"Surrogate granddaughter": the life of American pensioners through the lens of Naomie Harris

Photographer from the US Naomi Harris (Naomi Harris) works in the genre of reportage photography. She is interested in photographing people when they are not posing, but live their normal lives. One day, in search of inspiration, Naomi ended up in "retirement paradise" Miami Beach, Florida. After spending several weeks in this resort town, she gave the world a wonderful series of photographs from the life of older Americans.

When Harris was reporting on the life of Florida pensioners, the yard was in the 90s. She was only 26 years old, and she was too young to be considered her models even as a daughter. After all, the people who appeared in her frame were mostly over 80. Naomi jokingly called herself a “surrogate granddaughter” and there was some truth in this.

Wherever Harris met with cheerful American old men, a warm welcome awaited her everywhere. She photographed pensioners at home, in boarding houses, on the beaches and just on the streets. She was treated to ice cream and tea, and also treated to a variety of stories from life.

But why did Miami Beach become a mecca for people of retirement age? This city, or rather, its southern part, was chosen by the old people as a wintering place back in the 70s. Then it was mostly Jews. Having survived the war, concentration camps and ghettos, they were drawn to this paradise with palm trees and the sea in order to forget hardships.

Gradually, there were more and more old people who did not want to leave for windy Chicago and foggy Bostons. Summer all year round, fruits, fishing and the company of peers - what else is needed for happiness in your declining years?

From 1977 to 1986, photographer Gary Monroe photographed the life of the retired Jewish community in the same Miami Beach.