More than photography: A photo journal about San Francisco's Tenderloin district

I finally got time to edit some more video from my U.S. tour this summer. I didn't shoot quite as much as I had planned, but it was still enough to create a story about two talented photographers, Brad Evans and Travis Jensen, as I got to know them on my trip. In the process I developed a lot of respect for their photography.

Brad Evans (left) and Travis Jensen pose for a photo in the Tenderloin on July 18, 2011. The two photographers published a 50-page photo book that documents the Tenderloin. Photo: Susana Bates, Special To The Chronicle / SF

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"We like the process of engagement," says Evans, showing off a photo of someone involved in a local skinhead group. "We've talked to gangsters and dealers and scary people." Via David Wagner, Chronicle Staff Writer sfgate.com

They spent a year shooting and then creating a photo journal about San Francisco's Tenderloin district. It's a very underserved neighborhood that many consider as rough on the edges. I spent a lot of time there, but I didn't shoot too much because it can be dangerous to visit and play tourist with a camera. Travis used to live in the Tenderloin as a young man and both him and Brad have a good understanding and awareness of the area's dynamics.

Instead of showing only the bad side of the neighborhood that other photographers have emphasized in the past, Brad and Travis were determined to portray the area's positive aspects.

The book's profits are donated to a social charity in the neighborhood that helps at-risk youth living on the street.

To purchase a copy of "Tenderloin USA" for $20, go to www.tenderloinusa.com. A release party will be held at 6 p.m. Aug. 10 at Ever Gold Gallery, 441 O'Farrell St., S.F. (415) 396-3676. www.evergoldgallery.com.

CREDITS:

Jonas Normann is a full time photographer based in Vejle, Denmark.

Text and video via sidewalktalk.dk