Assignment Specific

2009-05-07T09:36:00.001-07:00

WELL SINCE I GOT MARKED DOWN FOR INCORRECT SIZING LAST TIME, below is the link to my final project. nice knowing everyone.

http://astro.temple.edu/~tua45772/publishtoweb/

for the love of fishtown

2009-04-06T20:33:00.000-07:00

I'm sick of myself after making this and will be taking a vacation, seeya later

2009-03-02T11:55:00.000-08:00

A to Z: Where Am I?

2009-02-16T17:58:00.000-08:00

26 photos, one for each letter of the alphabet.

Game: Philly visual trivia!!!! Based on the photo, can you guess the location? Some are obvious, some are ridiculous. Go for it.

......

answers:

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a) Arts Bank, Broad and South sts.
b) "Bar" could technically apply to any street in Philly (alcoholics), but this specific one is McGlinchys on 15th and Spruce.
c) Starbucks, 15th and Latimer.
d) Rite Aid, the only place to buy groceries on Temple Campus.
e) Buffalo Exchange.
f) Frame Store on 17th and Chestnut.
g) Govindas, bringing delicious everything to the vegetarians of the city. Broad and South.
h)Hotel Brotherhood, aka the Bainbridge Club. Between 15th and 16th on Bainbridge St.
i) Illy Coffee sign, inside DiBrunos.
j) Juicy Couture, Walnut St.
k) Cereal aisle inside the Rite Aid.
l) Latimer and 16th St.
m) Mole Street, which runs selectively through 15th and 16th streets- sometimes there, sometimes not. This is actually my street sign on my section of Mole (between Bainbridge and Fitzwater), and is the only sign out of all the Mole Street sections that says "Molest" instead of "Mole Street."
n) Nise graffiti, 17th and Sansom st.
o) Ticketmaster Box Office, 15th and Walnut.
p) Patco station, 15th and Locust.
q) Optimal Optique, 18th and Walnut.
r) Graffiti, 16th and Pine.
s) The recently closed (due to a stabbing inside) South Valley bar on 15th street between South and Bainbridge.
t) Toppers Spa, 19th and Sansom.
u) Western Union, 15th and Sansom.
v) Juicy Couture, Walnut St.
w) Warsaw Cafe, 16th between Pine and Spruce.
x) XO Lounge, 15th and South.
y) Boyds, 18th and Chestnut.
z) Zivtech Technology, 16th and South.

The Most Unattractive Street in Philadelphia

2009-02-09T23:06:00.001-08:00

Welcome to Washington Avenue.

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This street is not technically Center City, but is actually the gateway street to south Philadelphia. For ages, this has just been an industry street. There are hundreds of factories, old buildings, junkyards and etc. However a boom over the past hundred years has made sections of the street more exciting, including the growth of the italian market as well as numerous asian markets and collections of authentic mexican taquerias (who else had a delicious burrito doing this homework? i bet mine was better).

this project concentrated thematically on the most interesting human-created decorations and eyesores on each street.

1:15 pm
Front and Washington, as far east as the street goes, is just the giant turning point on your way to Target for cheap toilet paper and college apartment furnishings.

1:20 pm
2nd and Washington is fairly residential, fairly homey.

1:23 pm
3rd and Washington speaks to the alcoholics and stock-up addicts of the area.

1:27 pm
4th and Washington has some decorative fans of local hardcore bands.

1:35 pm
destruction from people or weather? who knows.

1:40 pm
6th and Washington, hand-painted taqueria truck. 24/7.

1:46 pm
7th street has seen more hardcore show advertisements, as well as the abandonment of someones plaything.

1:52 pm
8th street, a decorative window amongst the start of businesses.

1:54 pm
9th street, human flair and a human hangout

2:00 pm
the greatest moment of this trip. 10th and Washington, Veracruzana. Anyone who does not eat here is missing out on genuine and brilliant and cheap cheap cheap mexican food, the best in the whole city.

Anyone who skips this place deserves to slip in a puddle of qdoba grease.

2:17 pm
11th and washington was ad-heavy

2:21 pm
12th and washington, repetition

2:26 pm
between 12th and 13th streets

2:30 pm
nearing broad street, the past location of the largest ever pinata

2:36 pm
15th and washington streets.

from this point on, Washington becomes identical and bland. the parts west of broad have not become as heavily trafficked as the east parts were, but the scenery was still fairly interesting although repetitive.

2:41 pm
16th and Washington, hit by sire and friends

2:48 pm
17th and Washington

2:55 pm
18th and Washington. Apparently, Dragon King can be hard to find.

2:59 pm
19th and Washington

3:02 pm
20th and Washington, burning your retinas

3:10 pm
21st. scenery is scarce, colored gates are more enticing than factory doors or dust balls. note the etchings.

3:14 pm
22nd and Washington. actual hanging.

3:18 pm
23rd and Washington.

3:28 pm
24th street, we end with one of the lone residents of the area taking care of the neighborhood cleanliness. it's time to go home.

and to end our journey, we walk home and eat a burrito. many thanks to kim wood for accompanying me on this little south philadelphia trek.

it's a celebration!

