderful job, congrats. on you.
Cat -- UK
Aug 15, 2009 at 1:09 PM
Really powerful ... arresting photography. Beauty and agony. The Yeah and love ... and hope for the future. Great work.
Richard Porter -- England
July 27, 2009 at 12:27 PM
Wow.... this film has such collossal power. It shows how drugs are an infection and that the cure is simply.... love. A baby that just has nothing bad in her; were the words he used. I think she saved them. A piece of perfection in a world lost. Drugs have taken three of my friends... love saved many more. A fantastic piece guys, well done!
Chris Whetsell -- La Mirada, CA, USA
Apr 14, 2009 at 4:40 PM
This was a very gripping and emotional video for me to watch. I think most people don't view drug addicts as they were shown in this video. I enjoyed how you chose to take a much more optimistic approach to it than rather go straight for the negatives.
Shereef Abbas -- Cairo, Egypt
Apr 12, 2009 at 6:12 PM
Its never too late to change your life. Excellent photgraphy and soundtrack, Jessica.. Where they now?
Ashley Shafer -- La Mirada, CA, USA
Apr 9, 2009 at 2:22 PM
Jessica. This was shaking, literally moving. I could not get the images out of my head for days. They penetrated my heart and mind, making me put myself in the position of these people. You did a wonderful job of capturing the darkness and entrapment of addiction. It does become your life. The graphics were so strong, that there were times I could have sworn you added video in, that I could see the pictures moving, but it was simply the emotion and correlation of the audio and photos. I wish though, that we could have learned more about Joe, how this building was given to him in the first place, if he had any idea what it would turn into. But thank you for the deep look into the lives of these other individuals whom I will not soon forget.
Simone -- Krakow
Mar 31, 2009 at 11:33 PM
great job!
Erin -- Illinois
Mar 22, 2009 at 9:48 PM
As we grow older, something we learn (hopefully) is that we can not change people and turn them into our own versions of "better". Sometimes the best we can do for people we care about is to acknowledge the reality of of their emotions, and their problems. I think this does it magnificently.
Djdannyd -- Toronto
Feb 5, 2009 at 9:43 PM
Very eye-opening and interesting documentary. It discussed two very true facts. The first one being how hard battleing with addiction really is. The whole time you are addicted, you're chasing something that you're never gonna get, that first feeling.The second fact is that we are all born good. Very true in terms of law as well, everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Overall, an amazing documentary and a real eye-opener.
Alex -- New Jersey
Jan 16, 2009 at 3:44 PM
Disarming stuff. Tragic story but wonderfully told. Bravo
Susie -- Eden Prairie, MN, USA
Dec 30, 2008 at 7:55 PM
Inspiring. Compelling. Amazing. There were moments that made me look away in horror and moments that reached into the bottom of my soul. Bravo.
Paddy -- Ireland
Dec 10, 2008 at 11:53 AM
I thought this was a powerfull piece of work,the pictures portray the pain and destruction that goes hand in hand with addiction very well... as a recovering addict myself i got alot out of it... where i was and where i am now. Jesse's description of that first hit says it all... thats exactly what its like, always chasing that first high to the point of insanity and never really getting it. What Dionn said about all humans being inherantly good is also very true... there's goodness and love in every soul. I hope everything worked out for them all...
Michael Ford -- Atlanta, GA
Dec 9, 2008 at 1:18 AM
I have to disagree with Dionn. He said it was all his fault about how he "turned out". Not true! We are all a culmination of our lifes experiences. And as he so pointed out we are not born bad but learn bad things. I don't diminish the bad choices he has made for himself as I and many others have made. But, to take all the blame for your lifes failure is simply not feesible. We are either given the tools we need or we are not, whatever the reason, be it bad parents, lack of parents, or nieve parents. Someone rolled the ball down the hill, intetionally or not.
Anton Gardner -- Exeter Devon England
Dec 1, 2008 at 6:09 PM
How is Jessie?Is she still alive?Did she manage to get clean?
Toria royle -- downingtown pa usa
Nov 27, 2008 at 10:10 PM
i was in tears when this documentry finished i sat at my computer after the pictures went black and just cried this was one of the most moving veiws on addiction ive seen in so long and i thank you for letting us into that world wit hit.
Jovan -- Toronto, Ontario
Sep 9, 2008 at 4:04 PM
The photography in this documentary is very emotional, especialy the picture used for the cover. It grabs my attention because of the look in that girls eyes, it is haunting to me. I can see her clearly but when I look into her eyes (which must have once been bright and ready to take on any obstical in life), I see no life left in them. She is now just a body with no asperations no goals and no future. But all is not lost for as long as there are people and sites dedicated to getting these messages out to the world there is still hope, both for her and for others like her. Keep up the great work!
Susan -- New York, New York
Aug 25, 2008 at 6:29 AM
A story told - shown - compassionatley and intelligently. I feel I now have, somehow, more of an understanding of what it is to be drawn into a life of drugs. Remarkable photographs and effectively spare writing. Reading the comments, I'm shaking my head over the negativity and stinginess. It's sad that there are so many people for whom a quick dart thrown at someone else's accomplishment is an ego boost.
Roberto -- Maracaibo, Venezuela
Aug 20, 2008 at 6:32 PM
Ok here's the thing, what i dont get is, for example at the clinic when she was shooting herself, couldn't you have called a nurse or something, i mean, i know you want to give us a real story but, correct me if im wrong, wasn't there anything you could have done to stop her at least that time. Please forgive me if im being rude but seems strange to me, once again i dont know how this things work but, its a hospital.
