Christmas 2k7

Merry Christmas, North Philadelphia-style. The folks at Big Bob's Christmas Land are probably the nicest people you'll meet this side of Girard. I'm not really sure what the stock the rest of the year, but I am sure to make another appearance there.

Jeremy Avellino

Jeremy is an architect. To transport his heavy work equipment, he uses his well loved truck. Unfortunatly, this truck can no longer be a part of Jeremy's life, for it has broken down for the last time, and a replacement has been found. Jeremy wanted pictures of his beloved truck before it would be either sold or junked. And I wanted to portray Jeremy and his truck in a way that would be sentimental to him. I think I succeeded.

Lindsey and Jesse Parsons - Christmas portraits

Not only did I shoot the Parsons' wedding, but I also shot the Parsons' Christmas portraits. I really love this season the most, and it's great to share it with such friends as these!

Philadelphia pt.6: Berks Station and Baptist Churches

Right behind Berk's Station on front street lies an unkempt grove where you will find baby clothes lying around amist other trash such as cigarette cartons, broken bottles, and tires. It is a sad sight to see, and quite frightening to be wandering around alone back there. I wouldn't recommend it really.



This building intrigues me. It's such a strange place for a worship center to be. And frankly, not very inviting. The barbed wires around the parkinglot gates were the first thing you see, then the christian crosses made from iron cross beams. Strange.

Art Shop 2007!

I'm participating in Art Shop 2007 this year. If you're free, you should definitely come check it out. There are going to be over 75 local artists selling their works and wares. I'm going to be selling photographs, along with photo albums and hand bound journals. Get all your holiday shopping done here!

Furniture by Tennyson

These are pieces of funiture designed by my friend Tennyson Tippy. I shot slides of her work yesterday and was very impressed by her craftsmanship. Great art deserves great recognition. Good work Tennyson!

philadelphia pt.5: North Philly playgrounds

I dont see many children around north philly. I see them, yes, sometimes sitting on front steps of houses or two kids might be playing basketball... but they're not really out-and-about. Maybe it has something to do with the dangers of our city, the callousness of hearts, the ever-growing murder rate. These kids aren't living with the same carefree spirit as I did growing up. These desolate playgrounds are my tribute to them. They're everywhere around the city. Mostly covered in grafitti, or scattered with trash. This particular one had a quiet homeless man with a shopping cart collecting cans and bottles from the trash bins. Where are the children at play? Where is the laughter? Winter is approaching and I think it will be a cold one indeed.

Kim and Dan

Kim and Dan live together. I decided to go for a "street-light" feel to this photograph, to play with the brick wall. I think they came out rather nicely.

Martha and Colin

Martha and Colin are getting married early next year. Not only was I able to photograph their engagement pictures, but also I will have the oppurtunity to photograph their wedding day as well! I look forward to the date, for I know it will be a fun one to remember!

studio revision, second phase

In September, we took the plunge to get a studio. For some time now, its been in a period of transition from a first floor row-home shell, to what is now a photographic studio. Some kinks, however, are still being worked out, but for the most part, it's becoming a second home to me.

Our friends Joel and Kate over at Humankind Designs are also helping us with making this place work. They have built us a handmade bookshelf, and will soon be building our desk.



Today, we also had a special guest with us in the space. His name is Logan, and he felt quite comfortable.

Philadelphia pt.4: Fishtown/Port Richmond

More exploration of north Philadelphia and long forgotten playgrounds. The hint of youth at play is masked greatly by the massive amounts of graffitti all over the bars and slides of the jungle jim.

And American flags lend themselves to privacy of backyards.

Gulu Walk 2007

Please note that I did not photograph these pictures.

Gulu Walk 2007 occurred in Philadephia this past weekend [link]. Although I did not personally photograph it, I am passionate about it's cause and and choosing this time to promote it. Gulu Walk is a walk for peace for the civil war occuring in Uganda right now.

Quoted from the website: "U.N. Under-Secretary General of Humanitarian Affairs Jan Egeland called the situation in northern Uganda “the world’s most neglected humanitarian crisis” and “one of the biggest scandals of our generation.”

For the last 21 years, the people of northern Uganda have been caught in a brutal war between the Government of Uganda and the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). The LRA have terrorized the local population as a means to challenge the government and sustain itself. The LRA has abducted over 30,000 children to be used as soldiers and sex slaves. Tens of thousands have been wounded, maimed and killed in LRA attacks."

A good friend of mine, Brian Shingledecker, led this year's Gulu Walk in Philadelphia, and I am very proud of him, and all those involved in the event.

Philadelphia pt.3: Port Richmond (holga)

Once in awhile I pull out the Holga for some snapshots. This time, however, I intentionally used it to shoot photos of the site for the casinos that are being build in Port Richmond, Philadelphia. Personally, I am against the building of casinos in my home city. I feel that it will only make the poor of philadelphia poorer, increasing in homelessness and drunkeness in low income neighborhoods (one of which I live in). There are numerous websites dedicated to the prevention of future casinos, one of them being Casino Free Philadelphia [link].

