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Graham Nash and Bryan Adams—better photographers than singers?

September 7, 2007—Fashion and tennis may be getting all the attention in New York this week, but two relatively under-hyped photo exhibitions are equally deserving of local aesthetes' attention. Larry Clark's Los Angeles 2003–2006, which opens tonight at Luhring Augustine in Chelsea, is his biggest stateside show in a while. It showcases 50 new portraits that chronicle four years in the life of Jonathan Velasquez, the South Central L.A. skate punk who inspired and starred in Wassup Rockers, Clark’s 2006 exploration of Latino outcasts who dress like they're trying to get into a Germs show circa 1978. We may be going out on a limb here, but it’s starting to seem like the guy’s got a thing for disaffected adolescents. Anyway, the pics are impressive.

Twenty blocks south, a cadre of aging rock stars calls attention to their shared sideline at the Mark Seliger–curated Visions of Rock, which opens Sunday at 401 Projects. On display are 45 works from a mixed bag of 12 musicians, including Lou Reed, Patti Smith, Andy Summers, and Graham Nash, who, in a tidy artistic confluence, is both the least interesting member of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and pretty good with a camera. Highlights of his work include a rare photo of Taj Mahal at Toronto’s 1970 Mariposa Folk Festival, Johnny Cash in silhouette backstage at his 1969–1971 variety show, and the 1970 image of Neil Young above. Also worth a look are shots of a cheerful Queen Elizabeth and a topless Pink (above left and right), both taken by the middling singer but skilled lensmen Bryan Adams. Who knows—the publicity from the show might even allow a few of these amateur shutterbugs to quit their day jobs.

Larry Clark's Los Angeles 2003-2006, through Oct. 13 at Luhring Augustine Gallery, 531 W. 24th St., NYC, (212) 206-9100, luhringaugustine.com; Visions of Rock, Sept. 9 through Nov. 4, 401 Projects, 401 West St., NYC, (212) 633-6202, 401projects.com