Danielle -- Michigan
Aug 2, 2008 at 2:29 AM
These photographs and their stories are amazing to say the least. The depths of a heroin addiction are amazing. I myself am younger then everyone in this video and know what it is like to be a young heroin addict with no place to call home. Being that low is the worst feeling in the world, but pulling yourself up is the greatest accomplishment. This addiction is a constant battle between the flesh and the soul. This video took me back to the hell I once called life, and reminded me why I left it.
Blaine -- PA,USA
Jul 29, 2008 at 9:20 PM
That was a great documentation of someone's worst moment of their life.There could have been less black screen between shots, it doesn't really create suspence just frustration to make it move along faster.
Kelly -- New York, NY
May 22, 2008 at 10:07 PM
Wow. Breathtaking images here. Fantastic work.
Jordan -- London
May 4, 2008 at 7:56 PM
it truly is a messed up way to live, but i dont feel bad for them. However, I think Dionn deserves alot of respect for manning up and admitting that his mess of a life is no one's fault but his own. It's very inspiring to see the effect a child can have on people's lives and that it is never too late to turn your life around.
Kathryn -- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma U.S.A
Apr 21, 2008 at 8:50 PM
Jessica thank you for taking this story out of Fifth Av and showing the rest of the world.The photography is compelling without being sentimental or judgemental.I hope the best for the parents of that precious baby and will be rooting for them as well.
gabi dworecki -- sao paulo- london
Apr 7, 2008 at 7:19 AM
I am also sitting here and crying, have a horrible fear of heroin and makes me feel weird looking at the pictures at the same time that impresses me and I can't look when they are shooting. I really hope people were stronger, but rarely seems to work. Anyways great job, no matter what.
Jade -- St. Petersburg, FL
Mar 27, 2008 at 11:18 PM
The audio is lacking ambient sound and pulls down the quality of the amazing photography.
John -- London, UK
Mar 2, 2008 at 7:12 PM
Interestingly, I didn't find this multimedia treatment of the work nearly as compelling as the simple edit of mute stills I originally saw on Jessica's web site.In this case I got bored about half way through and scrolled down to read the comments.Then I could only hear the audio, which was dull and unenlightening.Then I scrolled back up just in time to read the text about someone applying to go back to school and, I'm sorry to say, the overall impression I was left with was of a rather bland, obvious TV documentary.Which is a pity, because I loved the pictures when I first saw them by themselves.
samiya -- san diego
Feb 15, 2008 at 8:39 PM
i hope the best for the parents of that presious baby, this video show's me that everyone has obsticles in their way however different we might be, and it shows me that i shouldn't let fear be a reason i dont do things, its so sad . May God help us all
Sherley Terry -- Brisbane, Australia
Feb 5, 2008 at 4:13 AM
this photography is excellent!
stanton ryan -- melbourne, australia
Jan 27, 2008 at 7:48 AM
deeply moving, so sensitive and respectful, a learning, thank you
kim -- san francisco, california
Jan 23, 2008 at 10:31 PM
Made me think of the documentary Black Tar Heroin, filmed in San Francisco in the late nineties.
Jennifer -- Newport, RI USA
Jan 13, 2008 at 6:39 PM
I am sitting here crying. What amazine stories you have told through these photos. i wish i could ask you how you did it..how you met these individuals and got close to them in order to take such intimate photos. (and how you didn't get hurt in the process too?)Dionn is right, we are inherently good. What a beautiful little baby girl that couple has. I hope for the best for their family , I (and others I am sure) will be rooting for them!
joseph -- alpharetta
Jan 10, 2008 at 10:28 PM
Dimmock followed this crew for three years? And did she try and do anything to help them, or did she just photograph them at their lowest moments for an emotionally compelling story?
David Blumenfeld -- Jerusalem, Israel
Jan 7, 2008 at 2:02 AM
Incredible. Moving. Horrible and Beautiful.Great work, Jessica!
Ross Alderson -- Warwick, England
Jan 2, 2008 at 10:16 AM
Great story telling. The photography is compelling without being sentimental or judgemental. I really enjoyed the ride.
YiBien Tham -- Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Dec 19, 2007 at 2:20 AM
Good journalism work. We all agree a picture tells a story, this series of images allow us to take a glimpse of Jessie, Rachel, and Dionn's live.
Patrick Brown -- Thailand
Dec 13, 2007 at 1:27 PM
powerful, intense, compelling, sad, horrifying, horrific, real, there's another thousand words to describe this an amazing body of work. This is story telling at it's best, honest...! thank you for taking this story out of Fifth Av and showing the rest of the world.
Dave -- New Jersey
Dec 12, 2007 at 5:33 PM
I have ridden the train in from jersey w/ the couple a few times. They were nice, and ive never seen anyone pay so much attention and love a kid so much. Good Luck
Goh Iromoto -- Vancouver, BC, Canada
Dec 12, 2007 at 4:56 PM
Thank you for this.Jessica, you have an incredible ability to connect and capture the most heartfelt aspects of the human spirit. It is also truly an inspiration to us all, not only as photographers, but as simple human beings.thanks.
Pedro Guimaraes -- Braga, Portugal
Dec 12, 2007 at 3:21 PM
I think this multimedia piece turns a wonderful book into a sunday holiwood movie... somewhere in the middle i lost the feeling of reallity, because of the editing techniques applied. For me, the gratest error is to "calm down" the viewer in the end, creating a nice "the end" chapter... shit never ends, we all know that.