Philadelphia pt.2: The Navy Yard

The Navy Yard in Philadelphia is home to a number of businesses, including the Urban Outfitters Home office (where I have done some work for in the past). This time I didn't go to the navy yard to take photos of clothing on maniquins, rather, I went to photograph the scenery. Me and another photographer have been going out each week to photograph the land. Since I have never really been any good at taking landscape shots, I agreed to do this in hopes that I will eventually become better at it. Now after a month of shoots, I really look forward to these shots. I feel that I opened up another door in what I can be passionate about, and am aiding myself into becoming quite a well rounded photographer.

Nathan and Lauren - 9/23/07

If there were two things I learned most about Nathan and Laruen during their wedding is that they both love the outdoors, and they both love sweets. The wedding took place on a camp ground in the backwoods of Massachusetts over a three day weekend. All three days were packed with games and events, and of couse, delicious desserts! It was my dream wedding come true! But in all seriousness, it was incredible to see the interaction between family members and friends gathered during this weekend to celebrate the joining together of Nathan and Lauren. By the end of it, there was no doubt in my mind that they weren't perfect for each other. Thanks Nathan and Lauren for a great weekend and a wonderful oppurtunity to capture your love for one another on film!

Melissa

Melissa had me shoot some promotional shots for her dancing career. Currently she is involved in (i believe) a salsa dancing class, and is looking to eventually open up an artistic dance school. She has a great personality and is very beautiful and talented. I had alot of fun driving around north philly to take some great shots. I just hope that my images will help boost her career into something great. Thanks Melissa!

Huldah and Clark - 9/8/07

Huldah and Clark were a delightful couple to work with. Their focus for their wedding was to enjoy every second of it with the people they love, and I admire that greatly! The entire day was filled with smiling faces and cheerful guests. One really got a sense of the genuine bond between family and friends, and there are so many great candid shots to prove it! All in all, it was a beautiful event and I'm glad I was given the chance to spend it with Huldah and Clark. Huldah's own interest in my work has been such an encouragement, and I wish for only the best for this wonderful couple. Thanks Huldah and Clark!

Jane Amelia Keenan

... was born 6/28/07. She's pretty awesome.

The Johnson House Museum

Ongoing restoration pictures of the Johnson House:

Bike Part Art Show - October 5th, 2007

This First Friday, I'm participating in the 5th annual Bike Part Art Show to benefit Neighborhood Bike Works, an organization that I volunteer with.

On October 5th, starting at 5PM, at the Power Plant Gallery (which is located on New Street, between Race and Vine), there will be live music by local musicians along with an art show and auction. Every year, Neighborhood Bike Works opens their shop to local artists to come in and make works of art from recycled bike parts. This is the culmination of the artists' works. I will be showing two photographs that I took of the basement of the shop about a year ago.




In addition, on Saturday the 6th from 11am-6pm, there will be an open gallery and bicycle repair workshops featuring graduates from NBW programs and technicians from Bicycle Therapy. And on Suday the 7th from 11am-6m, there also be an open gallery and social action forum. For more information on that, visit www.beaspokesperson.org.

Olga, a fellow photographer

Along with making an apperance on Phiebrity, Olga is another photographer and friend whom I photographed two weeks ago. She helps out with Project Basho, a local non-profit darkroom with great facilities at an incredibly affordable renting fee. She primarily shoots 4x5 landscapes.

I'm a Philebrity.

Philebrity, one of philadelphia's media, arts/culture, and gossip sites gave me a daily affirmation: [link]

Nothing crazy, they just posted this picture on the site as something to look at.

Apple and Peach picking - Aug 27, 2007

Because every event is an excuse to make a lasting photograph.

Aug 25-26; Centralia and Knoebels road trip

A friend and I embarked on a short road trip to discover some of central pennsylvania's little hid-away places. We had a list of a few places we wanted to hit: gravity hill, the abandoned stretch of turnpike, knoebels, the appalachian trail, and centrailia. We only hit up a few of those places, but it was well worth it.

Our first stop was when we drove past an old sign for a drive in movie theather. Naturally, we turned around, dodged some cars zipping down a highway, and made it to here:




Then our ways took us to Centrailia, PA. In the 1960s an underground coal mind fire started and has yet to cease. It is estimated to keep burning for about another hundred years because of the amount of coal underground. The town dwindled from roughtly 1000 residents in 1981, to 9 in 2007. Barely anything exists there, though hints of a town once abandoned are scattered throughout the area.






After all the seriousness of Centrailia, we sought to relax and enjoy pure joy at Knoebels, family fun amusement park. Seriously, probably the most fun I've had in years! They have camgrounds (to which we used to spend the night), swimming pools, water slides, roller coasters... and so much more.