2009-02-02T09:13:00.000-08:00

Assignment: 12 Portraits of 12 Strangers at Boathouse Row

I went to Boathouse Row wearing four shirts and praying the wind would calm down for a few hours (fat chance). Originally, the plan was to get close portraits of people and create a theme once I got an idea of who was out and how talkative they would actually be.
After initial conversations cut short by people just trying to get back to their cars and get out of the chilling winds, it seemed there could be no link.
But then, I spoke to a freezing woman running by in an evening gown with bare shoulders, and ended up spontaneously photographing an entire wedding party for a Philadelphia family. Bam. These are portraits of love-a tacky theme sure, but that seemed to be the emotion of the day.

There are all different kinds of love. There is the love a parent feels for their children.

Mark Ranstead took his daughters Leela and Mary on a day trip from their home in South Jersey to the Art Museum. They "had a great day so far, but Leela (center) was disappointed that she didn't like any of the pins in the gift shop." They love day trips to Philly, but hate anywhere with difficult parking.
Leela was excited to show me a spot where she had just lost a tooth. Mary answered my questions about why she likes Philadelphia with a simple "I have fun coming here."

Dad (name unknown) was content for a momentary pose with his daughter Anila, but both were antsy to get out of the cold and get back home to Narberth. They love Philadelphia, but just for trips and adventures.

Matt Barnes and his boyfriend Joe Burley, both Philadelphia residents, are not strangers. They happened to be at the museum, and since I've already included 12 strangers, a nice moment between them helped illustrate this theme. Matt and Joe "love Philly, love not having to deal with a car, and love only paying $300 for rent in a killer apartment. Who cares if it's in a bad area?"

And then this happened:

January 31 was the wedding of Tonya and Jerome (center), Philadelphia residents who are currently living at 4th and Girard. Other wedding party members include from left to right: groom's sister Michelle, sister Linda, friend Elisa, bride Tonya, groom Jerome, best man Henry and the brides younger brother Ty.

The bride was ecstatic, although "I wish it wasn't so damn cold! I can barely feel my fingers!"
The groom was quieter and reserved-but the happy spirit of his new bride will surely bring out the happiness in him.

Linda was excited to have stumbled upon someone to take pictures. She said, "I've lived in this city for years and still can't stand how expensive things are! We looked at wedding photographers, they're a rip off."

Michelle's husband Vince had a nice moment with her while she posed. They live in the same area as the bride and groom, and love Philadelphia because so much of their family live here.

Family friend Nicole, far left, was happy to come in from her apartment in Manayunk to be there for the wedding, although she was "so glad she had her coat. I love Philadelphia, but the winds here are just awful. Center City is a giant wind tunnel!"

Henry, the older of the brides two brothers, has moved out of Philadelphia a couple of times but recently moved back for a job. He likes the "variety of restaurants in Philadelphia, and all the things there are to do. It's a lot homier than a city like New York."
Youngest brother Ty (popping out of the window) had little to say. "I like Jerome. I'm happy for my sister. Boathouse Row is pretty."

The bride's mother was happy to be inside the car. "I am so happy today! This is the most beautiful place in Philadelphia, I love it! I just hate the damn weather!"

I had to decline a zealous invitation to go back to the house at 4th and Girard for the reception, but wish the bride and groom all the luck and happiness in the world.

Old and New: Reshooting Philadelphia

2009-01-27T15:04:00.001-08:00

assignment: recreate 10 photos of Philadelphia that are at least 60 years old.

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South Street, looking east from 12th Street
Photograph, 30 April 1930.
Philadelphia City Archives (1476/ #28467).

1304-10 Lombard Street.
Photograph, 17 Oct. 1913.
Philadelphia City Archives (923/ #7757).

Western Union, 1103-13 Locust Street (built 1922, W. Welles Bosworth, architect).
Gelatin silver print, ca. 1930.
Athenaeum of Philadelphia, Dillon Collection (photo #460).

1104-12 Walnut Street.
Photograph, 11 February 1927.
Philadelphia City Archives (1708/ #23837).

Washington Square Park, Viewing North to Walnut
Print, 4/18/1913
DOR Archives

Hutchinson Alley
S. Hutchinson St. and Locust St.
Photograph: December 17, 1931.
by Charles A. Lamb
DOR Archives

South Broad St. Theatre
S. Broad and Locust St.
July 22, 1927
DOR Archives

12th and Market Streets
October 14, 1924
DOR Archives
(fun fact-i work here, whats up)

15th and Chestnut Streets,
Looking North

City Hall Court Yard
August 26, 1914
DOR Archives, Public Works

as a little side note, two good events of shooting this assignment:

a) i've now been yelled at by a cop for standing on a City Paper box
b) i made a friend at nbc

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/around_town/fashion/Philly_What_You_Wore2.html

Class Information

2009-01-27T14:56:00.001-08:00

well, these are awkward.

Sandra (Sande) Friedman
Documentary Photo
Temple University, Spring 09
sandefriedman@gmail.com