Boogie's Street Photography

Boogie's Early Life and Education

Boogie was born Vladimir Milivojevich in Belgrade, the capital of what was then Yugoslavia. His friends gave him the nickname "Boogie" because he reminded them of the cartoon "Boogieman." He remembers his childhood as a peaceful time. Crime rated were among the lowest in Europe, where there was a strong sense of stability. In 1990, Yugoslavia turned for the worse, Belgrade transformed into a violent and poverty-ridden city. The situation was so drastic that Boogie remembers a period where his mother’s entire monthly pension could only buy two pounds of onions. Despair and hopelessness permeated the city. some of his friends went into a heroin addiction while others would take their own life to avoid of dying of starvation. Boogie would go around with homemade dog food to feed abandoned pets. To support his family, he traveled to Bulgaria and smuggle paint and sell it on the black market. His father was also an amateur photography. He gave Boogie his first camera, he would walk the streets day and night, recording the degradation of his city.

A Gang

Dog hanging from street lamp

His Major work/Accomplishments/ Published

Earlier this year by PowerHouse Boogie published “Belgrade Belongs To Me,” is a compilation of his work over 15 years. surrounded by skinheads, political protest and street life, there is an underlying current of sadness. The damaged soul of Belgrade comes alive. He captures human fragility with sensitivity, while his straightforward compositions immerse us into the bleak reality of time. His pictures of heroin addicts and gang members collected in “It’s All Good” (PowerHouse, 2006) are shocking at times.

A homeless man cutting chicken

What Makes his Work Unique?

What makes his work unique? His work is unique because he brings the streets to life and shows people the reality of other worlds. Not all worlds are full of rainbows and butterflies....He grew up in the streets and watched people he knew go into addiction or end their lives, instead of following them he grabbed the camera and photographed the beauty and the dark. Not many people bring things to realty and show us what the real world is but Boogie does, he shows us how he came from the streets and arise from the bottom.

someone looking out at the world 

Someone smoking Meth